Former Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora deleted a series of scathing social media posts criticizing Jon Bon Jovi’s recent vocal performance at Madison Square Garden. He subsequently claimed his account was hacked. The deleted tweets contained harsh commentary about Bon Jovi’s voice quality and post-surgery status. Sambora announced a brief social media hiatus while addressing the controversy.
In his initial posts, Sambora questioned Bon Jovi’s vocal abilities following what he described as a six-hour documentary about his “plastic throat” and surgical procedures. “Did you watch? That sounded good? Your deaf. He doesn’t want me there he 6 hour movie about his plastic throat and how he would win,” Sambora wrote before deleting the tweets. He continued with claims that surgery had failed to restore Bon Jovi’s voice. “Surgery didn’t work. If he had a voice we’d have killed it,” he stated.
After the backlash intensified, Sambora claimed his account had been compromised and took a step back from social media. “I’ll never leave my fans. But taking a break from social media. What I say you know who’s team makes people dislike me and blasphemes me,” he posted. He later returned to clarify the situation. He stated he had been hacked and was conducting “detective work” to track down those responsible for the unauthorized posts.
Sambora’s vocal criticism of Bon Jovi extends beyond this recent incident. The guitarist has previously accused the Bon Jovi organization of sabotaging his solo career to force him back into the band. In January 2024, Sambora claimed that Jon and the corporate structure behind Bon Jovi had deliberately killed his solo records to prevent him from establishing an independent career. He stated that most Bon Jovi fans never gave his voice a fair chance.
Jon Bon Jovi’s vocal struggles have been a persistent topic of discussion since he underwent vocal cord surgery in 2022 to address atrophy issues. The surgery and subsequent recovery period have drawn significant scrutiny from fans and critics alike. Many have noted that his vocal quality during performances has not returned to its former level. Despite Bon Jovi’s claims in early 2024 that he was “completely healed” and ready for touring, vocal analysts have continued to assess his performances as noticeably different from his earlier work, though showing gradual improvement over time.
The tension between Sambora and Bon Jovi has evolved considerably since the guitarist’s departure from the band. While Sambora’s recent comments focused on Bon Jovi’s vocal performance, his broader grievances center on career dynamics and the control exerted by the band’s organization. The claim that his account was hacked appears to be an attempt to distance himself from the harshest criticisms. It also underscores the ongoing friction between the two former bandmates.
Sambora used his return to social media to announce that he and producer Bob Rock have completed two albums that are ready for release. He emphasized the financial and logistical challenges of funding tours and managing the associated costs. He stated that he is currently recovering from a broken hand while working to secure proper distribution for the new material. This announcement suggests that despite the controversy, Sambora remains focused on his solo career and future musical projects.
