With over 120 million albums sold, according to the Recording Industry Association of America, Bon Jovi are one of the biggest rock bands of all time. Things weren’t always rosy for the five-piece, though. After disappointing sales of their second offering, 1985’s 7800° Fahrenheit, the writing was on the wall: it was now or never.
The songwriting duo of Jon Bon Jovi and guitarist Richie Sambora had
already worked with outside writers and even deigned to allow keyboardist David Bryan and drummer Tico Torres to contribute a few ideas. However, during pre-production for their third album, Slippery When Wet, a dyed-in-the-wool hitmaker was employed to pep up the music. That man was Desmond Child, who came with a hearty recommendation from KISS’s Paul Stanley. He had helped write I Was Made For Lovin’ You, after all.
