Jon Bon Jovi, who was a guest on Bunnie Xo on todays’s (9/22) episode of her Dumb Blonde podcast, spoke about his former bandmate, Richie Sambora.
Bon Jovi stated (as per the New York Post), “The great thing that I have said about him throughout our lives was you would be lucky to call him your friend, and I mean that — talented beyond, beyond as a guitar player, as a singer, as a collaborator, wonderful, right-hand man, awesome. Couldn’t ask for more…”
…“My heartbreak with him is the way he walked out on us, compounded by the fact that it took him years to come back in the room just to have a meal with [drummer] Tico [Torres] and [keyboardist] David [Bryan] and I and say, ‘I’m sorry,’” he explained.
The singer also said that he just wanted the truth. He noted, “But if what he wanted was to be just Richie Sambora, not a member of Bon Jovi, do it right? I always encourage all of my guys, because my attitude was, ‘Bring the information back that you learn outside. It’ll only help us.’”
He continued, “So for whatever reason, he walked out, and then that was that. But I can’t defend or or accuse in any … and it’s just not worth it anymore. After so many years, I just … if you can’t figure [it out] or get it together, then it’s not on us, right? I love the man, heartbroken that he walked out on us…”
In 2024, the famous rock star got to say his piece and apologized to his bandmates.
“I don’t regret leaving the situation, but I regret how I did it, so I want to apologize fully right now to the fans, especially, and also to the guys because my feet and my spirit were just not letting me walk out the door,” Sambora said in the documentary Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story.
The Post reached out to Sambora’s rep for comment.
Sambora was replaced by Bon Jovi’s current guitarist Phil X.
One Response
Bon Jovi hasn’t been the same since Richie left (aside from Jon’s voice).
Brutal touring along with needing to balance his personal life with helping his ex, his daughter and his own stuff – I think Richie did the right thing but admittingly could have done it in a more professional manner.
If Jon’s voice recovers, would love Richie to rejoin for the eventual Farewell tour.