Guitarist Richie Sambora IS NOT returning to tour with Bon Jovi this year — he’s been fired from the tour, RumorFix has learned exclusively.An alleged dispute over money is not new (TMZ claimed it was the reason for Richie's departure in early April) although Phil better be making a lot more than $10k/month for this gig.
Sources close to the band tell us it’s all about money. We are told just like any DIVORCE, their differences are irreconcilable.
Richie, who has been a member of the band for 30 years, was making $2 million a month and 20 percent of the profits after each show. His replacement Philip ‘Phil X’ Xenidis is only making $10,000 a month.
But don’t think Richie is going broke — since he co-wrote most of the songs and since his likeness appears on merchandise, he continues to get royalty checks.
Our source says, “Richie wants to go back on stage — that’s his first love. He’s really upset over the news.”
For what it's worth, if anyone thought or hoped Richie was going to be back on tour in September, Nikki Lund's blog suggests he'll be busy promoting their fashion label then.
Matt Bongiovi commented on the latest RumorFix article via Twitter.
Until they name the so called source of the information and it really is a person involved directly don't bother feeding into them
— Matthew Bongiovi (@MatthewBongiovi) August 22, 2013
I welcome this so called source to go head to head with me on here. Bring it on mystery man.... or girl. lol
— Matthew Bongiovi (@MatthewBongiovi) August 22, 2013
Yoko Ono comes to mind..... hmmm interesting...
— Matthew Bongiovi (@MatthewBongiovi) August 22, 2013
Hmm, is he trying to bait Nikki and or NikkiRich Clothing's PR guy Sean Borg?
EDIT: Matt is apparently closing his Twitter account, while Phil has set the record straight about the pitiful pay package RumorFix gave him.
you know how I know http://t.co/Xx0YfzlACj is full of shit? I wouldn't even leave my house for that salary.
— Phil X (@TheRealPhilX) August 23, 2013
Not sure I buy this. If this is correct then it is showing that Richie is motivated by money and not the music. He couldn't earn that kind of money in many other bands. Also he knew the deal when the tour started so why start the tour and then complain. If the so called source is from the Richie camp then it does him no favours and in my opinion puts him in a bad light. He works for Bon Jovi that's the way its been for a long time. The only person who would have a right to complain is Phil X. It is so embarrassing now the band & Richie should release some kind of official statement. It doesn't need to go into any detail but just to confirm where things stand in this pathetic charade.
ReplyDeleteI don think this comes as a shock to anyone. The whole thing was handled very poorly and quite frankley I have no interest in seeing Bon Jovi again. With the setlists being standard and stagnant to this drama I just prefer to spend my money on the albums and not the shows. I do not believe for one second the salary figures in this. I have a hard time believing Richie makes that kind of money AND i have a hard time believing Phil X would take such a shitty salary to do what he has been doing. He has fillied in very nicely and has basically saved this tour. And he doesnt sound bad at all. For a band that has always stayed away from drama, to have this issue between Jon and Richie is really too bad. This whole thing is a black eye for Bon Jovi.
ReplyDeleteTired of all this shit!!! Make up or break up. Bon Jovi isn't Bon Jovi without Richie...What a nice way to celebrate their 30th anniversary...
ReplyDeleteThis was Front Page Yahoo News today, saying that RumorFix was the first to report this info - as if it were true. It appears that according to Matt's posts that it is untrue. However, if we don't hear anything from the parties involved, what are we supposed to believe? Richie needs to have a press conference or something where he is actually speaking and not all this BS/hearsay. Pam
ReplyDeleteJon's brother closed his Twitter account...
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