History of Bon Jovi in Timeline
Bon Jovi is an American rock band formed in 1983 in New Jersey. The band is fronted by singer Jon Bon Jovi and includes David Bryan, Tico Torres, John Shanks, Phil X, Everett Bradley, and Hugh McDonald. The band's original bassist, Alec John Such, departed in 1994, and guitarist Richie Sambora, also a co-songwriter, left in 2013. Bon Jovi has achieved significant commercial success with numerous hit albums and singles.
1975: Jon Bon Jovi's First Live Performance
In 1975, Jon Bon Jovi began performing music live at the age of 13, playing piano and guitar with his first band, Raze.
1980: Formation of The Rest and First Single Recording
In 1980, Jon Bon Jovi formed the band The Rest and opened for New Jersey acts. Also in 1980, he recorded his first single, "Runaway".
1981: "Runaway" early recording
In 1981, Jon Bon Jovi made a rough early recording of Runaway.
1982: "Runaway" Re-Recording
In 1982, Jon Bon Jovi re-recorded his song "Runaway" with local studio musicians.
1982: Richie Sambora on Lessons album
In 1982, Richie Sambora played on the album Lessons, originally intended for release with the band Message, which also included Alec John Such.
1982: Job at Power Station Studios
In mid-1982, Jon Bon Jovi took a job at the Power Station Studios, where he made several demos and recorded vocals for "R2-D2 We Wish You a Merry Christmas".
March 1983: Band Formation for "Runaway" Support
In March 1983, after "Runaway" gained airplay, Jon Bon Jovi called David Bryan, who then recruited Alec John Such and Tico Torres. Dave Sabo was chosen to play lead guitar for a short tour.
1983: Bon Jovi Formation
In 1983, Bon Jovi was formed in Sayreville, New Jersey, consisting of Jon Bon Jovi, David Bryan, Tico Torres, John Shanks, Phil X, Everett Bradley, and Hugh McDonald.
1983: "Runaway" on WAPP Compilation
In 1983, Jon Bon Jovi visited WAPP radio station and allowed them to include his song "Runaway" on their compilation album.
January 21, 1984: Release of Debut Album
On January 21, 1984, Bon Jovi released their debut album, Bon Jovi, which included their first hit single, "Runaway".
1984: Debut Album Release
In 1984, Bon Jovi released their self-titled debut album, featuring the single "Runaway" which reached the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100.
1984: Rock 9 Videos Show
In 1984, WAPP worked with WOR-TV on a music video show, Rock 9 Videos, after first playing "Runaway".
May 1985: Headlining in Japan and Europe
In May 1985, Bon Jovi headlined venues in Japan and Europe.
August 1986: Supporting 38 Special and Headline Dates
In August 1986, Bon Jovi supported 38 Special and by the end of the year, they were headlining arenas across America.
August 16, 1986: Slippery When Wet Album Release
On August 16, 1986, Bon Jovi released Slippery When Wet, which spent eight weeks atop the Billboard 200.
1986: Slippery When Wet Release and Success
In 1986, Bon Jovi achieved widespread success with the release of their third album, Slippery When Wet, which included the hit singles "You Give Love a Bad Name" and "Livin' on a Prayer".
August 1987: Headlining Monsters of Rock
In August 1987, Bon Jovi headlined England's Monsters of Rock festival, featuring guest appearances by Dee Snider, Bruce Dickinson, and Paul Stanley.
September 1988: New Jersey Album Release
In September 1988, Bon Jovi released their fourth album, New Jersey, which peaked at number one in several countries.
1988: New Jersey Album Release
In 1988, Bon Jovi's fourth album, New Jersey, was released and became a commercial success, featuring five Top 10 singles including "Bad Medicine" and "I'll Be There for You" which both reached number one.
June 11, 1989: Giants Stadium Concert
On June 11, 1989, Bon Jovi performed a sold-out homecoming concert at Giants Stadium in New Jersey.
August 1989: Moscow Music Peace Festival
In August 1989, Bon Jovi headed to the Soviet Union to perform at the Moscow Music Peace Festival.
1990: New Jersey Syndicate Tour
Bon Jovi continued their huge worldwide tour throughout 1990, visiting more than 22 countries and performing more than 232 shows.
October 1991: Firing of Management and Resolution
In October 1991, Jon Bon Jovi fired his management and created Bon Jovi Management. The band then went to St. Thomas to resolve internal differences.
January 1992: Studio Session with Bob Rock
In January 1992, after resolving their differences, Bon Jovi headed back into the Vancouver Little Mountain studios with Bob Rock to work on their fifth album.
November 1992: Keep the Faith Album Release
In November 1992, Bon Jovi released their fifth studio album, Keep the Faith, marking a change in the band's sound and image.
1992: Keep the Faith Album Release
In 1992, Bon Jovi returned with the double-platinum album Keep the Faith, which included the hit “Bed of Roses”.
1993: Keep the Faith: An Evening with Bon Jovi Release
In 1993, Bon Jovi's MTV Unplugged performance was commercially released as Keep the Faith: An Evening with Bon Jovi.
October 1994: Cross Road Greatest Hits Album Release
In October 1994, Bon Jovi released the greatest hits album Cross Road, featuring the new tracks "Always" and "Someday I'll Be Saturday Night".
1994: "Always" Single Release
In 1994, Bon Jovi released "Always," which became their biggest-selling and longest-charting single.
1994: Alec John Such Leaves Bon Jovi
In 1994, original bassist Alec John Such left Bon Jovi.
June 1995: Release of 'These Days' album and European tour
In June 1995, Bon Jovi released their sixth studio album, 'These Days,' while touring in Europe. The album reached number one in several countries and the first single was "This Ain't a Love Song."
1995: These Days Album Release
In 1995, Bon Jovi released the album These Days, which was more successful in Europe than in the US, producing four Top Ten singles in the UK.
June 2000: Release of 'Crush' album
In June 2000, Bon Jovi released 'Crush', their seventh studio album, marking a comeback for the band. The album's single, "It's My Life", became a symbol of the band's longevity and introduced them to a new fan base.
2000: Wembley Stadium Concerts and Extensive Tour
In 2000, Bon Jovi performed two sold-out concerts at London's Wembley Stadium and played to 1.1 million fans across North America, Europe, and Japan.
2000: Crush Album Release and New Audience
In 2000, Bon Jovi released the album Crush, with the lead single "It's My Life," successfully introducing the band to a younger audience.
October 21, 2001: Performance at Concert For New York
On October 21, 2001, Bon Jovi performed at the Concert For New York at Madison Square Garden to raise relief funds after the terrorist attacks, honoring those who worked to save lives.
2001: Giants Stadium Homecoming Concerts and VH1 Award
In 2001, Bon Jovi sold out two homecoming concerts at New Jersey's Giants Stadium, which broke ratings records for VH-1. At the end of 2001 Bon Jovi was awarded for "Hottest Live Show" at the 2001 My VH1 Music Awards.
October 8, 2002: Release of 'Bounce' Album
On October 8, 2002, Bon Jovi released their eighth studio album, 'Bounce', which was influenced by the September 11, 2001 attacks.
August 2003: End of Bounce Tour
In August 2003, Bon Jovi ended the Bounce Tour.
November 2003: Release of 'This Left Feels Right' Compilation Album
In November 2003, Bon Jovi released 'This Left Feels Right', a compilation album featuring rewritten and re-recorded versions of their biggest hits.
November 2004: American Music Award for Merit
In November 2004, Bon Jovi was honored with the Award for Merit at the American Music Awards.
2004: American Music Award of Merit
In 2004, Bon Jovi received the Award of Merit at the American Music Awards.
September 2005: Release of 'Have a Nice Day' Album
In September 2005, Bon Jovi released their ninth studio album, 'Have a Nice Day', which reached number one in fifteen countries.
2005: Have a Nice Day Album Release
In 2005, Bon Jovi released the platinum album Have a Nice Day, which incorporated elements of country music.
2005: Start of Have A Nice Day Tour
Soon after the release of Have A Nice Day, in 2005 Bon Jovi started gearing up for the new Have A Nice Day Tour.
November 14, 2006: Induction into UK Music Hall of Fame
On November 14, 2006, Bon Jovi was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame.
2006: Induction into UK Music Hall of Fame
In 2006, Bon Jovi was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame.
2006: "Who Says You Can't Go Home" Grammy Win
In 2006, Bon Jovi's single "Who Says You Can't Go Home" won a Grammy Award and became the first single by a rock band to reach No. 1 on the country charts.
February 11, 2007: Grammy Award Win
On February 11, 2007, Bon Jovi and Jennifer Nettles won the Grammy Award for "Best Country Collaboration with Vocals" for "Who Says You Can't Go Home".
June 2007: Release of 'Lost Highway' Album
In June 2007, Bon Jovi released their tenth studio album, 'Lost Highway', blending rock with country influences.
June 24, 2007: Performance at London's O2 Arena opening
On June 24, 2007, Bon Jovi was the first group to perform at London's new O2 Arena, which sold out in 30 minutes.
October 2007: Announcement of Lost Highway Tour
In October 2007, Bon Jovi announced the Lost Highway Tour.
November 14, 2007: Start of Lost Highway Tour
On November 14, 2007, Bon Jovi started the Lost Highway Tour at the brand new Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey.
2007: Lost Highway Album Release
In 2007, Bon Jovi released the platinum album Lost Highway, continuing to incorporate elements of country music.
2008: Highest-Grossing Tour of 2008
In 2008, Bon Jovi's Lost Highway Tour was the highest-grossing tour, with ticket sales of $210.6 million.
April 2009: Premiere of "When We Were Beautiful" Documentary
In April 2009, Phil Griffin's documentary about Bon Jovi, "When We Were Beautiful", debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival.
June 2009: Induction into Songwriters Hall of Fame
In June 2009, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
November 10, 2009: Release of 'The Circle' Album
On November 10, 2009, Bon Jovi released their eleventh studio album, 'The Circle', marking a return to rock n' roll.
2009: The Circle Album Release
In 2009, Bon Jovi released the album The Circle, marking a return to the band's rock sound.
February 19, 2010: Start of The Circle Tour
On February 19, 2010, Bon Jovi embarked on The Circle Tour.
October 2010: Release of Greatest Hits Album and Concert Film
In October 2010, Bon Jovi released a Greatest Hits album with four new songs and the concert film, "The Circle Tour Live From Jersey".
2011: The Circle Tour ranks second
At the conclusion of 2011, The Circle Tour placed second on Billboard's annual, "Top 25 Tour", earning more than £790 million dollars.
January 2012: Announcement of twelfth studio album
In January 2012, Jon Bon Jovi stated that they were working on a twelfth studio album.
November 27, 2012: Release of 'Inside Out' Live Video Album
On November 27, 2012, Bon Jovi released a new live video album, called Inside Out, made up of content from shows at the O2 Arena, MetLife Stadium, and Madison Square Garden.
March 12, 2013: Release of 'What About Now' Album
On March 12, 2013, Bon Jovi released their album, What About Now, which reached number one in several countries.
March 14, 2013: Appearance on American Idol
On March 14, 2013, Bon Jovi appeared on the results show of American Idol and played "Because We Can" from What About Now.
April 2, 2013: Richie Sambora's Departure from Tour
On April 2, 2013, Richie Sambora departed from Bon Jovi's ongoing tour for unspecified "personal reasons".
2013: Richie Sambora's Departure
In 2013, lead guitarist Richie Sambora left Bon Jovi to spend more time with his family.
2013: Richie Sambora Leaves Bon Jovi
In 2013, longtime guitarist and co-songwriter Richie Sambora left Bon Jovi.
June 2014: Sambora Expresses Desire to Return
In June 2014, Richie Sambora stated he loved Jon and foresaw a possible return to Bon Jovi, emphasizing no bad blood and his need to take certain steps.
November 2014: Jon Bon Jovi Announces Sambora's Departure
In November 2014, Jon Bon Jovi announced that Richie Sambora had officially quit the band with no hard feelings and that he was finishing writing songs for their next album without Sambora.
July 17, 2015: "Saturday Night Gave Me Sunday Morning" Premiere
On July 17, 2015, "Saturday Night Gave Me Sunday Morning" premiered at the Austrian Radio Ö3 Hitradio.
July 20, 2015: "We Don't Run" Premiere
On July 20, 2015, "We Don't Run" premiered at the Brazilian radio Radio Rock.
July 31, 2015: Bon Jovi Releases Twin Singles
On July 31, 2015, Bon Jovi released "We Don't Run" and "Saturday Night Gave Me Sunday Morning" as twin lead singles for the compilation album Burning Bridges.
August 21, 2015: "Burning Bridges" Release
On August 21, 2015, Bon Jovi released "Burning Bridges".
September 30, 2015: Bon Jovi Announces New Album Title
On September 30, 2015, Jon Bon Jovi announced that the title of their upcoming album would be This House Is Not for Sale, emphasizing the theme of integrity.
2015: Burning Bridges Album Release
In 2015, Bon Jovi released their first studio album without Richie Sambora, titled Burning Bridges.
August 12, 2016: "This House Is Not for Sale" Single Release
On August 12, 2016, Bon Jovi released the single "This House Is Not for Sale" with a music video, promoting Hugh McDonald and Phil X to full-time members.
November 4, 2016: "This House Is Not for Sale" Album Release
On November 4, 2016, Bon Jovi officially released their 13th studio album, This House Is Not for Sale, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.
November 2016: Remastered Vinyl Reissues
In November 2016, Island Records and Universal Music Enterprises released remastered versions of Bon Jovi's studio albums on vinyl, spanning their career from 1984 to 2013.
December 16, 2016: "This House Is Not for Sale" Live Album Release
On December 16, 2016, Bon Jovi released their third live album, This House Is Not for Sale – Live from the London Palladium.
2016: Planned Album Release and World Tour
In 2016, Bon Jovi planned to release a new studio album followed by a world tour.
2016: This House Is Not for Sale Album Release
In 2016, Bon Jovi released the album This House Is Not for Sale, which they toured in 2017–19.
February 10, 2017: "Bon Jovi: The Albums" Box Set Release
On February 10, 2017, Bon Jovi released a 25-LP box set titled Bon Jovi: The Albums, consisting of their studio albums, compilations, solo albums, and rarities.
December 13, 2017: Bon Jovi to Be Inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
On December 13, 2017, it was announced that Bon Jovi would be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018, after winning the 2017 fan ballot.
2017: This House Is Not For Sale Tour
In 2017, Bon Jovi started the This House Is Not For Sale Tour, which would run through 2019.
February 2018: Such and Sambora to Perform at Hall of Fame Induction
In February 2018, it was confirmed that Alec John Such and Richie Sambora would perform with Bon Jovi at the 2018 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
April 29, 2018: Performance at BMO Harris Bradley Center
On April 29, 2018, Bon Jovi performed at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as the last ticketed event at the venue.
2018: Induction into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
In 2018, Bon Jovi was inducted into the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
March 9, 2019: Bon Jovi Announces New Album Recording
On March 9, 2019, Jon Bon Jovi announced that the band was back in the studio recording its fifteenth studio album.
August 2019: "2020" Album Title Announced
In August 2019, Bon Jovi announced that their upcoming album would be called 2020.
April 20, 2020: "Bon Jovi 2020 Tour" Canceled
On April 20, 2020, Bon Jovi announced that the Bon Jovi 2020 Tour had been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
May 15, 2020: "2020" Album and Tour Postponed
May 15, 2020, was the original release date for Bon Jovi's album "2020", however, the album and the tour were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020: 2020 Album Reworked
In 2020, Bon Jovi reworked their album 2020 to include songs inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic and George Floyd protests.
January 7, 2022: Bon Jovi Announces Tour
On January 7, 2022, Bon Jovi announced a tour in April.
June 5, 2022: Death of Alec John Such
On June 5, 2022, the death of founding member Alec John Such was announced by Bon Jovi. He died of a heart attack.
2022: Bon Jovi Supports Ukraine
In 2022, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Bon Jovi supported a viral video of residents in Odesa, Ukraine, preparing for a Russian attack while a drummer played "It's My Life".
February 2023: Sambora Discusses Potential Return
In February 2023, former guitarist Richie Sambora noted that he was in talks about potentially rejoining Bon Jovi.
October 2023: Recording of New Album in Nashville
In October 2023, Phil X revealed that Bon Jovi was recording a new album in Nashville.
November 17, 2023: "Christmas Isn't Christmas" Release
On November 17, 2023, Bon Jovi released a holiday-themed single called "Christmas Isn't Christmas", their first release since 2020.
March 14, 2024: "Legendary" Single Release
On March 14, 2024, Bon Jovi released the single, "Legendary", the lead single from their 16th album, Forever.
April 2024: "Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story" Premieres
In April 2024, the four-part documentary series on Bon Jovi, Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story, premiered on Hulu and Disney+.
May 2024: No Plans for Sambora Reunion
In May 2024, Bon Jovi confirmed that there were no plans for Richie Sambora to rejoin the band and that a reunion was unlikely.
June 7, 2024: "Forever" Album Release
On June 7, 2024, Bon Jovi released their 16th album, Forever.
