Richie Sambora says his absence from the Bon Jovi tour has nothing to do with a substance abuse relapse and that comments from Jon Bon Jovi suggesting that's the case only make it less likely he will elect to resume touring as Jon's lead guitarist.  Sambora went so far as to infer that Bon Jovi wants to keep him away longer so he can see whether ticket sales slacken when he's not in the lineup. He went on to say that fans forking over ticket money to see Bon Jovi with a stand-in guitarist in his role arw, '...not getting the whole deal.'

ClassicRockMagazine.com