FULL INTERVIEW: Former Bon Jovi lead guitarist Richie Sambora talks Rock Hall induction

April 2018: WKYC sat down for an exclusive interview with Richie Sambora about his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.

[@chance836]

The humility just pours outof him right on Ritchie!!! Very humbk

[@toddbedusek2780]

He looks good for his age, I love his solo work as well as the bonjovi work he's done.I hope he gets back with bonjovi soon

[@marialopresto2976]

Jon trash him and Heather,so that's not happening. When Jon's daughter over does, the first thing Jon tells Richie while laughing is I taught it would of been your daughter. Jon forgets he admitted he's a functioning alcoholic,a alcoholic is still a alcoholic, functioning or not

[@michelepfaff5363]

Hes extremely talented....he's soulful & poetic when he wants to be and when he's not trying to be cool is when I find him to be really genuine. I love the interviews where he actually shows how intelligent he really is & how he "paints his words".... his voice is a mix of grit & honey...musically, hes mesmerizing.

[@granny4256]

I don't thk Richie has ever tried to act cool

[@solangebongiovi]

I love his voice. Jon and Richie together is the perfection of good music

[@Cherokee51774]

Sol never give up best duo ever. too bad this is what Richie has become. could be worse for sure, but this is not his best.

[@survivrs]

Sol and cherokee, I agree with you both. When I hear the 2 of them singing together, I'm reminded of other famous duos, the biggest one being Simon and Garfunkel. Those guys had a beautiful sound,

[@MaikCross]

So true !!!

[@AussieRed]

best thing that ever happened was Ritchie leaving this girl

[@takersdfan]

Love richie he,s a legend

[@takersdfan]

Love richie his songs keep me going on bad days thankyou richie

[@williamlewis117]

He belongs in Bon Jovi good ole band easy as that.

[@granny4256]

Richie you may be pushing 60 but you still got it going on ❤❤❤❤

[@granny4256]

Richie your as great as you ever was

[@kevinkaatz9081]

He's the coolest dude

[@doddy_bj_miko]

Enjoy your time Richie.. u deserve to be happy, as a lead singer like u always originally are.. n also be happy with a life partner again... U can set your schedule on your own as a lead solo artist. Just live long n play n sing for us.. always inspired by your soulful play

[@tommycrain8157]

Good man 4 sure

[@jonbonjovirockwithrichiesa2717]

Bon Jovi 🤟🏻 from Philippines 🇵🇭

[@nisantausi7131]

actually, Richie Sambora is heart of Jon bon Jovi.....watching from Philippines

[@jonahcat5549]

Nisan Tausi ii

[@vectraT]

I make your words, mine! Definitely Bon Jovi needs Richie like a poet needs the pain!

[@survivrs]

major triad Before you talk about what it's like without him, don't forget who left the band. Richie was no longer happy, his excuse was to spend time with his daughter, but he released a solo album, toured with Orianthi, fucking her as well fucking up her tour, AND, instead of playing ANY of his own new or old solo songs, he sang the Bon Jovi hits and Orianthi was pushed back so he could be the front man. What is Richie even saying other than talking about what he and Ori are doing. He needs someone to fix his fucking hair, it looks ridiculous, but then again, some of it covers his face and the makeup he needs to look a little younger. He has let a lot of people down.

[@GreenerHill]

Survivrs: You should find more productive things to do. Go for a walk. Find some friends.

[@survivrs]

GreenerHill Thanks, but no. I'm good.

[@cashk100]

Is that like his Yoko Ono???

[@jeremycubs8331]

Richie has always been like this since day one I don't see any difference at all. Look at his old interviews nothing new still same old Richie lol.

[@worldzonegaming5202]

Thumbs up

[@thelolguy007]

Wish Richie would get back with the lads - I wish him the best in his relationship etc but he should be ripping it up with Jovi

[@kevinkaatz883]

Id like to ask him when he got tired of Bon Jovi songs, a year, 5 years prior? And then I would ask him how long it took him to draw up the courage to actually leave?

[@maryheiman4091]

What’s wrong with the cameraman he can’t get two people in one shot

[@marc176]

When Richie does interviews himself he's always better. When Ori is around, he acts all stupid.

[@mackin26]

That's women for ya, mate.

[@kevinkaatz883]

Marc Johnson thats cause he n luv

[@pammajor9470]

Don't like her so glad they split.

[@mskitkat59]

If it weren't for Richie Sambora there would not be the Bon Jovi everyone knows and loves! He was a key factor with his guitar and writing the songs that put them on the top. Phil X is no Richie Sambora. Furthermore, Richie does belong on that stage tonight performing the very songs that made Bon Jovi.

[@lucasjm57]

mskitkat59 your right Phil isn't Ritchie Phil rocks Ritchie dont

[@elizabethwitt2621]

The only one that's keeping Richie out of Bon Jovi is Richie. The only one who made him leave, yep....that was Richie, too. 🤷‍♀️

[@rnrs0016]

I'm not sure what he's taking but if this is sober I understand those not wanting anything to do with him when he's intoxicated. Half of this is ego inflating stuff, half of it is cringe-worthy and somewhere in between is a little bit of the Richie Sambora many fans love(d).

[@survivrs]

RNRS001 You got that one for sure!!

[@iovinsteva9914]

I got a feling his back with the bon jovi

[@rabbamonkey]

Richie is turning into an old queen

[@osmantunc07]

0:36 he is a so damn old cutie man

[@soniamadhukra]

Interesting he's going to Jon's house. I hope the awkward exchange at the post ceremony press conference didn't change that. I suspect that Jon's problem is Richie's not being as dependable as he once was. Is he as reliable as Phil X? Could/would he complete a long tour? Maybe Jon could write with him again, but continue to use Phil for the live shows.

[@mackin26]

A phenomenal guitarist. Bad hair do.

[@unicornyankee]

Can’t believe he’s still with the appendage

[@elisabethnerolk2283]

he doesnt look drunk or doped up in this interview, that is good!

[@survivrs]

elisabeth nerolk Are you drunk or high?? He looks like shit, he talks like shit, and he played like shit.

[@Shesnothingbutwild]

Have you been watching? He's anything but sober, it's so obvious.

[@RippedMr]

Stranger in this Town was legendary..underrated... now this soap opera shit with that hair and that girl

[@gailfreese3849]

Great role model for kids. Just up and quit 5 years ago without any explanation! Good job Richie. Can't stand her.

[@jonpit4342]

The post 80s generation rants on men with bangs or "girly" hairstyle and dress code , but would have no "problem" with bald, gang-like dressed "macho" men....get a life bros, your aesthetics are way different

[@golittleperson]

Same conversation over and over for the last 4 years. Become a cliché and that's a shame. Like others said he needs to leave the "beer & cheese" alone. He admitted it was a problem in the past so why risk it?

[@Sanctus_Manifesto]

The Illuminati logo...

[@GreenerHill]

It's strange that a video of Richie Sambora speaking should attract semi-literate people to start trolling. Some of them are so thick that they write in capital letters all the time. And it's funny that these people hide their faces when slagging off his appearance. Definite shades of jealousy there. Ugly.

[@rickb.341]

that random chick is so wack...he needs to get back with JBJ and make one last classic album.

[@iliana_b]

Ori, please burn all your hats

[@superstar4118]

Man has he aged

[@denisecastleberry5724]

We all age… even you will at some point 🙄

[@judya8392]

What the hell is he on?????

[@stixxnstonerz3450]

I've seen many interviews with Ritchie and Ori. He always seems not sober and Ori has to step back and let him do his thing. I was an alcoholic, and moments like this are the times when you look back and realize how foolish you behaved. But at the time, you just dont see it. I can only guess that it was the reason why he is no longer with Bon Jovi. I really like his music and greatly appreciate his talent tho.

[@Shesnothingbutwild]

Perfectly said.

[@survivrs]

Since when do rockers refer to other rockers as "cat"?? That's out of the 60's and early 70's. Stay current Richie as well as have a little pride. I've never thought he was classy, but nice enough. The band is better without him.

[@bobbyjovi]

Sambora is a talented guitar player.Other than that he is a drunk.Needs help asap.

[@supermotorcat]

Who is this sassy old lady?

[@Shabnock]

Richie Sambora

[@lucasjm57]

Wow he looks bad

[@goldentrowel1968]

Off his face as per usual

[@spancerpmakura8083]

Pushing 60 and looking and dressing more like a woman ...

[@kiekko673]

Spancer P Makura Yep, it’s funny how the botox, the hair, and the clothes just turn against you, when you reach a certain age...

[@survivrs]

Spancer YES!!! You nailed that on the head. He even talks like an old lady. I don't know who he thinks he's impressing, but most people don't give 2 fucks over Richie. He showed his true colors, he's a selfish prick.

[@GreenerHill]

Joseph: You mean "douchebag" (which you are) and "loser" (which you definitely are!). Learn to spell. :)

[@survivrs]

Hey Joseph, ignore the douchebag who thought he was in charge of being the spelling nazi. Yeah, Richie looks like someone's granny, dressed in shit from the 80's, looks puffy, and you'd think by listening to him that he wrote every lyric to every song, including the melody, when the truth is that most of their songs were written by Jon and Richie together. Jon wrote 10 of the 11 songs for the soundtrack to "Young Guns 2", including the hit Blaze of Glory. He also wrote 3 songs for "The Standup Guys" including "Amen", "Not running anymore", and "Old habits die hard", but Amen wasn't included on the album. It's a good song though. As for Richie, he's released 3 solo albums as well as some singles, but none of them charted for shit. If it weren't for Jon's tenacity trying to get his song Runaway on the radio, we would probably never heard of a band by the name Bon Jovi. David Bryan wrote the music for the Broadway play "Memphis" in 2010, and won 2 Tony awards. It's great to hear him sing his song "Memphis lives in me". He was also the one who wrote "In these arms", another great ballad for the boys from Jersey, but he's not comfortable singing it on stage. The two times I've heard him sing during a concert, he got the lyrics mixed up, but at least you know that he can sing. He'd been trained by a Juilliard Professor in classical piano starting as a young boy, and he was already on his way to med school when Jon called him. David gave up on furthering his career at Juilliard AND Med school to take a chance on something that might have been over in a few weeks. He even mentioned it in his speech at their induction to the R&R HOF. Tico is one hell of a drummer, Richie had the great ability to harmonize perfectly with Jon, but his problem is that he just doesn't connect with the people the same way Jon does. Jon is a flirt, and as a woman, I love watching him flirt and wish it was me so close to him. Talk to ya later, forget the haters.

[@GreenerHill]

Joseph: Ok, I'll speak to you as you'll understand: "Duh! Uh! You fukcin clevar! dUH! gRIMISS!" Happy now? Good, good. :)

[@JD43232]

Rich when you have that haircut at that age....you can't aford to also wear those clothes. Put on a blank black shirt and take better care. I feel like richie is always on booze

[@Verbsdescribeus]

He left the band right in the middle of the tour... so unprofessional ///

[@frontcentermusician]

Creepy chick.