Richie Sambora Shares Insightful Reflections on His Final Days with Bon Jovi

In a revealing conversation on the Magnificent Others podcast, hosted by the renowned Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins, Richie Sambora opened up about his experiences during the latter part of his time with Bon Jovi. Having officially exited the band in 2013, Sambora reflected on the evolving dynamics between him and the band’s iconic frontman, Jon Bon Jovi. He expressed a sense of drifting apart, noting the palpable changes in their professional relationship.

“I felt like Jon was changing his focus and he often wanted to be a solo artist,” the guitarist recalled. “And I go, ‘Go make a solo album’… He was definitely changing directions.” This statement underscores the shifts in their creative collaboration, highlighting the tension that often arises in long-term partnerships.

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Solo projects were not unfamiliar territory for these musicians. In fact, Sambora had just returned from a successful tour promoting his 2012 solo LP Aftermath of the Lowdown. When he rejoined Bon Jovi to work on their next album, he assumed that he and Jon would continue their longstanding partnership in songwriting, which had brought them tremendous success over the years. However, he soon discovered that the landscape had shifted dramatically.

“Jon said, all of a sudden, ‘Nah, you don’t gotta worry about songwriting,” Sambora recalled. “’John Shanks and I wrote like 30 songs.’” This sudden change left Sambora stunned, as he had come to expect a collaborative approach to their music-making.

Sambora Expresses Discontent with New Material: ‘It Sounded Like Every Song That I Didn’t Want to Write’

Reflecting on their extensive collaboration that spanned over three decades, Sambora emphasized how fruitful their songwriting partnership had been. Together, they created timeless hits like “You Give Love a Bad Name,” “Livin’ on a Prayer,” “Wanted Dead or Alive,” and “I’ll Be There for You.” The abrupt change in their creative dynamic was shocking for Sambora, who felt a deep connection to the music they had crafted together.

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“It shook me a little bit,” Sambora admitted candidly. “But I said, ‘Alright. What do you got?” This openness to new material speaks to the artist’s willingness to adapt, even in the face of uncertainty.

In a bid to remain receptive, Sambora listened to the new songs that Bon Jovi and Shanks had produced. However, he was disheartened by what he heard. “And it didn’t sound like Bon Jovi. It didn’t sound like the band,” he explained. “It sounded like every song that I didn’t want to write.” This realization ultimately contributed to his decision to leave the band.

Shortly after his departure, Sambora chose to concentrate on his family and personal life. The subsequent Bon Jovi album, Burning Bridges, released in 2015, primarily featured material written with Shanks and producer Billy Falcon. Sambora received a single songwriting credit for “Saturday Night Gave Me Sunday Morning,” a track that had begun before his exit. The following album, This House Is Not for Sale, released in 2016, marked the first Bon Jovi album that did not include any songwriting contributions from Sambora.