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

Bon Jovi pictured at Monsters of Rock, Castle Donington. David Bryan, Richie Sambora, Jon Bon Jovi, Tico Torres, and Alec John Such. 22nd August 1987.

Bon Jovi in 1987. Photo: Birmingham Post and Mail Archive/Mirrorpix/Getty

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.

01of 16

With the Band

American rock guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer, Richie Sambora, American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and actor, Jon Bon Jovi, American musician, Alec John Such, American musician, artist, and entrepreneur, Tico Torres, and American musician and songwriter, David Bryan, of the American rock band Bon Jovi, receive a gold record for their album "Slippery When Wet" circa 1986 in Los Angeles, California.

Richie Sambora, Jon Bon Jovi, Alec John Such, Tico Torres and David Bryan of Bon Jovi.Lester Cohen/Getty

Bandmates Richie Sambora, Jon Bon Jovi, Alec John Such, Tico Torres and David Bryan celebrated their record achieving gold status in 1986.

02of 16

Hair Apparent

American singer-songwriter, Jon Bon Jovi, who is the founder and frontman of the rock band Bon Jovi, poses during a portrait session before their concert at the Joe Louis Arena, during their Slippery When Wet tour, in Detroit, MI, May 26, 1987.

Jon Bon Jovi.Ross Marino/Getty

Ahead of the band’s Detroit tour stop in 1987, frontman Jon Bon Jovi posed for this glamour shot.

03of 16

Let It Rock

American musician, and the former bassist for the band Bon Jovi, Alec John Such, and rock guitarist best known as the lead guitarist for Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, perform during the Slippery When Wet Tour, on March 10, 1987, at Cobo Arena in Detroit, MI.

Alec John Such and Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi.Ross Marino/Getty

Alec John Such and Richie Sambora rocked it out onstage in Detroit in 1987.

04of 16

Wild in the Streets

American keyboardist and songwriter, David Bryan, and American singer-songwriter, Jon Bon Jovi, who is the founder and frontman of the rock band Bon Jovi, play cards on their private jet during their Slippery When Wet tour, Detroit, MI, May 26, 1987.

David Bryan and Jon Bon Jovi.Ross Marino/Getty

Taking off after their Detroit show, David Bryan and Jon Bon Jovi played a game of cards on their private plane.

05of 16

Livin’ on a Prayer

Bon Jovi pictured at Monsters of Rock, Castle Donington. David Bryan, Richie Sambora, Jon Bon Jovi, Tico Torres, and Alec John Such. 22nd August 1987.

David Bryan, Richie Sambora, Jon Bon Jovi, Tico Torres and Alec John Such of Bon Jovi.Birmingham Post and Mail Archive/Mirrorpix/Getty

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.

06of 16

You Give Love a Bad Name

Lead vocalist and band namesake Jon Bon Jovi and rock guitarist, Richie Sambora, who is best known as the lead guitarist for Bon Jovi, perform during the Slippery When Wet Tour, on March 10, 1987, at Cobo Arena in Detroit, MI.

Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora.Ross Marino/Getty

Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora had some fun on stage during one of their 1987 tour stops.

07of 16

Wanted Dead or Alive

Bon Jovi - Tico Torres, Richie Sambora, Alec John Sutch, Jon Bon Jovi and David Bryan - 1987

Tico Torres, Richie Sambora, Alec John Sutch, Jon Bon Jovi and David Bryan of Bon Jovi.Ilpo Musto/Shutterstock

While on the road in 1987, the group posed for another iconic portrait.

08of 16

I’d Die for You

Ben Jovi performing at the Sydney Entertainment centre.While some people buy up whole towns others give away their family homes. Rock star Bon Jovi has decided to give away his home to one of his dedicated fans. September 14, 1987.

Jon Bon Jovi.Trevor James Robert Dallen/Fairfax Media via Getty

On stage in Sydney in 1987, Jon Bon Jovi showed off his signature smile.

09of 16

Without Love

Lead vocalist and band namesake Jon Bon Jovi goofs around backstage during the Slippery When Wet Tour, on March 10, 1987, at Cobo Arena in Detroit, MI.

Jon Bon Jovi.Ross Marino/Getty

Frontman Jon Bon Jovi managed to have fun backstage at a show in 1987, too!

10of 16

Slippery When Wet

American Singer Jon Bon Jovi

Jon Bon Jovi.Bill Marino/Sygma via Getty

Is Jon Bon Jovi’s hair also slippery when wet?

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Edge of a Broken Heart

Richie Sambora, lead guitarist for the American hard rock band Bon Jovi, onstage at the Joe Louis Arena, during their Slippery When Wet tour, in Detroit, MI, May 26, 1987.

Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi.Ross Marino/Getty

Guitarist Richie Sambora was always one for on-stage theatrics.

12of 16

Social Disease

Lead vocalist and band namesake Jon Bon Jovi performs during the Slippery When Wet Tour, on March 10, 1987, at Cobo Arena in Detroit, MI.

Jon Bon Jovi.Ross Marino/Getty

Jon Bon Jovi’s late-’80s tour style included glimmering jackets and lots of hair accessories.

13of 16

Raise Your Hands

Jon Bon Jovi throwbacks

Jon Bon Jovi. Trevor James Robert Dallen/Fairfax Media via Getty

Jon Bon Jovi was doing aerial tricks even before Pink!

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Picture Perfect

David Bryan and Jon Bon Jovi of Bon Jovi, 1987

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.

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Take Two

Richie Sambora and Tico Torres of Bon Jovi, 1987

Ross Marino/Getty (2)

And feast your eyes on guitarist Richie Sambora and drummer Tico Torres.

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Never Say Goodbye

Portrait of American rock band Bon Jovi backstage before a performance, Illinois, early March, 1987. Pictured are, from left, David Bryan, Tico Torres, Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, and Alec John Such. (Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images)

David Bryan, Tico Torres, Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora and Alec John Such of Bon Jovi. Paul Natkin/Getty

Never stop rocking, guys.