Richie Sambora Says Personal Issues Keeping Him From Bon Jovi Tour

Richie Sambora said personal issues will keep him from an upcoming tour with his Bon Jovi bandmates.

Sambora and Bon Jovi announced the last-minute change to its Because We Can tour on Wednesday with a terse statement on the band’s website.

“Due to personal issues,Richie Sambora will not be performing on this upcoming leg,” read the statement. “All shows will go on as scheduled.”

Richie Sambora did not elaborate on the issues that will keep him from the tour. He did miss 11 shows during the Bon Jovi Live tour in 2011 after he decided to re-enter rehab for his drinking problems. Sambora had previously sought treatment for alcoholism in 2007 but was arrested for drunk driving again the following year.

Sambora has had a checkered life in recent years. The 53-year-old guitarist divorced from wife Heather Locklear in 2007 after 13 years of marriage. He rebounded with actress Denise Richards, but they broke up in June of last year.

Sources indicate that Richie Sambora’s issues are actually with the Bon Jovi frontman, not with any personal demons. TMZ is reporting that Sambora is in a fight with Jon Bon Jovi.

The Because We Can tour is set to kick off a Canadian leg with shows in Edmonton, Alberta, and Winnipeg, Manitoba, this week. The tour goes on to 13 other cities across the United States and Canada before going international with gigs in South Africa and across Europe.

The band’s announcement that Richie Sambora’s issues will keep him from the rest of the tour didn’t go over well with fans. Many of them left angry comments on the band’s website, and many even demanded refunds for tickets to future tour dates.

With tickets to the various shows ranging from $20 to more than $200, Richie Sambora’s issues could be costly to Bon Jovi if fans follow through on the threats.