Bon Jovi Forever – The Definitive Career-Spanning Book from Genesis Publications
In this special edition of Now Spinning Magazine, Sue and I take a deep dive into a beautifully produced book — Bon Jovi Forever.
Genesis, known for their high-quality collector editions since 1974, have once again created a stunning visual journey through the life and music of one of rock’s biggest bands. Having reviewed other Genesis titles — including the Def Leppard and The Doors books — I can confidently say this one stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the best of them.
Inside Bon Jovi Forever
The book is structured across several themed chapters — Becoming Bon Jovi, Making Records, Songs, Performance, and Legacy — each packed with hundreds of rare photos, handwritten lyrics, demo tapes, and personal memorabilia from Jon Bon Jovi’s own archives.
There’s something magical about seeing Jon’s early music theory notes, his first school ID, and even his teenage concert tickets for bands like Deep Purple, Van Halen, and Journey. From there, we follow his rise through the 1980s, the breakout success of Slippery When Wet, and the evolution of the band through every subsequent album — all the way up to their most recent releases.
Unlike many rock retrospectives that focus mainly on the biggest-selling albums, Bon Jovi Forever gives equal weight to every era of Jon’s career — from Keep the Faith and These Days to Crush, Bounce, and beyond. Each period is richly illustrated with never-before-seen photos, lyric drafts, tape boxes, and setlists.
Sue and I were both particularly moved by how much of Jon’s life story is told through these artifacts — not just as a performer, but as a songwriter, family man, and philanthropist. His perseverance through vocal challenges in recent years, as shown in the Disney+ documentary Thank You, Goodnight, adds even more emotional depth to this visual archive.
A Testament to Self-Belief and Longevity
What shines through is Jon’s lifelong self-belief — something noted by Derek Shulman (who signed Bon Jovi early on) when I interviewed him. Jon knew from the beginning exactly what he wanted to achieve, and Forever captures that drive beautifully.
The photography is fantastic, the curation meticulous, and the text illuminating. This is far more than a “coffee table” book — it’s a visual biography and emotional scrapbook rolled into one.
Whether you’ve followed Bon Jovi since Runaway or came aboard with It’s My Life, this book is a must-have. Like the Def Leppard Genesis edition, it’s one you’ll keep returning to — pairing it with your favourite albums as you rediscover the band’s journey through sound and image.
This is an ideal Christmas gift for any Bon Jovi fan. And yes, as Sue pointed out — it’s also a fantastic chronicle of the many hairstyles of Jon Bon Jovi over the decades!
Phil & Sue Aston | Now Spinning Magazine
