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.
8 Responses
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.
Hi Gene,
I haven’t paid attention to, Bon Jovi, in decades. Jon, seems to change the sound, with the times, and has experimented with different genres, such as Country and Folk.
I am a fan of Phil X, and think he is very talented. However, since I do not follow the band, I am unaware, of what he has brought, to the song writing table, and the overall sound.
Finally, I agree with you. It is quite evident, from the snippets of music, I have heard over the many years, the band has not been the same, since Sambora left the lineup.
Hi Dana –
I am not a big BJ fan either – but appreciated their knack to writing catchy songs back in the day.
Loved Sambora’s Stranger in This Town solo effort.
I really miss the old Bon Jovi band! The Bon Jovi of the last 20 years has become so boring, and thanks to Jon, political as well! Too bad Jon decided to become the modern day boring as hell Bob Dylan, remember back in the day when Bon Jovi was just a great, fun rock & roll band? Bring back the old days!
Is/Was Richie a truly great guitarist ? Or more of a songwriter ?
Hi Silas,
I think Sambora is an all around talent. He is a very good song writing partner, good guitarist and an extremely adept lead, and back up, vocalist.
Is he is great guitarist? That depends on what one’s preference for “greatness” is? Innovation? Speed? Agility? Technique? Melody? A combination thereof?
For me, I would say, he is a good, solid guitarist. Great? No. I expect the bar to be set quite high, when I use the word “great,” before anything, whether it be a musician, an athlete, an artist, etc.
You’d never know if was in the band anyway because you’re a narcissist who only puts his own mug on the covers. F the rest of the band is your moto so it’s a bunch of crap that you feel bad about anything that doesn’t have to do with you.
There is some truth to that statement – but I believe everyone in the band knew it was Jon’s band.
I don’t think BJ would have been as big without Richie (and a lesser extent the other members).
In the beginning Jon ran a tight ship (you never heard anything bad about them) until after they made it big.