Former Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora confirmed that he was unhappy with the way he was portrayed in Hulu’s “Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story”, the first-ever docuseries on the band’s history, with full cooperation from all past and present members of Bon Jovi.
The docuseries was a ROS production, the banner of filmmaker Gotham Chopra, and celebrated the band’s 40th anniversary of its self-titled debut album which was released on January 21, 1984 via Polygram-Mercury Records, less than a year after forming in their home state of New Jersey.
In a new interview with “The Magnificent Others With Billy Corgan”, Richie Sambora opened up on the matter. Here is what Richie said about the day his interview for the docuseries was filmed.
Back in April 2024, prior to “Thank You, Goodnight”‘s release, Bon Jovi frontman Jon Bon Jovi told People that he invited Sambora over to his home to watch three-fourths of the docuseries together, adding: “There’s never animosity.”
However, a source told People that “Richie flew out to see Jon and brought him a birthday present, a really nice guitar, but they screened Jon’s documentary instead. Richie left after the third episode because he was sick and tired of what he was seeing.”
The source continued: “He didn’t like the way he was being cast. He disagrees with how they framed his departure from the band and to him, the currency of happiness is more important than the currency of money.”
Let’s not kid ourselves: Bon Jovi without Sambora is like U2 without The Edge. Technically functional, emotionally bankrupt.
Fans have been dreaming of a reunion. Sambora himself has teased it over the years. He even performed with them at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018 and said, “Never say never. Here’s the truth no one wants to admit: the Bon Jovi reunion probably was happening. At least on paper. But now? With Sambora making it clear that the documentary didn’t sit right with him, this might have been the final nail in the coffin.
And the sad part? They were this close.
