From The Mirror:
Sipping water in his suite, 24 hours before a sell-out gig, Jon says: “We were all in Calgary, Richie was going to turn up on show day but we went the night before because it’s a long flight.
“At 3.30pm on show day the phone rang and it was Paul the manager and he said guess what, and he didn’t even have to finish the sentence. I said, you’re kidding. We went on that night. I haven’t seen Richie since.
“Love him, spoken to him once. I talked to him once, once in six weeks and 18 shows. He’s not fired, we didn’t have a fight, it certainly isn’t about money.
“We go back 30 years. He can return when he is ready to die every night the way I walk on the stage. It’s different without Richie. No one’s mad, no one’s sad. But fortunately because we had been through it before we performed that night. We couldn’t let down the fans.”
From the London Evening Standard:
Jon hinted that the reason may be the same as in 2011, when Sambora missed dates to go into rehab for alcohol abuse.
He said: “It’s getting more and more difficult every day to not just sit here and say something... Because all I can say is this — it’s for personal reasons. He’s been through it before, fortunately for us the same guy who filled in last time was available this time.
“Life goes on, so if someone chooses not to be here... unlike if this were, God forbid, The Edge, and he for some reason couldn’t make a U2 show, [then] it would be very difficult to just step in.
“You have a choice — you either figure it out, go and grow, not only survive but thrive. Or, you say, ‘I hate my brother and I’m gonna quit the band.’ ”
Yikes. That's more blunt than I would ever have expected from cool, diplomatic JBJ...
EDIT: Since these interviews were published, Richie has tweeted a couple more times, which is doing nothing to hose down speculation...
Hey there's too much to say right now so I won't say anything......love you all...thank u for your support...
— Richie Sambora (@TheRealSambora) May 22, 2013
Just don't worry... Everything's good....
— Richie Sambora (@TheRealSambora) May 22, 2013
id say given what you posted, this most likely has to do with a relapse or rehab.
ReplyDeletei've been waiting for Jon to finally get a fill of all this crap with Richie......i knew if it continued with nothing from Sambora, he would be as "NICE" as he could be, but enough is enough when your messing with not on Jon's lively hood, but all the ppl that work for him, behind the scenes, and then of course 30 years of "family"."friendship" ...and it means nothing more to Sambora than just a tweet every once in a while that "He's ok, He's good" I think Jon has handled this with as much class as he could....but even Jon can only handle so much, and i think he's done!! The remark about "you have a choice---you either figure it out, go and grow, not only survive, but thrive, Or, you say, "I hate my brother and i'm gonna quit the band" is a powerful statement and i'm sure that Jon's heart is breaking....but he's a business man, he's given Richie time to deal with whatever, but I really think Richie is done with the Band, and Jon is done with Richie....How is this going to affect Bon Jovi....i'm not sure, but i know that this tour is hurting because Richie is not there, but Jon is giving it all he has and more....we will have to wait and see what comes in the next few weeks....Breaks my heart, but it's not so much that Richie isn't on tour, but he has betrayed probably the best friend he's ever had......that's what hurts me so much.....Bon Jovi doesn't deserve this kind of treatment from someone that has gained so much from this band...Richie...if your drinking again, i pray that your getting the help you need, but i have lost all respect for you as a man that treats his "family" this way.!!!!! Sorry, i've tried to support Sambora as long as i can, but like Jon, I'm done with him!!! I still love Jon, Dave, Tico and i give a BIG thank you to Phil X for being there for these guys......
ReplyDeleteI wish someone would just say SOMETHING that makes sense and is clear. I hate seeing this from Jon - I re-read your post and the articles after I Tweeted you this morning - but you can feel his frustration when you read his words. Is it money? Is it rehab? Is Richie just being an ass? I wish the air could be cleared. Even if it's bad and ugly and stinks for a while, at least it would be out in the open and everyone, especially the fans, could move forward.
ReplyDeleteI did laugh at Jon's comment about not wanting to do a greatest hits tour or nostalgia tour or whatever it was he said. Uh...dude, that is what you are doing now!! But that goes back to griping about what they do and do not lay at shows now. I'll save that rant for another day...since I've done that before!
Unfortunately, I think it's Richie being an ass. Love him in the band, but I saw a concert without him two years ago and it was great so I will again this year. I'm very sorry he is using us, the fans, for whatever agenda he has. We all would have backed him 100% if he had a legit problem. I'm sick of his dumb tweets about everything being great. I thank Jon for what he has been able to let us know.
DeleteIf it was in the beginning of their career I don't think Richie would be so lackadaisical about whether he performed or not.Money changes people and not for the better.
DeleteI wouldnt be surprised if Richie is out of the band by the end of the tour. I could see Phil X joining full time. He has shown he's got the awesome talent to play every song to perfection. There seems to be a good chemistry onstage too! We will see wha happens.
ReplyDeleteAt the end of the day people who have drinking issues tend to play victims and not take responsibility for their actions. This sounds like one of those cases... letting fans down (not to mention his band mates) the way he did, because he found some very good reason in his head as to why he's a victim. I'm sorry, I shouldn't say this but I've seen it many times before. Famous or not famous, he's human like the rest of the alcoholics out there. A lot of people are defending him but would not defend their neighbour if they did the same thing. If the problem is drink Jon I am sure Jon is sick and tired. Not many people seemed to have noticed (if any) that at that first show in BBC 2 in London Jon mentions on interview with Jo Wheeler that Richie did not show up to rehearse one day and that sent alarm bells for me. Then during the show there is a moment when Jon looks at Richie to make a connection and it's like Jon is waiting for him to look at him. I sensed frustration in their connection and even commented to my husband. Anyway, my respect for Jon has increased (unless Richie comes out and says something valid).
ReplyDeleteI've added Richie's tweets from today to the post.
ReplyDeleteSaw them in Denver w/Phil X...awesome. JBJ went all out- felt like he was compensating for RS being gone. Rumblings that have been circulating in Denver from a well known concert promoter w/direct ties to guys in the band is that RS was getting lazy/sloppy and JBJ was done w/it. That would explain his "when he's ready to die every day like I do" comment. If RS is abusing again, or the long term effects of off/on abuse- then it could very well make him a shadow of the player he once was. Pretty harsh for JBJ to say RS is replaceable- but that falls on RS. Then JBJ needs to not say that he/RS are like Keith/Mick- cause obviously they're not.
ReplyDeleteWell I feel sorry for Jon. He has been left holding the bag. It is he who was left that night in Calgary having to make a quick decision whether to go on stage or not then once it was made, he had to explain to the audience they were short handed. He then had to find a replacement on short notice to fill in. He was lucky Phil was available. Then the media attacks him like its all his fault...poor Richie doesn't get the respect he deserves. The media also blames Jon's wife who has never had any doings with band business. Nobody was putting any responsibility for any of this on Richie. then Jon has to field questions from the media daily. He finally is showing some emotion. Good for you Jon. The way he says."or you say I hate my brother and I'm gonna quit the band". He is hurting to say that. Maybe its the bluntest we have ever heard Jon but he is finally speaking with his heart. If Phil stayed permanently, I would not mind at all. He takes this seriously. He shows up for practice and he is absolutely filled with joy and treats his fans that way.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a good conclusion of being together again or simply moving on and let the past be past. I hope this stuff finds a soon end and we can go with all the music.......
ReplyDeleteWhat a bunch of bs job hasn't "died" onstage every night since the NEW JERSEY tour when he just didn't stand there like a statue playing garbage new boring songs, actually had a stage show with pyro and actually had abass player that didn't look like a douche in grandpa jeans. RS is smart to bail out on this train wreck of a "band". PS the new album sucks balls.
ReplyDeletefirst of all the new albums does not suck! and give the man a break he is not in his 20s anymore he may do more standing than before but last time i saw then in feb. he was ll over the stage..oh and a good band with good songs don't need pyro, the way i see it that stuff is just fluff to make up for a shitty show...your comment has nothing to do with the article you are just bitch to bitch!
DeleteOG typical men stuff. i woman would spend money to have 2 guitar players on board plus Jon's guitar when he have time between the singing... oh deers you are great with spending love and peace. calmness i send to you all who can't count their money..
ReplyDeletein love your peace punk :D