Jon Bon Jovi’s big comeback overshadows a painful betrayal
By Chukwudi Onyewuchi | Published: 2025-10-29 14:00:00 | Source: The Blast
Jon Bon JoviThe announcement of the long-awaited comeback tour was supposed to be a moment of pure joy, but instead, it left fans sad and angry.
However, guitarist Richie Sambora is missing from the lineup, and behind the scenes, insiders say the relationship between the two legends has hit rock bottom.
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Jon Bon Jovi celebrates his return to the stage
Bon Jovi couldn’t stop smiling as he announced the Forever Tour alongside TODAY’s Savannah Guthrie, praising the host and thanking fans for their decades of support.
The seven-day tour will begin in New York before heading to the UK, marking his first major comeback since undergoing vocal cord surgery that once threatened to end his career.
For the 63-year-old, this is a victory of many years, but not everyone is celebrating.
Following his announcement, fans quickly noticed that Richie Sambora, former Bon Jovi guitarist and co-writer of such classics as “Livin’ on a Prayer” and “Wanted Dead or Alive,” was not on the list.
The omission sent shockwaves through fan communities, sparking heated debates online about whether the singer had deliberately alienated his old friend.
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Amid this chaos, sources revealed that the relationship between the duo is far from harmonious, as Bon Jovi has banned Sambora from rejoining the band.
“Sambora tried to rejoin several times, but John made it impossible,” an insider said. Daily Mail.
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Sambora’s exit and the conflict that followed
Sambora left Bon Jovi in 2013 during the Because We Can Tour, citing personal issues at home.
His ex-wife, actress Heather Locklear, was hospitalized that same year, and he said getting out of the way was necessary to support their daughter, Ava.
“I realized that Ava needed me to be there at that time,” Sambora said in later interviews. “The family had to come first, and that’s what happened.”
The singer also admitted that years of constant touring have taken their toll. “18 and a half months of being on the road, in 52 countries,” he said. the people. “It’s really time for a break.”
Despite the split, Sambora has made several efforts to reconnect, even hinting at a possible reunion during the band’s 40th anniversary in 2023.
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“We wrote a lot of songs that changed a lot of people’s lives,” he said at the time. “So yeah, it definitely could happen.”
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Jon Bon Jovi’s documentary deepens the rift
When Sambora tried to patch things up earlier this year, he reportedly brought a vintage guitar to Jon Bon Jovi’s house in New Jersey as a birthday gift.
However, according to insiders, things quickly went downhill when Bon Jovi offered him an early screening of his Hulu docuseries, “Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story.”
The series, which chronicled the band’s highs and lows, reportedly portrayed Sambora in an ugly light.
The footage showed Sambora discussing his struggles with painkillers, while drummer Tico Torres recalled worrying for his safety.
However, a source close to Sambora told… Daily Mail The show left out basic facts.
The source said: “Everyone knows Richie left the band to raise his daughter, and the entire documentary falsely implied that he went to rehab and they were waiting for him to come back.” “It’s an admirable thing to stop a profession that is killing you and hurting your family. It takes courage.”
Sambora, who said he was sober during his time in rehab, later said he “became like a counselor to people.”
However, the way the docuseries was edited made him feel betrayed.
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Inside the Bon Jovi show that ended reunion hopes
According to reports, Jon Bon Jovi and Sambora briefly reconnected in Palm Beach, Florida, late last year. But the reunion did not last long.
After what appeared to be a friendly meeting, Bon Jovi allegedly told Sambora that if he rejoined the band, his salary would be significantly reduced.
“I’m really excited to have you back and so are Dave and Tico. Oh, by the way, your old 25 percent stake will now be 10 percent.”
The source described Sambora’s reaction as “speechless.” He reportedly left the scene in disbelief, feeling like he had been “stabbed in the back again.”
According to insiders, cutting Sambora’s share to a third was Bon Jovi’s way of insulting him.
A separate source close to Bon Jovi argued that the frontman was simply satisfied with the way things were and did not want Sambora back.
“As much as Richie would like to come back, John doesn’t want to deal with the problems that it would potentially bring,” the insider said. “It’s oil and water.” Bringing Richie back would be very difficult
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Jon Bon Jovi is moving forward, but fans feel a loss
With the Forever Tour set to kick off next year, Bon Jovi seems determined to move forward without looking back.
The band will open with four nights at Madison Square Garden in July before heading to Europe for three headlining shows.
For Bon Jovi, it’s a chance to prove his sound and the band is still as strong as ever after his vocal surgery.
However, not everyone is convinced that the group can regain its old spark.
“If Richie Sambora hadn’t been there to provide the powerful sound and experience they’ve come to expect for over 30 years, these venues would never have sold out,” one source said.
However, it seems that Bon Jovi is willing to take that risk. His team insists that Sambora made the decision to leave years ago and is no longer part of the group.
However, for fans who grew up with their legendary partnership, the news feels like the end of an era.
(Tags for translation) Jon Bon Jovi (R) Richie Sambora
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