Bon Jovi Pictures, Biography, Profile, Facts, Discography, Filmography, more.

John Francis Bongiovi Jr. was born March 2nd, 1962 at 8:45 pm in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, USA. He grew up in Sayreville. Jovi was in previous bands such as Raze, Atlantic City Expressway (ACE), The Rest, John Bongiovi and the wild ones. Before the band, he worked in pizzarias, shoestores, sold burgers, worked in a autobodyshop and washed cars.

Bon Jovi was one of the most successful rock bands of the 1980s, and one of the few pop-metal groups to maintain their popularity into the '90s. Originally, Jon Bongiovi worked as a janitor in his cousin Tony's New York City recording studio, The Power Station. In 1980 he sang on "R2-D2 We Wish You a Merry Christmas" from Christmas in the Stars: Star Wars Christmas Album. At the studio, Bongiovi convinced Billy Squier to produce his demo tape. One song, "Runaway," received airplay on local radio stations. He formed a band to support the song with keyboardist David Bryan, guitarist Dave Sabo, bassist Alec John Such and drummer Tico Torres. The success of the "Runaway" led to a label bidding war, and the group signed to Polygram/Mercury in 1983. Bongiovi also changed the spelling of his name to Bon Jovi, which would also serve as the band's name. Before Bon Jovi entered the studio, they replaced Sabo with Richie Sambora.

Bon Jovi's self titled debut album was released in 1984. "Runaway" reached the US Top 40. The follow up album, 7800 Fahrenheit was released in 1985 and went gold. For their next album, Bon Jovi collaborated with songwriter Desmond Child and the results were hugely successful. Slippery When Wet became the biggest selling album of 1987, selling 9 million copies. Two songs, "You Give Love a Bad Name" and "Livin' on a Prayer," hit US #1 and reached the UK Top 20 and Top 5 respectively. "Wanted Dead or Alive" reached the US Top 10 and UK Top 20. Bon Jovi's follow up two years later, New Jersey, was also huge. It sold 5 million copies, had two US #1 singles, "Bad Medicine" and "I'll Be There for You," as well as the three more US Top 10 hits: "Born To Be My Baby," "Lay Your Hands On Me," and "Living In Sin." Following an eighteen-month tour, the band went on hiatus. During their break, Jon Bon Jovi recorded the soundtrack to Young Guns II, which was released in 1990 as the Blaze of Glory album. The record produced the US #1 title track and another Top 15 hit, "Miracle."

During the 1990s, most of Bon Jovi's fellow pop-metal groups fell off the commercial map in the wake of grunge and alternative's popularity. Bon Jovi managed to stay a commercial force. 1992's Keeping the Faith, 1994's Cross Road compilation, 1995's These Days, and 2000's Crush all topped the UK charts and reached the US Top 10. "Keep The Faith," "Bed of Roses," "Always," "This Ain't A Love Song," and "It's My Life" were all big hits in both the US and UK. Jon Bon Jovi's 1997 solo album, Destination Anywhere, was also big in the UK. The album and single, "Midnight in Chelsea," reached the UK Top 5.

Trivia / Timeline:

Chosen by People (USA) magazine as one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world [1996]

Appeared on the Star Wars Christmas album, "Christmas in the Stars" (as John Bongiovi).

Given title "Sexiest Rock Star" by People Magazine. [November 2000]

He has sensitive eyes against sunlight and cigarette smoke, that's why he always wears sunglasses. During spring he has allergies and hay fever.

The song "August 7", fromhis solo album Destination Anywhere, is a tribute to his friend/manager Paul Korzilius' daughter Katherine. She died at the age of six under mysterious circumstances on August 7, 1996.

He's owned a few cars as well, a white Datsun 280Z in 1988, a '58 Corvette 1988-1992, a Ferrari 328 GTSI 1988-1992; in 1995 Jon owned a Ferrari, Camaro, 2 Corvettes, some Jeeps, Mustang Shelby and a 1957 Lincoln Premier, some motorcycles, among them a Harley Davidson and a snowmobile. In 1996 he owned a Harley Davidson, black Mercedes and a red 91/92 Corvette. He loves sports cars, especially Porsches.

Musician/rock star turned actor.

Jon Bon Jovi Discography:

Bon Jovi Albums & Bon Jovi CDs:

1984 Bon Jovi Mercury

1985 7800 Fahrenheit Mercury

1986 Slippery When Wet Mercury

1988 New Jersey Mercury

1992 Keep the Faith Mercury

1995 These Days Mercury

2000 Crush Island

2002 Bounce Island

2003 This Left Feels Right Island

Live and Compilation Bon Jovi Albums & Bon Jovi CDs:

1994 Cross Road Mercury

2000 Wild in the Streets Mercury

2001 One Wild Night: Live 1985-2001 Island

2003 7 Series Sampler: One Wild Night Island

2004 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong Island

1980s Bon Jovi Videos & Bon Jovi DVDs:

1986 You Give Love a Bad Name

1986 Breakout Pioneer

1987 Slippery When Wet: Video PolyGram

1988 Livin' on a Prayer

1988 Conversation AVI

1989 New Jersey: The Videos PolyGram

1990s/2000s Bon Jovi Videos & Bon Jovi DVDs:

1990 Access All Areas Mercury

1993 Keep the Faith: An Evening With... Polygram

1994 Keep the Faith Videos Polygram Video

1994 Cross Road Polygram Video

1995 Live from London Image

1997 Interview Sessions Music Video

2000 The Crush Tour: Live Polygram Video

2003 Unauthorized Brentwood

2003 Rock Legends

2003 The Inside Story

2003 Slippery When Wet (DVD)

2004 This Left Feels Right Live Island

Bon Jovi Discography - Interview Bon Jovi CDs:

1988 Conversation AVI

1994 The Interviews, Vol. 2 Baktabak

2000 Audio Biography CD Chrome Dreams

2003 Bon Jovi Interviews, Vol. 3 Baktabak

Bon Jovi Albums & Bon Jovi CDs - Jon Bon Jovi:

1990 Young Guns II: "Blaze of Glory" PolyGram

1997 Destination Anywhere Polygram

Bon Jovi Albums & Bon Jovi CDs - Jon Bon Jovi Compilations:

1997 The Power Station Years: 1980-1983 Teichiku

2000 Power Station Years, Vol. 2 Dealmakers

2001 The Power Station Years: The Unreleased... Masq

Bon Jovi Videos & Bon Jovi DVDs - Jon Bon Jovi:

1997 Destination Anywhere: The Film Polygram Video

Bon Jovi Albums & Bon Jovi CDs - Jon Bon Jovi Appearances A-H:

Aerosmith Pandora's Box (1991) Author

The Bacon Brothers Forosoco (1997) Guitar (Electric), Vocals (bckgr)

Cher Cher (1987) Vocals (bckgr), Producer

Cher Greatest Hits: 1965-1992 (1993) Producer

Cher If I Could Turn Back Time:... (1999) Producer

Cher Greatest Hits (1999) Producer

Cinderella Night Songs (1986) Vocals (bckgr)

Alice Cooper Trash (1989) Vocals

Paul Dean Hardcore (1989) Harmonica

Billy Falcon Pretty Blue World (1991) Guitar, Guitar (Electric), Vocals (bckgr), Producer

Gorky Park Gorky Park (1989) Producer

Hall & Oates Change of Season (1990) Producer

Hall & Oates Starting All over Again: The Best... (1997) Producer

Hall & Oates Master Hits: Hall and Oates (1999) Producer

Hall & Oates Best of Times (1999) Producer

Hall & Oates Ultimate Daryl Hall + John Oates (2004) Producer

Bon Jovi Albums & Bon Jovi CDs - Jon Bon Jovi Appearances K-Z:

Killer Joe Scene of the Crime (1991) Guitar (Acoustic)

The Krays Inside Warfare (1998) Drums

Kurupt Space Boogie: Smoke Oddessey (2001) Programming, Musician

Kurupt Space Boogie: Smoke Oddessey... (2001) Programming, Musician

Chris Ledoux One Road Man (1998) Vocals

Chris Ledoux 20 Greatest Hits (1999) Performer

Chris LeDoux Capitol Collection: 1990-2000 (2002) Vocals

Meco/Various Artists Christmas in the Stars: Star Wars... (1980) Vocals

Stevie Nicks Timespace: The Best of Stevie... (1991) Guitar, Composer, Producer

Aldo Nova Blood on the Bricks (1991) Arranger, Vocals (bckgr), Producer

Luciano Pavarotti/Celine... For the Children of Liberia (1998) Performer

Ratt Detonator (1990) Vocals (bckgr)

Soul Kiss Fuzz (1997) Art Direction

Southside Johnny Better Days (1991) Vocals, Vocals (bckgr)

Luther Vandross Luther Vandross (2001) Vocals (bckgr), Drum Programming, Keyboard Programming

Bon Jovi Albums & Bon Jovi CDs - Richie Sambora:

1991 Stranger in This Town Jambco

1998 Undiscovered Soul Mercury

Bon Jovi Albums & Bon Jovi CDs - Richie Sambora Appearances:

Carmine Appice Channel Mind Radio: Guitar Zeus,... (1997) Performer

Bad Company Stories Told & Untold (1996) Guitar (12 String)

Cher Cher (1987) Guitar, Vocals (bckgr), Producer

Cher Greatest Hits: 1965-1992 (1993) Producer

Cher Greatest Hits (1999) Producer

Cher If I Could Turn Back Time: Cher's... (1999) Producer

Alice Cooper Trash (1989) Guitar

Bo Diddley Man Amongst Men (1996) Guitar

Gorky Park Gorky Park (1989) Producer

Horizontal Ladies Club Horizontal Ladies Club (1995) Guitar, Vocals (bckgr)

Amanda Marshall Tuesdays Child (1999) Guitar

Message Lessons (2000) Guitar

Eddie Murphy Love's Alright (1993)

Pink M!ssundaztood (2001) Guitar

Paul Rodgers Muddy Water Blues: A Tribute to... (1993) Guitar, Performer

Jennifer Rush Heart Over Mind (1987) Guitar

Carly Simon Christmas Is Almost Here (2002) Arranger

Stuart Smith Heaven & Earth (1999) Dobro, Guitar, Vocals

Steve Wariner No More Mr. Nice Guy (1996)

Bon Jovi Albums & Bon Jovi CDs - David Bryan:

1995 On a Full Moon Ignition

2000 Lunar Eclipse Rounder

Bon Jovi Albums & Bon Jovi CDs - David Bryan Appearances:

Jon Bon Jovi Destination Anywhere (1997) Piano, Accordion

Cher Cher (1987) Synthesizer, Keyboards

Valerie Day Beginning to See the Light (2003) Trombone, Conductor

Sam Kinison Leader of the Banned (1990) Piano

Fred Locks Black Star Liner (1997) Guitar

Richie Sambora Stranger in This Town (1991) Keyboards, String Arrangements

Bon Jovi Albums & Bon Jovi CDs - Tico Torres Appearances:

Cher Cher (1987) Drums

Frankie & the Knockouts Sweetheart Collection (1999) Drums

Frankie & The Knockouts Makin' the Point (2001) Drums

Killer Joe Scene of the Crime (1991) Voices

Nils Lofgren Flip (1985) Vocals (bckgr)

Stevie Nicks Timespace: The Best of Stevie... (1991) Drums

T. Roth and Another Pretty Face Facts (1980) Percussion, Drums, Vocals (bckgr)

Richie Sambora Stranger in This Town (1991) Percussion, Drums

Bon Jovi Albums & Bon Jovi CDs - Alec John Such Appearances:

Cher Cher (1987) Bass

Message Lessons (2000) Bass

Phantom's Opera Phantom's Opera (1999) Vocals

Jon Bon Jovi Filmography:

As Actor:

Pre Approved (2005) ... aka National Lampoon's The Trouble with Frank

Cry_Wolf (2005)

Command the Band: Bon Jovi (2004) (TV)

Vampires: Los Muertos (2002) ... aka John Carpenter's Vampires: Los Muertos

Pay It Forward (2000)

U-571 (2000) ... aka U-571 (France)

Row Your Boat (2000)

Homegrown (1998)

No Looking Back (1998)

Destination Anywhere (1997) (V)

Little City (1997)

The Leading Man (1996)

Moonlight and Valentino (1995)

Turn Up the Volume 1 (1991) (V)

Young Guns II (1990) (uncredited) ... aka Young Guns II: Blaze of Glory (UK)

As Composer:

The Very Best of Cher: The Video Hits Collection (2004) (V) (song "We All Sleep Alone")

Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003) (song "Livin' on a Prayer")

Avenging Angelo (2002)

America the Beautiful (2001) (TV)

Rock Star (2001) (song "Livin' on a Prayer")

Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001) (song "Bad Medicine")

Edtv (1999) (song "Real Life") ... aka Ed TV (USA)

Armageddon (1998) (song "Mister Big Time")

Destination Anywhere (1997) (V)

The Cowboy Way (1994) (song "Good Guys Don't Always Wear White")

Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man (1991) (song "Wanted: Dead Or Alive")

The 63rd Annual Academy Awards (1991) (TV) (song "Blaze of Glory")

Young Guns II (1990) ... aka Young Guns II: Blaze of Glory (UK)

Navy Seals (1990) (song)

Disorderlies (1987) (song "Edge of a Broken Heart")

Spaceballs (1987) (song "Raise Your Hands")

Light of Day (1987) (song "Only Lonely")