| Bon Jovi's eponymous debut album was released in 1984, featuring the Top 40 hit "Runaway". Following its success, Tony Bongiovi sued the band, claiming he developed their successful sound; the group settled out of court. The following year, 7800 Fahrenheit was released and went gold. Despite the band's respectable success, Bon Jovi weren't becoming the superstars they had hoped, and they changed their approach for their next album, Slippery When Wet. Hiring professional songwriter Desmond Child as a collaborator, the group wrote 30 songs and auditioned them for local New Jersey and New York teenagers, basing the album's running order on their opinions. Slippery When Wet was released in 1986. Supported by several videos showcasing the photogenic Jon, the album eventually sold 9 million copies in the U.S. alone. Two songs, "You Give Love a Bad Name" and "Livin' on a Prayer," reached number 1, while "Wanted Dead or Alive" reached the Top 10, and Bon Jovi were established as superstars! |
