by Jon Bon Jovi recently opened up about his complicated relationship with former bandmate Richie Sambora. He shared his feelings about the guitarist’s departure from the band in an interview on the Dumb Blonde Podcast.
The rock icon expressed both admiration and heartbreak when discussing his former right-hand man. He addressed the lingering pain from how Sambora left the band.
“The great thing that I have said about him [Richie Sambora], 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,” Bon Jovi said. “Couldn’t ask for more.”
However, the frontman revealed the source of his ongoing disappointment with the guitarist’s exit from the band.
“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 Tico and David and I and say, ‘I’m sorry,’” he continued.
Bon Jovi emphasized that he had always supported his bandmates’ individual pursuits. He believed they would benefit the group as a whole.
“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 explained.
The singer concluded with a mix of resignation and enduring affection for his former collaborator.
“So for whatever reason, he walked out, and then that was that. But I can’t defend or accuse in any … and it’s just not worth it anymore,” Bon Jovi said. “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.”
The departure Bon Jovi refers to remains one of the most significant moments in the band’s history. It marked the end of a 30-year partnership that helped define their sound.
Various reports indicated that Richie Sambora left shortly after the recording of Bon Jovi’s 12th studio album, What About Now, during the early part of their world tour. He abruptly stopped showing up for shows about 20 dates into the tour and effectively left the band without notice. This forced them to bring in guitarist Phil X to complete the remaining concerts.
The sudden nature of Sambora’s departure left fans and bandmates stunned. For three decades, Sambora had been an integral part of Bon Jovi’s success. He contributed not only his guitar skills but also his songwriting abilities and distinctive backing vocals that became synonymous with the band’s signature sound.
Sambora has since acknowledged the difficulty of his decision and apologized for his sudden departure. The guitarist cited personal reasons for leaving, including wanting to spend more time with his daughter Ava, who was a teenager at the time.
The band’s ability to continue touring and recording without Sambora demonstrated their resilience. However, Bon Jovi’s recent comments suggest the emotional wounds from the abrupt departure still linger more than a decade later. Despite the hurt, the frontman’s words reflect both the deep bond they once shared and the professional respect that remains intact.
