Former Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora addressed fans’ concerns about his performance during a recent Kings of Chaos show. The musician shared the stage with current Bon Jovi guitarist Phil X. He responded to questions about why he was chewing gum during the set.
“Wow! I had an absolute blast last week at the Kings of Chaos show!” Sambora said. “Here’s a tidbit from Soundcheck, it was so great being with my brothers and seeing all of my fans!”
“For those asking why I was chewing gum on stage, well — four sets a night in smoky Jersey dives, that’s where I learned it,” he explained. “Your throat’s shot by midnight unless you figure something out.”
“The desert was 116 degrees and dries your vocals out,” Sambora added. “That gum saved my voice on smoky nights and desert heat! Glad you asked!”
His explanation offered some context for fans who had questions about what they saw during the performance. Rather than ignoring the discussion surrounding the show, Sambora directly explained why he was chewing gum and connected the habit to the demanding club shows that helped shape him as a musician.
The Kings of Chaos appearance was also notable because Sambora shared the stage with Phil X, the guitarist who became an important part of Bon Jovi after Sambora’s departure from the band.
Sambora left Bon Jovi during the band’s 2013 tour, while Phil X stepped in as a touring guitarist and later became an official member. Seeing the two guitarists involved in the same special event therefore gave Bon Jovi fans an unusual connection between two different eras of the band.
The performance marked a rare reunion between Sambora and his former bandmate Phil X. Kings of Chaos brought together several rock musicians for the special show.
