Bon Jovi was one of the biggest bands of the 1980s. They absolutely dominated the rock charts, and were so adept at making commercially successful anthems that they dominated pop charts as well. It was the brainchild of lead singer Jon Bon Jovi and guitarist Richie Sambora that made this success possible.
The two men wrote the majority of the band's songs, and served as the faces of the band during their commercial peak. Jon Bon Jovi remains the leader of the band to this day, but Sambora is no longer at his side during shows. Here's an explainer on why that is and what happened between the duo.
Richie Sambora left Bon Jovi in 2013
Richie Sambora was a founding member of Bon Jovi in 1983. He was the second most prominent member of the band behind the titular frontman, and he has co-writing credits on smash singles like "You Give Love a Bad Name," "Livin' on a Prayer" and "Bad Medicine."
Bon Jovi continued to find commercial success in the 1990s and early 2000s, and remain a touring staple to this day. Sambora, however, decided to call it quits in 2013, four decades after the band got started. He did so right before Bon Jovi was slated to play a show at Calgary during the Because We Can tour.
Sambora issued a statement shortly after his departure. He clarified that he does not have any ill will toward Jon Bon Jovi or the other band members, and had simply grown tired of the demanding tour life that he'd been experiencing since he was a young man. "I really needed to take some time to be with my daughter," the guitarist wrote. "She needed me and I needed her, actually."
The guitarist is still on good terms with the band
It seemed like a cut-and-dry case of a band member wanting to take a step back from the limelight. There's more to the Richie Sambora exit than a written statement, however. In the 2024 series Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story, the guitarist admitted that he regretted the way in which he left.
Sambora admitted that he was struggling with substance abuse, and entered rehab in both 2007 and 2011 in an effort to get sober. He wanted to stay clean for both himself and his daughter. His decision to leave the band so abruptly was informed by this desire. If he could do it again, though, he would've given his fellow band members more of a heads up.
"I don’t regret leaving the situation, but I regret how I did it," Sambora said during the series. "So I’d like to apologize fully right now to the fans, especially, and also to the guys." Jon Bon Jovi admitted being hurt over Sambora's departure, but the two men are still on good terms today. Sambora also reunited with the band for their Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction in 2018.