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
32 Responses
Gotta agree with you Doug, they are such a free cry from the 7800 Fahrenheit album when in and out love was on Mtv and played on the airwaves. Back then it wasn’t shameful to be called a Bon Jovi fan.
On twitter, Jon’s brother Matthew Bongiovi said that this is another lie, and that it’s not true. And Phil X commented about earning $10,000 a month saying that he wouldn’t even leave his house for that salary. Who knows what to believe at this point.
Matthew is a moron. Anybody with a pulse knows Jon gets the big percentage and RS falls way back. We won’t talk about TT or DB, they get peanuts. X gets 10G, he barely makes a living doing anything else like a Winery Dog or Hooks & Blow. 2 million sounds a lot but 60,000 in stadiums every three days in Europe & the U.K. is a monster gross and RS is getting horsed. He knew it.
It will totally backfire. Same way it backfire in the 90’s when he did his solo stuff and he could not sell out the small clubs in home state of NJ. then he will call Richie up and say im sorry I need more money please come back. Richie like a dumb ass will accept and go for the cash grab. and the cycle will start all over. One positive note no original band no SUPERBOWL appearance WE ALL WIN NOW YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
im confused by this.is he getting 2 million a month while he is home”rehabbing”.and if so why is he complaining….second, home much money are they making and clearing after paying crew,managers,lawyers, etc…???? I think you would sell out too if you can get money like that