Jon Bon Jovi Dismisses Reunion Rumors with Richie Sambora: “I’ve Spoken to Him Twice in the Last 11 Years”

Jon Bon Jovi has addressed speculation about former Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora rejoining the band, confirming that such a reunion is not on the horizon. In an exclusive interview with Classic Rock magazine, Bon Jovi revealed that he has only spoken to Sambora twice since the latter’s departure from the band mid-tour in 2013.

Reflecting on Sambora’s sudden exit before a show in Calgary, Canada, on April 3, 2013, Bon Jovi described the moment as a complete surprise. “It was a shock,” he said. “Nobody anticipated it, no one saw it coming. I talked to him the day before, I remember it so well. It was Easter Sunday, 2013, and I was driving through the Lincoln Tunnel as I was talking to him, because I was living in New York, and I was like: ‘Yeah, I’m feeling great, the album [2013’s What About Now] is gonna come in at Number One, see you up there.’”

Bon Jovi recounted that Sambora had asked to stay home one more day. “‘Of course. You want to fly private tomorrow? Sure. Do it. I don’t care. See you up there.’ And then the next day the phone rings at three in the afternoon, and, you know… ‘I can’t go on.’”

Sambora later attributed his departure to feeling that the band was getting “stale,” a notion that Bon Jovi disputes. “I didn’t think so, and the collective, we didn’t think so,” he told Classic Rock. “I personally thought that everything was going incredibly well. And it was never brought up in the room, or in the writing, or in the recording, or during the first 20 shows of that tour.”

While Bon Jovi admits to still feeling “heartbroken” over Sambora’s departure, he confirmed that their communication has been minimal over the past 11 years, further diminishing hopes of a reunion.

Jon Bon Jovi has put to rest speculation about Richie Sambora rejoining the band, emphasizing that such a reunion is unlikely. In an exclusive interview with Classic Rock magazine, Bon Jovi stated that he has only spoken to Sambora twice since his abrupt departure from the band in 2013. “He. Quit. The. Band,” Bon Jovi stressed. “I swear to Christ there was never a fight, nothing… He wasn’t kicked out, he quit. And he hasn’t made any great overtures about coming back.”

Following Sambora’s unexpected withdrawal before a Calgary show on April 3, 2013, Bon Jovi quickly recruited guitarist Phil X to fill in for the remainder of the tour. By early 2014, Bon Jovi confirmed that Sambora had permanently left the band.

Although Sambora briefly reunited with Bon Jovi for their 2018 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, he suggested in November 2023 that a return “could definitely happen” for the band’s 40th anniversary celebrations. However, Sambora reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the new Bon Jovi docu-series, Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story, released last month.

A representative for Sambora told People magazine that he had flown out to see Jon and brought a birthday gift—a “really nice guitar.” However, upon screening Jon’s documentary, Sambora left after the third episode, reportedly “sick and tired of what he was seeing.”

For the full interview with Jon Bon Jovi, read the latest issue of Classic Rock magazine, available now. Order online for home delivery.