Richie Sambora has looked back on the recovery of his long-lost Gibson Explorer, revealing he once hired a private investigator to get his early Bon Jovi era electric guitar back.

It’s one of 2026’s most heartwarming guitar stories. After his prized possession was stolen from a warehouse back in 1985, Sambora was reunited with his original 1976 Explorer, bringing a 41-year mystery to a happy ending.

There were a few bumps along the road, though. Before it was returned to him via Matthieu Lucas of Matt’s Guitar Shop, Sambora decided to take matters into his own hands, when the Explorer ended up at a Guitar Center.

“The record company had to lend us money to buy new equipment and we just went and did it,” Sambora tells People of the stolen guitar. “So obviously what happened in my career happened in my career, it was fantastic.

“And about 10 years ago, I get a call from Guitar Center in New Jersey. I'm staying at my mom's, and they go, ‘Your Explorer was in here. We just sold it to some guy.'”

According to People, Sambora called the buyer and offered him double what he paid for the guitar to get it back. Apparently, he never heard back, so he went one step further: he hired a private investigator to help with the hunt.

Eventually, Lucas came across the Explorer while going about his usual business and thought it looked eerily familiar. As Lucas told Guitar World last year, he bought the guitar on the spot, and sent a picture to Richie to confirm if his suspicions were true.

And they were true, as Sambora remembers: “He sent me a picture and I go, ‘Get the f--k out of here. You got it.’ He goes, ‘I knew it was yours. I bought it immediately for you.' So that was really, really cool of him.”

Sambora was thankful for Lucas’ intervention. He used the Explorer extensively in his early days with Bon Jovi, playing it on the band’s self-titled debut and 7800° Fahrenheit. With the help of luthier Phil Petillo, Sambora added a few mods of his own, including the star inlays.

“I said to myself, ‘This is the guitar that I can make talk.' When I wanted to be a badass, that's what I took out,” Sambora tells People of the Explorer. “It easily was the best guitar I owned, and the specs were mine. So basically it was the first Richie Sambora custom model.

“It was f---ing trippy as s--t,” he adds of being reunited with his instrument. “I put it on, I started to play it. It seemed like it was untouched. It's almost in perfect shape.”

Last year, Lucas recounted his recovery of Sambora’s Explorer, and told Guitar World how he helped get the former Bon Jovi guitarist’s prized possession back in his hands.

It’s a truth universally acknowledged that, if you’re a touring guitarist, you’re bound to get one or more of your guitars stolen at some point. These tools of their trade end up disappearing into the ether, never to be seen again, with their owners still mourning their loss decades later.

In Richie Sambora’s case, his decades-long career means he has boundless guitar anecdotes – including ones of the robbery kind. But now, one of his early-year guitars, an original 1976 Gibson Explorer, has finally been tracked down.

The Explorer was his main squeeze in those early Bon Jovi days, and the first “real” guitar he bought in his late teens. Sambora spent around three years customizing and modding it – including fitting it with a Floyd Rose – putting everything he had into the guitar, or as he aptly puts it, “All the bread he had at the time.”

The Explorer was stolen from a warehouse in 1985, when Bon Jovi were touring overseas, and couldn't be tracked down – until now.

Matthieu Lucas, from Paris’ vintage and artist guitar emporium, Matt's Guitar Shop, was going about his usual business – buying and selling high-value guitars – when he came across one that suspiciously looked like Sambora's long-lost Gibson.

“I bought this guitar from somebody who said he was from Michigan and sold it as Richie’s original Explorer,” Lucas tells Guitar World.

“It’s the first time I have been offered such a Bon Jovi guitar as [typically], the early Bon Jovi guitars never come up for sale,” he goes on to explain. “We agreed on a price, and I bought the guitar. When I opened the case, I forwarded a few photos to my friend Richie [Sambora] and his guitar tech extraordinaire, Takumi, to see if they had more info.

“What I learned then was that it was stolen, and I immediately called Richie’s team to give Richie his sword back.”

A few weeks later, Lucas and his team flew to New Jersey, Explorer in hand, to give it back to its rightful owner.

“We opened the case, and I gave him the guitar. He grabbed the neck and said, ‘Oh yes, that's mine!’ I had to make it right and make sure Richie got this guitar back.” In fact, Lucas can exclusively reveal that, “It will be the first guitar he will use on stage when he gets back to it.

“Richie played everything on this guitar and composed the majority of Bon Jovi’s hit songs on it, so I am so glad he got it back now,” he concludes.

Last year, Sambora shared that he was recovering from a “gruesome” injury that has delayed his return to the stage.

Wet Leg have established themselves as heavyweights of the British indie rock scene – and they've done so by slinging some rather unexpected guitars.

After wielding a Player Plus Meteora and an HSS Stratocaster in 2022, their breakout year, lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist Rhian Teasdale pushed the boat out and has since been sporting an acrylic B.C. Rich Mockingbird on recent tours and festival appearances in support of their sophomore album, Moisturizer.

Now, lead guitarist Hester Chambers is revealing her go-to guitar, and it's another left-field choice for the genre – a Kramer Jersey Star, originally released as Richie Sambora's signature model in the late ’80s.

“I acquired it maybe a year ago, and if I'm honest, I don't know heaps about it,” Chambers tells Reverb.

“I don't know heaps about Bon Jovi. It's the first time I've ever used a Floyd Rose. It felt very scary for me at the time. Being like, ‘This guitar is not for me, but I can't put it down at the moment.’”

Original features such as the three humbuckers, pointy headstock, gold hardware, star-shaped fingerboard inlays, and, of course, the Floyd Rose locking tremolo were carried over to the more recent reissues, with the “Jersey Star” moniker serving as a nod to Sambora’s – and, by extension, Bon Jovi’s – New Jersey origins.

Reflecting on the release of his signature model with Kramer, Sambora told Vintage Guitar (via Vintage Kramer), “Dennis Berardi [one of Kramer's co-founders] was doing extremely well with Kramer at that point, thanks to Eddie Van Halen. We got to be friends, and he asked me if I wanted to do a model, and I said ‘Sure.’

“So I tried to put something together that would give me the dexterity I needed. It had stars on the fretboard, a Floyd Rose, and DiMarzio pickups. I played them every night, too. A guy named Rod Schoepher, who had also made me a few custom instruments, would fix them to my liking when they came out of the factory.”

In 2022, Chambers spoke to Guitar World about the band's unorthodox road to rock stardom – and how her co-guitarist, Rhian Teasdale, didn't know how to play guitar before starting Wet Leg.

Philly-born session vet Hugh McDonald was at New York's Power Station one early '80s evening when he was asked to lay down a bass part for a demo by Jon Bon Jovi, who was working as a janitor at the studio, owned by his cousin, Tony Bongiovi.

The song, Runaway, became a hit on local radio and earned Bon Jovi a record deal. He promptly formed his namesake band with neighbourhood friends Tico Torres, David Bryan, Richie Sambora, and Alec John Such, and hit the road.

But McDonald's vinyl-embedded groove had made its impression, and beginning with Slippery When Wet (and including New Jersey, Keep the Faith, and Cross Road), he became the band's uncredited recording bassist, while Such handled bass duties on tour.

In 1995, when Such parted ways with Bon Jovi, McDonald at last received proper recognition as well as the band's bass guitar chair for all live performances.

Regarding Livin’ on a Prayer, the tale of “Tommy and Gina” rocketed to No.1 in the summer of 1986 and was soon on its way to earning permanent status as a working-class anthem, forging a place in rock & roll history for the Jersey quintet.

“The band had done an 8-track demo that had a bassline similar to Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch, or Black Is Black,” McDonald recalled in the October 2015 issue of Bass Player. “When producer Bruce Fairburn came in to work with us and tighten up the songs, we both agreed that we had to come up with a better bassline.

“I tried some different things, with everyone pitching in ideas and variations, and when I came upon the part you hear on the track, everybody went, ‘That's it!’”

The band cut the rhythm track live, with a scratch vocal from Bon Jovi. McDonald used two fingers to pluck his '63 Fender Precision (strung with La Bella roundwounds), which was recorded direct.

The track begins with synth pads, followed by McDonald's E minor sub-hook; note how he alternates between E octaves on beat one and two low E's on beat three. Four bars in, Torres's drums enter, and Sambora doubles the bass on his guitar through a talkbox (a part he overdubbed).

Chord changes arrive at 00:31, with the bassline serving as an ostinato pedal. This continues through the first verse, with McDonald breaking up the part via fill variations at 01:01 and 01:17 (the latter serving as a lead-in to the next section).

For the pre-chorus, McDonald goes to straight eighth-notes, with a cool push on the D chord, which he says “occurred naturally”.

Equally on-the-spot but very effective are the first three notes at 01:24, which double the vocal melody. “My inspiration for this bassline, and for pretty much anything I play, is equal parts Paul McCartney, James Jamerson, and Chuck Rainey – sort of rock with an R&B sensibility. The melody doubling, which I’ve used before, is a bit of my McCartney side showing.”

Arriving at the first chorus, McDonald kicks the part into high gear by using chord tones and chromatic passing tones, plus the ear-grabbing, descending G triad at 01:37 and 01:45.

For the second verse, pre-chorus, and chorus, subtle differences include the fill at 02:08, the R&B-minded ghosted 16th-note at 02:47, and the slides at 02:57 and 02:59. “The slides were to add excitement – heck, I was excited!”

In the guitar solo over the chorus changes, Richie Sambora turns the tables on McDonald by doubling his G triad bassline at 03:03 and 03:11 as part of his screaming, upper-register solo.

The abbreviated third pre-chorus (including the three beats at 03:23, which was on the original demo) gives way to the final chorus up a minor 3rd. Here, McDonald lets loose via the Jamerson-esque gallop feel at 03:38 and descending chromatic passing tone at 03:43.

“My instinct at the end of a track is to try not to add notes, but rather to choose different notes and add rhythmic motion.”

“Make the part swing; it's not supposed to be stiff and robotic. Evenness of attack is important, as is being aware of the meter. Tico's kick drum is fairly sparse and open, so embrace the sub-hook role and have fun with it. After all these years, it's still one of my favorite songs to play.”

According to reports, Richie Sambora is currently recovering from surgery after suffering a “gruesome” injury to his hand.

The guitarist had recently celebrated his 66th birthday by teasing a new solo track, I Was Born to Rock, but details of the injury he first suffered back in April have also now been revealed – and the effects of it are still plaguing him.

The guitarist has called the new track a “gift” to his Instagram followers, and follows a string of single releases last year. Before that, he put out two defiant singles, Come Back to Me and Engine 19.

The new track features reverb-soaked drums and a decidedly ’80s glam rock swagger, with Sambora handling guitar and vocal duties. Vitally, it offers a little light amid the dark of his injury, which happened while playing touch football.

“He caught a ball, and some guy gave him a touch right into a curb,” an unnamed source tells People. “He was completely swollen and fractured his hand in two places."

Sambora, who had been scheduled to perform several days later at the Unbridled Eve Derby Gala, refused to cancel, despite the doctor’s orders.

“When he told the doctor he was going to the Derby, the doctor said, ‘You’re out of your mind,'” the source reveals. “But he said, ‘See ya! I’m going.’ That’s the kind of guy Richie is. He’s a man of his word.”

The guitarist ultimately required surgery in his left hand and the source says Sambora is still battling an “arduous, slow, and painful” healing process.

In March, Sambora shared the stage with Phil X, the man who replaced him in Bon Jovi replacement. The pair joined Orianthi at a charity show to play Livin' on a Prayer. Jon Bon Jovi, meanwhile, has ruled out the guitarist's return to the band.

Tim Pierce is a highly celebrated session electric guitar player who’s played with everyone from Alice Cooper to Meat Loaf and Shakira. But his career nearly saw a dramatic change when, early into his session days, he “missed out on being in one of the biggest rock bands in the world”.

Working on Bon Jovi’s debut single, Runaway, in the early 1980s provided him one of his first ever credits. The song, which saw Jon Bon Jovi flanked by session musicians, was a surprise hit, and prompted the singer to assemble a band proper.

For fans, Pierce – who helped shape that early record – seems like he would have been the obvious choice. Apparently, that wasn’t the case.

The Bon Jovi gig “happened kind of by accident” Pierce says in the new issue of Guitar World: “I was 23 and recording in New York. Jon Bon Jovi was living upstairs at the Power Station [recording studio]. Basically, his job was the janitor for his uncle, Tony Bongiovi.

“They put together a master demo; I ended up doing all the guitars on Runaway [including an off-the-cuff guitar solo] and Jon credited me on the back of the record,” he continues. “That was his first Top 40 hit, and I got full credit. It was great.”

With Jon Bon Jovi looking to hit the road, Pierce represented an obvious choice for the guitarist spot. But there were a few factors working against him.

“A couple of things happened,” he explains. “I didn't have the image to be in the band. People forget that you couldn't be in a rock band unless you looked a certain way.”

Dave Sabo, the singer's neighbour and friend who would later form Skid Row, assumed lead guitar duties for a short while, before another local guitarist, Richie Sambora, took the job permanently.

“Richie was the perfect choice,” Pierce believes. “The way he plays, looks and sings is great. They wrote some of the most amazing songs ever. Jon didn't ask, and it probably had to do with the fact that I had another gig – and didn't look like a rock star.”

After more than 30 years of service in the group, Sambora left Bon Jovi in 2013, with Phil X stepping into his shoes. While the bandleader has unequivocally ruled out his return, there's no animosity between the guitarists, who jammed together at a charity show earlier this year alongside Orianthi. The band's new documentary is also seeing hardened Sambora stans warming to his replacement.

Meanwhile, Pierce has revealed that Michael Jackson was a guitar nerd and recently recalled getting kicked out of one of the biggest gigs in history, just hours after performing at it.

To read Pierce’s career-spanning interview in full, head to Magazines Direct to order a copy of Guitar World. The issue also features a candid chat with Greta Van Fleet’s Jake Kiszka, Mark Knopfler, and Lari Basilio.

Filling Richie Sambora’s shoes in Bon Jovi was always going to be a big task for Phil X, and though he accepts certain portions of the fanbase will always pledge allegiance to his predecessor, he says the band’s recent documentary has helped win some fans over.

Sambora left the band in 2013, leaving a 30-year legacy behind him, with Phil X getting the gig off the back of a three album stint with LA pop rock outfit Powder, and his work with vintage guitar store Fretted Americana.

He’s played on three albums since, including 2024’s Forever, which saw Jon Bon Jovi reunite with his first ever guitar after 45 years apart, and he’s now starting to see more and more of the band’s fans warming to him.

Speaking to Guitar World at NAMM 2025, he says: “If I walk through an airport, most guys are like, ‘Hey, I love your Fretted Americana videos.’ Most girls are like, ‘You're doing great in Bon Jovi.’

“And then once in a while you get, ‘Hey, I saw the documentary. You come across like a really down to earth guy, and I think the fans that didn't like you before like you more.’”

The four-part, career-charting doc Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story sees the guitarist enter the fray for its final episode. His presence in the doc, as it explores the band's more recent exploits, has helped showcase Sambora's replacement in a new light, allowing certain fans to embrace him for who he is, rather than stand against him for who he isn't.

But not everyone has been charmed by him.

“I still get little comments,” he reveals. “I could be blazing on Instagram and [there'll still be] comments like, ‘You'll never be Richie!’”

He laughs as he says this, accepting it’s an impossible job to make everyone happy, and it shows the importance that Sambora had in the band’s success. even if their first shot at the big time ended in smoke and disaster.

In February, Sambora and Phil X crossed fretboards when they jammed Livin’ on a Prayer with Orianthi at a charity bash, and reflecting on that era-crossing moment, Phil X assures there is no bad blood between the players.

“Man, we were buds before and after. It was really cool,” he says. “it was a really amazing day. Sometimes, I had to sit back and go, ‘Holy shit. Is this really happening?’”

It also proved an interesting moment for the guitarist, who played a “supportive role” as Sambora strutted his stuff.

“One funny thing is that he doesn’t do the modulation at the end that I do when I play with Bon Jovi,” he goes on. “I just had to stay in my head. I’d be like, ‘OK, don’t do the modulation, don’t do the modulation.’”

Despite the pair getting together, the chances of Sambora rejoining the group, in any capacity, seem thin. Speaking of his departure last year, Bon Jovi said, rather bluntly, that “he wasn’t kicked out, he quit. And he hasn’t made any great overtures about coming back.”

Sambora was a recent guest on Billy Corgan’s The Magnificent Others podcast, where he discussed the band’s origins and his subsequent departure three decades on. Corgan also revealed that the guitarist is hugely respected in the alternative guitar scene.

In the latest episode of his The Magnificent Others podcast, Billy Corgan sat down with Richie Sambora to discuss their respective musical backgrounds – and revealed he came from an indie scene where being a good guitar player wasn't looked overly fondly upon.

Corgan's comments came after he and the ex-Bon Jovi electric guitar hero discussed some of their earliest eye-opening musical moments. Sambora's first gig was Black Sabbath in 1975 when he was just 15 years old.

“I lived on a dead-end street next to a swamp, but I could cut through the swamp and get to the train tunnel in a minute and a half,” Sambora remembers. “It dropped me off in Penn Station, underneath [Madison Square] Garden. I saw everyone that there ever was to see: Queen, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, David Bowie five times.”

Corgan is quick to note that such early experiences meant Sambora's bar for music was set high – something that contrasted with the music scene where he cut his own teeth as a guitarist.

“Not everybody has a high standard,” the Smashing Pumpkin man relays. “You know the thing about a lot of indie people is they think playing too good is a bad thing.”

Despite his rock background, though, Sambora was able to generate a credible reputation among such “indie” guitar players, as Corgan reveals.

“You are very well respected in the alternative community,” Corgan continues. “A lot of the rock guys, the alternative community look at and go, 'Uh, too obvious, too cheesy, they want it too bad,' but you have a different rep in my world. People would understand where you're coming from. They get it.”

During his chat with Corgan, Sambora also reflects on his time in Bon Jovi, and discusses the events leading up to his eventual departure. Sambora left Bon Jovi in 2013, but joined forces with his replacement, Phil X, for a run-through of Livin’ on a Prayer at a recent charity bash as the pair proved there’s no bad blood between them.

Corgan, meanwhile, recently announced a new solo project, with the Smashing Pumpkins' newest guitarist, Kiki Wong, also set to be involved. Billy Corgan and The Machines of God will celebrate a plethora of classic Pumpkins records, with a US tour kicking off in June.

One of Corgan’s previous podcast chats with Gene Simmons saw the bassist recounting how Ace Frehley’s Kiss audition nearly ended up with him throwing fists.

Last Thursday (February 27), Phil X and Richie Sambora shared the stage with Matt Sorum and Orianthi for a fundraising performance of Livin’ on a Prayer during the Rock For Responders LA wildfire benefit concert.

The performance made headlines, and for good reason: it saw Phil X – the electric guitar player who formally replaced Sambora in the legendary rock outfit – team up with his predecessor – the man who, in turn, helped Bon Jovi actually write the classic track – as two eras of Bon Jovi combined on stage.

And, speaking to Guitar World writer Andrew Daly, Phil X reflects on the occasion, and recalls how the unexpected collaboration first came about – and how the show’s organizers were unsure whether it’d be something the pair would be happy to do.

“They called me a couple of days before,” the guitarist says. “They were like, ‘Hey, so Richie wants to come out and play Livin’ on a Prayer…’”

“I was like, ‘Hey, what a great song for the cause.’ They were like, ‘Is that going to be OK?’ Because nobody knows, right? That was a good question. But I said, ‘Yeah, we’re both adults. Yeah… it’ll be OK. It’ll be fun.”

“I had been playing all night,” Phil X continues. “Then, he [Sambora] finally got onstage, came over, and we started playing Livin’ on a Prayer. We had rehearsed it the day before, so he and Ori could play their parts, and I just played more of a supportive role.”

Indeed, Sambora took lead vocal and lead guitar duties for the song, and though the rendition ditched the talk box, it kept the solo, which Sambora took for a quasi-improvised spin.

However, it turned out to be a rather enlightening occasion for Phil X, who was able to observe up close the differences between how he and his predecessor both tackle the Bon Jovi hit.

“One funny thing is that he doesn’t do the modulation at the end that I do when I play with Bon Jovi,” says Phil X. “I just had to stay in my head. I’d be like, ‘OK, don’t do the modulation, don’t do the modulation.’”

It turned out to be a successful evening, and while the wider public perception may be that Phil X and Sambora are at odds with each other owing to the Bon Jovi connection, Phil X insists this isn’t the case.

“Man, we were buds before and after. It was really cool,” he goes on. “Like, it was a really amazing day. Hanging out with all those guys was killer. He [Sambora] was just one more guy hanging out backstage. I felt like, you know, I like to engage, and sometimes, I had to sit back and go, ‘Holy shit. Is this really happening?’ It was really cool.”

Sambora left the band officially in 2013, but Phil X had been brought onboard as a fill-in around 2011 for a number of tour shows. In 2016, he was minted as the official Bon Jovi guitarist, and in a recent interview with Guitar World, he confirmed new music and tour dates were in the works.

Bon Jovi guitarists old and new, Richie Sambora and Phil X, joined forces with Orianthi and Matt Sorum at the Rock For Responders benefit concert on Thursday, February 27, with Livin’ on a Prayer headlining the supergroup’s mini performance.

Phil X became a full-time member of the rock giants in 2016, having initially served as a stand-in for Sambora on a number of tours after 2011. And, while a Sambora-Bon Jovi reunion may be off the table, the two lead guitarists offered perhaps the next best thing with an era-combining show.

Sambora wielded a heavily relic’d Henrik Danhage signature Charvel, while Phil X opted for a gold Gibson SG as the pair put on an initially subdued – and notably Talkbox-less – take on the 1980s classic, with an octaver-laced solo from Sambora helping crank through the gears.

He’d started by thanking the responders who “risked their lives to save ours” during the wildfires before asking the crowd, “Wanna sing with me?” as the droning opening chords of the song cut through the PA.

Taking place at the Battleship Iowa Museum in San Pedro, California, the show was the latest in a long line of benefit concerts that have been put on to raise much-needed funds in the wake of the LA wildfires that swept through the city in January.

The concerts haven’t disappointed so far, with a female-powered Nirvana reunion, Blink-182 performing with Matt Skiba, and a star-studded show being compared to Live Aid all delivering the goods previously.

Orianthi, meanwhile, made one of her first public appearances since being forced off the Alice Cooper tour due to injury. The guitarist had been forced to perform sat down at PRS's recent 40th anniversary bash.

Last month, Phil X confirmed that new Bon Jovi music – featuring at least one killer guitar solo – is in the works, along with more tour dates, as the band looks to build on the momentum of 2024’s Forever. That record featured Jon Bon Jovi’s first-ever acoustic guitar, after the frontman was reunited with it 45 years after he sold it.

The news seemingly keeps any possibility of a Richie Sambora return on ice. Mind, Bon Jovi had rather brutally shut the door on a reunion last summer, when he hit back at the manner of Samobora's departure, saying: “He wasn’t kicked out, he quit. And he hasn’t made any great overtures about coming back.”

Sambora, meanwhile, has detailed Bon Jovi's disastrous first arena show when, opening for ZZ Top at Madison Square Garden, he blew his amp in the first 60 seconds.

Working with one of the Fab Four is an extraordinary feat for anyone – but an instance of Bon Jovi, one of the most enduringly popular bands since the '80s, collaborating with Paul McCartney is nothing short of historic. According to a new interview with ex-Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora, McCartney had a hand in mixing a track on one of the band's live albums.

“I was in Henson [Recording Studios in LA], which was A&M at the time,” Sambora tells Howie Mandel [transcribed by Ultimate Guitar].

“We were pretty popular, so, I'm the guy that likes to go around the studio and go, ‘Who's in today? What's happening?’ ‘Don Henley's over here in B, and Sting's doing his thing over there. And then Paul's in there.’ I go, ‘Paul, who?’ ‘Paul McCartney.’ I had never met a Beatle in my life. I was probably almost 40.”

The two were working in different studios, but Sambora recalls being eager to meet McCartney. While mixing a Bon Jovi record, he found himself “peeking out the door, waiting for Paul to walk in.”

“It’s like two hours now, he’s not showing up. So I walk out of one studio to go into the other overdub studio to actually do some overdubs on this live thing. I walk smack into him, and he goes, ‘See you’re practicing, are you, mate?’ And he takes the guitar, and he’s lefty and I’m righty – he takes the guitar and starts to play it.”

As Sambora tells it, the two sat down on a couch and got along like a house on fire, so much so that “they had to pull us apart.”

“We just got into talking to each other so much. So, then he had to go into his respective studio, and I was in my respective studio, and I looked back, and Paul’s got one of my guitars, and he’s kind of messing around with it, right? And I’m mixing, so I said, ‘Well, if you’re going to be in here, why don’t you help me mix this?’ And he did.”

While Sambora didn’t specify which track Macca helped mix – and the Beatle went uncredited – he confirmed that it was a track from One Wild Night Live 1985–2001, Bon Jovi’s live record released in May 2001.

In other Richie Sambora news – Guitar World recently dug up a 2013 interview with the former Bon Jovi guitarist in which he looked back on the band's disastrous first arena engagement: an opening slot for ZZ Top at Madison Square Garden.

The old saying, ‘everyone has to start somewhere,’ has been repeated a billion times in a billion contexts for a reason – it's true for even the most successful in any field.

Take Bon Jovi, who have spent the last 40 years taking their particular brand of hard-rock – peppered with literal million-dollar choruses – to stadiums and arenas around the world.

Needless to say, they've gotten that live show in tip-top shape during that time – their 2013 outing, for instance, was the single highest grossing concert tour in the world that year.

But what were we saying about ‘everyone has to start somewhere’ again?

Back in 2013, former Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora told Guitar World about the band's very first arena engagement, an opening slot for ZZ Top at Madison Square Garden.

ZZ Top were at the absolute peak of their commercial success, but the up-and-coming Bon Jovi were hungry, and all too eager to leave a real impression on the packed crowd. In that regard they did succeed, though not in the way they had in mind...

“We were opening for ZZ Top at Madison Square Garden. The first Bon Jovi record was in the can but hadn’t come out yet,” Sambora recalled to Guitar World.

“We had no management. We were just brazen kids who wanted to play Madison Square Garden. We probably had no business doing it. Not that the band wasn’t ready, but we had no road crew, no infrastructure.

“I knew this was a heavy blues-rock crowd, so I told the guys, ‘I’ll go out there and blow for about 60 seconds, then we’ll go into the first tune.’ I hit the first chord and my Marshall blew up.

“I had a spare head, but it took about 45 seconds to switch and get the tubes warmed up. The crowd started chanting, ‘Z-Z-Top! Z-Z-Top!’ Consequently, we played a 40-minute set in about 19 minutes.”

Reflecting on the experience 30 years later, Sambora saw it – rather than an embarrassment to be buried – as a learning experience. “Getting through moments like that,” he told Guitar World, “is what shapes you as a pro.”

In more recent Bon Jovi news, band namesake and frontman Jon Bon Jovi recently poured cold waters on rumors of a reunion with Sambora, who left the band in 2013.

“I’ve talked to him twice,” Bon Jovi told Classic Rock when asked about a potential Sambora return. “He. Quit. The. Band. I swear to Christ there was never a fight, nothing… He wasn’t kicked out, he quit. And he hasn’t made any great overtures about coming back.”

Like many rock guitar greats, former Bon Jovi electric guitar player Richie Sambora grew up listening to the blues, and as such cites Eric Clapton and B.B. King as two of his biggest heroes.

However, those heroes would eventually become close colleagues for the passionate bluesman, as evidenced by the fact he was once invited by Slowhand to participate in a spontaneous star-studded jam session.

Sambora recalled the experience in the latest issue of Guitar Player, and reflected how the invitation unofficially marked the moment he was fully accepted by the blues community, and was viewed as an equal among his peers.

“In 1991, when I was finishing up Stranger in This Town, I wrote a song, Mr. Bluesman, about a young man like me following blues guys around,” Sambora says. “I asked Eric if he would play on it, and he obliged.

“One day he called and said, “Richard, this is Eric…” I’m like [drops his mouth in amazement] because I’m still crazy and starstruck. He says, ‘Buddy, George [Harrison] and I are playing the Roxy tonight. You’re going to come and jam.’”

Naturally, Sambora accepted the invitation without hesitation: “I’m like, ‘I will be there, I promise you!’ Meanwhile, I’m shitting my pants. So Harrison didn’t show up, but it was Eric, Buddy, John Lee Hooker... and me.”

It was, unsurprisingly, a surreal experience for Sambora, who, having endeavored to hold his own against his heroes, ended up making quite the impression on both Clapton and Guy.

“I played every lick I knew about three times faster – whatever I had to do to get through the whole thing,” he continues. “Buddy’s like, ‘Come on, come on!’ and Eric’s just laughing.

“We blew the roof off the place, and we were backstage at the end. Hooker looked at me and said, ‘Hey boy, was that you playing them strings up there?’ And I went, “Yes, sir.”

“He said, ‘You keep playing. You’re good.’ I got on my knees and kissed his hand.”

That was just one of many encounters Sambora would go on to have with the upper echelons of the blues world. As he goes on to explain, he also developed a close bond with B.B. King.

“Every time Buddy was around or I was anywhere in the vicinity, we’d just call each other. B.B. was the same way. I was accepted by the blues community. But I did the work, man. I did the stuff. I played the blues clubs for a reason, and I loved every second of it.”

Head over to Magazines Direct to pick up the latest copy of Guitar Player.

Jon Bon Jovi has once again discussed the possibility of Richie Sambora rejoining Bon Jovi – and it doesn’t sound likely.

Sambora departed the band in 2013 and rumors of his return have been circulating ever since. Speculation intensified in November 2022, when Sambora hinted a reunion at Glastonbury Festival was on the cards. 

Then, rumors came to the fore in February last year, when the group’s former electric guitar player claimed he was in discussions about returning to the outfit.

However, in a new interview with Classic Rock, Bon Jovi himself has seemingly refuted such claims, stating that Sambora “hasn’t made any great overtures about coming back” – and that any potential reunion is highly unlikely.

“I’ve talked to him twice,” Bon Jovi responds when asked about a Sambora comeback. “He. Quit. The. Band. I swear to Christ there was never a fight, nothing… He wasn’t kicked out, he quit. And he hasn’t made any great overtures about coming back.”

To further dismiss rumors of a potential fight leading to the split, Bon Jovi went on to recall the circumstances surrounding Sambora’s surprise departure.

“Nobody anticipated it, no-one saw it coming,” Bon Jovi reflected of Sambora’s exit. “I talked to him the day before, I remember it so well. 

“It was Easter Sunday, 2013, and I was driving through the Lincoln Tunnel as I was talking to him, because I was living in New York, and I was like: ‘Yeah, I’m feeling great, the album [2013’s What About Now] is gonna come in at Number One, see you up there.’ 

“He said: ‘Can I stay home one more day?’ ‘Of course. You want to fly private tomorrow? Sure. Do it. I don’t care. See you up there.’ And then the next day the phone rings at three in the afternoon, and, you know… ‘I can’t go on.’”

Despite not agreeing on a formal reunion since then, Bon Jovi and Sambora did briefly reunite in 2018 to perform at the band’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

In other Bon Jovi news, the band recently shared Living Proof, the latest single from their upcoming album, Forever.

That album will also feature a song titled My First Guitar. That track was written using Jon Bon Jovi's actual first guitar, which he recently recovered 45 years after initially selling it.

Few bands have been as iconic and timeless as the great Bon Jovi. Bringing the 1980s era of hair metal to the masses with their radio-friendly anthems, Bon Jovi paved the way for huge choruses, tight leathers and gratuitous guitar solos. While the band took its name from the legendary frontman himself, Bon Jovi was far from the solo act that some people assume.

Richie Sambora joined the band in 1983 and was instrumental in the group’s success, being one of its main songwriters and producers for 30 years. As well contributing his iconic guitar solos to their greatest hits, he was also responsible for crafting the songs themselves. Richie is credited as having co-written their biggest anthems including Living on a Prayer, You Give Love a Bad Name, Bad Medicine and many other iconic and mega-selling hits.

In Bon Jovi, Richie’s playing is soulful and melodic, interspersed with moments of ’80s-style shred guitar. It’s clear on listening to the construction of his solos that Richie has a strong producer’s ear, with each solo being exactly what is needed for the song: melodic and catchy, with just enough technical flair to keep the guitar nuts happy.

As well as a successful career in Bon Jovi, Richie has also had a notable solo career, having released three albums featuring his own songs and vocal work. He’s composed music for television and film, and has been invited as both a guest vocalist and guitarist on a number of records with a diverse range of artists like LL Cool J, Bo Diddley, Stuart Smith, P!nk and Orianthi among them.

Like many great rock players of his era, Sambora is well versed in the art of blues guitar. Growing up in the ’70s, he was inspired by the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimmy Page, B.B. King and many other legends of the genre. Undoubtedly, this is where Richie picked up his brilliant sense of phrasing and musicality; his solo albums contain wonderfully rich, earthy blues-rock tracks with soulful vocals, as well as his ’80s-style commercially informed music.

There’s lots that we can take away from Richie’s iconic style, like his sense of melody and the compositional approach to his solos. Our two studies focus on his rocky blues side, exploring his use of classic blues-based vocabulary to break up his melodic ideas and add fire and expression to the overarch all of his compositions.

Get the tone

Amp Settings: Gain 7, Bass 5, Middle 5, Treble 5, Reverb

Although best-known for using hot-rodded Strat style guitars into modified Marshall amps, these days Richie plays his ESP signature guitars through Friedman amps. Any good electric guitar will work for our two tracks, but you’ll need a fair amount of drive, so a good distortion into a Brit-style amp sound is perfect. Add a nice reverb or smooth delay pedal for that final touch.

Solo 1. Melodic blues-rock

This is a great example of Richie’s melodic lead work, interspersed with some Hendrix-style double-stops to break up scalic nature of the solo.

Solo 2. Mixing up the scales

This study features the use of two pentatonic scales in one key. The track itself is in D major, but the first half pedals around the II chord of E minor, giving us a Dorian tonal centre. This then releases into the parent key of D major. 

To employ Richie’s blues-rock based phrasing we use E minor pentatonic vocabulary over the first half and then switch to D major pentatonic for the second half, with other melodic ideas drawn from the D major scale itself.

Dolly Parton has shared details of her upcoming rock album – aptly titled Rockstar – for which she’s recruited a suite of high-profile guitar stars.

Parton’s out-and-out rock album has been hotly anticipated ever since the country icon confirmed her plans to release a rock ‘n’ roll LP in a bid to “earn her keep” as a newly anointed Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee.

What we didn’t know, though, was just how monumental the studio record would be, with Parton now revealing Rockstar’s mega 30-track setlist, as well as the names of those that were recruited for the outing.

The roles of John 5 and Nikki Sixx were already confirmed, but now Parton has revealed Peter Frampton, Richie Sambora, Warren Haynes, Melissa Etheridge, Sting, Steven Tyler and Steve Perry will also be involved in proceedings.

Joining the above are Brandi Carlile, Ann Wilson, Chris Stapleton, Joan Jett, Mick Fleetwood, and Stevie Nicks, as well as Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and John Fogerty.

The late Gary Rossington will also feature on Rockstar, with the Lynyrd Skynyrd legend set to feature on a cover of the band’s 1973 hit, Free Bird.

A handful of other pop icons and vocalists will be joining the fray, with Parton tapping P!nk, Miley Cyrus, Lizzo, Elton John, Emmylou Harris and many more to feature on Rockstar.

This mammoth collection of A-list musicians will be spread out across Rockstar’s generous tracklist: the two Beatles will feature on a cover of Let It Be, Frampton will play on a rendition of his own Baby, I Love Your Way, and Haynes will feature on a cover of I Want You Back.

Likewise, Sambora will perform on the album’s original title track, while Stapleton will be heard on a version of Night Moves. From a non-guitar perspective, more eyebrow-raising tracks include a cover of (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction featuring P!nk and Brandi Carlile, and a rendition of Stairway to Heaven with Lizzo and Sasha Flute.

The full tracklist – along with the names of each guest star and their respective spots – can be found below.

1. Rockstar (special guest Richie Sambora)
2. World on Fire
3. Every Breath You Take (feat. Sting)
4. Open Arms (feat. Steve Perry)
5. Magic Man (feat. Ann Wilson with special guest Howard Leese)
6. Long As I Can See The Light (feat. John Fogerty)
7. Either Or (feat. Kid Rock)
8. I Want You Back (feat. Steven Tyler with special guest Warren Haynes)
9. What Has Rock And Roll Ever Done For You (feat. Stevie Nicks with special guest Waddy Wachtel)
10. Purple Rain
11. Baby, I Love Your Way (feat. Peter Frampton)
12. I Hate Myself For Loving You (feat. Joan Jett & The Blackhearts)
13. Night Moves (feat. Chris Stapleton)
14. Wrecking Ball (feat. Miley Cyrus)
15. (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction (feat. P!nk & Brandi Carlile)
16. Keep On Loving You (feat. Kevin Cronin)
17. Heart Of Glass (feat. Debbie Harry)
18. Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me (feat. Elton John)
19. Tried To Rock And Roll Me (feat. Melissa Etheridge)
20. Stairway To Heaven (feat. Lizzo & Sasha Flute)
21. We Are The Champions
22. Bygones (feat. Rob Halford with special guests Nikki Sixx & John 5)
23. My Blue Tears (feat. Simon Le Bon)
24. What’s Up? (feat. Linda Perry)
25. You’re No Good (feat. Emmylou Harris & Sheryl Crow)
26. Heartbreaker (feat. Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo)
27. Bittersweet (feat. Michael McDonald) 
28. I Dreamed About Elvis (feat. Ronnie McDowell with special guest The Jordanaires)
29. Let It Be (feat. Paul McCartney & Ringo Starr with special guests Peter Frampton & Mick Fleetwood)
30. Free Bird (feat. Ronnie Van Zant with special guests Gary Rossington, Artimus Pyle and The Artimus Pyle Band)

“I’m so excited to finally present my first rock 'n' roll album, Rockstar,” Parton commented. “I am very honored and privileged to have worked with some of the greatest iconic singers and musicians of all time and to be able to sing all the iconic songs throughout the album was a joy beyond measure. I hope everybody enjoys the album as much as I’ve enjoyed putting it together.”

Rockstar's lead single, an original titled World on Fire, will drop tomorrow (May 11), with the album itself set to arrive on November 17.

Parton's rock renaissance kicked off when she was nominated – and later inducted, despite her attempts to withdraw – into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Soon after, the country legend flexed her heavy chops during the show's ceremony, wielding a $99 mini guitar for an original track, Rockin'.

• Rockstar is available to preorder now.

Richie Sambora has reignited the possibility of reuniting with Jon Bon Jovi by revealing he is currently in talks to rejoin the band.

Though the electric guitar player prefaced the comment by saying nothing has been set in stone, Sambora did confirm discussions are ongoing and that he feels particularly strong about rekindling the band’s classic-era guitar/singer partnership.

Speaking to Planet Radio, Sambora touched upon a potential return to Bon Jovi following his departure in 2013, commenting, “We're talking about it. I don't think there's any reason not to at this point.”

Sambora went on to acknowledge Bon Jovi’s recent vocal issues, which prompted the vocalist to take a step back from singing, but said he was keen to take part in a reunion “for the fans”.

He continued, “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.

“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.”

It’s not the first time Sambora has gone public about his potential reunion with Bon Jovi. In November last year, he hinted a long-awaited link-up between the two artists could take place at this year’s Glastonbury Festival.

When probed as to whether Glastonbury Festival could be the event at which a Bon Jovi concert is staged, Sambora replied, “It’s a possibility. We’re talking a bit.”

Elsewhere in the Planet Radio interview, Sambora discussed the current state of his relationship with the band, and suggested he would be up for contributing his songwriting chops on future original material.

“You know what, there's no malice,” he reflected. “I mean, we did something… there's not a lot of bands that did what we did. I mean, obviously, bands like The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd and U2 [have].

“If [Bon Jovi] doesn't let me [write music], he's crazy. I'm on a tear,” Sambora went on. “Actually, I did write that other [Bon Jovi] stuff, too. It's a misnomer when people go just because his name is on [the band] that's the name. We just couldn't think of anything else really. 

“People think that I just come up with the guitar parts and something like that. But songwriting is conceptual. You have to have a concept. It's a story. And it can sometimes just come from looking out the window and observing and a lot of times it comes from your own life and for the most part of Bon Jovi my life was a lot (more) colorful than everybody else's in the band.”

The topic of songwriting in Bon Jovi has been discussed by Sambora before, with the guitarist suggesting to Nile Rodgers’ Deep Hidden Meaning Radio he had to downplay his contributions in the band as “that was part of my deal, to shut the fuck up”.

Sambora joined Bon Jovi back in 1983 to replace the outgoing Dave Sabo, who left to form Skid Row. After contributing to 12 albums over the course of almost three decades, Sambora suddenly left the group in 2013 due to personal reasons.

Following his departure, Bon Jovi recruited Phil X to fill his position for a handful of US and European tour dates. In 2016, the Greek heavy metal axeman became the band’s full-time guitarist and featured on their most recent studio album, Bon Jovi: 2020.

Sambora temporarily teamed up with Bon Jovi back in 2018 for a performance during the band’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

In other Richie Sambora news, the guitarist was recently unveiled as a contestant on The Masked Singer UK, which saw him masquerade as a guitar-playing jacket potato.

The UK’s edition of The Masked Singer – a show in which celebrities don ridiculous costumes while performing to a panel of judges who try to guess their real identities – appears to be where one of rock’s most esteemed guitarists is getting his kicks these days.

Jacket Potato, a character on the show who, you guessed it, resembles an anthropomorphic spud, has been the subject of considerable speculation since the start of season 4 earlier this year, when he made his debut with a cover of Elvis Presley’s Viva Las Vegas.

At the time, fans were convinced the mystery performer was faking his American accent, leading them to believe he was a British celebrity.

But in recent weeks, keen-eyed viewers and DIY detectives have zeroed in on the theory that Jacket Potato is, in fact, former Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora.

And the theory has been all but confirmed, according to some fans, after the performing vegetable delivered a stellar rendition of Fleetwood Mac’s Go Your Own Way, complete with a ripping guitar solo on a gold Fender Telecaster, in the latest episode of the show.

In addition to their performances, each Masked Singer character also offers clue packages to help the judges and viewers hone in on the true nature of their identities.

In further justification of the Richie Sambora theory, fans have pointed to various clues from these packages, including when he tried turning on the tap to a slip ‘n’ slide during a performance – a reference to Bon Jovi’s 1986 album Slippery When Wet.

Another came when he offered a riddle: “Hey it's me Jack, Jacket Potato. I've got quite the collection, so big you'll say ‘Woah,’” possibly a reference both to his guitar collection and the classic chorus line of Bon Jovi’s mega hit, Livin’ on a Prayer.

A third clue came when a sign pointed to a potato marked ‘number 50’ – another potential reference to Livin’ on a Prayer: “We’re halfway there”.

And lastly, Jacket Potato’s recent performance of Go Your Own Way could be a reference to Sambora’s departure from Bon Jovi in 2013.

Jacket Potato’s true identity hasn’t yet been revealed, but we can certainly get onboard with the Sambora theory – all the clues do seem to make sense.

Back in 2021, Richie Sambora said that his role in Bon Jovi before his exit was to “shut the fuck up”. 

“That was part of my deal: to shut the fuck up,” he said in a conversation with Nile Rodgers. “If I had a coffee place, the sign would say, ‘Have a hot steaming cup of shut the fuck up.’ That would be my coffee place. And you know what? Guess what? I did it. And it worked out because that's what he needed, for whatever reason.”

Richie Sambora has dropped hints that a reunion with his former band Bon Jovi could take place at next year’s Glastonbury festival, in the UK.

Speaking to the UK’s Metro paper at the Music Industry Trust Awards (MITS) in London on November 7, the guitarist was questioned about his appearance at Glastonbury with Dolly Parton in 2014.

Later prompted on the subject of whether he might appear with Bon Jovi at the same event for what the paper terms “a proper reunion” Sambora replied, “It’s a possibility. We’re talking a bit.”

The UK festival does have a remarkable track record in surprise bookings for major guests, but we’d consider this rumor best filed in the ‘unconfirmed’ category for now. However, it is nonetheless a promising hint of a rekindled musical relationship and friendship for Sambora and his former bandmates. 

It also marks a change in tone from the guitarist, who this time last year told Nile Rodgers’ Deep Hidden Meaning Radio that he felt he had to downplay his songwriting contributions in the band: “that was part of my deal, to shut the fuck up.”

In a somewhat complicated picture, Sambora has otherwise appeared to maintain contact with members of Bon Jovi and even joined the group onstage during their 2018 induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Session royalty Phil X has served as the band’s guitarist since 2013.

Bon Jovi’s original bassist Alec John Such passed away in June of this year, aged 70. “As a founding member of Bon Jovi, Alec was integral to the formation of the band,” said a statement from the band at the time. 

“To be honest, we found our way to each other through him. He was a childhood friend of Tico [Torres] and brought Richie [Sambora] to see us perform. Alec was always wild and full of life. Today those special memories being [a] smile to my face and a tear to my eye. We’ll miss him dearly.”

Perhaps the mutual loss has led to a softening of stances from both parties…

Richie Sambora has said that he felt obliged to keep quiet about his role in penning Bon Jovi songs, telling Nile Rodgers “that was part of my deal, to shut the fuck up.”

The guitarist – who left the band in 2013, stating that he wished to spend more time with his family – was appearing on Nile Rodgers Deep Hidden Meaning Radio on Apple Music. Their discussion starts by looking at the perception around his role in the band. 

“A lot of people don’t know… but you’re like singing on everything,” comments Rodgers. “It’s strange because when the band has a front guy and the band has the front guy’s name, you think that all the singing is the front guy.”

Sambora then chimes in, “And all the writing. That was part of my deal: to shut the fuck up. If I had a coffee place, the sign would say, ‘Have a hot steaming cup of shut the fuck up.’ That would be my coffee place. And you know what? Guess what? I did it. And it worked out because that's what he needed, for whatever reason.”

Elsewhere in the interview, Sambora discusses the writing of the band’s signature song, Wanted Dead Or Alive.

"I thought if the band was going to have any longevity, we needed a banner song for guys,” says Sambora, who had noticed their fans tended to be female.

"And I had this idea, Wanted Dead or Alive. And I got stoned one day, and I was sitting in my mother's basement waiting for Jon to bring me a pizza so we could get going. And I came up with that riff and I went, ‘Well, that's pretty easy.’

“And it's a very simple riff,” he continues. "It seems like it's hard to play – it's not hard to play at all. And it made girls able to bring their husbands and their boyfriends, [who] didn't feel like they had to go hide someplace.”

Sambora has only played with Bon Jovi once since leaving the band in 2013, appearing at their induction to the Rock ’n’ Roll Hall Of Fame in 2018. However, Sambora has previously told Rolling Stone “there ain’t no malice”, in his relationship with singer Jon Bon Jovi.

Check out Richie Sambora’s full interview with Nile Rodgers on Apple Music.

Pat Heath of BIMM Brighton brings you another exciting selection of licks to learn at easy, moderate and advanced levels. On your marks. Get set. Go!

Easy licks: example 1. Johnny Cash

This Am to E chord change can be applied as a tool for melancholic folk songwriting. Try with a pick or fingers, applying steady timing on the changes, and a slight roll of the plucking fingers for a Latin-flamenco feel.

Easy licks: example 2. Robert Cray

His style encompasses blues with a mix of 7th chords and a single-coil tone. Pluck or pick this with a slight groove in the bass and funky staccato on the higher notes.

Intermediate licks: example 3. Richie Sambora

Approach this with a smooth but gutsy tone. Slide in with lots of attitude and picking hand attack, muting with the fretting hand to achieve the percussive sound.

Intermediate licks: Example 4. Oz Noy

Dig in with the pick on this example and use short, sharp notes to accentuate the funky blues vibe. There are quick slides in this lick that are punctuated with cool vibrato, and the same is applied to the final minor 7th voicing.

Advanced licks: example 5. Yngwie Malmsteen

For this example, practice picking the open first string in speedy 16th notes. Keep time by accentuating the first 16th note of each four. Introduce the A Harmonic Minor pattern down the string and lightly fret the diminished arpeggios for the Yngwie sound.

Advanced licks: example 6. Polyphia

Polyphia frequently use this clean jazz element in their prog-rock style. Legato and picking are employed in this example, as well as quick slides and fingerpicking to voice the open-string 7th chord at the end of the passage.

Kelly Dean Allen says he gave up the guitar for 25 years, but apparently he’s fallen majorly in love with the instrument again. And who better to help him out with his reignited passion than Guitar World?

As Allen states, “I was looking for a challenge and something to push myself as a guitar player and to learn new things. This is what I came up with. Sequentially learning, playing and recording each of the solos on Guitar World magazine’s top 100 solos of all time.”

Above, check out his version of #100 on our list, Richie Sambora’s lead in Bon Jovi’s “Wanted Dead or Alive.” Below, his most recent video, for Billy Gibbon’s slide solo on ZZ Top’s “Sharp Dressed Man.”

To keep up with Allen’s progress, head here.

The first clip from the Blu-ray version of Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul's Soulfire Live!, due later this year, features former Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora joining Little Steven and his 15-piece band for a run-through of Marvin Gaye’s "Can I Get A Witness" at the famed Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles.

A 3-CD version of Soulfire Live!, recorded last year in North America and Europe during the legendary rocker and E Street Band member's first world tour in nearly two decades, was released earlier this month. The collection includes 24 tracks released digitally in April alongside an exclusive third disc highlighted by superstar guest performances, which include Bruce Springsteen, Richie Sambora, Peter Wolf and Jerry Miller of Moby Grape.

The Blue-ray version of Soulfire Live!, as well as a 7-LP vinyl box set, can be pre-ordered exclusively at Little Steven's just-launched web store. The vinyl box set will incorporate an exclusive bonus LP capturing Little Steven's surprise set at Liverpool's legendary Cavern Club recorded November 2017 during his band's sold out European tour.

"Playing in the same venue where the Beatles started their careers was a childhood dream of mine come true," Little Steven said in a press release. "This was a band that set me on course for a life of music. For my rock 'n' roll religion, the Cavern is the first sacred site. It was an honor—no, make that an epiphany —to perform there."

The Soulfire Live! Blu-ray video edition will include Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul's complete Cavern Club concert alongside video performances of each song on the 3-CD/vinyl set, exclusive interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage. 

Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul will be on the road this fall for the final leg of their Teacher Appreciation Tour, set to get underway this October. The tour will once again benefit TeachRock, Little Steven's Rock and Roll Forever Foundation's national initiative to bring music curriculum into middle and high schools across the country. At each stop of the tour, teachers will get in free to the concert and TeachRock will host workshops before the show to educate teachers on how to implement music education into their classrooms.

For complete details and ticket availability head over to LittleSteven.com

Soulfire Tour 2018

October 

18 - Wilkes-Barre, PA - Kirby Center

20 - Rochester, NY - Kodak Theater

23 - Atlantic City, NJ - Hard Rock

24 - Munhall, PA -Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall

29 - Wabash, IN - Honeywell Center

31 - Milwaukee, WI - Pabst Theater 

November

2 - Burnsville, MN - Ames Center

5- Chicago, IL - Copernicus Center

7 - Tulsa, OK - Club Brady

9 - Detroit, MI @ Detroit Music Hall

10 - Peoria, IL - Monarch

12 - Louisville, KY - Mercury Ballroom

14 - Columbus, OH - Newport Music Hall

16 - Cleveland, OH - Hard Rock

Awhile back, Orianthi and former Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora visited Norman's Rare Guitars on Ventura Boulevard in Tarzana, California.

The pair—or shall we say couple—tried out a ton of prime guitars, including Fender Strats, Esquires and Custom Shop Teles. They also traded off on a Gibson Les Paul Jr. and a few vintage acoustics.

In the end, Orianthi returned to the 1971 Strat that caught her eye early on. Or maybe that's just how the video was edited!

If nothing else, this candid video answers the question, "What riffs does Orianthi play when she picks up a guitar in a guitar shop?"

Enjoy!

Ovation Guitars has teamed up with Richie Sambora to create two new guitars—the Signature Series Elite Double Neck and RS Rockstar—for the benefit of youth music programs.

Sambora—best known for his three-decade tenure as the guitarist for recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Bon Jovi—will donate the profits from the sale of the Signature Series Elite Double Neck to the non-profit organization Notes for Notes, which builds, equips and staffs after-school recording studios in Boys & Girls Clubs and after-school facilities across the U.S.

The acoustic/electric double-neck model features a sitka spruce top in Gloss Black, an ebony fingerboard inlaid with mother of pearl stars, teak/paduk/walnut/mesquite inlaid rosette/epaulettes, gold hardware and a mother of pearl star inlay on the body. The guitar is finished with Sambora’s signature in gold on the headstock.

“My relationship with Ovation goes back to the very beginning,” Sambora said in a statement. “They worked with me to help create my original acoustic double neck when nobody else could even figure out how to make one. It’s all come full circle now that these new models will help benefit the next generation of players.”

You can watch Sambora take the Signature Series Elite Double Neck for a brief spin in the video below.

The six-string RS Rockstar guitar was created by Ovation and Sambora in tandem with the DW Music Foundation. The guitar will be donated to each Notes for Notes location along with a DW drum set to equip each studio with professional-level musical instruments. The DWMF also will work with other partnering charities to donate RS Rockstar model guitars to music education programs in underserved communities worldwide.

The RS Rockstar is an acoustic/electric hybrid single neck, six-string guitar that features all the essentials of the Ovation Elite sound and style. Premium features include a laminated spruce top with Elite-style multi-soundholes for clearly articulated tone and a mid-depth body for greater volume and projection, excellent balance and supreme durability. The guitar also features comfortable action and an easy-playing neck profile, multi-hardwood epaulettes for the classic Elite aesthetic and an Ovation CE304T pickup/preamp system with 3-band EQ and built-in tuner for superior amplified tone and performance.

For more info on the guitars, head on over to ovationguitars.com.

BackStory Events and Guitar World invite you to join us for the live stream of our exclusive interview with Richie Sambora and Orianthi.

The interview will take place Tuesday, November 28, live from the Cutting Room in New York, NY at 6:30 p.m. EST.

The pair has joined forces for a new, genre-spanning musical project under the name RSO that sees these two platinum-selling singer-songwriters and world-class guitarists teaming up as a duo. They recently released a five-track EP called Rise, with more music on the way. The evening features a long-form interview, short performance, and opportunity for audience questions.

RSO will be interviewed by author and journalist Brad Tolinski. The event is part of the BackStory Events online series and will be live streamed by Guitar World magazine.

To find out more, visit rsoofficial.com or backstoryevents.com.

The stream will appear below once we go live.

Four years ago, Richie Sambora was vacationing in Hawaii and was asked by his old pal Alice Cooper to join him onstage at his annual charity concert for the Maui Food Bank.

The former Bon Jovi guitarist had no idea his life was about to change. “Before the show, I’m sitting in the audience with Alice while the main band is soundchecking, and I see this beautiful girl onstage with a guitar,” says Sambora. “I said to Alice, ‘Wow, who’s that?’ He said, ‘Oh, that’s Orianthi. She’s in my band. She’s played with Michael Jackson—she’s really great.’ ”

While Sambora might have been first attracted to Orianthi’s looks, it was love at first shred the second he heard her play. “I was blown away, and so I was even more intrigued,” he says. “I was like, ‘All right, that’s somebody I wanna jam with!’ ”

For her part, the 32-year-old Orianthi knew full well who Sambora was. As a budding guitarist growing up in Australia, she had seen him hundreds of times in Bon Jovi videos. “ ‘Livin’ on a Prayer,’ ‘Wanted Dead or Alive’—those are iconic songs,” she says. “I knew Richie was an amazing player, but I wasn’t expecting us to connect so quickly during the charity concert. We did ‘Voodoo Child’ and then with Sammy Hagar we played ‘Rock Candy.’ Our styles mixed so well—I was really pleasantly surprised.”

A month later, Sambora invited Orianthi to join him for a tour of Europe and her native Australia, and sparks started flying both onstage and off. “There was no hesitation with anything,” Sambora says. “We dove right in and became a couple right away. We didn’t really think, ‘Oh, we should keep the musical and personal things separate.’ ” Adds Orianthi, “I think what really helped is the fact that we’re both guitarists. We share a language, and we have so much respect for each other. That makes everything easier.”

Once Orianthi fulfilled her touring commitments to Alice Cooper, she moved in with the 58-year-old Sambora in Los Angeles, where the two made firm plans for their musical collaboration. For a time, they struggled to find a suitable band name before finally deciding on their initials, RSO. “It’s better than Samborianthi,” Sambora jokes. “And Ori-Bora, that definitely wasn’t happening.”

They set up a musical compound in their home—recording gear in the kitchen, amps in the dining room, and a drum room in the home theater area. “It seems crazy, but it works,” Sambora stresses. “My good friend Bob Rock [producer of Bon Jovi and Metallica, among others] helped us put it all together, and he did a great job. We get some killer sounds right in the kitchen.”

With Rock in tow as producer and occasional bassist, the happy couple recorded a healthy batch of the nearly 70 songs they had written over a two-year period. While Sambora and Orianthi handled vocal, guitar and some bass duties, they welcomed a host of guest players, such as keyboardist John Webster and Paul McCartney drummer Abe Laboriel Jr.

“We had a blast the entire time,” Orianthi says. “Richie and Bob have a great chemistry from all their years together. I’d met Bob at some of the Maui jams Alice has thrown, so it was cool for me to finally work with him.”

RSO’s first release comes in the form of a five-song EP called Rise, which features a compelling snapshot of both guitarists’ musical strengths. “Masterpiece” is a poignant piece of mainstream pop capped by Orianthi’s fiery soloing, while “Truth” is a gorgeous piano-driven ballad complete with backward acoustic guitar flourishes. Their two voices mesh beautifully on the country-laced “Good Times,” and they lock axes forcefully on the anthemic, Hendrixy title cut.

“We love to play guitar together, but we didn’t want it to be a ‘guitar noodlefest record’ per se,” Sambora points out. “But trust me—that stuff is coming. This EP is just the tip of the iceberg.”

As for how the two have influenced each other, Orianthi says she’s sharpened her compositional skills from Sambora. “He writes ‘songs within songs’ when he solos,” she notes. “But what he does is really raw and pure.” Sambora, on the other hand, credits Orianthi with awakening his love of music in general.

“I don’t want to come off like some old dude,” he says, “but when you play with someone like her, the reasons why you do this come flooding back. She’s got a lot of soul for someone so young.”

Richie Sambora and Orianthi debuted new material and performed covers of Bon Jovi hits before a few thousand NAMM Show attendees.

The couple, whose new project is dubbed RSO—Richie Sambora Orianthi—performed on the Grand Plaza stage Thursday night in Anaheim.

In addition to covering tracks from Sambora’s former group, Bon Jovi—including “Livin’ on a Prayer,” “Wanted Dead or Alive” and “Lay Your Hands on Me”—they covered the Allman Brothers’ “Midnight Rider” and debuted a new song, “Making History.”

Sambora told the crowd they have just complete their first album, which was recorded in their kitchen with Bob Rock producing. The album has 22 tracks and will be released in a few months.

“Livin’ on a Prayer”

“Dead or Alive” (with last part of “Midnight Rider”)

“Lay Your Hands on Me”

“Making History”

Richie Sambora and Orianthi have been a couple for a while now, but they haven’t actually released any recordings together.

That’s about to change. The guitarists are gearing up to release their debut album, and they’ve recorded a teaser video to give fans a preview. For the video, they selected the Sonny and Cher hit “I Got You Babe,” currently celebrating its 50th anniversary.

“The album has a lot of duets, songs that Richie sings, songs that I sing,” Orianthi says. “It’s a little Fleetwood Mac in parts, there’s so many different sounds. It’s very diverse.”“It’s basically Sonny and Cher on steroids,” Sambora told Billboard last February. “We looked back on our career and saw the different styles of music that we did and, when you make a record, obviously, you have to own it. After 40 years in this business I know if we owned it or not.”

Both Orianthi and Sambora have celebrated histories with previous acts. Sambora spent 30 years as lead guitarist in Bon Jovi, while Orianthi has been a guitarist in backing groups for Michael Jackson, Alice Cooper and Prince. Together, they hope to show the music world another side of what they can do.

“There’s not a lot of male/female duos going on in the world right now—especially two guitar players like us two,” Sambora tells News.com.au.

“First of all, the world doesn’t know how good Ori sings and writes. The world knows how amazing a guitarist she is, but she’s more amazing than people think.

“Then on the other hand you’ve got me. I’m just Jon Bon Jovi’s sideman for most people. That’s what they know me as.

“Now we’re together and we’re doing something that means something. We’ve got something to prove to people—we can do this too. Together I think we’ve reached something that is a new sound.”

The duo first announced they were working on an album in February 2015 via posts on their respective Facebook pages. Check out the teaser below. We’ve also included a video of the two performing “Bad Company” and Bon Jovi’s “Wanted Dead or Alive” in São Paulo on July 8, 2016. Below that you can find the much-viewed video of Sambora and Orianthi jamming on vintage guitars during a 2015 visit to Norman’s Rare Guitars in Tarzana, California.

A who's who of music industry execs, celebrities, luminaries and supporters of women in music, gathered on Fri., Jan. 23 in the Anaheim Hilton hotel’s Pacific Ballroom to celebrate the 2015 She Rocks Awards, an event paying tribute to women who display leadership and stand out within the music industry.

Named one of Billboard magazine's "7 must-see events at NAMM," the sold-out She Rocks Awards were held by parent organization the Women's International Music Network (the WiMN), and were co-hosted by WiMN Founder Laura B. Whitmore and guitarist, solo artist and 2013 She Rocks Awards winner Orianthi.

Honorees included Music Inc. editor, Katie Kailus; Vice President of Brand Marketing at Martin Guitar, Amani Duncan; multi-platinum artist, Colbie Caillat; Grammy Award nominated sax player, Mindi Abair; legendary band The Bangles; Vice President for Online Learning and Continuing Education/CEO for Berklee College of Music’s award-winning online continuing education program, Berklee Online, Debbie Cavalier; Vice President of iconic Capitol Studios, Paula Salvatore; Avedis Zildjian CEO, Craigie Zildjian; Beacock Music Co-Owner, Gayle Beacock; and owner of Robo Records, Rob Christie, the first-ever male to receive a She Rocks Awards.

“The 2015 She Rocks Awards brought together hundreds of powerful men and women in the music industry who filled the venue with a level of energy and excitement unlike any other She Rocks Awards we’ve held in the past. To know that this many people support our mission of advancing women in the music industry is extremely uplifting and reassuring. We set the bar high this year,” said WiMN Founder Laura B. Whitmore.

• The event featured electrifying performances by Orianthi with a surprise cameo by Richie Sambora; Mindi Abair; The Bangles; Colbie Caillat; SHEL; and the house band comprised of Zepparella members Gretchen Menn on guitar, Angeline Saris on bass, Clementine on drums, and guest keyboardist Jenna Paone.
• Highlights of the event include a stellar performance of Mindi Abair’s song “Kick Ass” with Orianthi stepping in for the guitar duties. A moving speech by Craigie Zildjian reflected on the company’s 400-year past and her role as the first female CEO in its history. And a grand finale closing performance of The Bangles’ “Walk Like an Egyptian,” as current and past award winners joined the rock icons on stage with Cleopatra-like poses.

The She Rocks Awards was sponsored by The Gretsch Company, Guitar Center, Seymour Duncan, The Avedis Zildjian Company, Martin Guitar, Weber Mandolins, Fishman, 108 Rock Star Guitars, Casio, PRS Guitars, Yamaha, Berklee Online, Roland, Kind, LAWIM, International Musician, Making Music Magazine, 95.5 KLOS, OC Weekly, as well as NewBay Media, and their publications Guitar World, Guitar Player, Acoustic Nation, Bass Player, Electronic Musician and Keyboard Magazine.

For more information, visit www.thewimn.com.

A who's who of music industry execs, celebrities, luminaries and supporters of women in music, gathered on Fri., Jan. 23 in the Anaheim Hilton hotel’s Pacific Ballroom to celebrate the 2015 She Rocks Awards, an event paying tribute to women who display leadership and stand out within the music industry.

Named one of Billboard magazine's "7 must-see events at NAMM," the sold-out She Rocks Awards were held by parent organization the Women's International Music Network (the WiMN), and were co-hosted by WiMN Founder Laura B. Whitmore and guitarist, solo artist and 2013 She Rocks Awards winner Orianthi.

Honorees included Music Inc. editor, Katie Kailus; Vice President of Brand Marketing at Martin Guitar, Amani Duncan; multi-platinum artist, Colbie Caillat; Grammy Award nominated sax player, Mindi Abair; legendary band The Bangles; Vice President for Online Learning and Continuing Education/CEO for Berklee College of Music’s award-winning online continuing education program, Berklee Online, Debbie Cavalier; Vice President of iconic Capitol Studios, Paula Salvatore; Avedis Zildjian CEO, Craigie Zildjian; Beacock Music Co-Owner, Gayle Beacock; and owner of Robo Records, Rob Christie, the first-ever male to receive a She Rocks Awards.

“The 2015 She Rocks Awards brought together hundreds of powerful men and women in the music industry who filled the venue with a level of energy and excitement unlike any other She Rocks Awards we’ve held in the past. To know that this many people support our mission of advancing women in the music industry is extremely uplifting and reassuring. We set the bar high this year,” said WiMN Founder Laura B. Whitmore.

• The event featured electrifying performances by Orianthi with a surprise cameo by Richie Sambora; Mindi Abair; The Bangles; Colbie Caillat; SHEL; and the house band comprised of Zepparella members Gretchen Menn on guitar, Angeline Saris on bass, Clementine on drums, and guest keyboardist Jenna Paone.
• Highlights of the event include a stellar performance of Mindi Abair’s song “Kick Ass” with Orianthi stepping in for the guitar duties. A moving speech by Craigie Zildjian reflected on the company’s 400-year past and her role as the first female CEO in its history. And a grand finale closing performance of The Bangles’ “Walk Like an Egyptian,” as current and past award winners joined the rock icons on stage with Cleopatra-like poses.

The She Rocks Awards was sponsored by The Gretsch Company, Guitar Center, Seymour Duncan, The Avedis Zildjian Company, Martin Guitar, Weber Mandolins, Fishman, 108 Rock Star Guitars, Casio, PRS Guitars, Yamaha, Berklee Online, Roland, Kind, LAWIM, International Musician, Making Music Magazine, 95.5 KLOS, OC Weekly, as well as NewBay Media, and their publications Guitar World, Guitar Player, Acoustic Nation, Bass Player, Electronic Musician and Keyboard Magazine.

For more information, visit www.thewimn.com.

Richie Sambora is spreading the peaceful spirit of the holiday season with a moving rendition of the John Lennon classic “Happy Xmas/War Is Over.”

Richie delivers blues-y vocals and trades guitar lines with Australian guitar powerhouse Orianthi, all backed by the sweet sound of the School of Rock LA children’s choir.

The performance aired on Hallmark Channel’s Home & Family yesterday.

Richie initially chose this song to sing during his scheduled performance at The 83rd Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade. The children came over to Richie’s house to have lunch and rehearse. Sitting together on the floor of Richie’s living room, he spoke to them about the important meaning of the lyrics.

Moved by how beautiful the children sounded, Richie knew this performance would be special. After waiting all day for the relentless rain to let up, the Parade was forced to cancel all of the music performances. Of course there was much disappointment amongst the children, but Richie promised them that they would have the opportunity to perform it together.

The Hallmark Channel proved to be the perfect home for the performance yesterday, and the children finally got the chance to sing the song that they had been working so hard on:

You can also watch the duo’s interview on Home & Family:

In addition to Richie’s appearance on Home & Family, he will also be appearing on The 83rd Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade as he accepts the first-ever “Stars Give Back” Award, recognizing him for his outstanding service to the community at large and for his ongoing support of the Parade. The Parade premieres December 10th on the Hallmark Channel and then airs on 375 stations nationwide later in December. (Check your local listings.) Also throughout December, tune intoPublic Television to watch Richie’s Front & Center special honoring his friend and mentor Les Paul, filmed at The Iridium in NYC. For local listings, please visit richiesambora.com.

Here’s the duo of Orianthi and Richie Sambora performing an acoustic rendition of the Bon Jovi classic, “Livin’ on a Prayer.”

The acoustic guitars give the song a laid back vibe, while Orianthi and Sambora trade lead vocals.

The two also deliver some fine acoustic lead work.

“Livin’ on a Prayer” was the second single from Bon Jovi’s 1986 album, Slippery When Wet. The single became the band’s second consecutive #1 Billboard Hot 100 hit.

Having toured together this summer, Sambora and Orianthi are reportedly working on a collaborative album.

You can find out more about Orianthi at www.orianthi.artistintersect.com.

For more on Richie Sambora, visit www.richiesambora.com.

Enjoy “Livin’ on a Prayer” right here, and tell us what you think in the comments below or on Facebook!

What if there were one place where you could tune in to see ALS Ice Bucket Challenge videos by your favorite rockers, guitarists and manufacturers of your favorite gear?

Dream no more!

Because there are new Ice Bucket Challenge videos being posted every day, we've decided to make one file out of them, updating it daily — or at least whenever something applicable or interesting comes along.

Right off the bat, below, you'll find videos by Homer Simpson (who was, of course, a member of the Be Sharps), Robert Plant, Steel Panther, Orianthi, Jason Becker, Joe Satriani, Nita Strauss and the Alice Cooper Band, Tommy Emmanuel, John Mayer, Foo Fighters, Ronnie Wood, Corey Taylor, Eddie Vedder, Brian May, Dave Davies (full Kinks reunion in 2015, please!), Geddy Lee of Rush, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, dudes from Carvin Guitars, Paul Reed Smith, Seymour Duncan and, well, the list goes on. Hopefully!

For more about the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge (and to donate whatever you can afford), visit alsa.org.

Let the videos begin! If you know of Ice Bucket Challenge videos by other artists, let us know about them in the comments below or on Facebook! That's what this is story is for.

Back in the late Eighties, Bon Jovi’s Richie Sambora was considered to be one of the true guitar heroes of the day. While less flashy than, say, Jake E. Lee or George Lynch, Sambo was generally acknowledged to be one of rock’s most tasteful and melodic players.

However, as time went on and Bon Jovi became more of a pop band, his role changed. He became less of a spotlighted soloist and more of a talented colorist, adding just the right notes and textures to the band’s radio-ready songs. While his skill was still undeniable, there was clearly less opportunity for him to solo and strut his stuff.

A series of impressive solo albums, including the underrated 2012 Aftermath of the Lowdown, attempted to remedy the situation. But last night’s (July 22) warmup performance at New York City's Iridium—which was filmed for a PBS Front and Center special that will air this fall—was guitarist’s real bid to show he still has the chops to be considered one of the greats.

The show started on a dramatic note, with Sambora crooning Leon Russell’s intimate “Song For You,” but soon heated up with a huge riff rocker titled “Burn the Candle Down.” With his hat cocked over one eye and wearing a shirt proclaiming that he was just a “Working Class Hero,” the New Jersey rocker traded lightning-fast licks with talented co-guitarist Orianthi for an ending that brought the audience to its feet.

While the show was meant to be mark the late Les Paul’s birthday, who was something of a mentor to Sambora, the 90-minute concert was equally a tribute his other classic rock influences: Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck and Johnny Winter, to name a few. Playing several beautiful Les Pauls, including a white one Paul personally present to the guitarist, through a custom-made Freidman combo amp, Richie summoned the gigantic tones of the Seventies as he performed songs primarily from his solo albums, with a few Bon Jovi classics sprinkled in for good measure.

Highlights included an arena-sized version of “Stranger in This Town” and a thundering “Seven Years Gone,” featuring exciting fretwork from Sambora and Orianthi. While Ori gave Richie most of spotlight, she wasn’t shy when it was her turn to solo. Her incredible technique and more trebly, biting tone lit a fire under the ass of the frontman, who clearly enjoyed being challenged.

It is rumored that the two guitarists are working on an album together. If it comes to pass, it should be a corker. At one point in the show, Sambora said, “Les Paul is the reason we all have jobs.” I’m sure somewhere Les is smiling and saying in that gruff voice of his, “Hey, Sambora—job well done.”

Brad Tolinski is the editor-in-chief at Guitar World.

Rock icon Richie Sambora and music legend Stevie Wonder performed a surprise duet of “Silent Night” during last night’s 82nd Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade. Richie also performed a soulful rendition of “Lean on Me” and his hit song “Livin’ on a Prayer,” lending his powerful vocals to the evening’s festivities which benefitted the Marine Toys for Tots and saluted Disabled American Veterans.

One of Los Angeles’ biggest and longest-running Christmas traditions, The Hollywood Christmas Parade took over Tinsel Town on December 1st as the stars came out to celebrate the holiday season. Richie was joined by an incredible line-up of performers, including the Goo Goo Dolls, Daughtry, Kenny Loggins, Leann Rimes, William Shatner, Billy Ray Cyrus and more, in addition to Wonder.

Astronaut Buzz Aldrin was the grand marshal and the evening was hosted by Erik Estrada, Laura McKenzie, Dean Cain and Montel Williams. Many notable names also made an appearance including Valerie Harper, Susan Lucci, Wayne Brady, Marie Osmond, Larry King, Joe Mantegna with the cast of Criminal Minds, and stars of The Young and the Restless. The Parade will be broadcasted as a two-hour primetime special on the Hallmark Channel on December 11th and will air again on the Hallmark Movie Channel on December 20th and 24th. The parade will also broadcast by more than 350 stations around the country on December 20th from 8-10pm and will air to more than 1 million American servicemen and women worldwide on American Forces Television Network.

Richie’s appearance at the Hollywood Christmas Parade rounds out a year that has once again seen Richie continuously contributing his talents to important causes that resonate deeply with him. He gave inspiring performances during Vice President Al Gore's ‘24 Hours of Reality: The Cost of Carbon’ (a live-stream event exploring the cost of carbon pollution), Dream Foundation’s 12th Annual Celebration of Dreams Gala (a wish-granting organization that serves those battling life-threatening illnesses), and the grand opening of Step Up On Vine (a supportive housing project in Hollywood that fight chronic homelessness, made possible by The Clinton Global Initiative in partnership with The Kobe & Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation.)

Richie Sambora performs "Dead or Alive" for The Dream Foundation.

On 9/11, Richie released a heartfelt tribute song, co-written with the illustrious Bernie Taupin, called “Engine 19” to honor the hard work and dedication of the brave men and women of the Fire Department, and all of the first responders around the country.

Check out "Engine 19" here.

Earlier this year Sambora also took part in CBS.com’s music performance series Tip Cup to help support MusiCares, which provides assistance to music people in times of need.

Sambora recently released his latest solo album Aftermath of the Lowdown. You can watch Richie’s new video for song “Come Back As Me” here.

More at www.richiesambora.com

As we've reported, Richie Sambora released a defiant new song called "Come Back As Me" in July.

When it was released at the time, the song didn't have a video to accompany it.

Since that time, however, one of Sambora's fans has created a video — and Sambora loved it enough to post it on his own YouTube page. You can check out the fan-created video below.

“What do you want me to say, I gave you everything I could give. But everything just wasn't enough, so I just let live and live,” sings Sambora on the track.

We don't know if the song is the precursor to an upcoming solo album; there's still very little information available at this point — but we'll keep you updated!

For more about Sambora, check out his official website.

Richie Sambora will perform today October 23rd to close out 24 Hours of Reality: The Cost of Carbon, a live-stream, multimedia event exploring how carbon pollution is costing individuals, communities and governments all over the world.

Sambora, best known for his co-writes ("Living On A Prayer," "You Give Love A Bad Name," "Every Road Leads Home To You"), once again lends his vocals to fight a serious threat. Tune in to www.24hoursofreality.org at 2pm ET/11am PT to catch Richie’s live acoustic performance.

'The 24 Hours of Reality' broadcast is hosted by The Climate Reality Project which is chaired by Vice President Al Gore. Millions of viewers have watched this year’s installment since it kicked off yesterday October 22nd at 2pm ET. The event has been punctuated by inspiring performances by an international list of incredible musicians lending their talent to the cause of climate change, including guitarist of famous Latin rock band Maná, multi-platinum South African rock band The Parlotones, actress and playright Danai Gurira and celebrated American folk-rock artist Jack Johnson.

More info about Richie Sambora is available at www.richiesambora.com

Longtime (and former?) Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora has released a new song, "Engine 19."

The track, which was released today, the 12th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terror attacks, is a tribute to the families of the victims and heroes of 9/11.

The track was written by Sambora and Bernie Taupin. Check it out below!

This is the second new solo track to be released by Sambora this summer. Back in July, he released "Come Back As Me," which you can hear HERE.

FROM THE GW ARCHIVE: Originally published in Guitar World, January 2013.

What inspired you to pick up a guitar?

When I saw the Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964, I knew I wanted to play guitar. I wanted to play lead after I saw Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton. I had an inclination toward self-expression, so that appealed to me.

What was your first guitar?

It was a Teisco! My dad used to work at a department store. We didn’t have a lot of money growing up and this was a refurb that someone never picked up. He paid, like, 10 bucks for it. I started teaching myself on that instrument. The damn thing wouldn’t stay in tune, so when I got into a band, I Pete Townshend-ed it. And that’s hard to do! Hendrix, at Monterey? He got it on the first pop. But when you try it yourself, it will slide all over, the body will break and shit will come up and hit you. It’s not easy.

What was the first song you learned?

The Allman Brothers Band’s “One Way Out.” I got the first lick and could change the chords and do it in rhythm. I think that was the basis for where I was goin’. Interestingly for me, I kinda learned ass-backward, taught myself by ear, then took theory classes and put them together.

What do you recall about your first gig?

I was scared shitless, that’s for sure. I was playing a birthday party and we didn’t have enough material to get through the gig. But it was constructive and exciting.

Ever had a nightmare gig or embarrassing onstage moment?

We were opening for ZZ Top at Madison Square Garden. The first Bon Jovi record was in the can but hadn’t come out yet. We had no management. We were just brazen kids who wanted to play Madison Square Garden. We probably had no business doin’ it. Not that the band wasn’t ready, but we had no road crew, no infrastructure.

I knew this was a heavy blues-rock crowd, so I told the guys, “I’ll go out there and blow for about 60 seconds, then we’ll go into the first tune.” I hit the first chord and my Marshall blew up. I had a spare head, but it took about 45 seconds to switch and get the tubes warmed up. The crowd started chanting, “Z-Z-Top! Z-Z-Top!” Consequently, we played a 40-minute set in about 19 minutes. Gettin’ through moments like that is what shapes you as a pro.

What is your proudest moment as a player on your new solo album, Aftermath of the Lowdown?

The authenticity. I got to do a lot of individual stuff as a songwriter. Writing songs is powerful; it’s like checking in with yourself emotionally. But as a player it would be the extended jam songs where I got to burn as long as I wanted. I don’t hear a lot of bands play extended solos any more. You ask why I wanted to be a guitar player? To express myself with my instrument. I got to do that on songs like “Burn That Candle Down,” “Sugar Daddy,” “Learning How to Fly with a Broken Wing.” And those came straight off the floor, which adds to the authenticity.

What is your favorite piece of gear?

Oh, man. I have a pretty extensive collection of vintage stuff that I used on this record. It’s hard to pin down. I have a couple of ’59 Les Pauls. It’s gotta be one of those. But I also used a Broadcaster and a ’38 Martin OM28 acoustic. When you’re the boss, you want to be in charge of the color palette, and that entails a couple different amplifiers, a couple different guitars, a couple different pedals.

Do you have any advice for young players?

Number one, you have to cultivate the writing process; become a songwriter. You can be the best guitar player, but if you ain’t got a song to play to, you ain’t got nothin’. As a player, you gotta be proficient so you get to where what you’re hearing in your heart comes through your fingers. Good listening habits are very important. I took my first guitar lessons at 52 years old. Never stop learning.

Richie Sambora has posted a new song, "Come Back as Me," which you can check out via the YouTube player below.

The song, which the longtime Bon Jovi guitarist unveiled Sunday, July 28, features a pounding rhythm and some nice guitar work.

“What do you want me to say, I gave you everything I could give. But everything just wasn't enough, so I just let live and live,” sings Sambora.

As Asbury Park Press music writer Chris Jordan points out, Sambora was conspicuously not with his Bon Jovi bandmates at the band's July 25 and 27 homecoming dates at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

We don't know if the song is the precursor to an upcoming solo album; there's actually very little information available at this point — but we'll keep you updated!

For more about Sambora, check out his official website.

He’s the longtime lead guitarist of Bon Jovi and has a collection of 135 guitars. But what Guitar World readers really want to know is…

I loved Bon Jovi’s country-flavored hit single “Who Says You Can’t Go Home” [from 2005’s Have a Nice Day] and was wondering if the band would ever consider doing a full album of country songs. —Lori Lennon

A full country album? No, I don’t think so. But as those words leave my mouth, I should add that the one thing I’ve learned in this business is to never say “never.” Hey, the Rolling Stones have had a country vibe in a lot of their songs, but somehow they always manage to sound like the Stones. So if we ever did something again that fit into the country genre, I’d want to make sure we were being true to ourselves. There might be a song or two down the line, but I don’t think we’d ever do a full country album—we’re a rock band.

You have an incredible guitar collection. With so many to choose from, how do you decide which guitar to play on any given song? —The Tank

Well, Tank, when you’ve got 135 guitars, it can be a problem. When we tour, I don’t bring a lot of my expensive, vintage guitars out with me, ’cause I’m afraid they’ll get stolen. Leave a 1959 sunburst Les Paul in a hotel room? I don’t think so! [laughs] Basically, I have my ESP Richie Sambora signature model, which is very versatile soundwise. I have a bunch of those. Then I have some Strats, a few Teles, some Les Pauls and Les Paul Juniors. My general attitude is, “whatever fits the song.” The vintage stuff I’ll use in the studio, but there’s certain pieces I’ll never take on tour. Why take the risk?

I really like the solo you do in the new song “Bullet” [from Bon Jovi’s 2009 album, The Circle]. What kind of wah-wah pedal do you use on it? Did you try recording a version without the wah? —Steven Koles

I’m glad you liked that one. I used a regular Dunlop Cry Baby wah, right out of the store. I think I did try a pass without it, but it didn’t sound quite right. I put the wah-wah on to give it a bit of a sonic lift, some added dimension. Generally, I try not to go too crazy with effects, especially a wah, which can sound kind of redundant if you’re relying on it all the time. Use effects sparingly, I say, the same way a chef uses spices.

What do you think of Jon Bon Jovi’s skills on the guitar? Is he just a simple strummer, or is he capable of busting out a mind-blowing solo? —Kenny Griffen

Jon’s been getting better on the guitar. Over the past couple of years, he’s really been working on his technique. He never really played any leads until the last tour, and now he’s at the point where the two of us are even doing a couple of dual-lead solos onstage. He’s always been a terrific rhythm guitar player—very underrated, too, if you ask me.

On your first solo album, Stranger in This Town, Eric Clapton played on the song “Mr. Bluesman.” Did you feel at all intimidated to work with him? —Hannah Smith

No, I wasn’t afraid at all. I’ve been fortunate to play with a few of my heroes, and Eric is one of them. He’s a very gracious man, very humble, and he never tries to be intimidating. When I was cutting that song, he was playing at the Royal Albert Hall in London, so I went to him so he could record his part. He came down to the studio and blew out a great solo. Afterward, we went to the show together. It turned out to be a great day and evening.

On the song “Superman Tonight,” you do a very cool melodic solo. How many passes does it usually take for you to nail a solo? Do you plot them out, or do you tend to go in and wing ’em? —Michael Tyburski

A little of both. When I plot them out, I just try to get a general framework of how they should go. Otherwise, they tend to sound stale and clinical. Usually I walk in with a basic idea in my head of what the song needs. On that particular cut, I was thinking of a slinky kind of George Harrison–type lead. It didn’t take long to lay down. I had a melody in mind, I did a few passes, and it was done. Sometimes I get lucky and I’ll be a one-take guy; other times, I have to build solos, particularly if they’re long or if I’m trying to find a specific kind of tone. All solos are different, though. They all lead you down new path.

I love both of your solo albums. Any plans for another one, and if so, what can we expect? —Rudra Patel

Right now, I’m a little booked up. [laughs] This Bon Jovi tour is going to last 18 months, so my dance card is filled for the time being. I have written a few new songs, though, and I’ve actually recorded a couple of them. I worked with the production group called the Matrix—they’ve produced everybody from Korn to Avril Lavigne. There’s kind of a new sound I’m starting to explore, but it’s going to take a while for me to see things through as a new album, since I’m on the road till August 2011.

I know you’re a big Jimi Hendrix fan. Any chance you would ever do an Experience Hendrix Tour? I’d love to see you tear it up with people like Joe Satriani and Eric Johnson. —Al Russo

A tour like that sounds great, but I think I’d be more inclined to do my own thing than hop on something where I only get to play a few numbers. But if you can find it, pick up a copy of the soundtrack to [the 1990 film] The Adventures of Ford Fairlane. I did a version of Hendrix’s “The Wind Cries Mary” with Tony Levin on bass and [Bon Jovi drummer] Tico [Torres]. It’s also on the special edition of Stranger in This Town, which is unavailable. You can probably catch it on YouTube, though.

You and Jon have been songwriting partners for a lot of years. What happens when the two of you disagree on a song? Does he automatically win the argument because he’s the leader of the band? —Rebecca Reilly

To be honest with you, we rarely have disagreements. I think we’ve known each other for so long that we kind of know what the other guy is going to like. Songwriting is a give-and-take process, and it can lead to some good, healthy debates. Sometimes it’s necessary to push each other out of the comfort zone a little bit. But I would never try to force Jon to record or perform a song he really didn’t like. He’s gotta sing it, but more than that, he’s gotta feel it. And you can bet your bottom dollar that if he isn’t feeling it, the 80,000 people in the stadium sure aren’t gonna feel it either. Jon and I have written something like 400 songs together. If I love a tune and he doesn’t, I’ll save it for one of my records. Simple as that.

I saw a picture of you from back in the day, and in it, you’re playing a triple-neck Ovation acoustic. Why in the world would you need a guitar like that, and where can I get one? —Johnny “Hands” McQueen

Well, there’s only two of them in existence. I used to have both of them, but I traded one for…for something. Wow, I can’t remember what I traded it for! As for why I had a guitar like that in the first place, I used to do a solo acoustic interlude onstage before “Wanted Dead or Alive,” and I asked the people at Ovation to build me a special model with a mandolin neck. So you’ve got the mandolin neck up top, the 12-string neck in the middle and the six-string neck on the bottom. Actually, [Led Zeppelin’s] John Paul Jones used to have a guitar with the same neck configuration. I copied him.

If you could take only one guitar on tour, what would it be? —Earl Ashton

I’d have to say my own model, my ESP Richie Sambora model. As I said before, it’s very versatile when it comes to the sounds it can deliver. Plus, it’s extremely comfortable to play— the balance is perfect, and it’s nice and light. And it looks awesome. If I really had to go onstage to play a whole show with just one guitar, I wouldn’t have to think too hard about it. As it is right now, I do play most of the set with that guitar. So there you go.

Les Paul was a great friend of yours. When you think back to the times you two spent together, what’s your fondest memory of him? —David Dameo

There are a lot of great memories. Most of all, I treasured our conversations, whether they were at my house, his place or in hotel rooms. The friendship we had was very special. I could write a book with the incredible stories he told me. Of course, jamming with him was unbelievable. I played with him at the Iridium [the Manhattan jazz club where Paul performed every Monday night beginning in 1995] and before that at Fat Tuesday’s [a famed New York City nightclub that closed in 1995]. I played with Les many times, and every time meant something. He was an amazing guy. He was a legend, and he lived long enough to realize he was a legend. What more can you say?