Hard-rock band founded in early 1983 and led by John Bon Jovi (Bongiovi; b 2 March 1962; vocals and songwriting). It achieved prominence as part of the so-called hair metal or lite metal wing of the general heavy-metal movement during 1980s. The group’s first two albums gradually built up its success, but Bon Jovi broke into the mainstream following the release of Slippery when Wet (Mercury, 1986), which featured finely honed production and contributions by the famous “hired-gun” songwriter Desmond Child. The group’s energetic rock style engages with topics of romance and hedonism but nevertheless retains important connections to a set of working-class experiences in a manner popularized by Bruce Springsteen. Music videos for “You give love a bad name” and “Livin’ on a Prayer,” both of which became top ten singles, showcased a photogenic and non-threatening version of heavy metal quite at odds with that put forth by such groups as Metallica and Iron Maiden. “Wanted Dead or Alive” couched the travails of life on the road in the sentimental aesthetics of an acoustic power ballad. The group quickly followed with ...