Richie Sambora has revealed his one regret regarding his departure from Bon Jovi.
The former longtime guitarist for the band made a surprising exit in 2013 to prioritize spending time with his family. In a recent appearance on “The Allison Hagendorf Show,” Sambora was asked if he had any changes he would make to his decision to leave Bon Jovi. His response was candid.
“I probably would have left earlier,” admitted Sambora to Hagendorf. “I might have left a couple of albums before because I think Jon (Bon Jovi) was moving into a place where he wanted to not really be a band.”
Reflecting on his early days with the band, Sambora shared insights into Jon Bon Jovi’s aspirations for a solo career. “When we first met, he was thriving to be a kind of a solo artist in a Bruce (Springsteen) way or a Rick Springfield way,” explained Sambora. “Quite frankly, it was an ultimatum for me just before ‘Slippery [When Wet]’ (was released). I went, ‘Come on, man. Let me in. We have to do this. We have to make this a band situation if we want to invade the planet and have people accept it.’”
Sambora also expressed his dissatisfaction with the new Bon Jovi documentary, “Thank You, Goodnight.” He disagreed with many aspects of the documentary, stating that it could have been more celebratory and shorter.
Regarding his absence from the band’s tour, the documentary portrays Sambora appearing to apologize to fans and the band, expressing regret for leaving the tour abruptly. However, he emphasizes that his decision was motivated by personal reasons, particularly the need to address his daughter Ava’s issues and prioritize his family’s well-being.
Despite the challenges, Sambora’s departure has left a void in Bon Jovi, with Jon Bon Jovi acknowledging that something will always be missing without him.
“My feet and my spirit would just not let me walk out the door,” Sambora tells director Gotham Chopra in one scene.
