In the wake of Bon Jovi’s show at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough on July 20, take a look back at the storied 30-year career of one of New Jersey’s favorite bands. We take you all the way from the big-haired heyday of “Slippery When Wet” through Jon Bon Jovi’s solo career and the band’s charitable work in the last decade.
The band’s “Because We Can” tour is in support of its 12th studio album, “What About Now,” which was released in March of this year. The album debuted at No. 1 on the US Billboard 200 and became their third album in a row to do so.
In the wake of Bon Jovi’s show at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough on July 20, take a look back at the storied 30-year career of one of New Jersey’s favorite bands. We take you all the way from the big-haired heyday of “Slippery When Wet” through Jon Bon Jovi’s solo career and the band’s charitable work in the last decade.
The band’s “Because We Can” tour is in support of its 12th studio album, “What About Now,” which was released in March of this year. The album debuted at No. 1 on the US Billboard 200 and became their third album in a row to do so.
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After the moderate success of its first two albums, “Bon Jovi,” released in January 1984, and “7800° Fahrenheit,” released in 1985, the band collaborated with songwriter Desmond Child on its third album, “Slippery When Wet.” Released in August 1986, the album spent eight weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and gave them their first two No. 1 hits, “You Give Love a Bad Name” and “Livin’ on a Prayer.” Above is a shot from the music video of “You Give Love a Bad Name.”
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“Wanted Dead or Alive” was the band’s third single from “Slippery When Wet.” The song was supposedly inspired by Bob Seger’s hit “Turn the Page.” It peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
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Bon Jovi released its fourth album “New Jersey” in Sept. 1986 and it produced five top 10 hits including “Bad Medicine,” which reached No. 1. The music video featured legendary comedian Sam Kinison.
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Bon Jovi continued its string of hits with “Born To Be My Baby,” which became a top 10 hit in 1986. The hit was its second single from the album “New Jersey.”
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“Lay Your Hands on Me,” also on “New Jersey,” was the fourth single to become a top 10 hit.
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“Blaze of Glory” was the 1990 theme song for the movie “Young Guns II.” Emilio Estevez originally wanted to feature Bon Jovi’s hit “Wanted Dead or Alive,” but Jon Bon Jovi didn’t think the themes in that song meshed with the movie. Instead, he wrote this original tune which featured guitarist Jeff Beck and became a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.
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Bon Jovi played a starring role in Edward Burns’s 1998 film “No Looking Back.”
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Bon Jovi performed “It’s My Life” at the 2000 VH1 Music Awards in Los Angeles. It was its first top 10 single from its album “Crush.”
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Jon Bon Jovi in a scene from the 2000 World War II drama “U-571.” Bon Jovi played Lieutenant Pete Emmett, who was on a submarine crew on a top secret mission.
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Jon Bon Jovi returned to London’s famous Wembley Stadium in August 2000 where he performed two sold-out concerts, the last ever concerts held at the legendary venue before its demolition.
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Jon Bon Jovi performed at the “Concert for New York” at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Oct. 20, 2001.
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Richie Sambora (left) and Jon Bon Jovi performed “Here Comes the Sun” in a tribute to the late George Harrison at the “My VH1 Music Awards” in December 2001, in Los Angeles.
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Jon Bon Jovi gave another memorable high-energy performance during Bon Jovi’s Z100’s Zootopia 2002 concert at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
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Jon Bon Jovi and Calista Flockhart on the Fox television show “Ally McBeal” in 2002. Bon Jovi played love interest Victor Morrison.
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Bon Jovi performed as part of the halftime show during the Thanksgiving Day game between the New England Patriots and Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit in November 2002.
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Bon Jovi performed after Super Bowl XXXVII between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Oakland Raiders on Jan. 26, 2003, at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego.
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Jon Bon Jovi and John Mayer performed at a WPLJ Holiday Spectacular Party radio benefit for the patients and guests at Blythedale Children’s Hospital in Valhalla, N.Y. on December 22, 2004.
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Jon Bon Jovi and guitarist Richie Sambora performed live on NBC’s “Today” show in September 2005. The band promoted its album, “Have a Nice Day,” which debuted at No. 1 in 15 countries.
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Jon Bon Jovi performed at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough on July 27, 2006.
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Jon Bon Jovi appeared on a 2006 episode of the “The West Wing” with Bradley Whitford and Jimmy Smits.
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Jon Bon Jovi played a 1986 version of himself on a 2007 episode of “Saturday Night Live.” In a skit titled “Amy’s Bedroom,” Bon Jovi steps out of a life-sized poster of himself to counsel a young Amy Poehler who is in a hairspray-induced hallucination.
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Oprah Winfrey joined Jon Bon Jovi on on stage during the filming of “Oprah’s Ultimate Australian Adventure” at the Sydney Opera House on Dec. 14, 2010.
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Jon Bon Jovi with Tina Fey as Liz Lemon on a 2010 episode of “30 Rock.”
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David Bryan, Richie Sambora, Jon Bon Jovi, and Tico Torres all appeared on James Lipton’s “Inside the Actor’s Studio” in 2010.
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Jon Bon Jovi played opposite Katherine Heigl in the 2011 film “New Year’s Eve,” directed by Garry Marshall.
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Bon Jovi answered questions in his Soul Kitchen restaurant in Red Bank, N.J., in October 2011. The restaurant is designed to help the hungry without the stigma of a soup kitchen. Diners pay whatever they’re able to.
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Jon Bon Jovi played with fellow Jersey boy Bruce Springsteen at the 12-12-12 benefit concert for victims of super-storm Sandy on Dec. 12, 2012.
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Jon Bon Jovi visited his hometown of Sayreville, N.J., on July 8, 2013. He met with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and gave $1 million to help the band’s home state recover from Superstorm Sandy. Bon Jovi was a high-profile presence in his hometown after a number of neighborhoods were wiped out by Sandy.
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