Two stars of legendary rock band Bon Jovi are still feuding eleven years after falling out, according to a new docu-series. The band’s lead singer, Jon Bon Jovi, and chief guitarist, Richie Sambora, will both feature in “Thank You Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story,” despite having no contact for over a decade. “They interviewed Richie in London. I wasn’t there. I had nothing to do with it,” the singer explained.
Sambora famously left the group after 30 years in 2013 in the middle of a world tour and hours before a performance, but the reasons have remained somewhat mysterious. Speaking to Ultimate Classic Rock, Bon Jovi said he still loves his former bandmate and would not speak ill of him, but he did not discuss the reasons for the guitarist’s sudden departure.
However, during an interview in 2020, Mr. Sambora addressed the matter and said he left because he wanted to spend more time with his daughter Ava, who he shares with ex-wife and actress Heather Locklear. He admitted that his sudden decision to leave was unpopular but added that family came first, and his daughter needed him at that time. He did not explain why he left just before a concert or why this caused the deterioration of his relationship with frontman Jon Bon Jovi.
Rumors about drug abuse surrounded the end of the relationship, and Sambora has previously acknowledged his struggles with drug dependence. The star has shared his experiences at addiction seminars and said he is lucky to be alive.
Formed in New Jersey in 1983, Bon Jovi became one of the 1980s most iconic rock bands and enjoyed a string of global smash hits, including “Livin’ on a Prayer,” “You Give Love a Bad Name,” and “Bad Medicine.” Their third album, “Slippery When Wet,” released in 1986, sold 20 million copies and catapulted Bon Jovi to rock legend status. This was followed by “New Jersey” two years later, which sold 10 million copies.
