Richie Sambora is once again talking about a potential Bon Jovi reunion.
His latest comments come via People. The guitarist said, “There’s a documentary that’s being done about the band and stuff that I’ve participated in, and people want to come see us play, and it’s going to make everybody happy. I mean, essentially, that’s why you do it at this point.”
Sambora noted that if he rejoined Bon Jovi, it would be a matter of everyone being on board for it and that it would be “a big, massive kind of undertaking.”
The last time he spoke on the potential of rejoining Bon Jovi was in September on an episode of Shred with Shifty, a podcast hosted by Foo Fighters guitarist Chris Shiflett. Sambora said he and Jon Bon Jovi have spoken on the phone about it. He added, “There’s a demand out there for it, you know — especially outside of the USA.”
While Sambora said in November 2021 that his role in Bon Jovi was “to shut the f— up,” he certainly has been more vocal lately about rejoining the band in recent years. In November 2022, Sambora told U.K. outlet Metro that it was a possibility a reunion could take place at the 2023 installment of Glastonbury. (Obviously, that didn’t happen.)
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In February, Sambora said when asked about rejoining the band in light of his performance with Bon Jovi following their 2018 Rock Hall induction, “We’re talking about it. I don’t think there’s any reason not to at this point.”
He added, “Jon [Bon Jovi] was having a hard time with his voice a little bit there and he needed to take a little bit of a breather.” Whether Sambora meant to shade JBJ with that comment is up for interpretation. However, he added, “I don’t know when Jon’s going to get his voice together and (when the Bon Jovi reunion is) going to happen, but we have to get out there and do it for the fans really. I feel a second obligation.”
In June, Sambora said in another interview, “Nah! No, not even close. Nobody asked me yet — but I could do it tomorrow if they asked me.”
Jon Bon Jovi has also addressed Sambora’s exit on multiple occasions in the press. In December 2019, JBJ told The Asbury Park Press, “I wish he was here, too, because we were a formidable duo. Our voices were the magic and he’s a great guy and all that kind of stuff but his choices have led him astray.” In October 2020, he told Rock Antenne, “There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t wish that Richie had his life together and was still in the band.”
Sambora, of course, left Bon Jovi suddenly in 2013, citing wanting to spend more time with his daughter, Ava, who is now 26.