Latest news with #Sambora
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Legendary Rocker, 65, Didn't Let Fractured Hand Stop Him From Performing at Kentucky Derby
Former lead guitarist Richie Sambora was slated to perform for the Unbridled Eve Derby Gala on May 2 at the Kentucky Derby weekend festivities, but a source told People that he fractured his hand a week prior while playing touch football — which could be a problem for a guitar player. 'He caught a ball, and some guy gave him a touch right into a curb. He was completely swollen and fractured his hand in two places. He'll undergo surgery next week," said the source. However, the 65-year-old rock star didn't let a little thing like a fractured hand stop him, despite being in "over the top" pain. He still took the stage at the Unbridled Eve gala and performed four of Bon Jovi's biggest hits: "I'll Be There For You," "It's My Life," "Livin' on a Prayer," and "Wanted Dead or Alive." "He killed it. Richie just rocked the house. The fans were going nuts. [But] he was in so much pain. When he told the doctor he was going to the Derby, the doctor said, 'You're out of your mind.' But he said, 'See ya! I'm going.' That's the kind of guy Richie is. He's a man of his word," said the source. Sambora is a frequent Kentucky Derby attendee. Each year, he auctions off some piece of memorabilia at the gala. Each year, the gala raises money for different charities. Blessings in a Backpack is a frequent beneficiary, according to the Unbridled website. "Through Blessings in a Backpack, a child living in a food-insecure situation can be fed on weekends for one year for just $130. Since 2012, the money donated by Unbridled Eve has provided 76,000 hunger-free weekends for kids across the nation, including Blessings first program at Roosevelt Perry Elementary School in Louisville. Students enrolled in this program show improved health, increased attendance, higher reading levels, and better test scores," reads the website. This year, Sambora auctioned off a custom-designed guitar and some guitar lessons, which brought in $35,000. All told, Sambora has raised over $700,000 for charity at the annual gala, according to People.
New York Post
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Richie Sambora fractures hand, forced to undergo surgery: ‘So much pain'
Lay your fractured hand on me. Former Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora didn't let a little thing like an injury stop the show from going on at the Kentucky Derby this weekend. Indeed, the 65-year-old musician rocked on through the serious injury — incurred while he was playing touch football in his native New Jersey — at the Unbridled Eve Gala on Friday. Advertisement 4 Richie Sambora performed at the Unbridled Eve Kentucky Derby Gala despite 'over the top' pain from a fractured hand. Getty Images for Churchill Downs 'He caught a ball and some guy gave him a touch right into a curb. He was completely swollen, and fractured his hand in two places,' a source told People magazine. 'He'll undergo surgery next week.' Despite 'over the top' pain, the former Bon Jovi guitarist performed four of the band's classics, all of which he co-wrote: 'Livin' on a Prayer,' 'It's My Life,' 'I'll Be There for You' and 'Wanted Dead or Alive.' Advertisement 'He killed it. Richie just rocked the house. The fans were going nuts,' the source said. '[But] he was in so much pain. When he told the doctor he was going to the Derby, the doctor said, 'You're out of your mind.' But he said, 'See ya! I'm going.' That's the kind of guy Richie is. He's a man of his word.' Sambora has been attending the Kentucky Derby for 11 years — and each year, he's given back for charity, raising more than $700,000. This year, he auctioned off a custom-designed guitar and lessons at the gala, which raised $35,000. 4 Richie Sambora performed the Bob Jovi classics 'Livin' on a Prayer,' 'It's My Life,' 'I'll Be There for You' and 'Wanted Dead or Alive' at the Unbridled Eve Kentucky Derby Gala. Getty Images for Unbridled Eve Proceeds went to numerous charities selected by the Unbridled Charitable Foundation, including Blessings in a Backpack, which mobilizes communities, individuals and resources to provide food on the weekends for elementary school kids who might otherwise go hungry. Advertisement 'I had a great gig at Unbridled and this is my 11th Derby,' he said in an interview with FanDuel. 'This is an amazing thing.' Sambora has been living in the New Jersey basement of his 89-year-old mother Joan's house, taking care of her amid health struggles. 4 Richie Sambora performed at the Unbridled Eve Kentucky Derby Gala despite a fractured hand. Getty Images for Unbridled Eve 4 Richie Sambora performed with Kings of Chaos at February's Rock for Responders benefit in San Pedro, California. Getty Images Advertisement Sambora revealed last year that he'd come back to Bon Jovi after the group's namesake frontman, Jon Bon Jovi, got his voice back after recovering from vocal surgery. But Bon Jovi himself told Entertainment Weekly that there was no decision made regarding Sambora's return. 'You never say never,' the rocker said. 'I mean, he quit the band 11-plus years ago, and he's had to deal with a lot of things in his life. But there's no animosity.' 'I've made four albums since his departure,' the 63-year-old singer added. 'The band goes on, you know? We'll see when we get to that point of touring.'
Daily Mail
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Bon Jovi rocker Richie Sambora to auction off signed guitar at Kentucky Derby charity gala
Bon Jovi rocker Richie Sambora will auction off a custom guitar he designed at a charity gala this weekend, can exclusively reveal. Sambora is set to perform at the Unbridled Derby Eve Gala in Louisville, Kentucky on Friday night and will auction off the instrument afterwards. The event, which traditionally takes place the night before the Kentucky Derby, is a charity fundraiser that this year will support Blessings in a Backpack – an organization that provides meals to children in need. Sambora's guitar – which is seen in exclusive photos – was personally designed by the 65-year-old rocker in collaboration with Kantor Guitars. Not only is he giving away this prized possession, but the former Bon Jovi guitarist is offering private lessons under his tutelage. The instrument is plum colored with gold accents and the winning bidder will also get a personal music lesson with the star. Other items set to be sold off in the charity auction include a guitar signed by Taylor Swift as well as tickets to a future gig. Also on the auction block are luxury trips to Aruba and the Florida Keys, a Los Angeles Lakers VIP package and a Ronaldo Jewelry gold and emerald bracelet. Sambora has made a habit of appearing at the Unbridled Derby Eve Gala and donated another guitar to last year's charity auction which eventually sold for $35,000. Other guitars sold by the veteran star over the past decade have gone for as much as $75,000 with all the proceeds donated to good causes. Sambora shot to fame in 1983 as the lead guitarist in mega-band Bon Jovi and co-wrote monster hits Livin on a Prayer and You Give Love A Bad Name with singer Jon Bon Jovi. He later became part of a Hollywood power couple when he married Melrose Place star Heather Locklear, 63, in 1994 – a year after her divorce from Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee. Although the couple divorced in 2007, the pair had one daughter Ava, now 27, together and remain close friends. Ava later played a part in Sambora's decision to quit Bon Jovi in 2013 with sources telling he made the decision because 'his daughter needed him'. That, however, hasn't prevented Sambora from continuing to perform solo – most recently when he made a surprise appearance at the Rock the Responders concert in Los Angeles in February. The gig, which took place in front of the USS Iowa battleship in Long Beach, was staged by the Kings of Chaos – an international super-group with an evolving line-up that previously included Aerosmith's Steve Tyler and ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons. Performers on the night included Sambora's Bon Jovi replacement Phil X – real name Theofilos Xenidis – and Deep Purple's Glen Hughes, as well as Sambora who played mega-hit Livin on a Prayer. The event was designed to raise funds for the LA Disaster Recovery and Resilience Collective – a non-profit that supports disaster recovery efforts in wildfire-ravaged LA. Although a New Jersey native, Sambora has lived in or around LA for nearly 40 years and currently resides in a lavish $32million mansion in upscale Laguna Beach in neighboring Orange County.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Richie Sambora Reveals He's Been in a 'Wonderful Relationship' for Over Two Years: 'It Invigorates You'
Richie Sambora is opening up about life with a special someone. The rocker, 65, appeared as a guest on a new episode of Billy Corgan's podcast The Magnificent Others, and revealed that he has been in a 'wonderful relationship' with an unnamed woman for more than two years. 'To fall [in love] at 63, with the wisdom… And she's also smart. And she's also healthy and beautiful and 60. It's a different way,' Sambora said on the podcast, which aired Wednesday, April 2. 'It invigorates you very much. It's a different way to fall in love.' Sambora added that having years of experience under his belt has helped him at this stage in his life. 'People say, 'Well, I wish I knew that back then when I was in high school.' Well guess what? I do know that,' he said. The former Bon Jovi guitarist was previously married to actress Heather Locklear from 1994 to 2007, and the two share daughter Ava, 27. He also dated guitarist Orianthi from 2014 to 2018, and the pair released an album together as the duo RSO. Related: Richie Sambora Plays Bon Jovi Hit 'Livin' on a Prayer' at L.A. Concert for First Responders Ava announced her engagement to boyfriend Tyler Farrar in February 2024. 'I pride myself on being a very good dad. When you love somebody, you love them all the way,' Sambora told Corgan. When Sambora left Bon Jovi in 2013, it was to raise Ava. He opened up about the conversation that led to his departure from the band on the podcast, calling Ava the 'turning point.' 'Your daughter looks at you and goes, 'Daddy, I need you,' that's it. I go, you know, 'I need you too,'' he said. Related: How Richie Sambora Is Doing His Part for L.A. Fire Relief — from His Mom's N.J. Basement 2,700 Miles Away (Exclusive) Since leaving Bon Jovi, Sambora has released a number of projects on his own, including the recent singles 'I Pray,' 'Livin' Alone,' 'Songs That Wrote My Life' and 'Believe (in Miracles).' 'I have such gratitude. I have a very lucky life, you know, because I made it out of rock and roll alive and intact,' he told PEOPLE in January. In February, he joined Orianthi and Bon Jovi guitarist Phil X onstage for a performance of Bon Jovi's signature hit 'Livin' on a Prayer' as part of the Rock for Responders benefit concert in San Pedro, Calif. 'I'm a sincere musician and sincere artist and I will try my hardest 'til I'm dead,' he told Corgan. Read the original article on People
