Richie Sambora apologizes to Bon Jovi fans, compares exit to leaving the mafia

Bon Jovi ’s documentary, Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story , premiered on Hulu this week and is resurfacing some of the band’s biggest drama including the abrupt departure of former lead guitarist, Richie Sambora , in 2013.

Listen to Bon Jovi Radio and more on the free Audacy App

Sambora’s departure rubbed many fans the wrong way as it came in the middle of an international tour and the reasons why were left for speculation. The reason given was for entering rehab again at the request of his daughter, however the entire situation left much to question for fans, giving Sambora a questionable reputation in the years following.

“People have this preconceived notion of Richie Sambora because they read about me in the tabloids and because they see the Bon Jovi machine,” he explains in the documentary. “It’s a band. It’s really, really hard to be married to four other guys and be in close quarters with them coupled with my daughter coming of age.”

Despite all the speculation, Sambora shared he has no regrets in leaving, but believes he could have done it in a more respectful way. “I don’t regret leaving the situation, but I regret how I did it,” he shared. “So I’d like to apologize fully right now to the fans, especially, and also to the guys, because my feet and my spirit would just not let me walk out the door… I guess if you’re in the mafia, the only thing you can possibly do is disappear, and I did.”

Frontman Jon Bon Jovi has addressed Sambora’s departure in a recent Check In with Audacy sharing similar thoughts in wishing it happened a different way, however, while the sudden departure was a set back for the group, there’s no animosity between them now and they even watched parts of the new documentary together.

“Eleven years ago, you know, for reasons that were certainly nothing to do with the band, he walked out,” Bon Jovi told Audacy. “There was no [animosity], there was nothing but love. But we had a show that night and subsequently had one the next night, and for 11 years, I've been making records and doing shows. So everyone knows where the bus stops, you know… but there's nothing but love.”