Their third album, Slippery When Wet, shot the band to superstar status around the world with hits such as "You Give Love a Bad Name", "Livin' On A Prayer", and "Wanted Dead or Alive". The guys found themselves opening for ZZ Top at the Madison Square Garden (before their first album had been released), Scorpions and KISS (in Europe). The album went gold (sales of over 500,000) and was also released in the UK. The debut album came out on January 21, 1984. He had quit the band he and Jon founded to go to college, then quit college to go to Juilliard School, the famous classical music school.Īt one show, where they opened for Scandal, the band caught the attention of record exec Derek Shulman, who signed them to PolyGram. He had played on about 26 records and had just recorded his third album with Frankie and the Knockouts (a Jersey band with hit singles in the early 1980s).ĭavid Bryan was a natural recruit. He had jammed with Miles Davis and played live with the Marvelettes and Chuck Berry. Tico Torres was also an experienced musician by then. He also played in the album "Lessons" with the band Message, that has been recently rereleased in CD through Long Island Records. Before joining Bon Jovi, Richie had toured with Joe Cocker, played with a group called Mercy and had just been called up to audition for KISS. Alec talked Jon into letting Richie show what he could do, and Jon loved it. Jon gave Dave a call, who in turn called Alec John Such and Tico Torres.Ī succession of guitarists (including Dave Sabo, who went on to Skid Row) followed, until Richie Sambora signed on. The members of Bon Jovi had crossed paths in these early days, but the current lineup didn't come together until March of 1983 after "Runaway" which hit No.39 on the singles chart. The studio musicians who helped Jon to record "Runaway" were known as "The All Star Review" and they were Tim Pierce (guitar), Roy Bittan (keyboards), Frankie LaRocka (drums) and Hugh McDonald (bass). After it won the contest, it quickly became a popular song in the New York City area in the summer of 1983. Jon used studio musicians to play on the track "Runaway" (which was written in 1980). In 1983, a local radio station, WAPT, had a contest to search for the best unsigned band. Jon made several demos (including one produced by Billy Squier) and sent them out to many record companies - but failed to make an impact.Īt nineteen, Jon had his first recording experience, singing the song "R2-D2 We Wish You a Merry Christmas" on a Star Wars Christmas album, "Christmas With the Stars", with music by John Williams, produced by Tony Bongiovi at the Power Station and released on the RSO label. Still in his teens, Jon played in the band Jon Bon Jovi and the Wild Ones, playing New Jersey clubs like the Fast Lane and opening for known acts in the area.īy the summer of 1982, out of school and working part-time - including in a shoe store - Jon finally got a job at the Power Station Studios, a New York recording facility where his cousin, Tony Bongiovi, was the co-owner. They played at New Jersey clubs, even though they were minors. At 16 Jon met David Bryan (David Bryan Rashbaum) in high school (Sayreville War Memorial High School ) and founded an R&B cover band with him named Atlantic City Expressway.
At that same age, Bongiovi founded his first band, called Raze. Lead singer Jon Bon Jovi (John Bongiovi) began to play piano and guitar at thirteen, using Elton John songs.