What's Spinning: Season 2, Vol. 11
Hair metal Saturday night!
It's a hair metal kind of Saturday night...
Before he went country and pop rock, Bon Jovi, actually rocked out pretty hard. They were definitely one of those bands that couldn't miss in the 80s.
One thing this album reminds me of is hanging out with my cousin Johnny. He was a bit older than me but he always had hair metal playing when I'd spend the night at my cousins' house. He'd let me listen to hair metal until my Aunt Gerrie said it was time for bed.
Bon Jovi was one that was always playing; Slippery When Wet, Fahrenheit 7500, all of their albums. Good times, great memories.
This was the band's first album after a long journey to the big time. John Francis Bongiovi spent his time working at his cousin's record label and kept sending his demos out. In 1982 when he went to WAPP 103.5FM, The Apple, and gave the studio his demo tape. They ended up loving the, Runaway, and the band got signed to a record deal with Mercury Records.
In order to record their album John reached out to drummer, Tico Torres, guitarist Dave Sabo (who would leave the band before recording the album to form Skid Row), and Alec Such on bass. Sabo would be replaced by Richie Sambora.
The album gained moderate success but according to lead singer, Jon Bon Jovi, they weren't a very good band at the time. They just had a talented drummer who could keep time. They wouldn't find their footing until their third album, Slippery When Wet.
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Bon Jovi - Bon Jovi
Mercury, 1984
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