Recently, Mitch Lafon celebrated Bon Jovi reaching No. 1 on Billboard’s 1987 Top Pop chart, saying the band “boots Bruce Springsteen to the curb.” Lafon tagged Richie Sambora for his input, and the guitarist quickly defended Springsteen.
“Hey, nobody boots Bruce to the curb,” he responded. “A lifetime of dedication to his craft, commitment to his fans, a songwriter and performer that changed peoples lives. Profoundly… For all time… Certainly mine. So, not here.”
He later added, “Whoever doesn’t agree with me, that’s alright… and I would never put down an organization that I was in. But I’ll always support any artist who gives sincerity and his or her life to their fans. I’m allowed my opinion as you. It’s a discussion not an argument.”
Sambora has had ongoing issues with Bon Jovi, particularly with Jon Bon Jovi, which have been highlighted in public comments about his departure and the possibility of a reunion.
In June 2024, the guitarist claimed he and his perspective were excluded from Bon Jovi’s documentary ‘Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story’ because of the vocalist. He said the film portrayed him negatively, even after he expressed willingness to return. Jon denied these claims, stating that Sambora left the band on his own and made no serious attempts to rejoin.
In a July interview with Guitar World, Sambora himself noted leaving Bon Jovi behind and focusing on new projects. “I look at myself as a new artist,” he shared. “Now, other people might not — they relate to me for what I’ve done, and I love what I did with Bon Jovi. I’m not ever saying anything bad about that because we did a bunch of damage in this world, and we had a great time. But right now, it’s a new game.”
Since Sambora’s departure in 2013, Bon Jovi has worked with guitarist Phil X. The band released their latest album, ‘Forever,’ last year, but live performances are on hold due to Jon Bon Jovi’s vocal health challenges.
