Livin’ on a Prayer — and Big Hair! 16 Totally Epic Photos of Bon Jovi on Tour in the 1980s to Take You Back
The band’s first major headlining tour supported their ever-popular ‘Slippery When Wet’ album
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Bon Jovi in 1987
It doesn’t get more ’80s than this.
In 1986, the members of Bon Jovi — Richie Sambora, Jon Bon Jovi, Alec John Such, Tico Torres and David Bryan — embarked on their Slippery When Wet Tour, traveling the globe in support of their hit album of the same name. After kicking off in Canada, the group traveled to Japan and Australia, through Europe and to just about every city in America to belt their hits like “You Give Love a Bad Name” and “Livin’ on a Prayer.”
“We thought we had a really good record,” frontman Jon Bon Jovi recalled on a 2021 episode of the Rockonteurs with Gary Kemp and Guy Pratt podcast. It was: the album itself went 12-times Platinum and the tour was a major financial success for the group.
Grab your neon leggings, crimp your hair and take a trip back to the late 1980s with some incredible photos of the band on the Slippery When Wet Tour.
With the Band
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Richie Sambora, Jon Bon Jovi, Alec John Such, Tico Torres and David Bryan of Bon Jovi
Bandmates Richie Sambora, Jon Bon Jovi, Alec John Such, Tico Torres and David Bryan celebrated their record achieving gold status in 1986.
Hair Apparent
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Jon Bon Jovi
Ahead of the band’s Detroit tour stop in 1987, frontman Jon Bon Jovi posed for this glamour shot.
Let It Rock
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Alec John Such and Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi
Alec John Such and Richie Sambora rocked it out onstage in Detroit in 1987.
Wild in the Streets
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David Bryan and Jon Bon Jovi
Taking off after their Detroit show, David Bryan and Jon Bon Jovi played a game of cards on their private plane.
Livin’ on a Prayer
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David Bryan, Richie Sambora, Jon Bon Jovi, Tico Torres and Alec John Such of Bon Jovi
At the 1987 Monsters of Rock festival at England’s Castle Donington, David Bryan, Richie Sambora, Jon Bon Jovi, Tico Torres and Alec John Such posed in all their glory.
You Give Love a Bad Name
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Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora
Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora had some fun on stage during one of their 1987 tour stops.
Wanted Dead or Alive
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Tico Torres, Richie Sambora, Alec John Sutch, Jon Bon Jovi and David Bryan of Bon Jovi
While on the road in 1987, the group posed for another iconic portrait.
I’d Die for You
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Jon Bon Jovi
On stage in Sydney in 1987, Jon Bon Jovi showed off his signature smile.
Without Love
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Jon Bon Jovi
Frontman Jon Bon Jovi managed to have fun backstage at a show in 1987, too!
Slippery When Wet
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Jon Bon Jovi
Is Jon Bon Jovi’s hair also slippery when wet?
Edge of a Broken Heart
Ross Marino/Getty
Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi
Guitarist Richie Sambora was always one for on-stage theatrics.
Social Disease
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Jon Bon Jovi
Jon Bon Jovi’s late-’80s tour style included glimmering jackets and lots of hair accessories.
Raise Your Hands
Trevor James Robert Dallen/Fairfax Media via Getty Jon Bon Jovi
Jon Bon Jovi was doing aerial tricks even before Pink!
Picture Perfect
Ross Marino/Getty (2)
Backstage on a 1987 tour stop, the band took these amazing portraits. Here’s keyboardist David Bryan and Jon Bon Jovi.
Take Two
Ross Marino/Getty (2)
And feast your eyes on guitarist Richie Sambora and drummer Tico Torres.
Never Say Goodbye
Paul Natkin/Getty David Bryan, Tico Torres, Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora and Alec John Such of Bon Jovi
Never stop rocking, guys.
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