EXCLUSIVE: 'I would love to play London's Hyde Park': Richie Sambora hints return to Bon Jovi following bust-up over his departure

PUBLISHED: 01:38 EST, 27 May 2013 | UPDATED: 03:24 EST, 27 May 2013

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His relationship with Jon Bon Jovi has been under intense pressure recently, after it was hinted guitarist Richie Sambora had left the band's world tour due to his issues with alcohol.

However, it appears Richie is now ready to bury the hatchet with lead singer Jon.

The 53-year-old rocker tells MailOnline exclusively: 'I would love to be in London for the Hyde Park Bon Jovi show on the July 5th… Let's see what happens.'

Back in business: Richie Sambora has suggested that he might re-join his band Bon Jovi at their London gig in July

Richie added: 'I love my fans, I have no personal problems. I am a happy man!'

Things turned sour between the pair after Jon, 50 hinted in an interview with the Evening Standard, that Richie, 53, may have quit their latest world tour because of the same reason he quit in 2011, when he missed dates to go into rehab for alcohol abuse.

'It’s getting more and more difficult every day to not just sit here and say something… Because all I can say is this - it’s for personal reasons,' Job Bon Jovi said.

Rock buddies: Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora pictured in January this year having performed a radio gig in London

Fall out boys: Richie Sambora and Jon Bon Jovi performing at a concert benefiting The Robin Hood Relief Fund to aid the victims of Hurricane Sandy in December last year

'He's been through it before, fortunately for us the same guy who filled in last time was available this time.'

But Richie denied any link between his departure and his previous problems.

'I don't have any major problems in life right now, I love my fans and I feel bad for them at the moment. Bottom line' he told MailOnline.

'My opinion is Jon wants to see if he can pull off stadiums by himself. He is making it very difficult for me to come back.'

He added: 'Enough with the trash talking!'

High spirits: Richie Sambora was seen out recently in Beverly Hills looking the picture of good health

Following the feud between the pair, Richie also tweeted: 'Just to be clear, I've been running the fashion company for 5 Yrs. It does not take me away from the band,I'm an artist first. Always will be.'

Bon Jovi made some harsh comments about his longtime band member Richie in the interview, comparing him to U2's The Edge to make the point that he feels Richie is replaceable.

'Life goes on, so if someone chooses not to be here… unlike if this were, God forbid, The Edge, and he for some reason couldn’t make a U2 show, [then] it would be very difficult to just step in,' he said.

He added: 'You have a choice — you either figure it out, go and grow, not only survive but thrive. Or, you say, ‘I hate my brother and I’m gonna quit the band.’

Kicking off: Richie Sambora and Jon Bon Jovi, pictured here in London earlier this year, have fallen out over Richie's decision to quit the band

Jon Bon Jovi also recently slammed Justin Bieber, labeling him “an a**hole” for showing up late to his shows.

Meanwhile, Richie has been hard at work on his new fashion line NikkiRich Clothing and currently preparing a worldwide launch.

Bon Jovi will play Hyde Park in London on Friday 5 July.

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Who needs Jon richie makes better music and better tours on his own

- Violet King , Kent, United Kingdom, 27/5/2013 20:53

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In a recent Documentary, it was stated that the members of Bon Jovi were in fact "employees" of JBJ Inc. If Richie wrote a song, it was mandated that JBJ added his name to it as he could collect a partial royalty, this is what working for JBJ has become. While JBJ travels around in isolation, the "band" travel together, he may do well to remember that if they decide not to turn up one night, he would not be able to to a show by himself.

- Buckfiddy , Sydney, 27/5/2013 20:33

Click to rate Rating 8

Jon can't say much about Richie when Jon's own daughter is out getting arrested for doing drugs. And it doesn't exactly look like Richie fell off the wagon or anything. Bon Jovi has been my favorite band for years...but their last few albums have been major disappointments...really everything since "Crush." Plus, Jon's political leanings are too far to the radical left-wing...he's trying to copy Springsteen. Now he's more concerned about being invited to Democratic fundraisers in the Hamptons than he is about rocking and giving the fans the "Bon Jovi" they all fell in love with. He sings about the "little man" all the time, yet supports the Democratic Party that has done more to hurt the "little man" than anyone...especially since Obama got into office. Under the Obama Administration, the United States is definitely "Livin on a Prayer" though.

- chad4bama , Fairhope, 27/5/2013 18:31

Click to rate Rating 7

They both need to grow up and give the fans what they paid for. The prices are already a joke.

- Soyouknow , london, United Kingdom, 27/5/2013 16:30

Click to rate Rating 30

Hope they sort things out and soon as it would be a shame for this to all go pear-shaped, especially since this is their 30th year as a band. At the same time though, a lot of the fans need to stop jumping to conclusions and stop pestering Richie on Twitter etc and let him speak in his own time.

- Mango , Belfast NI, United Kingdom, 27/5/2013 15:59

Click to rate Rating 19

so what about your "exclusive" news from last week that he had left the band....according to YOUR last article, he richie had told you directly that he was leaving the band...and now called you up again to tell YOU that he had changed his mind...please, stop making up stories DM.- love this guys, and don't believe for a second jon and rich are fighting, rich will be back when he sorts his things out...in the mean time the press needs to back off and stop asking jon about it cause if you continue to ask him about things he can't comment, he'll snap eventually, like he has in the last few interviews...let them be.-

- pat , granada, 27/5/2013 15:49

Click to rate Rating 10

Bottom line: Why did Ritchie leave in the middle of the WORLD TOUR?? If he would answer that question honestly and not leave Jon out there to answer the question all the time. Every interview he gets asked this question. Why did you leave Ritchie? THE TRUTH PLEASE when I've paid hundreds of dollars to see ALL of Bon Jovi.

- Jackie O , Columbus Ohio, 27/5/2013 15:27

Click to rate Rating 37

The last BJ album sucked. Richie's solo effort however oozed quality. That says it all. Kiss and make up guys, your fans will thank you.

- Pik , London, 27/5/2013 14:57

Click to rate Rating 7

JBJ has become a different person since aligning and actively supporting John Kerry and politics in general in the states and also the house building project, plus the football team he co-owns - whilst all good and noble, it has had an effect on the dynamics within the band. Just looking at JBJ face, and his body there is something of 'the big man' in them e.g. CEO of a major corporation. And somewhere in this the fun guy of the 80s, 90s has been lost, yeah growing older and all that, but it is also reflected in the music too. Listening to richie's last album, gotta say the man has soul oozing out of him, and listening to him speak he seems a gentle soul too.

- fionaebell , cornwall, 27/5/2013 12:16

Click to rate Rating 47

Did anyone notice how Richie is crouching in the last picture in order to make Jon look taller? That's the perfect metaphor for the band's internal politics in the 2000s and onward.

- Trejo , Tampere, 27/5/2013 12:05

Click to rate Rating 19

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