Both Jon and Sambora will appear in the upcoming Hulu docuseries ‘Thank You Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story’
Jon Bon Jovi is speaking out on the status of his relationship with longtime friend and former bandmate Richie Sambora.
Sambora, 64, famously left Bon Jovi in the midst of the band’s world tour in 2013 for personal reasons — and 11 years later, frontman Bon Jovi, 62, says the two do not speak.
“We’re not in contact because he’s not in the organization any longer,” the rocker told 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. And there were emotional issues that he was dealing with as a single dad, and there were substance abuse issues that, you know… 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?”
Both Bon Jovi and Sambora are set to appear in the upcoming docuseries Thank You Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story, premiering on Hulu next month in conjunction with the band’s 40th anniversary. Still, the “Livin’ on a Prayer” singer says he and Sambora, a childhood friend, did not work on the film together at all.
KEVIN MAZUR/GETTY; EMMA MCINTYRE/GETTY
“Not a word. That was [director] Gotham Chopra. This wasn’t a puff piece and this was no bulls—,” he told the outlet. “This is not us behind the scenes pulling strings. Oh no, no, no. They interviewed Richie in London. I wasn’t there. I had nothing to do with it. No, I still haven’t seen the [finished] product.”
Though Sambora told PEOPLE in November that a reunion with his former band “definitely could happen,” the guitarist had to skip the 2024 MusiCares Person of the Year ceremony honoring Bon Jovi in February.
DAVE HOGAN/GETTY
A source told PEOPLE at the time that Sambora’s 89-year-old mother had “tripped on her carpet” and broken her hip, and that he was home in New Jersey taking care of her.
“She didn’t want to stay in the hospital, so he got her 24-hour care. He’s an only child and a devoted son,” the source said. “They’re first-generation immigrants, so family is very important to him.”
After 30 years as lead guitarist of Bon Jovi, Sambora abruptly left the band in 2013 in the middle of the Because We Can world tour.
“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 told PEOPLE in 2021. “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.”
Bon Jovi himself relayed the story to PEOPLE in 2016, saying that there was “no fight or money issues” involved in his departure.
“Nobody expected Richie to quit in the middle of the night for no reason. He wasn’t fired; he just didn’t come to work,” he said. “I’m never going to bad mouth the guy. He’s a wonderful friend, wonderful collaborator.”
On Thursday, Bon Jovi announced its upcoming 16th studio album, Forever, will be released on June 7.
News
Henry Cavill & Guy Ritchie’s The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare Gets Spring Release Date
The upcoming action spy flick, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, from director Guy Ritchie and starring The Witcher and Man of Steel’sHenry Cavill has unveiled its new trailer ahead of Lionsgate bringing the movie to theaters later this year on April 19, 2024. Based on the 2014…
The Witcher creator has revealed Netflix ‘never listen’ to him
Written by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski, the very first The Witcher novel arrived in 1990 which spawned eight more novels, with the last arriving in 2013. Since that time, we’ve had video games, board games, animations and a live-action TV series….
The Witcher Fires Writers and Brings Back Henry Cavill has just over 320k signatures
Deep down, we always knew that the departure of Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia would result in backlash – he’s just so well suited to the role, not to mention a diehard fan of The Witcher. Yet the call…
Unlocking the Power of Emotion: How Henry Cavill’s expressive eyes helped convey his character’s emotions
Henry Cavill, the British heartthrob renowned for his chiseled features and commanding presence, possesses a distinctive trait that sets him apart from his peers: his mesmerizingly expressive eyes. Beyond their striking blue hue lies a profound ability to convey a…
Behind the Cape: Henry Cavill’s Emotional Evolution as Superman
In the realm of superheroes, Henry Cavill’s portrayal of Superman in Zack Snyder’s “Man of Steel” stands as a groundbreaking exploration of emotional vulnerability. Far beyond the traditional stoicism associated with the iconic character, Cavill’s Superman is a nuanced and…
Jimmy Page’s Legacy Was Questioned Because Of A Relationship He Had While On Tour In The 1970s
Why Graffiti artist Jimmy Page can’t leave his Led Zeppelin legacy alone The guitarist has been ceaselessly burnishing his glory years, crafting monuments to an already monumental career. From left, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones, John Bonham…
End of content
No more pages to load