He was a runaway.
The bad blood between Jon Bon Jovi and ex-bandmate Richie Sambora is still boiling.
The Bon Jovi frontman, 62, gave an update on his relationship (or lack thereof) with Sambora, 64, 11 years after the latter left in the middle of the band’s 2013 tour.
Sambora left the band in 2013. Getty Images“We’re not in contact because he’s not in the organization any longer,” Bon Jovi said recently on Ultimate Classic Rock. “[That] doesn’t mean that there’s not love forever, but it’s 11 years ago that he just didn’t show up anymore.”
At the time, Sambora skipped out on the “Because We Can” world tour due to personal reasons.
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“And there were emotional issues that he was dealing with as a single dad, and there were substance abuse issues that, you know,” Bon Jovi continued.
The guitarist is a dad to daughter Ava, whom he shares with ex-wife Heather Locklear. The pair divorced in 2007 after 13 years of marriage.
Additionally, Sambora has dealt with alcohol issues over the course of his career, having last entered rehab in 2011.
The guitarist abruptly departed the group in the middle of their world tour due to personal reasons 11 years prior. Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of FameSambora’s replacement, guitar player Phil X, had to fill in for the “Undiscovered Soul” crooner after his unexpected departure.
“Phil X had to show up one time, and then Phil X had to show up another time. And then, again, there’s a show that night. What are we gonna do?” the “New Year’s Eve” actor recalled.
Despite his exit, Sambora revealed that a Bon Jovi band reunion could be in the cards for him.
Bon Jovi was formed in 1983 in New Jersey. Getty Images“We’re talking about Bon Jovi getting back together and all of that stuff. I don’t know how long it’s gonna take and what’s going on [but] I’m ready, let’s go!” he told Planet Rock.
He then told Absolute Radio that he doesn’t “think there’s any reason not to [reunite] at this point.”
“I don’t know when Jon’s going to get his voice together and [when the Bon Jovi reunion is] going to happen, but we have to get out there and do it for the fans really. I feel a second obligation,” Sambora went on.
In 2020, he gave his own take on leaving the band behind.
Both Sambora and Bon Jovi are set to make appearances in the forthcoming Hulu doc “Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story.” Jack Plunkett/Invision/AP“It wasn’t a popular decision by any means, obviously, but there was really almost no choice about it. I had a lot of conscious work to do around [my personal life],” he revealed to People in December 2020.
“I had people around me that loved me, and it was a good thing I got through it … I realized [daughter] Ava needed me to be around at that point in time. Family had to come first, and that’s what happened.”
The ex-friends are set to make appearances in the forthcoming Hulu doc, “Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story” — which will drop on April 26 and chronicles the group’s 40th anniversary.
The doc will include interviews with Bruce Springsteen, Tico Torres, Sambora, David Bryan, Phil X, John Shanks, Obie O’Brien, Everett Bradley, Doc McGee, Dorothea Bongiovi, Paul Korsilius and Dean Grillo.
Bon Jovi’s 16th album titled “Forever” will debut on June 7.
