In a resurfaced interview from two years ago, Bon Jovi’s Jon Bon Jovi and Tico Torres opened up about Phil X permanently replacing Richie Sambora. They detailed how his extraordinary versatility saved their live tours at a moment’s notice and how his unique Greek heritage led to a creative studio breakthrough that solidified his own identity within the band.
When asked about Phil X’s impact on the band, Tico Torres praised the guitarist’s talent and positive influence. “Oh, he saved our asses quite a bit. 11 years ago. And he’s extremely talented. To be able to encompass the music and be able to play it in such a short amount of time. And he’s an extremely positive gentleman,” Torres said.
Jon Bon Jovi expanded on the circumstances that brought Phil X into the fold. He explained how the guitarist’s ability to step in with minimal notice proved invaluable to the band’s touring schedule. “You know, when he came on in 2011, when Richie had to go to rehab, he filled in for what, a dozen, 15 shows, something like that. We thanked him, thought, you know, we’d see you down the road somewhere,” Bon Jovi recalled. “In 2013 when it happened again and we called on him and he filled in the next night. It’s not like we shut down the tour for 2 weeks so he could rehearse. The next show we played to a sold-out arena and he’s like, ‘Got it.’ So he was, he’s an incredible versatile musician.”
Phil X’s journey to becoming Bon Jovi’s permanent guitarist was marked by a series of high-pressure situations that tested his adaptability and professionalism. His first opportunity came in 2011 when Richie Sambora entered rehab. Phil X was required to replace him for the final 13 shows of the band’s North American tour. Rather than shutting down operations for rehearsals, he stepped in seamlessly and demonstrated the kind of versatility that would define his tenure with the band. Two years later, when Sambora departed the tour in 2013 for personal reasons, Phil X was called upon once again. This time, he covered an entire international leg spanning the United States, Europe, South Africa, South America, Japan, and Australia.
The guitarist’s background as a session musician and touring performer had prepared him well for these unexpected opportunities. Before joining Bon Jovi, Phil X had worked extensively as a hired gun. He toured with artists like Aldo Nova and Triumph in the early 1990s and later recorded with major acts including Kelly Clarkson, Avril Lavigne, Rob Zombie, and Alice Cooper. This eclectic experience gave him the multi-instrumental skills necessary to handle not just lead guitar duties but also backing vocals and talkbox work. He effectively matched all of Sambora’s stage responsibilities. His ability to move seamlessly between different musical contexts and perform at the highest level with minimal preparation became his greatest asset.
What truly set Phil X apart was his willingness to innovate and contribute creatively to the band’s work. Bon Jovi highlighted a pivotal moment during the recording of the song “Living Proof,” where Phil X’s creative input made a lasting impression. “The last instrument on the last day was the solo on that song. It was okay. I actually thought it sounded dated. I was like, ‘Eh.’ But I was ready to shut down. We were done. It was the last day on the last thing. And he came in and he says— and he’s Greek by heritage— he said, I got this bouzouki tuning I want to just run by you. And he puts the E string in the B string notch, tunes it up to that, plays me this. I fell out of the chair,” Bon Jovi explained. “The creativity till the last instrument on the last day by all of us was there.”
This moment represented a turning point in Phil X’s integration into the band. By bringing his own cultural heritage and musical knowledge to the table, he began establishing his own identity within Bon Jovi rather than simply replicating Sambora’s approach. Bon Jovi acknowledged this shift and noted that Phil X’s contribution demonstrated a level of creative independence that even Sambora might not have pursued. “I went, you’ve just— now you’re making your mark here. Because one thing, you know, even Richie would have never been able to do is, oh, I got a bazouki tuning for this, you know. So now, like, Phil is starting to have an identity, and so it’s cool,” Bon Jovi concluded. This evolution from fill-in guitarist to creative collaborator ultimately led to Phil X’s official induction as the band’s permanent lead guitarist in 2016, cementing his place in Bon Jovi’s legacy.
