Jon Bon Jovi to Trace Band’s History in New Anthology, ‘Bon Jovi: Forever’

More than 40 years after the formation of New Jersey rock outfit Bon Jovi, the group’s namesake is set to trace the band’s history in an upcoming book.

Fittingly titled Bon Jovi: Anthology, the forthcoming volume is an extensive look into the history of the band, with frontman Jon Bon Jovi penning a 35,000 word account of their four decades of fame, complete with hundred of photographs and memorabilia items from the band’s personal archives.

“As band members, you share a unique bond that no one else can truly understand, not even family,” Jon Bon Jovi explains in the book. “That brotherhood comes with a long career like ours. We all felt part of something special, trusted each other, and they trusted me. I never let them down. It was always a give-and-take by everybody.”

Described as “all-access pass to the world of Bon Jovi”, Bon Jovi: Anthology is set for release in June and is available in a limited edition of 1,150 copies signed by Jon Bon Jovi. The book is also quarter-bound in black vegan leather and comes packaged in a handmade black clamshell box with a silver heart and dagger. Additionally, it includes replicas of pins and badges, tour passes, and a special chrome-colored 7″ record which features two as-yet-unannounced tracks.

“I was single-minded. There was no plan B, even before there was an audience,” reads another passage from Jon Bon Jovi. “It was just the feeling that you got singing a song, and then playing in a band. There was something in that electricity, in the sheer sound of loud. There was something about it that captured my imagination.”

Bon Jovi first formed in New Jersey in 1983, releasing their self-titled debut album the following year. Though their first two records charted modestly, they achieved a global breakthrough when third album, Slippery When Wet, arrived in 1986 and gave the band their first No. 1 atop the Billboard 200.

Their 42-year career has since resulted in a total of 16 studio albums, four No. 1 singles, and an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018. Bon Jovi: Forever releases in June, with pre-orders available now.