Jon Bon Jovi Shares Friendship Status On Ritchie Sambora
Bon Jovi is a rock band formed in 1983 in Sayreville, New Jersey. Jon Bon Jovi and his band have released 15 studio albums, five compilations, and three live albums. They have sold over 120 million records worldwide,[making them one of the best-selling American rock bands, and performed over 2,700 concerts in over 50 countries for over 34 million fans.
Jon Bon Jovi
At 15, he started playing live music and had his first band by the age of 16. Some early band names were Raze, Atlantic City Expressway, Jon Bongiovi, Wild Ones, and another band called “Rest.” Also in 1980, Jon recorded his first single, “Runaway,” which was also a hit on Bon Jovi’s debut album. The song got some airplay from local radio stations.
In 1984, Bon Jovi caught the attention of Mercury Records and got a new manager—well-known rock manager Doc McGhee, who was famous for managing Kiss & Motley Crue. With the help of their new manager, they recorded the band’s debut album, Bon Jovi, released on January 21, 1984. The album included the band’s first hit single, “Runaway,” reaching the top forty on Billboard. The group soon found itself opening for Scorpions and Kiss. The rest made rock and roll history.
Ritchie Exits The Band 30 Years Later
Ritchie Sambora played guitar for Bon Jovi and was also a writer for the group. In an article in People magazine, Ritchie confirmed that he had “no regrets” about leaving the band at the time as “it was the right decision to step off the stage to be a full-time father.” Since he left the band, Sambora has seemingly dedicated himself to spending time with his child. “Family had to come first, and that’s what happened.”
Thank You, Goodnight: The Jon Bon Jovi Story4
Jon Bon Jovi talked about his relationship with his former bandmate, guitarist Richie Sambora, in a Los Angeles Q&A session for his band’s upcoming documentary.
On his relationship with Sambora, Bon Jovi said there was “never a fight” between the two. However, the two musicians are no longer in contact. Multiple factors contributed to his bandmate’s departure. On April 10, from a Los Angeles Q&A session for his band’s upcoming documentary. “Thank You, Goodnight: The Jon Bon Jovi Story” begins streaming on Hulu on April 26.
Can The Friendship Be Saved? Will Jon & Ritchie Ever Play Together Again?
In November of 2023, Ritchie Sambora told Billboard Mag in an interview, ” Sambora sounded very confident that time might heal old wounds. “So yeah, it definitely could happen,” he said of a possible reunion. “It’s just a question of when everybody will do it. It will be a big, massive kind of undertaking.”
Bon Jovi acknowledged that touring as a rock’ n’ roll star is not a “life sentence.” However, he clarified that he respects “the idea that Sambora wanted to stay home and raise his daughter. It’s unfortunate for us and the world, but I am not mad about it.” However, he stopped being shy about any possible return to the band.
The Band Line -Up Now
Bon Jovi is Bon Jovi, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torress, guitarist Phil X, and bassist Hugh Mcdonald. The group will release Forever, their 16th studio album, on June 7th. The band also debuted the video for the first single from the album, titled “Legendary,” which you can check out – here.
What About Jon Bon Jovi’s Voice?
Bon Jovi said, via People. “I’m well into the recovery. I’m more than capable of singing. It’s just that for me, the bar is two and a half hours a night, four nights a week before I say we’re going to go and do any shows.”
Guitars with Names: 5 Every Rock Fan Should Know
Frankenstein (Eddie Van Halen)
Before the release of Mammoth WVH’s self-titled debut, Wolfgang shared a funny story about the iconic Frankenstein, which he actually played on Mammoth WVH.
In a May 2021 interview with Total Guitar, Wolfgang recalled a time when Frankenstein was taken out of its safe. He said his Dad picked up the guitar, played it a bit, said it “feels about the same” and then just tossed the historic guitar on a nearby couch.
“Everyone just gasped when he did that, ” said Wolfgang. “To Dad, it’s just a little piece of junk that he built himself, but to us, it’s the most famous thing in the world.”
An Eddie Van Halen guitar on display as part of Julian Auctions Presents Icons And Idols: Rock ‘N’ Roll, Hollywood and Sports at Julien’s Auctions on November 23, 2020 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Blackie (Eric Clapton)
Blackie is the beloved 1956 Fender Stratocaster that belonged to Eric Clapton. According to Fender, Clapton acquired Blackie in 1970. He purchased the guitar from a shop in Nashville. In fact, he came across a rack of six 1950s-era Stratocasters. Clapton recalled in 2004’s The Stratocaster Chronicles, “They were so out of fashion you could pick up a perfectly genuine Strat for two hundred or three hundred dollars—even less! So I bought all of them.”
In 2004, Blackie went up for auction at Christie’s. It was estimated to sell for between $100,000-$150,000. The final selling price was $959,500.
Eric Clapton performs at The Forum on September 18, 2017 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Micawber (Keith Richards)
Micawber is a 1953 Fender Telecaster that was gifted to Keith Richards by Eric Clapton. According to Fender, Clapton gave Richards this classic guitar for his 27th birthday. Ever since, it’s been used a many iconic recordings, from “Start Me Up” to “Brown Sugar.” To this day, Micawber is part of Richards’ rotation of guitars when the Rolling Stones are on tour.
Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones performs on the Pyramid Stage during day 3 of the 2013 Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm on June 29, 2013 in Glastonbury, England. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images)
