Pop metal emerged in the mid to late 1980s, as a more mainstream offshoot of glam metal which had taken off in the late 70s and early 80s with bands. The bands, which would later be denigrated as “hair metal”, combined heavy metal and hard rock with pop hooks and were stereotyped by long hair, tight pants and headbands.
One of the most successful graduates of the glam and pop metal movement was Bon Jovi. They formed in 1983 with front man Jon Bon Jovi, guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, and bassist Alec John Such. Their first album was released the following year.
Bon Jovi (1984)
Bon Jovi is a solid, if unspectacular debut. The only track from this album that still appears in set lists today is “Runaway”, which was ironically recorded by session musicians, including E Street Band member Roy Bittan and future Bon Jovi bassist Huey McDonald, before Jon Bon Jovi had assembled his band.
The catchy and surprisingly thoughtful track reached the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. But unlike some of Bon Jovi's more well-known and timeless classics, the overall feel of the album is distinctly 80s and can sound quite dated.
7800°Fahrenheit (1985)
Bon Jovi has not played a song from its sophomore album since 2001, effectively “disowning” it in interviews. 7800°Fahrenheit suffers for its poor production but it represents a significant bridge between its predecessor and Bon Jovi’s later work.
In general, Fahrenheit features more mature songwriting and a harder rock sound, along with fan favourites “In & Out of Love” and “Tokyo Road”. Songs like “Only Lonely” and “Silent Night” are a taste of the big love ballads that Bon Jovi would eventually be famous for.
Slippery When Wet (1986)
Slippery When Wet was Bon Jovi’s breakthrough album and their most commercially successful release, spawning their first number one “You Give Love a Bad Name”, as well as signature songs “Livin’ on a Prayer” and “Wanted Dead or Alive” which are still concert staples today.
The album marked the beginning of a continuing relationship with songwriter Desmond Child. The sound they had developed on Fahrenheit was polished to produce almost perfect “metal for the masses”: a hard rock record full of catchy songs with bright, melodic hooks.
New Jersey (1988)
Under pressure to prove Slippery was not an accident, Bon Jovi quickly re-entered the studio to write and record a new album and embark on another gruelling tour that almost spelled the end of the band. New Jersey demonstrates the band’s gradual artistic growth.
Party anthems like “Bad Medicine” and “Born To Be My Baby”, which are concert regulars today, sit comfortably alongside deeper songs like “Living in Sin” and fan favourite “Blood on Blood”. New Jersey featured five top 10 singles in the US and was a number one album in the US, UK and Australia.
But the end of the New Jersey Tour, the members of Bon Jovi went their separate ways, with the future of the band seemingly in doubt. They would eventually regroup in the 90s with a new look and sound.
