Current members

Jon Bon Jovi - lead vocals, rhythm & lead guitars 
Richie Sambora - lead & rhythm guitars 
David Bryan - keyboards
Tico Torres - drums
Hugh McDonald - bass

Former members

Alec John Such - bass, backing vocals (1983-1994)

Bon Jovi originated in Sayreville, New Jersey. Fronted by lead singer and namesake Jon Bon Jovi, the group originally achieved large-scale success in the 1980s. The band has continued its success as one of the world's most successful rock acts throughout the 1990s and 2000s, selling over 120 million albums worldwide.

Their numerous hits include: "Runaway", "You Give Love a Bad Name", "Livin' on a Prayer", "Wanted Dead or Alive", "Bad Medicine", "I'll Be There for You", "Keep the Faith", "Bed of Roses", "Always", "It's My Life", "Everyday", "Have a Nice Day", "Who Says You Can't Go Home" and "(You Want to) Make a Memory".

In 1983, Bon Jovi visited the local radio station WAPP 103.5FM in Lake Success, New York. He spoke directly to the D.J., Chip Hobart, who suggested Bon Jovi let WAPP include the song "Runaway" on a compilation album of local homegrown talent. Bon Jovi was reluctant but eventually gave them the song on which Bon Jovi had used studio musicians to play on the track "Runaway". The studio musicians who helped record "Runaway" were known as The All Star Review. They were: guitarists Dave Sabo and Tim Pierce, keyboardist Roy Bittan, drummer Frankie LaRocka and bassist Hugh McDonald.

The song began to get airplay in the New York metro area, then other sister stations in major markets picked up the song. Suddenly, the record labels who had passed on the demo were scrambling to find out who this unsigned artist was. WAPP was doing showcases and Bon Jovi now desperately needed a band. The soon-to-be-members of the band had crossed paths in their earlier days, but the current lineup didn't come together until March 1983. Bon Jovi gave David Bryan a call, who in turn called bassist Alec John Such and an experienced drummer named Tico Torres.

Tapped to play lead guitar was Bon Jovi's neighbor, Dave Sabo,who would later form the group Skid Row.

One night after a show, Richie Sambora found Bon Jovi backstage and told him that he should be the band's guitarist. Bon Jovi didn't think much of it but told him to learn the material and show up for rehearsal. Sambora showed up early, knew the material and Bon Jovi was impressed; in that moment, Sambora became the band's lead guitarist.

With the help of their new manager Doc McGhee, the band's debut album, Bon Jovi, was released on January 21, 1984. The album went gold in the US (sales of over 500,000) and was also released in the UK.

In 1985, Bon Jovi's second album 7800°Fahrenheit was released. While embarking on a tour opening up for Ratt, the album received a poor response by critics. The leading British metal magazine Kerrang!, who had been very positive about the debut record, called the album "a pale imitation of the Bon Jovi we have got to know and learned to love." Jon Bon Jovi himself later said it could have and should have been better. The band members, in later interviews, have said they will not perform any songs off that album anymore.

The turning point came when they brought in songwriter Desmond Child for their third album, Slippery When Wet. With Child co-writing many of their hits, the band shot to super-stardom around the world with songs "You Give Love a Bad Name", "Livin' On A Prayer", and "Wanted Dead or Alive". The album has sold in excess of 26 million copies worldwide since its release in late 1986. In 1987, the band headlined England's "Monsters of Rock" festival with Dio, Metallica, W.A.S.P., Anthrax, and Cinderella.

In 1992, the band returned with the album Keep the Faith. Produced by Bob Rock, it featured more a mature sound and lyrical content. Their fans were pleasantly surprised and the album became a moderate hit amidst the rise of grunge. Singles "Bed of Roses", "Keep the Faith" and "In These Arms".

In 1994 bassist Alec John Such left the band, the first lineup change since Bon Jovi began. Hugh McDonald, who was the bassist on "Runaway", unofficially replaced Such as bassist. To this day, there is still speculation on whether Alec was fired or left on his own accord.  While he has not been officially replaced, Hugh McDonald has handled studio and live bass duties since then.

After a nearly three-year hiatus, during which several band members worked on independent projects, Bon Jovi regrouped in 1999 to begin work on their next studio album. Their 2000 release, Crush, enjoyed overwhelming success both in the US and overseas, thanks in part to the smash-hit single "It's My Life".

Bon Jovi's long-awaited ninth studio album, Have a Nice Day, was released in September 2005. The album topped the charts around the world, giving Bon Jovi its career-best first week sales of over 202,000 albums.

In June 2007, Bon Jovi released their new tenth studio album, Lost Highway. The album debuted at number #1 on the Billboard charts, The first single from the new album was "(You Want to) Make a Memory".

Discography

1984 Bon Jovi
1985 7800° Fahrenheit
1986 Slippery When Wet
1988 New Jersey
1992 Keep the Faith
1995 These Days
2000 Crush
2002 Bounce
2005 Have a Nice Day
2007 Lost Highway