Jon Bon Jovi Admits He’s Still ‘Heartbroken’ Over Richie Sambora’s Exit — but Affirms ‘I Love the Man’
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Sambora performed with Bon Jovi from its formation in 1983 until his departure in 2013.
Jon Bon Jovi is opening up about one of the most difficult chapters in his band’s history.
The rocker appeared on the latest episode of the Dumb Blonde podcast, where he reflected on his career and his longtime partnership with former Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora during a conversation with host Bunnie Xo.
“The thing I’ve always said about Richie is that you’d be lucky to call him a friend,” Bon Jovi shared. “He’s incredibly talented — as a guitarist, a singer, a collaborator. He was my right-hand man, and I couldn’t have asked for more.”
Sambora, who had been part of the group since its early days, exited midway through their 2013 world tour to focus on raising his daughter Ava following his split from Heather Locklear.
Bon Jovi admitted he never really noticed the rumored competitive edge between the two. “My heartbreak with him was the way he left us,” he explained, adding that it took years before Sambora reunited with him, Tico Torres, and David Bryan over a meal to say, “I’m sorry.”
“It’s sad. It broke my heart … but if what he wanted was to be Richie Sambora and not part of Bon Jovi, then fine. I always told the guys, ‘Go, explore, and bring back what you learn.’ But for whatever reason, he walked away. I can’t defend or accuse anyone anymore. After all this time, if you can’t work it out, then it’s not on us. I still love the man, but I’m heartbroken that he walked out,” Bon Jovi said.
Sambora shared his perspective in the 2024 documentary Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story. “I don’t regret leaving, but I regret how I left. So I want to fully apologize — to the fans especially, and also to the guys,” he admitted. “My body and spirit just wouldn’t let me keep going.”
He acknowledged that personal struggles — including substance abuse, anxiety, and the challenges of single parenthood — played a role in his decision. Still, Sambora stressed that there was never any fighting among the band.
“He had things he couldn’t work through, and he wanted to be home more than he wanted to be on tour. But at the end of the day, you’ve got to show up for work,” Bon Jovi reflected. “There’s no animosity. Richie was an integral part of my story for three of the four chapters. I was lucky to have him. But life moves on.”