Bon Jovi Nearly Had Shocking Original Name—Legendary Band Changed Identity After 70s Rock Icon’s Influence Revealed! Fans Stunned as Jon Bon Jovi Admits Group Was Almost Unrecognizable Before Adopting Famous Moniker—Discover the Surprising Story Behind the Name That Nearly Changed Rock History Forever
Bon Jovi has been able to tout the title of one of the best selling American rock bands of all time since its inception in 1983. Known for hits such as “Livin’ On A Prayer,” “You Give Love A Bad Name,” and “It’s My Life,” this band has cemented itself as one of the longest-running and successful bands in American music.
Originally composed of members Jon Bon Jovi (the stage moniker of Jon Bongiovi), David Bryan, Tico Torres, Alec John Such, and Richie Sambora, this band has garnered 9 Grammy nominations, 4 Billboard Awards nominations, and 6 American Music Award nominations, released 16 full studio albums, and have gone on an array of record-breaking tours.
But, this legendary band wasn’t originally meant to be called Bon Jovi. In fact, they came very close to being called a completely different name. So, how did they end up with the name Bon Jovi?
Bon Jovi Was Originally Supposed to Be Called Johnny Electric
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The formation of Bon Jovi was a long time coming. As early as 1975, Jon Bon Jovi formed his first band, Raze, when he was just 13 years old. Three years later, he met Bryan (who would go on to be part of Bon Jovi), and they pair began to play in bands together, including one that was called Jon Bongiovi and the Wild Ones. But, by 1980, Jon Bon Jovi’s traction as an artist began to pick up when he released his song, “Runaway,” which began to become popular in local markets, but didn’t really take off.
After that, Bon Jovi actually began to stray away from music production, opting instead to work jobs in New York recording studios and radio stations. When the station’s director asked Bon Jovi if he could include “Runaway” in a compilation album, Bon Jovi agreed, and re-recorded the song. This release began to gain even more traction, reaching bigger and more widespread markets. As the song began to climb in popularity, Bon Jovi realized it was time to get the band back together, and he and Bryan got the rest of the original group together.
From there, it was fast and furious for the band, as they signed to Mercury Records, and began touring around as opening acts at various shows. But, as the band started to become “official” with the signing to a record label, it came time to choose a name. Bon Jovi had initially planned to call the band Johnny Electric, but record executives felt like that might not be as marketable.
The Name Bon Jovi Was Actually Inspired By Another Popular Rock Band
As the group began to debate band names, an employee of Doc McGhee, the band’s manager, suggested the name Bon Jovi, citing the popular rock band Van Halen as inspiration. Van Halen had formed in the early 1970s, and had achieved massive commercial success by the late 70s and early 80s. The group had gotten its name from taking the last name of front man Eddie Van Halen, who, in turn, was inspired by the short and to-the-point band names of groups like Santana, feeling that a shorter band name was more marketable and would leave a better impression on listeners.
So, Bon Jovi settled on the name, taking it from the stage version of their lead singer’s last name, Bongiovi. They even took things a step further by naming their 1984 debut album Bon Jovi, further cementing their status as another rock band with another shortened name. Bon Jovi proved to be a commercial success, having since been certified Platinum in the United States alone. The album famously included “Runaway,” the hit that put the band on the map to begin with, as well as “Shot Through The Heart” (which is not to be confused with “You Give Love A Bad Name,” a song featuring the same lyrics off Bon Jovi’s 1985 album, Slippery When Wet).
Over forty years later, Bon Jovi continues to make music today, with their latest album having been released as recently as last year, with 2024’s Forever. Aside from Jon Bon Jovi, original members David Bryan and Tico Torres are also still involved with the band. And while multiple members of the band have gone on to explore various solo projects in music, film, and even Broadway, Bon Jovi still remains a rock legend, and likely will for many decades to come.
