Truth About Richie Sambora’s Bon Jovi Exit 10 Years Ago: Was THIS the Real Cause?

(Photo : Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images)

Ten years ago today, Richie Sambora left Bon Jovi.

On April 2, 2013, Bon Jovi was tapped to perform at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary. At that time, however, the band revealed that the guitarist would no longer join the members on the upcoming leg.

Bon Jovi’s website said the decision was due to “personal issues,” but rumors rose quickly after the announcement.

Why Richie Sambora Left Bon Jovi Amid Tour Revealed

Insiders said that year that Sambora’s departure from Bon Jovi’s tour leg was reportedly due to his continued issues with alcohol.

The New York Post quoted the sources’ theories, with some alleging that Jon Bon Jovi had been trying to get rid of him as he constantly drank and had “Hollywood bimbos around all the time.”

The news outlet added that Don Jovi’s wife, Dorothea, personally said she did not want any drug and alcohol-related issues during the tour. Thus, insiders said it probably contributed to Sambora’s departure.

“He told me that he didn’t believe in rehab,” the source continued. “He really is a hard partier, and so are the women he hangs out with.”

Sambora was replaced by Phillip “Phil X” Xenidis in all 13 shows during Bon Jovi’s tour.

Jon Bon Jovi Dismissed Rumors

After the buzz came out, Jon sat down for an interview with The Austin American-Statesman and said that people should not “believe what you read on TMZ because it’s the furthest thing from the truth.”

“I think Richie’s doing all right, [but] I haven’t spoken to him,” he said. “We were surprised. It was 3:30 on show day on Tuesday and we got a phone call that he wouldn’t be there. It’s a personal matter.”

Meanwhile, Sambora also soon disclosed that he missed a lot of his daughter’s life while performing with Bon Jovi. Fans quickly assumed that his exit was related to his family issues.

A few years later, the guitarist shared more details about his exit in an interview with Lust for Life magazine in 2014. Like the previous statement, Sambora said that he truly wanted a break and to spend time with his daughter.

Aside from having family time, he listed his other priorities, including making solo music, staying at home more, and touring with his band.

Sambora and former bassist Alec John Such appeared on the same stage with the current Bon Jovi lineup when the band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.