Editing Bon Jovi (section)

===Formation and "Runaway" (1980–1983)===
[[File:Avatar-studios.jpg|thumb|left|[[Power Station (recording studio)|The Power Station]] where Jon Bon Jovi worked]]
[[Jon Bon Jovi]] began performing music live in 1975, at the age of 13, playing piano and guitar with his first band, Raze.<ref name="love-it-loud">{{cite web |url=http://love-it-loud.co.uk/bon-jovi-the-early-years/ |title=Bon Jovi – The Early Years |publisher=Love It Loud |access-date=April 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180501093204/http://love-it-loud.co.uk/bon-jovi-the-early-years/ |archive-date=May 1, 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Michelle |last=Moore |url=http://roomthirteen.com/features/429/Jon_Bon_Jovi__a_talent_through_the_years.html |title=Jon Bon Jovi a talent through the years |publisher=Room Thirteen |date=April 23, 2007 |access-date=January 19, 2018}}</ref> At 16, Jon met [[David Bryan]] and formed a band called Atlantic City Expressway.<ref name="love-it-loud"/><ref name="Jon Bon Jovi Biography">{{cite web |url=https://www.biography.com/people/jon-bon-jovi-9542512|title=Jon Bon Jovi Biography |publisher=Biography.com |access-date=April 30, 2018}}</ref> Still in his teens, Bon Jovi played in the band John Bongiovi and the Wild Ones at clubs such as the Fast Lane and opening for local acts.<ref name="Jon Bon Jovi Biography"/><ref>{{cite web |first=Stan |last=Goldstein |url=http://www.nj.com/entertainment/music/index.ssf/2013/07/asbury_parks_fast_lane_comes_to_a_dead_end.html |title=Asbury Park's Fast Lane, where Springsteen and Bon Jovi played, comes to a dead end |publisher=New Jersey On-Line |date=July 12, 2013 |access-date=April 30, 2018}}</ref> By 1980, he had formed another band, the Rest, and opened up for New Jersey acts such as [[Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes]].<ref name="Jon Bon Jovi Biography"/><ref name="Bon Jovi Bio">{{cite web |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/bon-jovi/biography|title=Bon Jovi Bio |publisher=rollingstone |access-date=August 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124071718/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/bon-jovi/biography |archive-date=January 24, 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6745989/southside-johnny-the-veteran-jersey-boy-from-the-same-shore-as-springsteen-and|title=Southside Johnny, the Veteran Jersey Boy from the Same Shore as Springsteen and Bon Jovi|publisher=billboard}}</ref> Also in 1980, Jon recorded his first single, "Runaway" in his cousin's studio, backed up by studio musicians.<ref name="Jon Bon Jovi Biography"/> The song was played by a local radio station on a compilation tape.<ref name="Jon Bon Jovi Biography"/>

By mid-1982, out of school and working part-time at a women's shoe store, Jon Bon Jovi took a job at the [[Power Station (recording studio)|Power Station Studios]], a [[Manhattan]] recording facility where his cousin [[Tony Bongiovi]] was co-owner.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Manzoor |first=Sarfraz |date=2024-06-07 |title='I wish I had enjoyed success more': Jon Bon Jovi on megahits, marriage – and his fears for his career |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/article/2024/jun/07/i-wish-i-had-enjoyed-success-more-jon-bon-jovi-on-megahits-marriage-and-his-fears-for-his-career |access-date=2024-11-16 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Jon made several [[demo (music)|demos]]{{snd}}including one produced by [[Billy Squier]]{{snd}}and sent them to record companies, though failing to make an impact.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Callahan |first=Erinn |date=2024-10-09 |title=Bon Jovi and Alice Cooper Songwriter Jack Ponti Dead at 66 |url=https://americansongwriter.com/bon-jovi-and-alice-cooper-songwriter-jack-ponti-dead-at-66/ |access-date=2024-11-16 |website=American Songwriter |language=en-US}}</ref> His first professional recording was as lead vocals in "R2-D2 We Wish You a Merry Christmas," which was part of the ''[[Christmas in the Stars]]'' album which his cousin co-produced.<ref name="Bon Jovi Bio"/>

In 1983, Jon visited a local radio station [[WAPP 103.5FM "The Apple"]] in [[Lake Success, New York]], to write and sing the jingles for the station.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wright |first=Tracy |date=2022-06-06 |title=Bon Jovi: A look at the iconic rock band then and now |url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/bon-jovi-iconic-rock-band |access-date=2024-11-16 |website=Fox News |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Jon Bon Jovi |url=https://www.wapl.com/?artistProfile=1648 |access-date=2024-11-16 |website=105.7 WAPL {{!}} The Rockin' Apple |language=en}}</ref> He spoke with DJ Chip Hobart and to the promotion director, John Lassman, who suggested Jon let WAPP include the song "[[Runaway (Bon Jovi song)|Runaway]]" on the station's compilation album of local homegrown talent.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}<ref>{{Cite news |title=Jon Bon Jovi |url=https://thevogue.com/artists/jon-bon-jovi/ |work=The vogue}}</ref> Jon was reluctant, but eventually gave them the song, which he had re-recorded in 1982 (following a rough early recording in 1981) with local studio musicians whom he designated The All Star Review{{snd}}guitarist [[Tim Pierce]], keyboardist [[Roy Bittan]] (from [[Bruce Springsteen]]'s [[E Street Band]]), drummer [[Frankie LaRocka]], and bassist [[Hugh McDonald (American musician)|Hugh McDonald]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Rivadavia|first=Eduardo|url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/bon-jovi-facts/|title=13 Facts You May Not Know About Bon Jovi|date=December 31, 2014 }}</ref>

The song began to get airplay in the New York area, then other sister stations in major markets picked up the song.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}} In March 1983, Bon Jovi called David Bryan, who in turn called bassist Alec John Such and an experienced drummer named [[Tico Torres]], both formerly of the band Phantom's Opera.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}} Tapped to play lead guitar for a short tour supporting "Runaway" was Bon Jovi's friend and neighbor, [[Dave Sabo]] ("The Snake"), though he never officially joined the band.<ref>L.M Matin. Jon Bon Jovi: The Sinner and the Saint.: The New Unauthorised Biography. BookBaby, August 20, 2013; Chapter 4</ref> He and Jon promised each other that whoever made it first, would help out the other. Sabo later went on to form the group [[Skid Row (American band)|Skid Row]].{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}} Jon saw and was impressed with hometown guitarist Richie Sambora who was recommended by fellow bassist Alec John Such and drummer Tico Torres. Sambora had toured with [[Joe Cocker]], played with a group called [[Mercy (band)|Mercy]] and had been called up to audition for [[Kiss (band)|Kiss]].{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}} He also played on the album ''Lessons'', originally intended for release in 1982 with the band Message for which Alec John Such was the bassist.<ref>[https://www.discogs.com/Message-Lessons/master/956013 Message&nbsp;– ''Lessons'' @discogs.com] Retrieved January 23, 2018.</ref> Message was originally signed to [[Led Zeppelin]]'s [[Swan Song Records]] label, although the album was never officially released at the time.<ref name="Bon Jovi Bio"/> Meanwhile, WAPP, the station that had first played "Runaway" worked with WOR-TV (now WWOR-TV) in nearby Secaucus, NJ on a music video show, Rock 9 Videos, for a short time in 1984.<ref>{{cite web |last=Schonfeld |first=Zach |date=January 21, 2014 |title=On the 30th Anniversary of Bon Jovi's Debut, We Track Down the Guy Who Wrote 'Runaway' |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2014/01/on-the-30th-anniversary-of-bon-jovis-debut-we-track-down-the-guy-who-wrote-runaway/357110/ |website=[[The Atlantic]]}}</ref>

Tico Torres was also an experienced musician, having recorded and played live with Phantom's Opera, [[The Marvelettes]], and [[Chuck Berry]]. He appeared on 26 records and had recently recorded with [[Franke and the Knockouts]], a Jersey band with hit singles during the early 1980s.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}

David Bryan had quit the band that he and Bon Jovi had founded in order to study medicine. While in college, he realized that he wanted to pursue music full-time, and was accepted to [[Juilliard School]], a New York music school. When Bon Jovi called his friend and said that he was putting together a band, and a record deal looked likely, Bryan followed Bon Jovi's lead and gave up his studies.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}