Richie Sambora graced a recent episode of the Howie Mandel Does Stuff podcast, where he shared the story behind Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ On A Prayer.” He was the band’s guitarist from 1983 to 2013, after which he opted out for personal reasons.
Bon Jovi released “Livin’ On A Prayer” in 1986, and it became their second number-one song after “You Give Love A Bad Name,” which re-emerged on the Billboard chart in 2007. Sambora shared the story behind the song with Mandel, giving it an even more profound meaning.
What inspired Bon Jovi’s ‘Livin’ On A Prayer?’
Sambora noted that it was the group’s first attempt at singing about characters to tell a story. Desmond Child and Jon Bon Jovi co-wrote the lyrics with Sambora, who revealed that his Uncle was the dockworker in the song. Tommy struggled to make ends meet at the docks, while his wife Gina worked as a diner waitress.
The song aimed to portray the economic realities of the lower middle class, which the band and many others could relate to. Sambora called it “everybody’s song,” noting that most people have hit a rough patch in life at least once, with no place of solace except their partner’s embrace.
Why did Richie Sambora leave Bon Jovi?
Sambora walked away from Bon Jovi in their 30th year, with a brief reunion in 2018 for their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. The 65-year-old previously clarified that personal issues like addiction and anxiety fueled his decision, as he never experienced tension with his bandmates.
In his recent documentary Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story, he expressed regret about walking away during their Because We Can world tour in 2013, leaving his partners distraught and fans disappointed back then. Nonetheless, Sambora still believes he did the right thing by focusing on his family and solo career.
Rick Astley Shares His True Feelings About Hit Song ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’
These Christmas Songs From The ‘60s Have Stood The Test Of Time