Bon Jovi Continues Tour Without Richie Sambora

Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora is undergoing a stint in rehab. News reports initially were not indicating the reason for the session, but it has been revealed it's for a drinking problem.

Bon Jovi decided to continue their tour without Sambora, and a lot of people were no doubt wondering how the band would sound without his trademark guitar licks. Richie Sambora, after all, co-wrote a LOT of the Bon Jovi catalog.

The worry was apparently needless as Bon Jovi played a muscular set at the New Orleans jazz festival this past weekend on April 30th. Canadian born guitarist Phil 'X' Xenidis filled in quite admirably in Richie's absence. He has the chops, having played with Tommy Lee on his side projects outside the Crue, and frequenting other studios to lay down licks.

The review in the Times Picayune and on Nola.com gives a blow by blow description of an amazing night, with Jon Bon Jovi and company playing a tight 2-hour plus set.

Sambora is not out of the band by any means. He is expected to rejoin the tour at a later date if he feels rehabilitated enough to do so. Jon Bon Jovi dedicated the song 'Wanted Dead Or Alive' to 'our brother Richie' from the New Orleans Jazz Fest stage at the end of the evening. For more details on the story and the show, go to Nola.com.