Bon Jovi's eponymous debut album was released in 1984, and "Runaway" became a Top 40 hit. Following its success, Tony Bongiovi sued the band, claiming he developed their successful sound; the group settled out of court. The following year, 7800 Fahrenheit was released and went gold. Despite the band's respectable success, Bon Jovi weren't becoming the superstars they had hoped, and they changed their approach for their next album, Slippery When Wet. Hiring professional songwriter Desmond Child as a collaborator, the group wrote 30 songs and auditioned them for local New Jersey and New York teenagers, basing the album's running order on their opinions. After ditching the original cover of a busty woman in a wet T-shirt for the title traced in water on a garbage bag, Slippery When Wet was released in 1986. Supported by several appealing, straightforward videos that showcased the photogenic Jon, the album eventually sold nine million copies in the U.S. alone, helping usher in the era of pop-metal. Two songs, "You Give Love a Bad Name" and "Livin' on a Prayer," reached number one, while "Wanted Dead or Alive" reached the Top Ten, and Bon Jovi were established as superstars.

Bon Jovi replicated the Slippery When Wet formula for 1988's New Jersey, which shot to number one upon its release. New Jersey was only slightly less successful than its predecessor, selling five million copies and generating two number one singles, "Bad Medicine" and "I'll Be There for You," as well as the Top Ten hits "Born to Be My Baby," "Lay Your Hands on Me," and "Living in Sin." In 1989, the band supported Cher, who was then dating Sambora, on her Heart of Stone album, which was recorded while the group was in the midst of an 18-month international tour. Following the completion of the tour, the band went on hiatus. During their time off, Jon Bon Jovi wrote the soundtrack for Young Guns II, which was released in 1990 as the Blaze of Glory album. The record produced two hit singles in the number one title track and the number 12 "Miracle," as well as earning Grammy and Oscar nominations.

The following year, Bon Jovi reunited to record their fifth album, Keep the Faith, which was released in the fall of 1992. While the album didn't match the blockbuster status of its predecessors, largely because musical tastes had shifted in the four years between New Jersey and Keep the Faith, it was nevertheless a big hit, and its more straightforward, anthem sound produced the hit single "Bed of Roses." A hits collection, Cross Road, followed in 1994, and in the fall of 1995, they released These Days, which proved to be a bigger success in Europe than America. After appearing in the 1996 film Moonlight and Valentino, Jon Bon Jovi released his first official solo album in the summer of 1997.

Three years later, Bon Jovi regrouped and released Crush. "It's My Life" and "Thank You for Loving Me" were a chart hits, and Bon Jovi's star power soared beyond their wildest dreams. Crush eventually went double platinum in the U.S. and sold eight million copies worldwide, but Bon Jovi stayed focused. Within a year they returned with an eighth studio effort, Bounce, which appeared in fall 2002. Tours across the globe as well as dates with the Goo Goo Dolls fared well. In 2003 Bon Jovi re-recorded many of their most well-known songs for the release This Left Feels Right and followed it in 2004 with a DVD companion of the same title. The ambitious 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong four-CD/one-DVD box set of rarities arrived later that November, followed by the all-new Have a Nice Day and a greatest-hits anthology called Cross Road in 2005. The band spent the following year in the studio, putting the finishing touches on a collection of pop-infused heartland country anthems. The resulting Lost Highway, which featured duets with LeAnn Rimes and Big & Rich, arrived in the summer of 2007.

John Francis Bongiovi Jr. was born March 2nd, 1962 at 8:45 pm in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, USA. He grew up in Sayreville. He 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, shoe stores, sold burgers, worked in a auto body shop and washed cars. He finally got his big break when WAPT, a local radio station, liked "Runaway", and included it on a compilation album. New York radio stations began playing it, so Jon needed to get a band together. Bon Jovi was finally complete when bass player Alec John Such introduced guitarist Richie Sambora to Jon. The band was named after Jon, but with the phonetic spelling of "Bon Jovi". Jon and the band have since experienced tremendous success with their music. Jon married his high school sweetheart, Dorothea Hurley, and they have two children - Stephanie Rose, and Jesse James Louis.

Richie Sambora was born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, and raised in Woodbridge. He got his first guitar in 1971 when he was 12, and started playing in bands three years later. A diversified music listener, Sambora comes from a background of The Beatles, Eric Clapton, Johnny Winter, Led Zeppelin and "a lot of blues stuff". Sambora had the opportunity to explore all of his musical avenues when he was afforded the making of his first solo album, "Stranger In This Town". "Mr. Bluesman", a single from the album, was inspired by Clapton, and when he agreed to play lead guitar on the track, a longtime dream of Sambora's was filled. He is a self-taught musician and plays many instruments such as all guitars, piano, bass, drums, trumpet, saxophone and accordion. He divides his time between Los Angeles and New Jersey. He and ex-wife Heather Locklear have a daughter Ava Elizabeth.

Born February 7, 1962 in Edison, New Jersey, David Bryan began taking piano lessons at the age of seven. He continued this classical study with Emery Hack for thirteen years. He enrolled at Rutgers University where he continued his musical education (and pre-med studies), preparing him for an audition at the prestigious Julliard School of Music. After gaining acceptance to the school, the phone rang with Jon Bon Jovi on the other end saying, “The record company just called. We have a record deal”. The choice was made and the rest is history. Bryan and wife April have three children.

Even before he joined with Jon Bon Jovi in 1983, Tico Torres, born October 7, 1953 in New York City, had already parlayed his drumming into a successful career. His studio and live experience with Frankie and the Knockouts,  Pat Benatar, Chuck Berry, Cher, Alice Cooper, and Stevie Nicks helped to establish him as one of the premier players, and even before meeting Jon, he had played on 26 albums. Playing with Bon Jovi has simply been the icing on the cake. 
Tico discovered another talent: painting. He has exhibited his art since 1994. The successful first show was at the Ambassador Galleries in Soho, New York. Tico is a self - taught painter, who paints expressive pictures which show every day life and the life with the band.
Tico owns a fashion line for babies called Rock Star Baby. Beside baby clothing, Rock Star Baby also produces learning methods and cartoons.
Tico also has an official Pilot's license.
Tico married Maria Alejandra in September 2001.