Jon Bon Jovi is not mincing words about his friendship with his longtime buddy and former bandmate Richie Sambora.
Eleven years after Sambora, 64, infamously departed Bon Jovi on the band's world tour in 2013 due to personal issues, frontman Bon Jovi, 62, claims the two no longer communicate.
Is there a feud, and could there be a reconciliation soon?
Jon Bon Jovi 'Hopeless' Over Richie Sambora Reconciliation
"We're not in contact because he's not in the organization any longer," the rocker told Ultimate Classic Rock. "[That] doesn't mean that there's not love forever, but it's 11 years ago that he just didn't show up anymore. And there were emotional issues that he was dealing with as a single dad, and there were substance abuse issues that, you know... Phil X had to show up one time, and then Phil X had to show up another time. And then, again, there's a show that night. What are we gonna do?"
In honor of the band's 40th anniversary, Bon Jovi and Sambora will be featured in the upcoming Hulu documentary series Thank You Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story, which will debut next month.
Nevertheless, the singer of "Livin' on a Prayer" claims that he did not collaborate in any way on the movie with his childhood pal Sambora.
ALSO READ: Bon Jovi 'Forever' Track List Revealed: First Single 'Legendary' Sets Stage for 'Feel-Good' Album
"Not a word. That was [director] Gotham Chopra. This wasn't a puff piece, and this was no bulls-" he told the outlet. This is not us behind the scenes pulling strings. Oh no, no, no. They interviewed Richie in London. I wasn't there. I had nothing to do with it. No, I still haven't seen the [finished] product."
Where is Richie Sambora
Sambora, who in November told PEOPLE that a reunion with his old band "definitely could happen," was forced to miss the Bon Jovi-themed 2024 MusiCares Person of the Year celebration in February.
At the time, a source told PEOPLE that Sambora was caring for his 89-year-old mother at home in New Jersey after she had "tripped on her carpet" and broken her hip.
He gave her round-the-clock attention since she didn't want to stay in the hospital. He's a loving son and an only child.
Amid the Because We Can global tour in 2013, Sambora abruptly left Bon Jovi, having served as the band's lead guitarist for thirty years.
"It wasn't a popular decision by any means, obviously, but there was really almost no choice about it. I had a lot of conscious work to do around [my personal life]," he told PEOPLE in 2021. I had people around me who loved me, and it was a good thing I got through it. I realized [daughter] Ava needed me to be around at that point in time. Family had to come first, and that's what happened."
In 2016, Bon Jovi told the story firsthand, claiming that his resignation was due to "no fight or money issues."
"Nobody expected Richie to quit in the middle of the night for no reason. He wasn't fired; he just didn't come to work," he said.
He said he would never badmouth Richie. He's a wonderful friend and excellent collaborator.
Bon Jovi announced on Thursday that their 16th studio album, Forever, will be available on June 7. This is the band's first new album in four years.
Meanwhile, "Legendary," the first track from this album, has been released. Below is a link to listen to the music.
Frontman Jon Bon Jovi had to overcome significant vocal problems before they could record it, which required him to have uncommon surgery.
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