As students, David Rushbaum and Jon Bon Jovi  from Sayreville, New Jersey formed a rock-band, which was influenced by soul-music and such artists as Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder and Smokey Robinson. After graduating from High School, Rushbaum left to become a student of the prestigious Juliards's musical school while Jon Bon Jovi went to New-York where he worked from 1980 in a studio owned by one of his relatives, Power Station Radio. Jon played with local bands and he formed the Atlantic City Express Way. Between 1980 and 1983 he recorded over 50 demos and in 1982 he recorded Runaway which was aired on a local radio station and became a surprise hit.

The next year the band called Bon Jovi was formed signing a contract with Mercury/Polygram Records.  The band was made up of Jon Bon Jovi, David Bryan, Tico Torres, Alec John Such, and Ritchie Sambora.

The first LP-album Bon Jovi was released in 1984. The album quickly became popular, and the band began touring.

 In 1985 the next album  7800 Fahrenheit became a gold record. It reached no.28 in the UK.

Slippery When Wet - the band's third album - appeared in 1986. More than 12 million copies were sold and it reached no.1 in the USA and 6 in the UK. For 2 more years the album was present in many countries' charts. Four songs from this record were UK hits,"You Give Love a Bad Name"- 14 "Livin' on a Prayer"- 4, "Wanted Dead or Alive"- 13, "Never Say Goodbye"- 21. In the USA, “You Give Love a Bad Name” reached no.1, “Livin’ on a Prayer” - 1 and “Wanted Dead or Alive” - 7.

Over the next 16 months they played 200 sold out shows and in Autumn 1988 they released New Jersey. The album reached no.1 in the USA and UK. UK hits included "Lay Your Hands on Me"- 18, "Bad Medicine"- 17, "I'll Be There for You"- 18, and “Born To Be My Baby”- 22, whilst US hit singles were “Bad Medicine” - 1, “Born To Be My Baby” - 3, “”I’ll Be There For You” - 1, “Lay Your Hands on Me” - 7 and “Living in Sin” - 9.

After the New Jersey Tour Jon did a soundtrack to the movie Young Guns 2 and won a Golden Globe Award for best soundtrack. The album containing the soundtrack was called Blaze of Glory .The album became popular reaching no.2 in the UK and no.3 in the USA, and the title-song “Blaze of Glory” was another big hit reaching no.1 in the USA and no.13 in the UK, with “Miracle” no.12 in the USA and no.29 in the UK.

In 1991 Bon Jovi decided to go their separate ways. Bon Jovi were awarded a Life Time Achievement award.

Richie Sambora released his own solo album, Stranger in the Town which reached no.20 in the UK.

In 1992, they reformed and the album Keep the Faith released in that year was the UK no.1 and no.5 in the USA and became double-platinum selling 10 million worldwide. UK hit singles between 1992 and 1993 were “Keep the Faith”- 5, “Bed of Roses”- 13, “In These Arms”- 9, “I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead”- 17 and “I Believe”- 11. US hits were “Keep the Faith” - 29, “Bed of Roses” - 10 and “In These Arms” - 27.

In 1994 Bon Jovi brought out their Greatest Hits album, which was called Crossroads , another UK no.1 and no.8 in the USA. 12 million copies of the album were sold worldwide. Also in 1994 Alec John Such left the band.

In July 1995 they brought out These Days which went Platinum in the USA, reaching no.8 and raced up the UK charts to no.1. They toured 42 Countries and played in 72 sold out Stadiums. UK hits between 1994 and 1996 included “Dry County”- 9, “Always”- 2, “Please Come Home For Christmas”- 7, “Someday I’ll Be Saturday Night”- 7, “This Ain’t a Love Song”- 6. “Something For the Pain”- 8, “Lie To Me”- 10, “These Days”- 7 and “Hey God”- 13. A single, ”Real Life” from the soundtrack of “EDtv” reached 21 in the UK in 1999. US hits were “Always” - 4, “This Ain’t a Love Song” - 14 and “These Days” - 9.

At this time they also explored solo projects, Tico Torres was involved in painting and art. David Bryan started to write musicals for the stage. Richie Sambora got married to Heather and Jon Bon Jovi started to act and appeared in six movies and in April 2000 he starred in U-571. He also starred in Pay it forward and a Vampire movie as well as appearing in several episodes of the by then ailing TV series, Ali McBeal. Jon Bon Jovi's solo-album Destination Anywhere was released in 1997, reaching no.2 in the UK and no.31 in the USA. Hit singles by Jon Bon Jovi in the UK were “Midnight At Chelsea”- 4, “Queen Of New Orleans”- 10 and “Janie, Don’t Take Your Love To Town”- 13. Richie Sambora’s solo album, Undiscovered Soul was no.24 in the UK.

June 2000 they released Crush , which was no.1 in the UK and no.9 in the USA. UK hit singles were “It’s My Life”- 3, “Say It Isn’t So”- 10 and “Thank You For Loving Me”- 12.

In May 2001 they decided to release a compilation album of live performances called One Wild Night (Live 1985 - 2001) , which reached no.2 in the UK and no.20in the USA.. A single,”One Wild Night” was no.10 in the UK.

They finished the One Wild Night Tour with two sell out nights at the Giants Stadium, New Jersey, USA, in July 2001.

The album Bounce was released in 2002 reaching no.2 in the UK and the USA, with a compilation album This Left Feels Right no.4 in 2003.