Shred with Shifty- Sambora

rsvmark · September 2023

Not the greatest episode. Kinda surprised it made it to release. All other episodes have been 2 guitarists geeking out on gear, stories, songs etc. This must have been a difficult for Chris as Sambora is still struggling with his addiction which is a shame. He is / was a great player responsible for massive hits but sadly dwelling on the past.

https://youtu.be/XXXhPnlUe74?si=Wu4wFhV52YQKBKKm

soma1975 · September 2023

Ouch.

DrCornelius · September 2023

Blimey , he sounds like Rocky after a tough fight. Such a shame as he had it all - looks , the swagger and fantastic pop/ rock chops.

Fingers crossed he comes out the other side

stickyfiddle · September 2023

I've enjoyed the others in this run and this should be good on paper, but this sounds worrying

Will have a look after work

gubble · September 2023

I've been really open that I'm a huge fan of Sambora but wow this is quite sad to see and as @rsvmark said I'm surprised this actually made it to being published.

I didn't really appreciate the comment he made about 's**itting the other two guys off'. Very disrespectful to John Shanks and Phil X both of whom are incredibly talented musicians.

soma1975 · September 2023

Let's be honest at this stage in their careers Phil X has forgotten more technique than Sambora ever had. Which he has also forgotten.

Loved him. I blame him meeting Orianthi.

rsvmark · September 2023

gubble said:

I've been really open that I'm a huge fan of Sambora but wow this is quite sad to see and as @rsvmark said I'm surprised this actually made it to being published.

I didn't really appreciate the comment he made about 's**itting the other two guys off'. Very disrespectful to John Shanks and Phil X both of whom are incredibly talented musicians.

Me neither. I am trying not to be too judgemental as no one chooses to be an addict. But he has had problems with alcohol for years (iirc it was a factor in him leaving the band in the first place) and he hasn’t come out on top yet

CountryDave · September 2023

As a long time fan this is a tough watch. I heard the comment as 'Shut the other two off', but given his state it could well be what others heard. He needs some help to sort out his problems.

I think Shiflett did a great job letting him waffle, but dragging him back when he could.

I'm looking forward to the Brad Paisley episode.

LPManic · September 2023

I got to 30 mins in and just found it such hard work. And so sad. There's more chance of me re-joining Bon Jovi than Richie.

Funny I went down a Bon Jovi rabbit hole last night and there are some amazing Richie and Bon Jovi performances. Wembley 1995, Always in 2008 with his LP Junior, and Hey God at the 1995 MTV awards.

Clearly Richie was at his best with his Strats, but I did like it when he played more Gibson guitars during the These Days and Bounce eras.

OilCityPickups · September 2023

Deeply sad ... I literally watched a couple of minutes ... couldn't watch more.

HerbieTheRadDorklift · September 2023

I think out of any of the band, it's Jon who should retire.

theatreanchor · September 2023

Never bothered with this band, and as such am ignorant of any issues. Is Sambora under the influence here or has something happened to him?

newi123 · September 2023

That`s difficult to watch :-(

I never really used to appreciate Sambora against other 80s players - but now appreciate that his playing was perfect for the songs, the songs were great and his vocals were a huge part of the band.

Great all round player - unfortunately he`s struggled for a while hasn`t he? Hope he gets better.

monquixote · September 2023

That's a great shame.

I'm not sure if he's under the influence during the interview or if he's just damaged from everything that's happened to him, but either way I find it hard to watch.

DLM · September 2023

soma1975 said:

I blame him meeting Orianthi.

She's now with Tracii Guns!

FelineGuitars · September 2023

I was a big Bon Jovi fan from late '83 when they first released Runaway till about 1991. Sambora was exceptional, but he got shafted when the record company wanted to make it the Jon Bon Jovi show and Richie got pushed out of the limelight. The fact that he was drinking/ doing drugs (as a result or was doing so anyway ...who knows).

I kind of hated New Jersey (too dirge like in places and Springsteen wannbe sounding), but thought Keep the Faith and These Days were a good recovery.

The album that gets overlooked and brushed under the carpet because the production could have been better (and was later overshadowed by the success of Slippery When Wet) was 7800 Fahrenheit, but it was a great album and Sambora did some great playing on it too.

FelineGuitars · September 2023

In terms of how he seems in the video it reminds me that many former alcoholics never lose that slurred vocal sound - like Ace Frehley for example, or Ozzy

Offset · September 2023

Ouch. That's a hard watch. And I'm willing to bet that wasn't water in his plastic bottle.

Sad.

StefB · September 2023

FelineGuitars said:

In terms of how he seems in the video it reminds me that many former alcoholics never lose that slurred vocal sound - like Ace Frehley for example, or Ozzy

Joe Walsh too.

As one of my heroes I'll give this a watch, but am not looking forward to it from what I've read here, nor am I surprised sadly after watching some of the dayime TV interviews Richie did following his Masked Singer 'triumph'.

Dan_Halen · September 2023

I love the guy so could only watch a couple of minutes. Know he's had his demons but probably unfair to assume, rightly or wrongly, if he's currently battling hard against them as he's in his 60s and has lived a pretty full on rock and roll life. Could just be the accumulation of both, could be that he's struggling again but wish him well regardless.

Wrote so many iconic riffs and an absolute master of the short solo - not many players in the game who could give you something more fitting and memorable given, say, an 8 bar break to work with. That ability to fuse sing-able lines with great licks that is so hard to get right. Proper player.

Also, one hell of a singer. Some of the (not so recent) videos where he takes vocals for Bon Jovi songs his voice is absolutely sublime.

Wish him all the best.

FelineGuitars · September 2023

Jon Bon Jovi's voice is shot sadly , which is why for years he did slowed down "country music" style versions of his songs .

I think because f the mega success they got kept out on the road too long when they needed a break and it wrecked them

Fortheloveofguitar · September 2023

FelineGuitars said:

. Sambora was exceptional, but he got shafted when the record company wanted to make it the Jon Bon Jovi show and Richie got pushed out of the limelight.

That’s the way it’s always been though as Jon is the one that signed the record deal. All the other guys in the band are paid employees.

It’s always been the Jon Bon Jovi show. Richie’s solo career will always play second fiddle. That’s why undiscovered soul did so bad as the label wouldn’t throw money behind it to promote it as Jon and Bon Jovi itself had priority on everything.

stufisher · September 2023

That's tragic

I'm not a big Jovi fan but I like Sambora's playing and I do play WDOA. However, I like his solo stuff better and this track is my favourite. I think it really shows his versatility (guitar and voice) to the full:

flying_pie · September 2023

Fortheloveofguitar said:

FelineGuitars said:

. Sambora was exceptional, but he got shafted when the record company wanted to make it the Jon Bon Jovi show and Richie got pushed out of the limelight.

That’s the way it’s always been though as Jon is the one that signed the record deal. All the other guys in the band are paid employees.

Runaway was recorded with Tim Pierce on guitar and bass before JBJ recruited the rest of the band. It has always been the JBJ show even though Ritchie has contributed massively.

FelineGuitars · September 2023

flying_pie said:

Fortheloveofguitar said:

FelineGuitars said:

. Sambora was exceptional, but he got shafted when the record company wanted to make it the Jon Bon Jovi show and Richie got pushed out of the limelight.

That’s the way it’s always been though as Jon is the one that signed the record deal. All the other guys in the band are paid employees.

Runaway was recorded with Tim Pierce on guitar and bass before JBJ recruited the rest of the band. It has always been the JBJ show even though Ritchie has contributed massively.

yeah - quicky became aware of Tim Pierce who was also playing for Rick Springfield. Love his YouTube channel too.

soma1975 · September 2023

DLM said:

soma1975 said:

I blame him meeting Orianthi.

She's now with Tracii Guns!

Not a surprise.

Those old videos from Norms Rare Guitars where she was wondering around checking stuff out looking like she was waiting for Richie to put another vintage Telecaster on his tab for her before they go get wasted were nasty.

FelineGuitars · September 2023

Whilst he had some great later stuff like Dry County , I always loved his stuff on the early albums

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDFIvde4CNU

blueskunk · September 2023

Alcohol is a shitty drug. Sambora was an excellent guitarists for BonJovi.

jacksonunited · September 2023

I've always loved Richie, his playing and was equally a good singer as Jon. For many of us a contributing factor to picking up the guitar in the first place

It's hard to watch, as it's documented for years he has struggled with alcohol and that was right up there with Oliver Reed.

Saying that, it was entertaining for the stories and playing. Shame he can't play the Dead or Alive solo in that video though! Gives us all an excuse the next time we cock it up live - that's how Richie plays it

stickyfiddle · September 2023

Ok, I watched the first 5 mins and it wasn't as bad as I'd imagined from the comments, though I'll admit I haven't got to any guitar playing yet.

I've never been a huge Jovi fan but there's no doubting they were phenonenal at their best and Sambora was a massive part of that. These two alone are just a masterclass

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGLeR65sBxc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XXM1B3Nitw

professorben · September 2023

It was pretty cool watching Shifty teach Sambora the solo

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Shred with Shifty- Sambora

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