WTF?! Bon Jovi Plays Concert Without Richie Sambora

Posted on by
Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail
Richie Sambora and me 🙂

Richie Sambora, Bon Jovi’s guitarist, allegedly checked himself into rehab last week, but as they say, and as incredulous as it sounds with this band, the show must go on for Bon Jovi without Sambora. So, the unthinkable happened. The band started a new tour anyway without a partial heart and soul of the group and headlined the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on Saturday (April 30).

Say it isn’t so?! It’s like Disneyland losing Mickey Mouse…you know how the rest of that song goes..”Get me through the night..Make everything all right.”

But it is sadly so. Phil “X” Xenidis filled in for Sambora. Bon Jovi started the show with Blood on Blood and then ripped right into You Give Love A Bad Name. Per Rolling Stone, Xenidis subbed in “admirably, picking up Sambora’s talk box parts and adding muscle to a show that only got better and better, especially in its last hour.”

Apparently, Bon Jovi never talked about the switch at guitarist during the show. The band even played their signature encore song, Dead or Alive during well, the encore. Having seen these guys in concert 20 times or so, I know Sambora’s absence must have been tremendously felt throughout the show but especially so during this song. I don’t care what any review by Rolling Stone or other mags say. When Bon Jovi played Livin’ on a Prayer Saturday night as one of the last songs, Jon Bon Jovi finally acknowledged the pink elephant (not) in the room stage, by saying, “I’m sending this out to our brother Richie.” 
Bon Jovi’s next show is May 3 in Ontario, Canada. No word yet on when Richie will return to perform.

In response to questions about Richie Sambora & Bon Jovi’s upcoming performance schedule, the band released this statement on their Facebook page April 28:

“Our support for Richie is absolute. He is, and will remain, a member of Bon Jovi. Although he will be absent from upcoming shows for the time being, we very much look forward to his healthy return. In the meantime, we will keep our commitment to our fans and continue our tour.”

I don’t know, man. As much as I love this band, and as much as I jock Jon [hell, I named my dog after you!], this “fan” will sit this tour out until Richie returns. And, Richie – YOU get better soon. I and millions of others are rooting for your full recovery.
Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail

One thought on “WTF?! Bon Jovi Plays Concert Without Richie Sambora”

  1. Pingback: Richie Sambira: Clean and Sober

Comments Welcome Below!

Your email address will not be published.