RICHIE SAMBORA REPORTEDLY RELEASED FROM BON JOVI’S TOUR DUE TO MONEY
Michele Amabile Angermiller of The Hollywood Reporter reports:
In what seems to be the messiest divorce in rock, Bon Jovi has reportedly fired lead guitarist Richie Sambora from the band’s current tour.
According to the website RumorFix.com, Sambora’s departure is all about money. Sources say that Sambora was earning in $2 million a month and 20 percent of the profits from the tour, whereas fill-in guitarist Philip “Phil X” Xenidis was earning far less — about $10,000 a month while on tour.
Although Sambora will still collect songwriting royalties and profits from merchandise, the 30-year bandmember is not taking the news well.
“Richie wants to go back onstage — that’s his first love,” a source tells the site. “He’s really upset over the news.”
The 54-year-old musician departed the group in the spring citing a “personal matter,” but has since remained mum on the subject, opting to tweet pictures of himself hanging out with his daughter and talking about his most recent solo album, Aftermath of the Lowdown.
Earlier this month, the Woodbridge, N.J., native shared a new song, Come Back as Me, that seemed to be aimed at Jon Bon Jovi, but the guitarist took to his Twitter feed to dispel those rumors.
“This songs gettin’ some traction, so I would sincerely appreciate any help. BTW this has nothin’ to do with Jon…,” he wrote on August 4th.
A week ago, Bon Jovi pulled out of a booked appearance at the New York State Fair so that the band could play a fundraiser for Governor Andrew Cuomo instead. The cancellation angered local fans. As Binghamton radio host Lee Ann Taylor, of classic rock station 99.1, told The Hollywood Reporter, “The New York State Fair is struggling and Bon Jovi would have been a huge boost for them like Aerosmith a few years back. Choosing politics over the people is becoming a disturbing trend. … The musicians need to remember who put them in the position to go to perform at these fundraisers to begin with.”
additional source: billboard.com
Who cares? That douchey boy band sold out 25 years ago, and hasn’t improved with age. Bon Jovi is about as “rock” as Rick Astley.
And yet there are 31 comments, not including mine, about the band. Love them or hate them, they certainly seem to affect people.
Cheers,
Dana from EddieTrunk.com
they suck! poseurs!
Dude we know they suck, but wouldn’t you be a poseur for $2M / month and 20% of GP? I still can’t get over that.
Please, go away Bon Jovi….politics over people. You suck and Jon BonJovi is a douche. Also, you suck because you mistreated the mighty Van Halen when they toured Europe with you back in ’95. You’re lucky Edward didn’t kick your ass. You’re no where near the level of Van Halen. Jon Bon Jovi is very full of himself and his stupid politics. The only worthwhile thing he does is his soup kitchen.
My interest in Bon Jovi went away a while ago since they moved very far from hard rock, but it is undeniable they are a mega huge band as proven by the fact they were the highest grossing band first half of 2013. Like him or not, facts are facts. Be interesting to see how the Sambora effect impacts him going forward. Richie a huge key to the band I think.
Not a Bon Jovi guy, but Richie can play. His solo stuff is much heavier than anything Bon Jovi ever did as a band. Creatively they must be very different people even though they wrote a lot of hits together. I’d like to see Richie do more stuff outside of Bon Jovi, and it looks like he now has the chance. I agree with you Mr. Trunk – I think Richie is a huge key to that band.
X is getting scale. Sambora is getting 2 but Jon gets 5.5.. Adios on the demand for more.
$2M/Mth and 20% of GP. I still can’t get over that. Unfuckingbelieveable. Jon I’ll sacrifice my honor and dignity and put on a turtleneck and stand right beside you playing Wanted Dead or Alive for $1M/Mth and 5% GP. I won’t take any shots at your daughter and make sure your ugly wife is ok with me being in the band. I’ll even make nice with the keyboard player with that bizarre jerry curl and pretend I like Tico. I’ll even play that country shit you guys did with a shit eating grin on my face. I will sell out completely for that coin. I’ll listen to all your stories about all the movies you were in. I’ll even buy tickets to your shittly AFL team. I’ll comb your beautiful hair. I’ll play Govt fundraisers instead of state fairs where actual paying fans who put you on the map are hoping to see you. Where are you Jon? WHERE ARE YOU………..?!