In the world of rock and roll, controversy is never too far away. And when it comes to legends like Richie Sambora and Sammy Hagar, you know the stories are going to be larger than life. Recently, Sambora made headlines for revisiting a Bon Jovi classic, but the real shocker? It wasn’t just about the music—it was about the rockstar lifestyle that comes with it. And when critics came for Sambora, Sammy Hagar had a lot to say.
On February 27th, 2024, at The USS Iowa in San Pedro, California, the concert was held to honor Los Angeles’ first responders, military, and emergency management partners, and was organized by the Pacific Battlefield Center, in collaboration with the Port of Los Angeles and Princess Cruises. Sambora then stepped back into the spotlight.
In addition to Richie Sambora’s surprise performance, the event also featured Kings of Chaos, a supergroup including former Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar, Cheap Trick’s Robin Zander, Deep Purple’s Glenn Hughes, former Guns N’ Roses drummer Matt Sorum, and other notable musicians.
Sammy Hagar took to his Instagram account and posted a video clip in which he shared a drink with Sambora. Soon fans, started commenting. One fan spoke about Sambora’s drinking issues, to which Hagar said:
“no no no, he was not drinking anymore than that from my glass. I was with him all night. He’s great, always has been, and always will be. That performance wasn’t even planned, wasn’t rehearsed. He just jumped up, and did it that’s real.”
Sammy also commented, “believe me we’ve been friends a long time he has it under control. That was all he drank that night one sip.”
Sambora’s performance was significant for Bon Jovi fans, as Phil X has been the band’s lead guitarist since 2016, after Sambora left to focus on raising his daughter Ava.
