On April 10, Jon Bon Jovi cleared the air on his relationship with his former bandmate, guitarist Richie Sambora in a Los Angeles Q&A session for his band's upcoming documentary, Thank You, Goodnight: The Jon Bon Jovi Story4.
Sambora famously left Bon Jovi in 2013 after being a member of the band for 30 years. Not only did he play guitar for Bon Jovi, but he also was a prominent song writer for the group. In 2020, he confirmed that he had "no regrets" about leaving the band at the time as "it was the right decision to step off the stage to be a full-time father." Since he left the band, Sambora has seemingly dedicated himself to spending time with his child.
Sambora and his ex-wife, Heather Locklear, have one daughter together, Ava. Now 26, she recently got engaged to her long term boyfriend, Tyler Farrar. Sambora cites wanting to be a good father as his motivation for leaving Bon Jovi. Taking the time to be there for his daughter is something that he "wouldn't trade" for "anything."
"Family had to come first, and that's what happened," he said to PEOPLE Magazine in 2021. Family continues to remain his priority. In 2023 he happily celebrated his daughter's graduation from University of Southern California, where she earned a Master's degree.
Bon Jovi further elaborated on his relationship with Sambora, saying that there was "never a fight" between the two. However, the two musicians are no longer in contact.
"We're not in contact because he's not in the organization any longer," he said in an interview ith Ultimate Classic Rock. The "organization" being the band, Bon Jovi.
In the Q&A, Bon Jovi continued to explain his relationship with Sambora, saying that multiple factors contributed to his bandmate's departure.
"There was substance abuse, there was anxiety, there was being a single parent, there was a lot of personal issues he was going through," he said. Sambora publicly struggled with an addiction to pain killers and a dependence on alcohol.
Bon Jovi acknowledged that touring as a rock n' roll star is not a "life sentence." However, he clarified that he respects "the idea that [Sambora] wanted to stay home and raise his daughter. It's unfortunate for us and for the world, but I am not mad about it."
He clarified that the band in general never fought, saying that "never to this But never to this day did any of us, me or him or David [Bryan] or Tico [Torres], ever have a fight."
Bon Jovi is currently made up of lead singer Bon Jovi, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torress, guitarist Phil X and bassist Hugh Mcdonald. The group will be releasing Forever, their 16th studio album.
Thank You, Goodnight: The Jon Bon Jovi Story begins streaming on Hulu on April 26.
See the trailer for the upcoming documentary, which will follow the Jon Bon Jovi and his band on their ascent to fame.
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