Despite the odds, the Bon Jovi frontman says he feels 'lucky' to have shared so many memories with the former lead guitarist of their rock band, who departed in April 2013.
- Apr 11, 2024
AceShowbiz - Jon Bon Jovi has opened up about where things stand between him and his former bandmate Richie Sambora. Claiming that there was there's no animosity" between the two, the Bon Jovi frontman also made it clear that Richie's departure wasn't caused by money issues.
The 62-year-old addressed the matter while promoting the upcoming Hulu docuseries, "Thank You Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story". He told Entertainment Tonight, "There was never a fight... It was never about money, it was never about a girlfriend."
"He had issues," the singer-songwriter and guitarist further explained, "and he literally didn't show up. We were playing for 20,000 people, and there's a black hole on the stage."
"Substance abuse or anxieties or single parenting, all those things weighed on him, losing his dad. These were all very hard things," Bon Jovi continued. "But in fairness, why would I take away the livelihoods of not only the band, but the 120 guys in the crew? Or the millions of people that bought a ticket? What am I going to do? Shut it down because you don't want to go to rehab?"
Despite the odds, Bon Jovi said he feels "lucky" to have shared so many memories with Richie. "He wanted to be home more than he wanted to be on the road, but you got to show up for work," Bon Jovi said, during a Q&A at a screening of the band's docuseries in Los Angeles on Wednesday, April 10, per PEOPLE.
"So there's no animosity," he went on sharing. "An integral part of my story for three of the four chapters was my right-hand man, asked to join my band and I was lucky to have met him. But life went on."
"When he quit the band, it was going to stop because he quit the band. So I don't hold any animosity," he continued. "Unfortunately, rock and roll's not a life sentence. And I respect the idea that he wanted to stay home and raise his daughter. It's unfortunate for us and for the world, but I am not mad about it."
