Bon Jovi's legendary guitarist Richie Sambora has been living on a prayer the past year, after .
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Richie Samboras Tumultuous Year: Struggles and Loss
Bon Jovi's legendary guitarist Richie Sambora has been living on a prayer the past year, after suffering a near career-ending injury and a heartbreaking family ...
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In early 2025, the rocker found himself living in a basement at his mother Joan Sambora's home in in order to care for her after she suffered a series of falls.
'He's been such a great son,' a close friend told the Daily Mail exclusively.
Shortly after, Sambora, 66, injured himself when he hit his hand on the curb during a friendly game of touch football with some neighbors.
He that required surgery but delayed undergoing the procedure because he wanted to 'honor his commitment' to play at the Unbridled Derby Eve Gala during last year's Derby.
He defied doctor's orders to perform, resulting in noticeable - and painful - swelling.
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Richie Sambora has had a rough year, after dealing with a near career-ending hand injury and the loss of his mother
Sambora, 66, endured months of rehab on his hand (pictured covered with wires and a bandage after suffering fractures)
Sambora's mother, Joan Sambora, died on January 11. She was 89. Sambora had been caring for her: 'That was low point because he was stuck in this basement taking care of his mom every day'
Sambora is set to return to the stage for the first time since his brutal hand injury at the Unbridled Eve Derby Gala at the Kentuck Derby, where he is also auctioning this guitar
'He has family and dear friends with high school,' the insider said. 'He has been bombarded with his mom and he's an only child.'
The difficult time has left him little time to focus on finding love again.
'He wouldn't even have time [to date]. His focus has been his hand. Think about it, if you're a guitarist, that's your life.'
Sambora shared on The Magnificent Others podcast in April 2025 that he had been in a relationship with an unknown woman for more than two years at the time.
The source said Sambora has teamed up with top specialists, including some who have worked with athletes in the NFL and Carlos Santana's doctor.
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'It's painful as hell,' they said. 'It's very demoralizing when the pace [of healing] is on a different track. When healing is linear, you're expecting to continue to be linear.
'He feels comfortable - and just this week, finally, said "I could do this." Just this week. That's how touch and go it's been.'
Sambora is set to play for the first time since his brutal injury more than a year ago at the Unbridled Eve Derby Gala later this week.
At the charity event, the Grammy winner is also set to auction a replica of a guitar we are told was stolen from him 40 years ago which he only recently got back.
Sambora's onstage comeback will take place six months after Bon Jovi announced they will be .
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The Daily Mail exclusively
The former bandmates had been fighting over pay cuts, and our insider has confirmed that the bad blood is still there to this day.
'Richie always said that he'd go back - Richie's voice is spectacular and ready to go,' his pal said. 'Jon forced him out in 2013 and still doesn't want him around now.'
A second insider previously confirmed Bon Jovi didn't .'
'They are oil and water,' they said. 'It would take an act of God for Richie to be reunited with the band because Jon is very content with how it is now. Bringing Richie back would be very tough, so he would like the past to be the past.'
It is why the upcoming gig and auction is so important for Sambora. 'When everything was going bad, bad, bad with his mom over the years and not going great with other things like Bon Jovi ... nothing has been going his way and that's why this guitar that he has not seen in 41 years that he wrote most of those Bon Jovi hits on ... is [symbolic of things turning a corner],' his friend said.
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