In December 2008, Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi announced that the band would enter the studio in January 2009 to record a new album with producer John Shanks. In February 2009, producer Desmond Child confirmed the band had been recording songs in January and that the new album would return to Bon Jovi's rock sound after focusing less on rock in recent years. Some of Bon Jovi's most famous songs are mentioned.