The Daily Mail reports:
Guitarist Richie Sambora has hit back at comments made by his bandmate Jon Bon Jovi, that suggest Richie’s shock departure from the band was down to his history with substance abuse.
In a recent interview with the Evening Standard, Jon Bon Jovi, 50, hinted that Richie, 53, may have quit their latest world tour because of the same reason he quit in 2011, when he missed dates to go into rehab for alcohol abuse.
“It’s getting more and more difficult every day to not just sit here and say something… Because all I can say is this – it’s for personal reasons,” Job Bon Jovi said. “He’s been through it before, fortunately for us the same guy who filled in last time was available this time.”
But Richie has hit back at Jon’s claims, telling MailOnline exclusively, “I don’t have any major problems in life right now, I love my fans and I feel bad for them at the moment. Bottom line. My opinion is Jon wants to see if he can pull off stadiums by himself. He is making it very difficult for me to come back.”
He added: “Enough with the trash talking!”
Bon Jovi made cutting remarks about his longtime band member Richie in the interview, comparing him to U2’s The Edge to make the point that he feels Richie is replaceable.
“Life goes on, so if someone chooses not to be here… unlike if this were, God forbid, The Edge, and he for some reason couldn’t make a U2 show, [then] it would be very difficult to just step in,” he said.
He added: “You have a choice — you either figure it out, go and grow, not only survive but thrive. Or, you say, ‘I hate my brother and I’m gonna quit the band.’”
But Richie has hid say on whether he’s replaceable, talking about the tour he tells MailOnline: “[The fans] have paid money to see Bon Jovi and right now, they are not getting the whole deal.”
In the interview, Jon Bon Jovi also slammed Justin Bieber, labeling him “an a**hole” for showing up late to his shows.
Meanwhile, Richie has been hard at work on his new fashion line NikkiRich Clothing and is said to be currently preparing to launch the label world wide.
A close friend reveals to MailOnline: “Richie is fine, and is really concentrating on his fashion career. He just wishes Jon would let things resolve calmly without trash-talking.”
source: dailymail.co.uk
on tour with justin bieber??? really? lol
ONCE AGAIN, WE GET DRIPS AND DRABS ON WHAT IS GOING ON. SOMEONE PLEASE STATE THE REAL CAUSE(MONEY) SO WE CAN MOVE ON..
It’s always about $$$$ Jons gonna lose this battle people associate Bon Jovi with Richie, Jon, David and the drummer. 25% is gone and ticket sales will reflect it…..
Damn. I like Bon Jovi but really wish Jon himself would listen to some of his earlier albums to remind him that they used to have more of a rock edge to their music and Richie was a huge part of driving that music. Lately, their last 3 albums respectively, have become sort of country-pop in a way and Richie is pretty much relegated to nothing more than a rhythm guitarist.
Yeah. they’re still selling out arenas and making huge amount of dough but damn, I just wish he (Jon) remembered that Bon Jovi used to be a rock act.
All he has to do is listed to “Homebound Train” once or twice and maybe it’ll jog his memory.
All that being said – Rich needs Jon and Jon needs Rich. Just my opinion, I could be wrong.
Who gives a shit about Bon Jovi anyway, there are some bands that should just stay gone and they qualify. Who wants to listen to watered down shit they put out in the last 5 years? There may be people out there who get off on bon jovi or whatever they do but when a guy who is more interested in fashion instead of performing-FUCKEN GAY.
I see someone didn’t finish their sensitivity training again John. Nice end to your post. Do you have any other groups of people you wish to offend today?
Not to diminish Richie’s great contributions, but Phil X is doing an amazing job filling in for Richie and the band is not missing a beat.