Bon Jovi Slippery When Wet Tour Throwback Photos from 1986 and 1987

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

Published on April 8, 2024 06:20PM EDT

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Livin' on a Prayer

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.

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