Richie Sambora says his bandmate Jon Bon Jovi is “making it very difficult” to reunite.
The guitarist dropped out of Bon Jovi’s most recent sting of international concerts Because We Can: The Tour in April.
In a statement released by the group Richie is cited as leaving due to “personal issues”.
He has had problems with substance abuse in the past, attending rehab less than a decade ago.
Jon recently alluded that Richie may have pulled out of the performances due to addiction issues in an interview with UK newspaper the Evening Standard.
Richie dismisses the commentary as pure hearsay.
“I don't have any major problems in life right now, I love my fans and I feel bad for them at the moment. Bottom line,” he told Britain’s the Daily Mail.
“My opinion is Jon wants to see if he can pull off stadiums by himself. He is making it very difficult for me to come back.”
Richie is sick of being lambasted in the limelight.
He requests that Jon back off.
“Enough with the trash talking!” Richie declared.
“Jon needs to stop talking about me publicly. I am fine working very hard on my fashion company Nikki Rich and this is a private matter.”
Jon couldn’t help but express his annoyance at Richie calling it quits during his Evening Standard interview.
“It’s getting more and more difficult every day to not just sit here and say something… Because all I can say is this - it’s for personal reasons,” Jon said.
“He's been through it before, fortunately for us the same guy who filled in last time was available this time.”
Bon Jovi began the tour in February and are due to travel to Africa and Europe for shows, before finishing up in America in October.
In 2011, Richie missed 13 of the band's Bon Jovi Live tour because he checked into rehab.
The band is comprised of Jon, Richie, Tico Torres and David Bryan.
