Richie Sambora is opening up about his decision to leave Bon Jovi back in 2013.
If you don’t remember, the guitarist didn’t show up for one of the band’s shows on their sold-out concert tour and decided to quit the group to be with his family.
“It wasn’t a popular decision by any means, obviously, but there was really almost no choice about it. I had a lot of conscious work to do around [my personal life],” Richie said in a new interview with People.
Richie decided to put his daughter Ava first at the time and be with her. She is now 23.
“We’ve been through a lot of things together. That was a time of psychological maintenance for the family,” he continued. “You know, I ain’t no angel. But I realized, Ava needed me to be around at that point in time. Family had to come first, and that’s what happened.”
“I love being a dad more than anything,” Richie said. “Luckily I was making enough money to be able to have a private plane, get my ass home and see my kid even if it was only for one day. If it was Halloween, it was boom, home.”
Ava‘s mom is actress Heather Locklear. She said of her dad, “He showed up to every dance recital I performed in and all of my school functions no matter how far he had to travel. He even flew all the way from Australia to surprise me at my father-daughter dance.”
Of his daughter, Richie said, “I brought a child into this world and I do not take it lightly… I’m very, very proud of her and the way she turned out. She’s an amazing young woman with a bright future. She’s just dedicated to being a good person. And she is.”
