Summary
- Jon Bon Jovi employs his band members and gave Cher a career boost through his production skills.
- Bon Jovi is not only a rock star but also a charitable man who founded a football team and is related to Frank Sinatra.
- Despite his successful music career, Jon Bon Jovi has also ventured into acting and received recognitions like White House appointment.
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "It's not the destination, it's the journey." Jon Bon Jovi's time as a rock star fits that quote perfectly, as he has been in the music industry for decades. People who grew up in the 80s are familiar with the band, Bon Jovi, and their lead singer Jon Bon Jovi, was once one of the biggest stars in rock music.
His band's songs are timeless, and the album, Slippery When Wet, is just one of the band's iconic records. Bon Jovi might not have the most dramatic story when it comes to his rise to fame, but he is certainly a living legend, thanks to countless achievements.
Here are twenty facts that everyone forgets about Jon Bon Jovi, who is now 62 years old.
Updated May 2024: After receiving vocal cord surgery in 2022, there is no telling if Jon Bon Jovi will be touring ever again. Since the surgery, Bon Jovi has been rehabbing his voice. However, he was able to complete a new album that will be out in June 2024. Currently, "Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story" is on Disney+, which is a four-part docuseries on the band as they hit their fortieth anniversary together. Bon Jovi hopes to tour again, but whether that will be possible is not yet known by the singer or his doctors.
20 Jon Bon Jovi Owns The Band
Jon Bon Jovi employs the band members in Bon Jovi rather than having a business manager handle it
Many bands feature members who started out as friends. Bon Jovi's approach to band members is vastly different.
As well as ensuring that his band was named after him, Bon Jovi made sure to employ his band members. The reason for this was to make business management easier to deal with.
19 Jon Bon Jovi Has His Own Foundation
Jon Bon Jovi started the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation in 2006
One of the most uplifting attributes Bon Jovi has is kindness - he does a lot for charity.
In 2006, he founded the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, which is a nonprofit organization that helps those who are hungry and homeless.
When it comes to rock stars, he is certainly an incredible one to look up to, since he gives back.
18 Jon Bon Jovi Brought Cher's Career To Life
Jon Bon Jovi produced Cher's album, Cher
If it wasn't for Jon Bon Jovi, Cher probably would not have become as successful as she did. She had albums back before she started working with Jon, but she got together with him (professionally speaking) in the late 80s...and her career changed for the better.
Bon Jovi was responsible for producing her self-titled album, Cher, which went certified platinum.
17 Jon Bon Jovi Took On Acting
Jon Bon Jovi has nearly 20 acting credits to his name
Along with being in his band, Bon Jovi has proven himself to be a charming and talented actor. He branched out in the 90s, when hair bands started to wain, starring in films such as Moonlight and Valentino and Destination Anywhere: The Film.
As for television shows, he's also appeared in Sex and the City and 30 Rock.
16 Jon Bon Jovi Worked For Studio Time
Jon Bon Jovi worked at his cousin's music studio for booth-recording time
At times, people can take their family members for granted, but Jon values family. Bon Jovi was fortunate to work on his musical talent at a studio owned by his cousin, Tony Bongiovi.
When he was seventeen, Bon Jovi worked at Tony's Power Station recording studio, sweeping floors. But it was all good when he got the opportunity to train there as a singer and eventually cut his first single as well.
15 Jon Bon Jovi Is A Geek At Heart
Jon Bon Jovi is a huge fan of Star Wars
During Bon Jovi's adolescence, Star Wars was a hot topic in the media. It may come as a shock that Bon Jovi's first official recording was a Star Wars Christmas song.
When record producer, Meco, was at Tony's record studio, the latter encouraged Bon Jovi to record with him. Thus, "R2-D2 We Wish You A Merry Christmas" became a reality.
14 Jon Bon Jovi Founded The Soul
Jon Bon Jovi founded the football team, the Philadelphia Soul
Bon Jovi's contributions to society are just endless. One fact that a casual fan of Bon Jovi might not know is that he founded the professional football team, Philadelphia Soul.
Bon Jovi would not be the head of that team for long, though. Still, it was something interesting that Bon Jovi contributed to for some time.
13 Jon Bon Jovi Was Responsible With Prescriptions
Jon Bon Jovi's voice was strained while touring, requiring him to take steroids to get through shows
Bon Jovi sincerely gives his all during his concert performances. During the tour that promoted the Slippery When Wet album, his voice was shot to the point where he had to take prescription-strength steroids.
It was an exhausting time, but thankfully, Bon Jovi made it through, along with his band.
12 Jon Bon Jovi And The Band Were Rejected By Major Record Labels
Jon Bon Jovi and the band were rejected by Mercury and Atlantic Records
Looking back, the record labels that rejected Bon Jovi surely regretted doing so.
Famous record companies, Atlantic and Mercury, were the ones that turned him down. Ironically, Mercury signed Jon and the band later on. He and the band left that label after thirty-two years. The split with Mercury was bitter.
11 Jon Bon Jovi Received A White House Appointment
Jon Bon Jovi was named to the White House Council for Community Solutions
To get recognized by a country's leader is a huge accomplishment.
When Barack Obama was the POTUS in 2010, he named Bon Jovi to the White House Council for Community Solutions. Due to Bon Jovi's work with his nonprofit organization, it was the right call.
