Perseverance . It’s a necessary quality to survive many of life’s major challenges, but you’ll likely need a double dose to withstand the ruthless nature of the music industry. Thankfully for Jon Bon Jovi , he fostered this steadfast attitude in the early days of his career when he had to power through his first song Runaway being rejected by countless studios and his rock band roaming the streets of New Jersey playing local bars and clubs hoping for a break.
Their first two albums, the self-titled Bon Jovi in 1984 and the follow-up 7800 Degrees Fahrenheit the following year, enjoyed reasonable success. But their third album Slippery When Wet propelled them to stratospheric fame as it was filled with classics such as You Give Love A Bad Name, Wanted Dead Or Alive and Livin’ On a Prayer. With its soaring guitar riffs and well-crafted melody, the later track was destined to become anthemic, but possibly why it continues to be a cultural cornerstone is its story of perseverance, reminding us to hold on to hope.
“It’s been our journey, and at least I can speak from my writing, that when you write truth, people find that’s their story too”, says Bon Jovi, 62, as he reflects on how the band’s music still resonates as they reach their 40th milestone. The formula seems to have worked as the band has gone on to sell more than 130 million albums, performed in more than 50 countries and been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The group has now released their.
