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Artist News Gigs & Festivals
Sambora drops out of Bon Jovi tour
By Chris Cooke | Published on Thursday 4 April 2013
Bon Jovi will continue their current American tour without guitarist, and Jon Bon Jovi’s main songwriting partner, Richie Sambora.
The guitar man didn’t perform at a Bon Jovi gig in Calgary earlier this week. According to WENN, Jon Bon told his audience: “I had two choices – pack up and go home or give you everything I got. Richie Sambora won’t be performing for a while. If there’s ever a night I need you, it’s tonight, Calgary!”
A subsequent statement said: “Due to personal issues, Richie Sambora will not be performing on this upcoming leg. All shows will go on as scheduled”.
What exactly the “personal issues” are isn’t entirely clear, though, according to TMZ, insiders say that, while Sambora has struggled with alcohol problems in the past, that’s not the issue this time round.
Rather, frequent frictions between the band’s frontman and guitarist have come to ahead, with the latter apparently accusing the former of constantly belittling him. It’s also thought there has been a dispute over money.
So, fun times. Both sides of the squabble are still in touch though, it seems, and band reps hope a reconciliation will be possible before the current tour is over.
