Bon Jovi Readdy to Release New Album 'Burning Bridges'

It seems like Bon Jovi is ready to unveil its first studio album, Burning Bridges, following the departure of original band member Richie Sambora. Due out August 21, the project features an advance track called "Saturday Night Gave me Sunday Morning," expected to drop on July 31.

Looking to fill Sambora's shoes, Jon Bon Jovi looked to Phillip Erix Xenidis (or Phil X), to take over the guitarist's parts. The lineup includes co-founders Tico Torres and David Bryan as well as bassist Hugh McDonald, who's shown dedication to the bands since the early '90s. Their latest LP follows 2013's What About Now, which gave Bon Jovi its fifth chart-topping hit. Since then, original member Sambora parted ways with the group to continue on his own creative path. "I just needed some kind of change," he told UltimateClassicRock earlier this year. "It's not about money; it's about music."

Jon and Sambora were both inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2009, while last year the band issued a special New Jersey rerelease for their 30th anniversary. Aside from music, the "Livin On A Prayer" singer attempted to purchase the Buffallo Bills last July.

"You have your first No. 1 record, your first hit single and then we had the second one and the 10th one and then you play all of the stadiums," Sambora told of his former band. "It's just insane. It was an insane ride. Thirty years is a good run for anything. Keeping a band together for 30 years is not the easiest thing to do in the world, and we worked really hard at it."

Earlier this year, the 53-year-old singer debuted a brand-new song during Rutgers University's graduation ceremonies in New Jersey. "Reunion" was only performed once prior to the graduation event, as he told the crowd he sang it for the chancellor in the dressing room.

"I was in the studio all day working on the new record. I walked here from the studio," Bon Jovi told People last February. "I just read the paper, it gives you an opportunity to write something ... It's early but I'm about a dozen songs in. I feel good."

Tags

Bon Jovi, Jon Bon Jovi