Richie Sambora apologizes to fans, band for abrupt Bon Jovi exit

More than 10 years later, Richie Sambora is taking accountability for how he parted ways with band Bon Jovi.

In the new documentary “Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story,” which premiered on Hulu Friday, the rock band’s former lead guitarist addressed his abrupt exit during the middle of an international tour in 2013.

Sambora left the group just hours before the New Jersey rockers were about to take the stage in Calgary, Canada. His unexpected exit caused anger among the group’s fervent fanbase  — and opened the door for widespread speculation through the years.

At the time, it was reported that he left for “personal issues.” In 2020, Sambora revealed he had “a lot of conscious work to do” amid his substance abuse and emotional struggles related to being a single dad. The rocker shares daughter Ava, now 26, with ex-wife Heather Locklear.

“People have this preconceived notion of Richie Sambora because they read about me in the tabloids and because they see the Bon Jovi machine,” he explained in the Gotham Chopra-directed documentary. “It’s a band. It’s really, really hard to be married to four other guys and be in close quarters with them coupled with my daughter coming of age.”

The Perth Amboy, N.J. native, who went through several stints in rehab, shared he has no regrets in calling it quits but admits he could have handled it with more tact.

“I don’t regret leaving the situation, but I regret how I did it,” Sambora, 64, said. “So I’d like to apologize fully right now to the fans, especially, and also to the guys, because my feet and my spirit would just not let me walk out the door… I guess if you’re in the mafia, the only thing you can possibly do is disappear, and I did.”

On Thursday, the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer released his new song, “I Pray” — one of four tracks to be dropped on digital platforms over the next month.