Sunday, July 20, 2014

Controversial Richie Sambora interview with Gitarre & Bass

Richie Sambora recently gave an interview to German magazine Gitarre & Bass Magazine. An English translation of the print interview has been circulating online and raised a lot of eyebrows. Here's the part of the interview that's got people talking:

Q: How did your style of playing evolve in the last three decades?
RS: (makes a long pause) …when you’re a sideman in a band that has a certain style that you’re not allowed to change, then solo albums and soundchecks are the only ways to break free and cross boundaries. As a songwriter, I know how important lyrics are. They open the door. In Bon Jovi, I played and sang the melodic parts. But how creative can you be when your boss only gives you four bars to move the song along? How creative can you be if your boss keeps limiting you? I’m the type of person who is open to all styles and genres. I even went to a Kanye West concert with my daughter Ava. And I discovered a musical quality that I never really realized hip hop had. It was the first time I truly understood hip hop. Today when I’m evolving my style, I focus on two things: songwriting and emotions. Goosebumps, sex, grief, love, anger. Expressing emotions through music is what’s fun for me.

Q: You and Orianthi are working on an album at the moment.
RS: Yes. We’ll be exploring different genres: from acoustic ballads to hard rock. No compromises, no marketing bullshit, none of that! What I love about Orianthi so much is how versatile she already is at such a young age. I’m 25 years older, I’ve been on the road for 30 years and experienced anything you can imagine. I’ve been through a lot of difficult times. It’s great to finally be able to just make music for the joy of it. Everybody knows what a fantastic musician Orianthi is. We have duets that are just insane. When we’re playing together, there is magic in the room. That’s never happened to me before. In fucking Bon Jovi, it took me and Jon three albums to finally develop chemistry.

Q: Your ex-boss stated that you won’t be playing with the band anytime soon. Is there even still a future with Bon Jovi?

RS: I don’t think so. I was in that band for 30 years. That’s a damn long time. I missed most of my life. I worked myself to death in that band. The last tour alone was 18 months. I was always there for them. I wrote almost all of the songs and produced the records. And guess how many of my guitar parts finally made it on the records? Be honest, how many guitar solos are on the recent albums? Not many. I didn’t have much of a family life either. There comes a time when you ask yourself: Is it even worth it? Who am I? I was like a robot; everyday I did everything for that band. And I kept having to put up with the same old shit…

Q: You sound angry…
RS: As a musician it wasn’t fun anymore. I wasn’t happy. When I had the choice between happiness and money, I chose happiness. I already have enough money.

Q: How do you feel about Phil X playing your songs?
RS: Honestly, I have no clue about what’s going on in Bon Jovi these days. I’m sure he’s a nice guy, no doubt. And as far as I know, he’s a decent studio musician in L.A. Bu can a session musician replace Keith Richards in The Rolling Stones?
Q: Absolutely not! Unthinkable!
RS: Exactly! (laughs)

Read the full translated interview here.

Richie has since tweeted that something got lost in translation. We can't know for sure what was really said because Richie spoke in English, which would have been translated into German for the magazine, and has now been translated from the translation back into English.




I do hope what has been written isn't what he really said. Although Richie has claimed credit for the Bon Jovi stuff that was popular while wiping his hands clean of anything that bombed, this interview (if accurate) is a more aggressive turn. And one that shuts the door on a band reunion where all parties had previously been open to one.

5 comments:

  1. All I can say is most Germans speak English very well. It's not like this interview was from Japan. Besides what he says about Bon Jovi it is the second time that he has commented on Phil who he doesn't even know. It is the second time he has made the comment that the Rolling Sones would not have kept touring without Keith Richards. Did he expect the tour to come to a halt because he chose not to continue? He seems to be insulted they replaced him with a "session" guitarist. Maybe Jon should have hired Slash or maybe Orianthi? Well the Rolling Stones have gone on with different members and Phil is not just a session guitarist.
    I hope that he was misquoted however he has said similar things in other interviews.

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  2. I would like to second the above opinion. Who does he think he is? We did fine without him last year. My concert in October was the best yet, ( the day after Phil's son was born. He is much more than the "session" guitarist that Richie seems to look down on. He brought fun and great playing to the tour. Poor Richie working so hard for 30 years!. Becoming a millionaire, poor Richie!. I used to be a fan of this_____, My RS c/d's just hit the trash after this. I hadn't listened to them since last April anyway. Goodbye,

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  3. Even if he was misquoted or misinterpreted at some point, he said too much in this article for it ALL to have been a misunderstanding. He would do himself a favor if he's just shut up. Thankfully the rest of the band isn't commenting on things. There are three versions to this story - Richie's, the band's and the truth - and we will never know what the truth of it all is, but he needs to stop biting the hand that fed him all these years. Yeah, he's right, he has a lot of money and doesn't *have* to do the tour, but where does he think that money came from? This whole drama has made me not even want to listen to Jovi records anymore and that is the worst part for me. I have allowed him to steal my joy in the songs of my favorite band and I have to find a way to take that back. He doesn't get to ruin this for me. But I do wish he'd slink away and shut the heck up.

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  4. Funny, he says about the band "I was always there for them". Hmmm...Ive seen BJ 3 times and never seen them with Richie because of rehab stints. Doesn't sound like he was "always" there

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  5. Did he anticipate the trip to come to a stop because he select not to continue? He seems to be insulted they changed him with a "session" musician. Maybe Jon should have employed Reduce or maybe Orianthi? Well the Moving Rocks have gone on with different associates and Phil is not just a period guitarist
    4+ Bedroom Suites

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Thanks for giving me your time.