Richie Sambora says 'it's time' for Bon Jovi reunion tour to celebrate 40th anniversary
'This is our 40th anniversary, but I feel younger than ever.'
Guitar legend Richie Sambora has once again stated that he wants to reunite with Bon Jovi.
A few days after he was unveiled as Jacket Potato on ITV show The Masked Singer in February, Richie Sambora told Planet Rock he was “ready” to join forces with Bon Jovi a decade on from his departure.
He also told Absolute Radio at the time: “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.”
Now, in a fresh interview with People, Sambora has said that the 40th anniversary of the start of Bon Jovi’s recording career in 2024 would be the perfect opportunity to hit the road.
Confirming that “talking” is still taking place within the Bon Jovi camp, Sambora revealed: “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.
“I think that we wrote a lot of songs that changed a lot of people's lives just by letting them have a good time. I know that's what music did to me … kept me company. And I hope that I can reflect that in what I do.”
Reflecting upon the chances of a reunion, Sambora added: “It definitely could happen. It's just a question of when everybody's ready to go do it. It will be a big, massive kind of undertaking.”
Pressed about timing, the 64-year-old responded: “I'm not sure. It's up to peoples, it's got to be right. That's all. It's time to do it, though. This is our 40th anniversary, but I feel younger than ever. I'm having a ball.”
Following 30 years and 12 studio albums as lead guitarist and co-songwriter, Richie Sambora exited Bon Jovi in 2013 to pursue other musical ventures and spend more time with his family.
Sambora briefly reunited with Bon Jovi to perform at their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2018.
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74) Iron Maiden – ‘Hallowed Be Thy Name’ (1982)
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73) Guns N’ Roses – ‘Paradise City’ (1987)
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72) Guns N’ Roses – ‘Estranged’ (1991)
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71) Bon Jovi – ‘Wanted Dead or Alive’ (1986)
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70) Iron Maiden – ‘Powerslave’ (1984)
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69) UFO – ‘Lights Out’ (1977)
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68) Neil Young – ‘Like a Hurricane’ (1977)
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67) Judas Priest – ‘Beyond The Realms of Death’ (1978)
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66) Free – ‘All Right Now’ (1970)
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65) Extreme – ‘Play With Me’(1989)
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64) AC/DC – ‘Back in Black’ (1981)
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59) Pearl Jam – ‘Alive’ (1991)
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58) Metallica – ‘Nothing Else Matters’ (1991)
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47) Pantera – ‘Cemetery Gates’ (1990)
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43) Slash – ‘Anastasia’ (2012)
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42) The Beatles – ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’ (1968)
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39) Deep Purple – ‘Smoke on the Water’ (1972)
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38) AC/DC – ‘Let There Be Rock’ (1977)
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37) Megadeth – ‘Tornado of Souls’ (1990)
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36) Ozzy Osbourne – ‘No More Tears’ (1991)
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29) Led Zeppelin – ‘Since I’ve Been Loving You’ (1970)
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28) Queen – ‘Brighton Rock’ (1974)
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19) Gary Moore – ‘Still Got The Blues (For You)’ (1990)
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16) Bon Jovi – ‘Dry County’ (1992)
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13) Gary Moore – ‘Parisienne Walkways’ (1979)
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