While Jon Bon Jovi had some nasty things to say about Justin Bieber in his latest interview, the Bon Jovi frontman also commented on guitarist Richie Sambora, making it sound as if he was back in rehab. But Sambora says that isn’t the case at all and that he has “no major problems” in his life now.
Bon Jovi spoke with the Evening Standard earlier this week while the band was in Vienna. He was asked to comment about Sambora, who didn’t join the band on the world tour.
“It’s getting more and more difficult every day to not just sit here and say something,” the “Livin’ On A Prayer” singer said. “Because all I can say is this — it’s for personal reasons. He’s been through it before, fortunately for us the same guy who filled in last time was available this time.”
The Daily Mail caught up with Sambora and asked him to respond. “I don't have any major problems in life right now, I love my fans and I feel bad for them at the moment. Bottom line,” Sambora told the site. “My opinion is Jon wants to see if he can pull off stadiums by himself. He is making it very difficult for me to come back.”
He wants his bandmate to stop the “trash talking” and that Bon Jovi “needs to stop talking about me publicly. I am fine working very hard on my fashion company Nikki Rich and this is a private matter.”
Sambora also hated the idea that Bon Jovi made it sound as if he is replaceable. “[The fans] have paid money to see Bon Jovi and right now, they are not getting the whole deal,” he said.
When Bon Jovi announced that Sambora wouldn’t be touring, it was speculated that the “personal issues” included a disagreement with Bon Jovi. Sambora missed the band’s 2011 tour to seek treatment for alcoholism.