In a new interview with host Nile Rodgers on Apple Music 1’s Deep Hidden Meaning Radio, Richie Sambora reveals the reason behind him quitting BON JOVI.
He says his role in Bon Jovi was to “shut the f*ck up.”
Here’s what he said:
“We had the most heavily armed recreational vehicle. Our bus driver used to be a green beret. We had AK-47s, and pistol. … He says, ‘Hey boss, you feel like shooting some up?’”
“We’re painting our faces, mowing down cactuses and we weren’t hurting anybody or anything. … That’s the kind of thing when you’re on tour when you’re young like that. There was times like that where the camaraderie was very, very deep.”
When the interviewer pointed out that many people assumed Bon Jovi himself did “all the singing,” Sambora said:
“And all the writing. … That was part of my deal, to shut the f*ck up. If I had a coffee place, the sign would say, ‘Have a hot steaming cup of shut the f*ck up?’ That would be my coffee place. And you know what? Guess what? I did it. And it worked out because that’s what he needed, for whatever reason.”
24 comments
He cracks me up. He likes all the money he made being in that band. And supposedly shutting up. Still how he left was wrong and unprofessional. In the middle of a tour you just leave them high and dry. He needed to grow up.
So if your kid needed you you wouldn’t be there for them? Yeah right! They were all ready to slow down but Jon was too greedy and money hungry. He had given them time off but then decided to do another tour making them come back to work because he “needed money for “his” football team. They have all said Jon is moody and hard to work with.
I like the rockin role bin Jovi make!
Phil X blows him away! Now that’s a guitar player!
Both brought/bring their own style to the group. Phil X and Richie are both phenomenal players.
No way, Sambora wrote amazing leads that were parts of the song that helped make it better. Phil is great but he doesn’t hold a candle to Richies songwriting, vocals or guitar abilities.
Nah I don’t agree Phil is a great player but the band sounds totally different without Ritchie… I do like some of the new stuff with Phil but Ritchie was a major ingredient in what that band sounded like…
Bon Jovi without Ritchie is just Non Jovi.
Yup
I call bs, watch the videos, in most of them Richie is chewing gum and only singing partial lines. Jon and the band are much better off without him.
I’m a jersey dude and a musician and Richie Sambora’s vocals alone was a pivotal part of the bon Jovi formula
I have lots of stories from the 80’s when they recorded the album slippery when wet in Vancouver ?
I don’t see his point. We all know who he is and how much he did in Bon Jovi. He wasn’t in the background, as we saw at the R’n’R HoF do. He’s a great guitarist, songwriter, and singer, as we all know. If the band had been called Sam Bora, it would’ve done just as well. Maybe he had an off-day. Hope he’s ok.
Jon Bon jovi
Just the axl rose of jovi
Sambora is not a slash but he was the glue.
There’s no rock anymore just poor ballads.
love richie , top funny guy with awesome vocal range. bands not the same without him. never will be.
BonJovi without Richie is like cornflakes without the milk !!!
The band without Richie isn’t the same. The sound is different. The lyrics are different. And he isn’t the first to say that Jon is in charge. I remember reading an article and Tico said “This band isn’t a democracy., but Jon makes us a lot of money, so I just play the drums and go on.” Jon is the frontman, but he isn’t all the talent. And with his voice now-yikes!!!
saw bon jovi a long time ago in the 80s with RATT for i believe their first tour. it was a good concert before Bon Jovi became commercial and political. watching some of the latest video, the guy can barely sing. he probably needs to take a break and get his voice back or quit ripping people’s money off who expect him to perform.
These guys in their 60s need to move on and enjoy what they did…You don’t get a forever
i mean…….. the band was called BON JOVI!!
Without Richie,its just a cover band,like losing a singer,Ritchie is a very good guitar player,at this point,make up and give the fans what they want.
When I was a kid growing up, Bon Jovi was my sh*t. I knew and still know every word to every song Jon sang back in the day. The band split up and I checked out when Richie did. I can’t listen to Jon’s music anymore and refuse to, unless it’s the old stuff like Living on a prayer, Living in sin, I’ll be there for you, Wanted dead or alive, etc. Music just isn’t the same anymore and it sucks.
JBJ has been stealing from his fans for years. It’s time for him to retire and it has been for quite a while.
Doesn’t matter!!! Bon Jovi sucks and alwys will!!!!!!