In a recent interview, Jon Bon Jovi opened up about the highs and lows of his legendary rock band, Bon Jovi, reflecting on the departure of former guitarist Richie Sambora in 2013, per people.com.
Despite nearly three decades of performing together, Bon Jovi, 62, revealed that he and Sambora, 64, have yet to discuss the sudden exit that shocked fans worldwide. “I’ve been waiting at the door for 10 years,” Bon Jovi said, emphasising that there was “nothing but love” between them. He acknowledged that Sambora had to address personal issues, including his divorce from Heather Locklear and focusing on raising his daughter.
In the band’s new Hulu docuseries, Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story, Sambora expressed his regret about how he left the band. “I don’t regret leaving the situation, but I regret how I did it,” he said. Sambora apologised to the fans and the band, admitting that he struggled to walk away.
The departure came suddenly during the start of a world tour in 2013, leaving the band stunned. “It was the end of a chapter for the band,” Bon Jovi said, reflecting on the difficult period. However, he emphasized that there was no animosity and that he even invited Sambora to watch most of the docuseries together.
Bon Jovi in 2024/Mark SeligerNevertheless, a source close to Sambora revealed to PEOPLE that he left after the third episode because he disagreed with how his departure was portrayed in the documentary. Despite the differences, Bon Jovi is moving forward. On June 7, the band will release its 16th album, “Forever,” the first since Bon Jovi underwent vocal cord surgery in 2022.
“The thing that gave me so much pleasure had been taken away,” Bon Jovi said, referring to his vocal cord issues. “Forever” is about finding joy again and focusing on what truly matters in life: “love and loyalty and finding things that make you want to get up out of bed in the morning.”
