Bon Jovi

Solo Artist

Photo: David Shankbone · CC BY 3.0
Active 1983-present
Origin Sayreville, New Jersey
Albums 16
Tracks 184
Most frequent collaborator John Shanks · 85 tracks
Genres Hard RockArena RockRockPop Rock
Complete Artist
99%
Authorship

Holds writing credit on 183 of 184 tracks

Does Bon Jovi write their own songs?

Yes, mostly. Bon Jovi are credited on 99% of their catalogue, with Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora writing the large majority. The main outside name is professional songwriter Desmond Child, who co-wrote their biggest hits 'Livin' on a Prayer' and 'You Give Love a Bad Name.' Later albums brought in writers like John Shanks, but the band is always part of the credit.

By the Numbers

16
Studio Albums
184
Tracks Credited
99%
Self-Written
more than 130 million
Records Sold
43
Years Active
41
Collaborators

Authorship Breakdown 183 / 184 self-written

Who wrote the songs?

Across all 184 tracks: how many Bon Jovi wrote alone, how many they co-wrote, and how many were written by others. The bracket marks every track they hold any writing credit on.

Bon Jovi has a writing credit99%
45%
55%
1%
Sole author82tracks45%
Co-written101tracks55%
Outside writers1tracks1%

Role Fingerprint how they contribute

Lyricist Performer Composer Producer
Bon Jovi's roles across the catalogue

Share of all 184 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.

Lyricist (words)99%
Composer (music)99%
Producer64%
Performer100%

Member Credit Breakdown share of tracks each member is credited on

Percentage of all 184 tracks, across every album, where each member holds a credit - split by role.

MemberPeriodLyricsMusicProductionPerformance
Jon Bon Jovi 1983-present
99%
99%
64%
100%
Richie Sambora 1983-2013
54%
54%
40%
0%
David Bryan 1983-present
4%
4%
0%
0%
Tico Torres 1983-present
1%
1%
0%
0%
Alec John Such Died June 5, 2022 1983-1994 (died June 5, 2022)
0%
0%
0%
0%
Hugh McDonald 1994-present
0%
0%
0%
0%
Phil X 2016-present
0%
0%
0%
0%

Authorship Over Time writing credit per album

Bon Jovi's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.

avg 99%
89%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
1984Bon Jovi
19857800° Fahrenheit
1986Slippery When Wet
1988New Jersey
1992Keep the Faith
1995These Days
2000Crush
2002Bounce
2005Have a Nice Day
2007Lost Highway
2009The Circle
2013What About Now
2015Burning Bridges
2016This House Is Not for Sale
20202020
2024Forever
Early · 99% written
Mid · 100% written
Late · 100% written

Authorship by Decade track-weighted

98%
1980s
Bon Jovi, 7800° Fahrenheit +2 more
100%
1990s
Keep the Faith, These Days
100%
2000s
Crush, Bounce +3 more
100%
2010s
What About Now, Burning Bridges +1 more
100%
2020s
2020, Forever

Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author

Where Bon Jovi sits on the scale from a pure performer (0%, sings songs written by others) to a complete author (100%, writes everything). The bright marker is their catalogue authorship score, plotted against other artists on the site.

Bon Jovi
Other artists on the site

Reference artists spread across the scale, closest by genre and era.

Tina Turner0%
Cher8%
Backstreet Boys25%
Kelly Clarkson49%
Cyndi Lauper60%
The Rolling Stones76%
Sheryl Crow88%
99%Bon Jovi
Pure Performer0%
Songwriter~50%
Complete Author100%

Who Really Wrote the Hits signature songs

Runaway
Bon Jovi
Written by Jon Bon Jovi, George Karak
Co-wrote
She Don't Know Me
Bon Jovi
Written by Mark Avsec
Outside writers
Only Lonely
7800° Fahrenheit
Written by Jon Bon Jovi, David Bryan
Wrote it
In and Out of Love
7800° Fahrenheit
Written by Jon Bon Jovi
Wrote it
You Give Love a Bad Name
Slippery When Wet
Written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Desmond Child
Co-wrote
Livin' on a Prayer
Slippery When Wet
Written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Desmond Child
Co-wrote
Wanted Dead or Alive
Slippery When Wet
Written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora
Wrote it
Never Say Goodbye
Slippery When Wet
Written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora
Wrote it
Bad Medicine
New Jersey
Written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Desmond Child
Co-wrote
Born to Be My Baby
New Jersey
Written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Desmond Child
Co-wrote
I'll Be There for You
New Jersey
Written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora
Wrote it
Lay Your Hands on Me
New Jersey
Written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora
Wrote it
Living in Sin
New Jersey
Written by Jon Bon Jovi
Wrote it
Keep the Faith
Keep the Faith
Written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Desmond Child
Co-wrote
Bed of Roses
Keep the Faith
Written by Jon Bon Jovi
Wrote it
In These Arms
Keep the Faith
Written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, David Bryan
Wrote it
This Ain't a Love Song
These Days
Written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Desmond Child
Co-wrote
Something for the Pain
These Days
Written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Desmond Child
Co-wrote
Lie to Me
These Days
Written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora
Wrote it
These Days
These Days
Written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora
Wrote it
It's My Life
Crush
Written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Max Martin
Co-wrote
Say It Isn't So
Crush
Written by Jon Bon Jovi, Billy Falcon
Co-wrote
Thank You for Loving Me
Crush
Written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora
Wrote it
Everyday
Bounce
Written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Andreas Carlsson
Co-wrote
Misunderstood
Bounce
Written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Desmond Child, Andreas Carlsson
Co-wrote
All About Lovin' You
Bounce
Written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Desmond Child, Andreas Carlsson
Co-wrote
Have a Nice Day
Have a Nice Day
Written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, John Shanks
Co-wrote
Who Says You Can't Go Home
Have a Nice Day
Written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora
Wrote it
Welcome to Wherever You Are
Have a Nice Day
Written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, John Shanks
Co-wrote
(You Want to) Make a Memory
Lost Highway
Written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Desmond Child
Co-wrote
Lost Highway
Lost Highway
Written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, John Shanks
Co-wrote
Till We Ain't Strangers Anymore
Lost Highway
Written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Brett James
Co-wrote
We Weren't Born to Follow
The Circle
Written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora
Wrote it
Superman Tonight
The Circle
Written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Billy Falcon
Co-wrote
Because We Can
What About Now
Written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Billy Falcon
Co-wrote
This House Is Not for Sale
This House Is Not for Sale
Written by Jon Bon Jovi, John Shanks, Billy Falcon
Co-wrote
Limitless
2020
Written by Jon Bon Jovi, Billy Falcon, John Shanks
Co-wrote
Do What You Can
2020
Written by Jon Bon Jovi
Wrote it
Legendary
Forever
Written by Jon Bon Jovi, John Shanks, Billy Falcon
Co-wrote
Living Proof
Forever
Written by Jon Bon Jovi, John Shanks
Co-wrote

Discography 16 albums

Collaborator Network who they worked with most

Bon Jovi184 tracks
85John Shanks, 85 tracks BF33Billy Falcon, 33 tracks 26Desmond Child, 26 tracks LE24Luke Ebbin, 24 tracks BF22Bruce Fairbairn, 22 tracks LQ19Lance Quinn, 19 tracks BR14Bob Rock, 14 tracks PC14Peter Collins, 14 tracks TB9Tony Bongiovi, 9 tracks DH6Dann Huff, 6 tracks AC5Andreas Carlsson, 5 tracks MM2Max Martin, 2 tracks BJ2Brett James, 2 tracks CD2Chris DeStefano, 2 tracks RT2Ryan Tedder, 2 tracks on OneRepublic's page GK1George Karak, 1 track MA1Mark Avsec, 1 track JP1Jack Ponti, 1 track BG1Bill Grabowski, 1 track DW1Diane Warren, 1 track HK1Holly Knight, 1 track DG1Dean Grakal, 1 track MH1Mark Hudson, 1 track PS1Peter Stuart, 1 track GW1Greg Wells, 1 track RP1Rick Parashar, 1 track BK1Big Kenny, 1 track JR1John Rich, 1 track B&1Big & Rich, 1 track GS1Gordie Sampson, 1 track HL1Hillary Lindsey, 1 track LR1LeAnn Rimes, 1 track DB1Darrell Brown, 1 track AG1Ashley Gorley, 1 track AD1Andrew DeRoberts, 1 track NL1Nick Long, 1 track JI1Jason Isbell, 1 track SD1Sean Douglas, 1 track MP1Michael Pollack, 1 track PL1Philip Lawrence, 1 track ES1Ed Sheeran, 1 track

Bubble size = tracks worked on together. BF Billy Falcon · LE Luke Ebbin · BF Bruce Fairbairn · LQ Lance Quinn

Photo credits

Portraits in the web and the rail come from Wikimedia Commons. The artist's own photo carries its credit under the picture.

The Authorship Story

Data Insight

The Bon Jovi catalog divides into three authorship phases. Phase one (1984-1995): Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora co-write the majority of the catalog, joined on commercial high points by Desmond Child; Jon Bon Jovi's solo writes begin appearing from Keep the Faith (1992) onward. Phase two (2000-2013): the duo continues co-writing but expand the pool with Luke Ebbin, Andreas Carlsson, John Shanks, and on Lost Highway (2007) Nashville country songwriters Brett James, Hillary Lindsey, and Gordie Sampson. Phase three (2015-present): Jon Bon Jovi dominates the writing credits, frequently with Billy Falcon and John Shanks; Sambora carries a single holdover credit on Burning Bridges. The Forever (2024) album introduces the broadest array of new collaborators (Ryan Tedder, Jason Isbell, Ed Sheeran, Philip Lawrence), suggesting a new phase of outside co-writing. David Bryan has scattered writing credits throughout; Tico Torres has just one writing credit on 7800° Fahrenheit (1985).

Quick Facts

  • SalesHave sold more than 130 million records worldwide
  • Rock HallInducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018 after winning the fan vote
  • Slippery When WetTheir 1986 breakthrough produced two Billboard Hot 100 number ones
  • Desmond ChildCo-wrote 'Livin' on a Prayer' and 'You Give Love a Bad Name' with the band
  • GrammyWon Best Country Collaboration for 'Who Says You Can't Go Home' in 2007

Creative Fingerprint

A band built on one songwriting core plus a hired gun: Bon Jovi are credited on 99% of their catalogue, with Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora writing most of it and outside collaborator Desmond Child co-writing their biggest 1980s hits.

The Story

Bon Jovi is an American rock band formed in Sayreville, New Jersey in 1983, fronted by singer-songwriter Jon Bon Jovi (born John Francis Bongiovi Jr., March 2, 1962). The classic lineup (completed by guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, and original bassist Alec John Such) broke through internationally with their 1986 album Slippery When Wet, which produced the landmark singles "You Give Love a Bad Name" and "Livin' on a Prayer," both co-written with Desmond Child. The Jon Bon Jovi/Richie Sambora co-writing partnership is the dominant authorship thread running through the catalog from 1983 to 2013, when Sambora departed mid-tour. Over more than 40 years and 16 studio albums, Bon Jovi has sold over 100 million records worldwide. Key outside collaborators include Desmond Child on their biggest early hits, producer Bruce Fairbairn on their peak commercial albums, and producer and co-writer John Shanks from 2005 onward. Following Sambora's departure, guitarist Phil X joined for the 2016 album This House Is Not for Sale, and Jon Bon Jovi writes increasingly alone or with longtime collaborator Billy Falcon.

Awards & Recognition

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018
Won the Grammy for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals for 'Who Says You Can't Go Home' (2007)
Slippery When Wet (1986) topped the Billboard 200 and produced two number-one singles
Ranked among the best-selling bands of all time, with more than 130 million records sold

Frequently Asked Questions Bon Jovi

Does Bon Jovi write their own songs?
Yes, mostly. Bon Jovi are credited on 99% of their catalogue, with Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora writing the large majority. The main outside name is professional songwriter Desmond Child, who co-wrote their biggest hits 'Livin' on a Prayer' and 'You Give Love a Bad Name.' Later albums brought in writers like John Shanks, but the band is always part of the credit.
Who wrote 'Livin' on a Prayer'?
'Livin' on a Prayer,' from Slippery When Wet (1986), was co-written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, and Desmond Child. It became the band's signature song and one of the defining anthems of 1980s arena rock.
Who is Desmond Child to Bon Jovi?
Desmond Child is the professional songwriter the band hired for their breakthrough album. He co-wrote 'Livin' on a Prayer,' 'You Give Love a Bad Name,' and 'Bad Medicine,' helping turn Bon Jovi into a global act while Jon and Richie shared the credit.
Who wrote 'Wanted Dead or Alive'?
'Wanted Dead or Alive,' also from Slippery When Wet, was written by Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora without an outside writer. Its acoustic, cowboy-themed sound made it one of the band's most enduring songs.
How many albums has Bon Jovi released?
This catalogue covers sixteen studio albums, from their 1984 self-titled debut through Forever (2024), including the blockbusters Slippery When Wet and New Jersey.
Did Bon Jovi win a Grammy?
Yes, though only once competitively. They won Best Country Collaboration with Vocals for 'Who Says You Can't Go Home' with Jennifer Nettles in 2007, despite decades of huge commercial success in rock.
What happened to Alec John Such?
Alec John Such, the band's original bassist from 1983 to 1994, died on June 5, 2022, of a heart attack. He was part of the classic lineup that recorded Slippery When Wet and New Jersey.
Are Bon Jovi in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
Yes. Bon Jovi were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018, having won the fan vote with more than a million ballots. The induction reunited Jon Bon Jovi with former guitarist Richie Sambora.
What genre is Bon Jovi?
Bon Jovi play hard rock, arena rock, and pop rock, known for anthemic singalongs like 'Livin' on a Prayer' and power ballads like 'Bed of Roses.'

Sources

Wikipedia: Bon Jovi