Jon Bon Jovi says he wishes Richie Sambora was still in his band in Apple Music chat

Jon Bon Jovi’s longtime lead guitarist Richie Sambora left his self-named band in 2013 following years of substance abuse issues.

But in a new interview with Zane Lowe for Apple Music, Bon Jovi revealed that Sambora’s split from the band wasn’t based on a falling out between the two.

The 58-year-old rock legend described Sambora’s tenure from the early 1980s through the early 2010s as ‘unbelievable,’ though he sounded disappointed about his longtime guitarist’s continued absence.

Lowe, who conducted the interview from a separate location via video chat, steered the discussion toward Sambora quitting the band when he asked about the collaborative songwriting process.

‘Every band has its ups and down. Regardless of how [Sambora] left the band, the time that we spent together, by and large, was unbelievable,’ he said fondly.

The occasional actor also recounted how the two primarily wrote one early album at Bon Jovi’s house, while another was jotted down at Sambora’s mother’s home.

‘We were equals, too,’ he added. ‘We both did both,’ he said, clarifying that they each handled some of the lyrics and some of the music. 

Lowe then asked if there was a chance Bon Jovi and Sambora would ‘share a stage again together.’

‘I had no animus,’ the singer clarified about their relationship.

‘Poor Richie had some issues and didn’t show up for a show. And then subsequently, 80 more after that. And since 2013, we sat around waiting for him to get it together and come back. 

‘So, there was no animus, and there was no issue of well, we had a fight, and oh, money and this and that. Anyone who says that is full of s**t,’ he said.

According to Bon Jovi, he got a call from his manager in 2013 that Sambora ‘was not in any shape to come’ to the show that night, which left him ‘crushed.’ 

‘A day doesn’t go by that I don’t wish that the band were intact,’ he continued. ‘But, people make decisions and it’s okay, because being in a rock band is not a life sentence.’

Bon Jovi was expanding on comments he made earlier this year about Sambora’s departure.

But a close friend of Sambora’s told DailyMail.com in October that he left the group in 2013 ‘because his daughter truly needed him.’

The guitarist shares 23-year-old Ava Sambora with his ex-wife Heather Locklear, whom he was married to from 2004 until their 2006 separation.

Locklear has struggled with mental health issues in recent years and has been arrested for driving under the influence and domestic violence. 

However, Bon Jovi’s recollection of his manager’s reaction suggests the departure from the band may have been related to Sambora’s history with substance abuse.

He was forced to quit a Bon Jovi tour in 2011 when he left to go to rehab for alcohol abuse.

Sambora’s friend also claimed the world-famous singer’s comments were an attempt to ‘become relevant,’ and they labeled him a ‘low class rock star.’

Sambora denied Bon Jovi’s comments from October to Daily Mail TV.

‘When people say I don’t have my life together — are you kidding me? I’m the happiest dude on the block,’ he said.

‘I was in a dire situation with my family and I had to make a tough decision and I did and I’m sure people weren’t happy about it,’ he added.

Sambora has also previously complained about the band’s grueling touring schedule.