20 Incredible Throwback Photos of Jon Bon Jovi

These photos of the “Livin’ on a Prayer” singer — who turns 62 on March 2, 2024 — show he’s always had legendary stage presence and even more legendary hair

Jon Bon Jovi. PHOTO: ROSS MARINO/GETTY

Happy Birthday, Jon Bon Jovi!

The beloved rock icon turns 62 on March 2, 2024, and to celebrate, we’re taking it back to the 1980s and revisiting some of his best stage moments with his bandmates and longtime love, Dorothea.

In a 2020 interview with USA Today, Bon Jovi said of aging, “I’m okay with getting older, I really am. I’m drawn to elders. The guys I look up to are older than I: when I talk [music] with Paul McCartney and Bruce Springsteen, when I talk football with Robert Kraft and Jerry Jones, when I talk politics with President Clinton. Getting old doesn’t scare me. It sort of just makes me realize that it’s worth staying in good health to be able to write about more experiences.”

As the rocker marks another trip around the sun, take a look at some of his most epic throwback photos.

01of 20

1980s: Big Hair, Don’t Care

A young Jon Bon Jovi. MICHAEL OCHS ARCHIVES/GETTY

We hope that we “Always” remember the New Jersey rocker Jon Bon Jovi’s fluffy, oh-so-’80s hair.

02of 20

1984: Letting It Rip

A young Jon Bon Jovi. PAUL NATKIN/GETTY

The torn clothes! The hair! The leather pants! Bon Jovi sure lived up to his song title, “Wild In The Streets”! We wouldn’t be surprised if this photo came up when you searched for “’80s Rocker” in the dictionary.

03of 20

1984: Making His Mark

A young Jon Bon Jovi. KOH HASEBE/SHINKO MUSIC/GETTY

In 1984, Jon Bon Jovi’s band, which took its name from their frontman, released their first single, “Runaway.” We’d absolutely be running away from home if it meant Bon Jovi was waiting for us …

04of 20

1985: Born to Perform

A young Jon Bon Jovi. ROSS MARINO/GETTY

We’re going to “Have a Nice Day” now that we’ve seen this photo of the rocker in these patchwork pants, sparkly headscarf and leopard-print shirt.

05of 20

1985: The United States of Bon Jovi

A young Jon Bon Jovi. EBET ROBERTS/REDFERNS

Where can we sign up to become a citizen of the United States of Bon Jovi?

06of 20

1987: Flying High

A young Jon Bon Jovi. TREVOR JAMES ROBERT DALLEN/FAIRFAX MEDIA VIA GETTY

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Bon Jovi flying into a concert in Sydney, Australia!

07of 20

1988: Supporting Cher

A young Jon Bon Jovi. BARRY KING/WIREIMAGE

Did you know that, in 1987, Jon Bon Jovi helped produce Cher’s self-titled comeback album? He was also on hand to support the singer at the American Music Awards in 1988.

1988: Giving Love a Good Name

A young Jon Bon Jovi. RON GALELLA/RON GALELLA COLLECTION VIA GETTY

Bon Jovi was “Shot Through the Heart” when he met his high school sweetheart, Dorothea Hurley. The pair married in 1989 and have been together for more than 40 years.

09of 20

1991: Going for Gold

A young Jon Bon Jovi. RON GALELLA/WIREIMAGE

Hurley was by her husband’s side at the 1991 Golden Globe Awards, where the rocker won best original song for “Blaze of Glory.”

10of 20

1991: American Made

A young Jon Bon Jovi. BILL NATION/SYGMA VIA GETTY

The singer rocked a headscarf, sunglassese and a purple vest to accept the American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Single in 1991.

11of 20

1991: Purple Haze

A young Jon Bon Jovi. RON GALELLA/RON GALELLA COLLECTION VIA GETTY

In 1991, the rocker and his wife coordinated in purple looks for the Academy Awards. Hurley sparkled in a sequined gown, while Bon Jovi crushed it in velvet.

12of 20

1995: All About Rock ‘N’ Roll

A young Jon Bon Jovi. JEFF KRAVITZ/FILMMAGIC

Dorothea was again by her husband’s side for the 1995 grand opening of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum in Cleveland.

13of 20

1998: It’s a ‘Story of Love’

A young Jon Bon Jovi. STEVE GRANITZ/WIREIMAGE

The rocker told PEOPLE in 2020 that the secret to the couple’s marriage is “mutual respect. Having grown up together and grown together. And we really like each other. We want to hang out.”

14of 20

1994: Nothing But Blue Sky

A young Jon Bon Jovi. RON GALELLA/RON GALELLA COLLECTION VIA GETTY

“Do What You Can” to not stare at this photo of the rocker at the premiere of Blue Sky.

15of 20

1996: New Year’s Day

A young Jon Bon Jovi. MICK HUTSON/REDFERNS

In 1996, PEOPLE named the rocker one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World. Are you really surprised?

16of 20

1997: Destination Anywhere

A young Jon Bon Jovi. KEVIN MAZUR ARCHIVE/WIREIMAGE

The rocker made a switch to acting in in ’90s, appearing in movies like Moonlight and Valentino (1995), The Leading Man (1996), Little City (1997) and even acting in a short film alongside Demi Moore titled after his solo album, Destination Anywhere, in 1997.

17of 20

2000: U-571

A young Jon Bon Jovi. GETTY

In 2000, the singer starred in U-571, in which he gave us the gift of playing a man in uniform. The year before, he made a cameo in Sex and the City, and in 2002, he starred in Ally McBeal.

18of 20

2000: London Calling

A young Jon Bon Jovi. DAVE HOGAN/GETTY

Is it any wonder that, in 2000, Bon Jovi earned the title of “Sexiest Rock Star?”

19of 20

2001: Bon Jovi Does ‘SNL’

A young Jon Bon Jovi. DANA EDELSON/NBCU PHOTO BANK/NBCUNIVERSAL VIA GETTY

In 2001, Bon Jovi stopped by SNL as a musical guest (for the third time) and got in on the fun! He’d return to host the show in 2007, and again as a musical guest in 2009.

20of 20

2003: Viva Las Vegas

A young Jon Bon Jovi. SCOTT HARRISON/LIAISON

We “Never Can Say Goodbye” to these vintage photos!