Richie Sambora | The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan

Summary

Podcast Summary: Richie Sambora | The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan

Release Date: April 2, 2025

Introduction

In this compelling episode of The Magnificent Others, host Billy Corgan engages in an in-depth conversation with Richie Sambora, the acclaimed guitarist, singer, and songwriter best known for his work with Bon Jovi. The discussion navigates through Sambora's life after leaving Bon Jovi, his personal growth, musical journey, and the intricate balance between fame, family, and artistry.

---

1. Early Life and Musical Influences

Richie Sambora begins by reminiscing about his early exposure to music and the influential bands that shaped his musical foundation. He shares nostalgic memories of attending concerts in Chicago during the mid-1980s, highlighting his first concert experience with Bon Jovi at the Rosemont Horizon.

• “People experience fame and fortune at different speeds and do different things with their lives.” [00:00]

Sambora emphasizes his admiration for legendary bands and artists, citing Black Sabbath, Queen, Led Zeppelin, Elton John, and David Bowie as pivotal influences that fueled his passion for music.

• “I was lucky enough to live literally on a dead-end street next to a swamp. But I used to cut through the swamp and I could get to the train tunnel in about a minute and a half.” [02:49]

---

2. Rise to Fame and Band Dynamics

The conversation delves into Sambora's early days with Bon Jovi, detailing the band's evolution from struggling musicians to global rock icons. Sambora reflects on the intense touring schedule and the camaraderie within the band, which he describes as essential to their success.

• “Songs because it's no. Beyond our control on security levels, different things like that.” [11:30]

Corgan acknowledges Sambora's strong reputation within the alternative music community, referring to him as a "musician's musician," which Sambora appreciates deeply.

• “You have a very strong rep with alternative musicians.” [05:07]

---

3. Personal Challenges and Growth

Sambora opens up about the personal toll of fame, including the challenges of maintaining work-life balance and dealing with mental health issues. He discusses his decision to leave Bon Jovi after 32 years, driven by a desire to prioritize his family and personal well-being over the relentless demands of stardom.

• “The turning point was obviously my daughter. I mean, right? Daughter looks at you and goes, daddy, I need you.” [60:32]

He also touches on the complexities of band relationships and the internal dynamics that ultimately led to his departure.

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4. Grief and Personal Relationships

A significant portion of the conversation addresses Sambora's experiences with grief, particularly the loss of his father and the impact it had on his life. He discusses the delayed reaction to his father's passing and the profound effect it had on his emotional state.

• “I have a different perspective... It was releasing tremendous grief.” [42:37]

Sambora highlights the importance of therapy and open communication in navigating his grief, emphasizing his commitment to being a present and supportive father to his daughter.

• “I'm a good dad. I pride myself on being a very good dad.” [25:11]

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5. Music Career Post-Bon Jovi

Transitioning from his time with Bon Jovi, Sambora explores his solo endeavors and collaborations. He reflects on his independent releases and the artistic freedom that came with them, contrasting it with the structured environment of a major band.

• “I'm self-taught. I read a lot... I see stuff that I never haven't seen in my life.” [30:19]

Sambora discusses his continued passion for music, including his recent single "Believe in Miracles," and how his experiences have enriched his musical expression.

• “Sing a song for our future days... we gotta believe in miracles.” [27:55]

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6. Reflections on the Music Industry

Sambora and Corgan engage in a thoughtful discussion about the music industry's evolution, particularly the shift from traditional media to social media's influence. They debate the balance between business and artistry, with Sambora asserting that for him, the focus remained steadfastly on music rather than the commercial aspects.

• “The real story is the business. The label blew up.” [53:34]

Corgan shares insights on the challenges of maintaining creative integrity amidst industry pressures, while Sambora emphasizes the importance of sincerity and staying true to one's artistic vision.

• “I'm a sincere musician and sincere artist, and I will try my hardest till I'm dead.” [54:46]

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7. Personal Growth and Future Endeavors

As the conversation progresses, Sambora reflects on his personal growth, outlining his journey towards self-reliance and emotional resilience. He shares anecdotes about his relationship with his daughter, his commitment to mental health, and his newfound love in his later years.

• “I was teaching myself and getting into jazz more different areas of music. And it was very enriching.” [58:07]

Sambora expresses optimism about his future, highlighting his ongoing passion for music and his dedication to personal fulfillment over residual fame.

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8. Closing Thoughts

In the concluding segments, Sambora and Corgan exchange heartfelt compliments and mutual respect, underscoring the deep bond they share as fellow musicians. Sambora recounts his continued reverence for musical legends and his inspiration drawn from their legacy.

• “I feel like I'm like, well, you're, you're... You're just as capable as ever. You haven't lost a step.” [57:55]

The episode wraps up with light-hearted banter, leaving listeners with a profound appreciation for Sambora's candidness and enduring artistry.

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Notable Quotes

• Richie Sambora: “People experience fame and fortune at different speeds and do different things with their lives.” [00:00]

• Billy Corgan: “Your reputation. You have a very strong rep with alternative musicians.” [05:07]

• Richie Sambora: “I pride myself on being a very good dad.” [25:11]

• Richie Sambora: “I'm a sincere musician and sincere artist, and I will try my hardest till I'm dead.” [54:46]

• Richie Sambora: “I used to cut through the swamp and I could get to the train tunnel in about a minute and a half.” [02:49]

• Billy Corgan: “What keeps you when you really need to refocus? Is it God, Is it family? Is it music?” [29:49]

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Conclusion

This episode of The Magnificent Others offers a raw and introspective look into Richie Sambora's life beyond the glitz of Bon Jovi. Through meaningful dialogue, Sambora shares his journey of personal challenges, artistic integrity, and the enduring importance of family and self-awareness. Billy Corgan's thoughtful questions guide the conversation, allowing listeners to gain a deeper understanding of Sambora's multifaceted life and enduring passion for music.

Transcript

[Richie Sambora]

People experience fame and fortune at different speeds and do different things with their lives. So the element of bands core changes, man.

[Billy Corgan]

And you know the thing about a lot of indie people, they think playing too good is a bad thing.

[Richie Sambora]

Too good is a bad thing.

[Billy Corgan]

That sounds like one of your songs. Guitarist, singer and songwriter Richie Sambora is my guest as we explore life after Bon Jovi and the key ingredients that make him into one of the most. Most discussed musicians in the world. The Samboras.

[Richie Sambora]

The Samboras, they are the best.

[Billy Corgan]

So we would be.

[Richie Sambora]

We would be pretty good together, I think.

[Billy Corgan]

I think your flamenco playing would be better than mine, but I could fake it. A lot of A minor.

[Richie Sambora]

No, we're talking songwriting school.

[Billy Corgan]

All right, for folks, let's jump in here. Young William Patrick Corgan stays out all night at the. Then the. What was it called back then? Rosemont Horizon, right by O'Hare in Chicago. 1984, I think was the year. Wow.

[Richie Sambora]

Crappy sounding room, wasn't it?

[Billy Corgan]

We'll get there. Yes. Notorious. One of the best, right?

[Richie Sambora]

Chicago. Every time.

[Billy Corgan]

So stay out all night. And I get my Scorpions tickets. I'm 14th row, but I make sure I see the opening band because they have hit on Chicago radio called Runaway. And there you are. So that's the first time I saw you was. I was 17 years old. Pretty cool, right?

[Richie Sambora]

We were junkyard. That's amazing. We were junkyard dogs, man. I think, you know, we were young and they gave us 45 minutes to play. So it's like head down.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

And all you got.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

No. No breathing necessary in the whole thing.

[Billy Corgan]

It's like.

[Richie Sambora]

It's like. Yeah, 45 minutes plus. Oh, she's a little run away to the Scorpions crowd. No, we got a lot of, you know. I mean, Tico had to wear a batty.

[Billy Corgan]

The Scorpions. Crowded.

[Richie Sambora]

Like, this is so fun because it would be like nickels and cars coming off.

[Billy Corgan]

Is it because they had more of a hard rock crowd at that time, you think? I'm asking you. I mean, I was in the crowd. I wasn't throwing anything.

[Richie Sambora]

Hey, listen, man. You know, I'm. I was 15 years old, white kid from the swamp. My first concert was a Black Sabbath man. You know, I saw everything.

[Billy Corgan]

What year did you see? Sabbath.

[Richie Sambora]

75.

[Billy Corgan]

So that was Sabbath. Bloody Sabbath.

[Richie Sambora]

Yeah. Great period Sabbath. Yeah. But I liked them from day one, you know. I was a huge fan from day one.

[Billy Corgan]

You were og.

[Richie Sambora]

Still amazing.

[Billy Corgan]

You were og.

[Richie Sambora]

But I was. You know what? I was lucky enough to have this train. I lived literally on a dead end street next to a swamp. But I used to cut through the swamp and I could get to the train tunnel in about minute and a half.

[Billy Corgan]

Okay.

[Richie Sambora]

And it dropped me off in Penn Station underneath the garden. Oh, I saw everyone there was to ever see.

[Billy Corgan]

And you know who comes to mind because I love this period of music.

[Richie Sambora]

Queen, Led Zeppelin, Elton John, Powell, Deep Purple.

[Billy Corgan]

So you had a very.

[Richie Sambora]

David Bowie.

[Billy Corgan]

F. You had a very high standard of music.

[Richie Sambora]

Rod Stewart.

[Billy Corgan]

Does it make sense what I'm saying? It's like as a musician, you go, if I'm going to do this, I got to be up in here. Because not everybody has a high standard. I come from the indie world. And you know, the thing about a lot of indie people, they think playing too good is a bad thing.

[Richie Sambora]

Too good is a bad thing.

[Billy Corgan]

It sounds like one of your songs.

[Richie Sambora]

No, it was a different type.

[Billy Corgan]

It's a hit. It's a hit.

[Richie Sambora]

It's a hit. Ladies and gentlemen.

[Billy Corgan]

So there I am. And you know.

[Richie Sambora]

How old were you?

[Billy Corgan]

17. 17.

[Richie Sambora]

17. Oh, you were done? Old enough.

[Billy Corgan]

I was playing guitar already. And you guys were. Good band, you know, But I mean, there were a lot of good bands back then.

[Richie Sambora]

Yeah.

[Billy Corgan]

You almost kind of couldn't be a touring band at that point and not be solid. Everybody could play back then.

[Richie Sambora]

Everybody was pretty damn good.

[Billy Corgan]

Did you have a sense at that early date that you guys were on this kind of jet stream? Because, you know, it was absolutely. Or you felt it.

[Richie Sambora]

Oh, without a doubt.

[Billy Corgan]

Tell me, Tell me, because I always love this because you. You and I understand something that very few people understand. There's that feeling where you're like, wow, this is gonna work big time. Right. You feel it in your bones and you see it.

[Richie Sambora]

Yeah.

[Billy Corgan]

And here it materializes. Right.

[Richie Sambora]

Okay, so what were the things as it's materialized?

[Billy Corgan]

The obvious.

[Richie Sambora]

You know, I really enjoyed it. You know why? Because before that, I worked like crazy and I enjoyed it. I love it. I still do. You know, I. I was in. I was in the studio for the last five days, like 10, 12 hours a day. I love it.

[Billy Corgan]

Right.

[Richie Sambora]

Completely.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

Always did. Well, you're so. It kind of made sense to me.

[Billy Corgan]

Let me tell you something, because. Because you may not know this, or maybe you do. Do you know what your rep is with alternative musicians?

[Richie Sambora]

My who?

[Billy Corgan]

Your reputation. Do you know what your rep is with alternative musicians? You have a very strong rep with alternative musicians.

[Richie Sambora]

I do.

[Billy Corgan]

You're very respected with the alternative community. That's fantastic because they See you as a musician's musician.

[Richie Sambora]

Thank you.

[Billy Corgan]

You see what I'm saying?

[Richie Sambora]

Thank you, sir.

[Billy Corgan]

Where a lot of the rock guys, the alternative community, kind of go, eh, too obvious, too lame, too cheesy. They want it. Too bad. You have a different rep in my world.

[Richie Sambora]

Oh, that's beautiful, because I did not know that.

[Billy Corgan]

Thank you. Are you kidding? I didn't know you got a real rep. Because people understand where you're coming from. Like, you'll hear people like Bon Jovi, but, Richie, they don't mean Jon. They're saying, you know, the music, that's not for them. But they identify that you in that is something that they get it. So I think it's cool, right?

[Richie Sambora]

I could sing.

[Billy Corgan]

So even me is my. In my.

[Richie Sambora]

That's so good.

[Billy Corgan]

Anytime.

[Richie Sambora]

No, I really appreciate that.

[Billy Corgan]

Thank you.

[Richie Sambora]

And, you know, I mean, that's.

[Billy Corgan]

I do. So tell me, tell me, what were the things that you were seeing beyond the obvious that told you, like, wow, this is really gonna take off?

[Richie Sambora]

Well, our Merchant started. Our Merchant dizing. Started doing, like, three times.

[Billy Corgan]

The merch don't lie. The merch don't lie, baby the merch tells the tale.

[Richie Sambora]

Hey, it's. It really, you know, besides that. I knew with Slippery was the first time that we were really a band. Really.

[Billy Corgan]

Okay.

[Richie Sambora]

I mean, we spent years on the road, obviously, and years together and took vacations together. We were idiots. And we didn't have to. We still didn't have good songs because we didn't have an identity yet.

[Billy Corgan]

Okay, so.

[Richie Sambora]

And I did not have a contract, and I still don't. I never changed it. Probably one of the most interesting deals in the business, by the way. But I just went, look, man, we make this a band. Oh, I gotta, you know, move on. Because it's like.

[Billy Corgan]

Was it in the beginning, in your mind, was it more of a construct or was it a band? Does it make sense?

[Richie Sambora]

It was a try, Okay. I was in many bands. Record companies would come see, like, three bands in a week, and I'd be in three of them. You know.

[Billy Corgan]

Just change your name.

[Richie Sambora]

No, I'd be like, no, I'll be playing CBs.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah, yeah, right. I get it. Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

Killed your sleeves off, you know, Rosselford.

[Billy Corgan]

He said he saw some flyer recently of your. Your was the Richie something band.

[Richie Sambora]

You know, Richie and Friends.

[Billy Corgan]

But it was maybe your birth name, your last.

[Richie Sambora]

Oh, Richard Moore and Friends. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's basically what. That's what I'd call my bands.

[Billy Corgan]

But, I mean, back when I Got to it.

[Richie Sambora]

Anyway, when I got there, I'd say, ladies and gentlemen, it's the Cuban Yacht Club. It's Richard Samborano. The Katy Perry Dancers. Yes, I would change the name.

[Billy Corgan]

Okay, but don't jump. Ask my question. So what were the things that you were seeing? Because you have a. You have a front row seat. What are you seeing in the crowd? What are you seeing? Okay, you said the merch don't lie. But what else?

[Richie Sambora]

No, it just. It was mania. It got to a point where it was. And it was. You know, people would just realize. Then they go, well, thank God they finally got a good song, for Christ's sake. You know what I mean? After all these years of, like, following them around.

[Billy Corgan]

Well, what changed? Okay, so what changed in your mind that made suddenly you went from we didn't have good songs to we had good songs?

[Richie Sambora]

Well, MTV had a lot to do with the two. We cultivated MTV and certainly MTV's darling.

[Billy Corgan]

Can I tell you.

[Richie Sambora]

How are you?

[Billy Corgan]

Can I tell you an inside pumpkin show?

[Richie Sambora]

You good looking?

[Billy Corgan]

Can I tell you an inside pumpkins joke?

[Richie Sambora]

Sure.

[Billy Corgan]

You know when you're making videos, right, and you've made many too many, you have the meeting and what kind of video do you want to make? And so if they don't have a big budget, invariably somebody wants to do the on the road video. You know, like, there you are backstage. Thank you. There you are backstage. There you on stage pointing.

[Richie Sambora]

How many times we done that?

[Billy Corgan]

Okay, in the pumpkins. We called it the Bon Jovi video.

[Richie Sambora]

There you go.

[Billy Corgan]

There we are, stretching before the gig.

[Richie Sambora]

But that was true, you know, but.

[Billy Corgan]

That was an inside pumpkins joke. We called it.

[Richie Sambora]

I don't know what happened to us. We were actually playing Chicago. We're doing two nights at Soldier Field.

[Billy Corgan]

Right, Right.

[Richie Sambora]

And so me and Bob are friends. Right? So it. He. He's great.

[Billy Corgan]

Bob.

[Richie Sambora]

Bob, you know, Kid Rock.

[Billy Corgan]

Oh, okay. You say Bob, you know, the rest.

[Richie Sambora]

Of us just Kid Rock. I just happen to know him, you know, not that that's like no big deal or anything. So anyway, I go, I think we do two nights. If you open up, man, you know, and it'll be good money for an hour. Yeah, you'll be happy.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

So as you feel. Yeah, we'll sell out two nights, which we did.

[Billy Corgan]

Okay.

[Richie Sambora]

And he was great. And he got. We gave him a bunch more gigs because of that. And we do multiple nights.

[Billy Corgan]

Where are you trying to get at? Sorry, I'm just trying to understand.

[Richie Sambora]

I don't know what was I Trying to get at.

[Billy Corgan]

You were. I don't know, you were bragging.

[Richie Sambora]

No, I'm trying. No, I wasn't bragging. I was just.

[Billy Corgan]

I think what I was trying to get at was how did you get from. You said, we. We didn't have good songs. Then we had good songs then you said video. So I'm just trying to put those pieces together.

[Richie Sambora]

Well, I knew we had the best record that we definitely ever made as a band and a best sounding record with Bob Rock, who I still work with religiously. And Bruce Fairburner unfortunately passed away. I said to myself, golly gee, I think we can make 2 million records out of this, right? Worldwide, I'm talking.

[Billy Corgan]

Right.

[Richie Sambora]

You know, and we'll work our asses off because we did every bit of press back then. It wasn't obviously social media and stuff like that. It was more journalistic, newspapers, everything, whatever it took. And going to radio stations, obviously.

[Billy Corgan]

Right.

[Richie Sambora]

You know, doing that was a big.

[Billy Corgan]

So the demand is there, the interest is there, but you guys are meeting the demand. And as you feeling the demand coming, you're like, we better get even better.

[Richie Sambora]

Songs because it's no. Beyond our control on security levels, different things like that. Like things you would never think of. You know what I mean?

[Billy Corgan]

People climbing through the sunlight, just like crazy stuff.

[Richie Sambora]

And you're just going by your daily job, basically and doing. Yeah, we said yes a lot to mostly everything and everywhere, but we did that beforehand too. Which seeded the garden for when we had a hit song.

[Billy Corgan]

Sure.

[Richie Sambora]

It was a hit song in 24 countries.

[Billy Corgan]

So I had to look this up because I did not know. As an institution, the Bon Jovi Franchise has sold 130 million records. And to quote the lyric, you have seen a million faces and you rock them all. I mean, that's pretty amazing.

[Richie Sambora]

Thank you very much. It's more than that, but imagine the piracy, which is insane.

[Billy Corgan]

Oh, yeah. No one wants to hear us complain about the money we lost.

[Richie Sambora]

It's true.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah. So, yeah. So that. What makes that number even more impressive is if you sold 130 million records that we know of.

[Richie Sambora]

I was 17 that year, so I was pretty big. That was. That was. And we toured. You know what it's like when you take it that often. How much money?

[Billy Corgan]

Oh, no, you. You guys, back in the day, you toured like, oh, yeah, crazy people. What was the. What was the normal run for you guys when you were young? Like, were you doing four in a row? No, but you're doing four in a row or, you know, because like, no.

[Richie Sambora]

We did five shows a week, and however they fit on a routing level, to save that kind of money, we're staying on.

[Billy Corgan]

You guys are. Those songs are high vocals. I mean, it's.

[Richie Sambora]

It's, you know, so athletic event.

[Billy Corgan]

Yes, it truly is. Yes. So you. You. And we understand. It's like, you know, you probably would have played seven days in a row if you could, right?

[Richie Sambora]

I mean, I could.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah. Well, I'm. Not that you don't sing, but as a lead singer of my band.

[Richie Sambora]

You know what? I. I take that back, ladies and gentlemen. Man. Because I've never done it for that long and been the lead singer, but I've obviously done my own tours for three, four months at a clip and, you know, play where I want to play kind of thing.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah, yeah. No, I'd play seven days a week if I could. It's just.

[Richie Sambora]

Yeah, I know.

[Billy Corgan]

It's the vocal thing is.

[Richie Sambora]

It's the vocal. I. I never tried it, but I still take lessons.

[Billy Corgan]

Really?

[Richie Sambora]

Of course. Like, me, me, me, me, me.

[Billy Corgan]

Or.

[Richie Sambora]

No, no. Yeah, all that. All that, yeah. Rigoletto Opera training.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

Yeah. I went. I went to Andre Pacelli one day, actually, Denise was here. My assistant, as a surprise, took me to see Andre, and I love him, and he wanted to meet me. And I go back there, and it's just like me and him. Soon as I walked in, he said, come here. And he's blind. He's taller than you, huge and skinny, not built like a normal operator.

[Billy Corgan]

Okay. Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

And like, we know each other forever.

[Billy Corgan]

Oh, okay.

[Richie Sambora]

So he says, I'm a little nervous tonight. I'm a little nervous tonight.

[Billy Corgan]

Really?

[Richie Sambora]

I got to hit nine high Cs in the second song. It's. It's Aria. Right. He says, I'll show you. Sits down at the piano and just goes, bang. Bangs him out, like, clear as a bell.

[Billy Corgan]

Wow.

[Richie Sambora]

No problem. And I'm looking at him, I'm going, well, number one, you're not gonna have a problem. Number two, how'd you do that?

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

Because he had volume control.

[Billy Corgan]

It's a different level of chop.

[Richie Sambora]

He goes, finish your 30 years, you know?

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

Just to get 20 years. Just to get opportunity.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

In that world. That's tough.

[Billy Corgan]

Tough game. Yeah. I got trained by an opera singer once. That was interesting.

[Richie Sambora]

Well, you know, what it did for me was. I don't know, it didn't increase too much, except my longevity.

[Billy Corgan]

Right. That's what I did learn from the opera teacher. I learned voice preservation. Basically.

[Richie Sambora]

It's like going to the gym.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah. Yeah, it does work. Okay. Bear with me here.

[Richie Sambora]

I am. Bear.

[Billy Corgan]

No, you're gonna have to bear with me now.

[Richie Sambora]

There's no bearing going on here. There's no bearing. Let's face it. Kim James Mason.

[Billy Corgan]

My. My. My. My goal, as I was telling you a little bit before we started rolling, is, you know, when I bring in somebody that I admire and respect, and you're certainly one of those people, but it. It's like there's 8,000 interviews with you telling variations of the same stories. And to me, what most journalists, If I'm a journalist at this point, miss, is the real experience of being in a big band.

[Richie Sambora]

Oh, yeah.

[Billy Corgan]

And more than you, they want to hear that. They want to hear the night that the groupie broke in through the skylight, but they don't want to hear about the night you rode on a bus for 16 hours and were bored out of your mind and.

[Richie Sambora]

Yeah. And who wants to hear that story? Actually, you know, I mean, entertainment.

[Billy Corgan]

No, but I'm saying should be based.

[Richie Sambora]

On entertainment, not what's behind it. Sure.

[Billy Corgan]

But we experience something different than what most people understand. Our experience is when you were on the road, like, we did tour. When we did one tour, 20 months. You know what I mean? And you guys know you did those tours, like, oh, 18 months, you know.

[Richie Sambora]

You know, 62 countries.

[Billy Corgan]

Hello. Right.

[Richie Sambora]

I'm still okay. Ladies and gentlemen. It's unbelievable.

[Billy Corgan]

No damage.

[Richie Sambora]

No damage whatsoever. Actually, I sing and play, by the.

[Billy Corgan]

Way, I will say sitting, looking at you. You look really good.

[Richie Sambora]

Look at me.

[Billy Corgan]

Handsome man. Handsome man. It's the jeans, but. So, you know, we could sit here and tell. Or you could tell war stories. And I could say, you know, when Desmond Child, you know, to me, it's interesting and it's important, but at the same time, I'm more interested in your experience of being in the band.

[Richie Sambora]

Yes.

[Billy Corgan]

And your navigation. Okay, thank you. I'm trying to come at it from a musician's point of view. Yes.

[Richie Sambora]

That's good. Fantastic.

[Billy Corgan]

So bear with me here. So I'm. Because obviously, there's a bit of controversy, as the English would say, with the documentary coming out. And I want to talk about it, but not probably how most people would want to talk about it, but I'm interested in your version of your story. And what I mean by that is, like, is your story a rags to riches to heartbreak and redemption? Is it you had it all and walked away from it all? Is it local Polish kid makes good and you steal Richie from the Neighborhood. Are you the handsome gunslinger who marries a Hollywood star and has a beautiful kid? You know, I was.

[Richie Sambora]

All of that.

[Billy Corgan]

All of the above.

[Richie Sambora]

I love it. Duly noted. Duly noted.

[Billy Corgan]

But it's, you know, when I say it like that, it comes off like a Desmond Child song. You know what I mean? It's got a little bit of a ring to it, but I don't.

[Richie Sambora]

Well, where did you think I get some of those lyrics from? Remember some of those stories from?

[Billy Corgan]

Very good. But my point of bringing this up this way because I feel like, first of all, you're a respected musician, but I think your real contribution musically is underappreciated. That's my perspective as a musician. To musicians.

[Richie Sambora]

Thank you very much. Good work on.

[Billy Corgan]

Thank you. But it's a genuine thing. I'm not a compliment giver, but what I'm trying to get at is, you know, it's not like, what do you want to see on your tombstone that's a little grim. It's like, what do you want, people welcome, penniless. You had a great time.

[Richie Sambora]

I spent it all. No, I lived. That's what it means.

[Billy Corgan]

He lived.

[Richie Sambora]

It's just a metaphor.

[Billy Corgan]

I get it.

[Richie Sambora]

He lived, obviously.

[Billy Corgan]

Right. What I'm saying is, what's your version of that story? Because right now, you know, look, we've all been in big bands here, the two of us, you know what I mean? And sometimes the story of the band becomes our story, but it's not our story because, yeah, it gets a bit boring and it's cliche and you're not a cliche.

[Richie Sambora]

No.

[Billy Corgan]

Right.

[Richie Sambora]

Like I said, look, I was out of the band at that point for 12 years. I was actually doing a songwriting clinic at, like, Abbey Road with these young songwriters and stuff like that. And they said, would you sit for a half hour?

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah, just a half an hour, I think.

[Richie Sambora]

I think an hour.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

I don't remember. And I said, all right, you guys get going on that. And walked into that little makeup, and I didn't even know what the premise of this thing was.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

I've been out of band for. Seemed like a lifetime at that point.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

Most in the way.

[Billy Corgan]

That's a long time.

[Richie Sambora]

Thirteen years or something, you know? And so I was like, okay. So I was, you know, trying to be funny and. And the questions that were coming at me were unintelligent.

[Billy Corgan]

Right.

[Richie Sambora]

And did not demand any depth of answer.

[Billy Corgan]

Sure. I'm like, I haven't seen the doc.

[Richie Sambora]

So I cut up and I. And I talked to the director. Who I really like Deepak Chopra's grandson.

[Billy Corgan]

Okay.

[Richie Sambora]

And he's talented and hopefully spiritual. You know, I didn't know what you guys are looking for. What are you looking for?

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

And things like that. Yeah.

[Billy Corgan]

And I get it. Like, what's the point?

[Richie Sambora]

None of it. None of it really got in the documentary.

[Billy Corgan]

Okay.

[Richie Sambora]

Right. But.

[Billy Corgan]

Well, you ain't the one.

[Richie Sambora]

Editing was six and a half hours.

[Billy Corgan]

Okay.

[Richie Sambora]

It's. Look, so it's the band's 40th anniversary.

[Billy Corgan]

Right.

[Richie Sambora]

We did some unbelievable things. Mention those things, show how. Like, you're asking me what that feeling was.

[Billy Corgan]

Like, that's what I'm asking. That's what I'm saying. What's your version of that feeling? Because that's what's interesting to me.

[Richie Sambora]

780,000 happy, happy, happy people rocking for three hours.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

You know, taking them through.

[Billy Corgan]

Great songs, great playing.

[Richie Sambora]

They're coming back.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

It's an event.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah. And, you know, the band had its up, and then the band had its down and the band went back up. That's pretty rare, as you know.

[Richie Sambora]

Yeah.

[Billy Corgan]

I remember. I don't remember what the year was, but somewhere in there, late 90s, 2000, people were basically thought you guys were done.

[Richie Sambora]

Oh, yeah.

[Billy Corgan]

Like, you know, like, you be you. You become the oldies act thing.

[Richie Sambora]

Yeah, but that's just in this country.

[Billy Corgan]

No, I get that, but you know how America is. We don't think about other countries. You could be the biggest band in Greece and America wouldn't give two shits. All right, so you know what that feels like.

[Richie Sambora]

Because I know I'm selling out stadiums in 52 countries. Okay, so say tragedy strikes and 20 go down.

[Billy Corgan]

You're still good. Yeah, right.

[Richie Sambora]

Who does that? Yeah, that's where I was at.

[Billy Corgan]

Right. But, you know, being there was sensitive. But, you know, this business of music runs basically out of this city, la.

[Richie Sambora]

If they.

[Billy Corgan]

If. But if they believe it, they believe. And if they don't believe, it don't matter that you sold out in Poughkeepsie. They don't give two shits.

[Richie Sambora]

They don't understand it. They're not.

[Billy Corgan]

That's what I'm saying. So what I'm trying to understand is in the meta narrative, which is a bit of a modern way of putting it, you know, what's your arc in this thing? Not even related to the Bon Jovi years. Like, what's your arc in this thing? Like, what's your version of your story? It makes good.

[Richie Sambora]

I understand. Oh, for sure.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah. But you pick one. Just pick One who.

[Richie Sambora]

Gratitude beyond whatever I had to deal with. What I received was way beyond the love and the war.

[Billy Corgan]

So your relationship with the fans and what the fans gave you is very high.

[Richie Sambora]

Very high.

[Billy Corgan]

Right, okay.

[Richie Sambora]

Yeah. And also I started to, like, I understood the business.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

You know.

[Billy Corgan]

Well, you.

[Richie Sambora]

You'd done stuff before a couple times, yeah. I had three record deals before I met John.

[Billy Corgan]

Right.

[Richie Sambora]

So I had. And my best. One of my best friends was going to law school.

[Billy Corgan]

Right.

[Richie Sambora]

And he owned a studio that I used to work at. His studio musician. And then he went to law school and I joined the circus. I was in college and after two years, I split. A psychology major and my daughter just got her master's in psychology.

[Billy Corgan]

Saw that. Congratulations. That's a big deal. What's her discipline in psychology? Does she have one? You know, because some people are union and she is.

[Richie Sambora]

Some people deal with trauma survivors still in transition.

[Billy Corgan]

Oh, she's in that because she's going.

[Richie Sambora]

To be going for a doctorate.

[Billy Corgan]

That's amazing. Congratulations.

[Richie Sambora]

But you told me she was going to take a break. One of those kids that works the summers.

[Billy Corgan]

Okay.

[Richie Sambora]

Well, you know, you don't have to do it to him, but I really admire what you're doing.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

Because she was keeping up with some very smart people. And.

[Billy Corgan]

But also, I think you understand this context. Not every kid who grows up in LA with rock star dad and, you know, Hollywood star mom goes on to do something with your lives. So you must be triple proud.

[Richie Sambora]

Yeah. And I'm triple thankful, you know, more for anything, because it just was myself. And I'm a good dad. I pride myself on being a very good dad.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

I mean, it's obvious you love somebody.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

You love them all the way.

[Billy Corgan]

It's obvious in poking around in your life in prep for this, how much you love your daughter.

[Richie Sambora]

Oh, yeah.

[Billy Corgan]

No, it's humbling because I have A young daughter, 6 years old, just turned 6.

[Richie Sambora]

Oh, yeah. But you're good. It's going to blossom. Yeah.

[Billy Corgan]

What do they say? Daddies and their daughters. Right?

[Richie Sambora]

Yeah. Just. We just spent a lot of time with each other and then when I. We got divorced, she was nine. And I. I went to a child psychologist and went, what are the things I can say and I can't say and those kind of things, you know?

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

And I went, but this is going to be great because I have an undivided attention instead of having split it with anger and things like that that were existing in the marriage. Right. So it became a different happy life.

[Billy Corgan]

That's Interesting.

[Richie Sambora]

You know. And I bought a smaller house with us that was only a mile away from her mom.

[Billy Corgan]

Right.

[Richie Sambora]

So it was like. Not like I was. Yeah, you weren't absconding.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah, get it.

[Richie Sambora]

Yeah. So that. And I just really talked to her. But the reprimand that I had with her was more like. Because I'd watch it. What would you feel like if you. That was being done to you?

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

She was just kind of acting out.

[Billy Corgan]

Sure. That's kids. Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

Yeah, I understand that. But I was. That's. I go. Because when I'm gone, you're gonna have to do this yourself. And eventually what would happen.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

Would be that sometimes you take a day, sometimes take a week, sometimes it takes a little more. But she go apologizing and work it out with her phone.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

So I was. Essentially. Because of all the time I spent on the road. Yeah. Teaching her self. Parent as much as possible.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

Without. But you can't do it like.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah, yeah. That's not gonna work. You have to learn self reliance.

[Richie Sambora]

You gotta kind of.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah. I'm in this. My kids are young. They're eight.

[Richie Sambora]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Billy Corgan]

Eight and six. And I'm in that. I'm trying to get them to understand. Like, you're gonna have to figure some of this out on your own. I can't be here all the time.

[Richie Sambora]

That's for everything.

[Billy Corgan]

Like nine to five dad. I'm not a nine to five dad. You know.

[Richie Sambora]

Plus, you need that time for yourself.

[Billy Corgan]

That's true, too.

[Richie Sambora]

To enrich yourself.

[Billy Corgan]

Oh, yeah. You know, and not go crazy. I was listening to your. I think it's your recent single, Believe in Miracles.

[Richie Sambora]

I got two more. One that just cut. Of course.

[Billy Corgan]

Of course you do. But I'm.

[Richie Sambora]

Oh, that one.

[Billy Corgan]

Or I'm. Believe in Miracles, please. Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

And that's.

[Billy Corgan]

I like this lyric in this song. I really like the song a lot too. Oh, sing a song for our future days A song for the days we sung alone A song for the laughter of tomorrow Help me sing a song of hope we gotta believe in miracles when you dream too much and too high I thought it was really. I felt that lyric.

[Richie Sambora]

It seems like that sometimes, doesn't it?

[Billy Corgan]

Well, I'm not trying to put thoughts in your brain, so that's why I'm asking you. But it seems like, you know, when you experience, you know, you're playing at 80,000 people in Russia or wherever you were playing. You know what I mean? There's an adrenaline and it's like.

[Richie Sambora]

What? Mountain.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah. Right. Okay. Okay, well, at some point, and I'm not even talking about. You leave that situation behind. I'm talking about at some point you're going to be alone on a Sunday. You look in the mirror and you got to like, you got to find something to hold on to. Because once you've achieved those highs and you've felt that dopamine rush, it's. It's not. You're not going to find it in normal life. You're not going to find it going down to grab a coffee.

[Richie Sambora]

No, not. Not at all. Not that. But I have found that, you know, because I left the band, obviously.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

Just. It was.

[Billy Corgan]

You left. You left the band? No one told me.

[Richie Sambora]

Nobody heard that. Did you hear about that?

[Billy Corgan]

I heard about 13. 13 hours, I think about four hours into the Bon Jovi documentary, they mentioned that you left the band.

[Richie Sambora]

It's unbelievable. But here, another. Once again, that it's all perspective. That said, Marcus Aurelius said that it's, you know, it's not a thought, it's a perspective.

[Billy Corgan]

Interesting. Which is the difference between.

[Richie Sambora]

So. But I have a different perspective.

[Billy Corgan]

What keeps you. Because this is what I read in the lyric. What keeps you. Is it God, Is it family? Is it music? All of the above. Like, what keeps you when you really need to refocus.

[Richie Sambora]

Obviously it's a. You know, has a lot to do with my daughter.

[Billy Corgan]

Right.

[Richie Sambora]

It has a lot to do with my love and passion for music. Because I'm self taught.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

I read a lot. I like to read. I just got my cataracts done and then it's fantastic. I could read better again. I still need readers, but my. I see stuff that I never haven't seen in my life. I grew up in a swamp in New Jersey, you know.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

So that was. I mean, things like that are happening and it's just. And as far as business goes, you know, I saved my money, I did the right thing with it, and.

[Billy Corgan]

I.

[Richie Sambora]

Don'T have to do it for the money.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

You know, that was the main thing. It's like, where did I start? Why did I get into this in the first place? Joy. And you have to do all this stuff and come full circle and you're not quite back to Joy yet. And that's what you shoot for.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah. I read this. Interesting.

[Richie Sambora]

Be that free as an artist and not care about these trappings.

[Billy Corgan]

I read this interesting piece once by David Mamet, the great playwright, and he said, you know, in the beginning, when you're an artist, you're free. You have complete freedom. And you beg for an opportunity. And invariably somebody says, hey, sign this. And you sign away something. And then you spend the next.

[Richie Sambora]

You don't know what is at the time.

[Billy Corgan]

Well, you don't realize how valuable it is. And they would have you signing it. And then you spend 30, 40 years of your life trying to get back to that freedom. It reminds me. It's the same thing, right? You came in. Cause you love music. And to me, you know, you strike me, like myself, like we're lifers. Oh, it's just like there's no around.

[Richie Sambora]

With our sailboats somewhere.

[Billy Corgan]

There's no not.

[Richie Sambora]

I don't even have a sailboat. I don't know about you.

[Billy Corgan]

We're not David Crosby yet, but maybe we'll get there.

[Richie Sambora]

Me and you and I, with the.

[Billy Corgan]

Samboras on the yacht, sailing. We'll go down and visit Sammy and.

[Richie Sambora]

Cabo and fabulous women in bikinis. Well, that's serving us more than.

[Billy Corgan]

That's not a pumpkin song. That's a Bon Jovi song.

[Richie Sambora]

All right, you can dress them any way you want, then.

[Billy Corgan]

Well, in our songs, they're dressed in goth, you know, flowing gowns.

[Richie Sambora]

I like that, too. I do.

[Billy Corgan]

Hey, what do they say? Whatever floats your boat.

[Richie Sambora]

Yeah. You know, what? With music, there was so much good music that was, you know, coming out when I was coming of age, late 60s, and I was absorbing.

[Billy Corgan]

You're just, you know, we're. We're close in age. You're just. You're like my older brother. But my point is. Is.

[Richie Sambora]

Which is lovely.

[Billy Corgan]

But since I was born in 67. You would have been born 60.

[Richie Sambora]

I was born 59.

[Billy Corgan]

Okay, so the. The era you grew up musically, I mean, come on.

[Richie Sambora]

I hit it. It was the Hendricks and Dylan.

[Billy Corgan]

Ridiculous Beatles. And in New York, Stones and in New York.

[Richie Sambora]

I mean, and every.

[Billy Corgan]

Everybody comes to New York.

[Richie Sambora]

Eric Clapton and Led Zeppelin and Jimmy Hendrix. It's like everybody. Everybody works in New York. That's what I'm saying. I. When I said that I had that tunnel, my mother used to let me go to New York City.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

Because I never left the building.

[Billy Corgan]

I get you.

[Richie Sambora]

That's the reason she let me go.

[Billy Corgan]

Ah.

[Richie Sambora]

And I would go to. I'd stand there in line to get Gabriel tickets and stand there in line to get Zeppelin tickets and. And then go back, and it was like. Like.

[Billy Corgan]

Did you ever. Did you ever get tired of meeting your heroes, or does this still. Does it still hit you?

[Richie Sambora]

Of course. Every time. Even when I.

[Billy Corgan]

Who's. Who's Somebody that you would meet and geek out for.

[Richie Sambora]

Oh, anytime I'm with Jimmy Page, I geek out. Anytime I'm with Paul McCartney, I geek out.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

Bob Dylan. I'm geeking pretty heavy with him, you know?

[Billy Corgan]

I mean, the who, right? Pete.

[Richie Sambora]

Pete and Roger. Yeah, those guys. What?

[Billy Corgan]

And Pete's so smart. It's like you feel like you're going to science class. It's cool, right? It's one of the great indulgences of.

[Richie Sambora]

Our job to be the Rolling Stones.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

I was working with Don Juan on my second solo album on Discover Soul. And we're just running a hair late because I was taking on. I'm playing on a Woolly Nelson album. I was playing on all these different records as I was doing that.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

And the Stone started their record. So I had the opportunity to kind.

[Billy Corgan]

Of, like, hang around.

[Richie Sambora]

A dark corner of the Control.

[Billy Corgan]

I've heard they're kind of finicky about that.

[Richie Sambora]

They don't. They just don't want any people. They got enough. Well, I. Yeah, you would imagine.

[Billy Corgan]

I can imagine. So, anyway, so you're hiding in the corner, so.

[Richie Sambora]

Yeah.

[Billy Corgan]

So did anyone spot you?

[Richie Sambora]

It was then Don said, hey, you know, because they didn't think much about Joey. That just wasn't a cup of tea. Yeah, that don't bother me. I saw. I still love them. I don't care what anybody says. I still listen to all their records. Yeah, constantly. They were so well produced.

[Billy Corgan]

Amazing.

[Richie Sambora]

So well arranged.

[Billy Corgan]

It was a great. Jimmy. Jimmy Miller. Jimmy Miller, yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

You know, like.

[Billy Corgan]

And Andrew Lugaldhol was kind of a visionary. Maybe not the guest producer, but, you know, very interesting kind of vibe.

[Richie Sambora]

Their records continue to astound me to this day.

[Billy Corgan]

Glenn John Sydney produced. Yeah. He also produced who stuff. Great, great talent.

[Richie Sambora]

Amazing talent.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

But the songs. Jesus.

[Billy Corgan]

Oh, come on. It's not fair. God, it's not fair.

[Richie Sambora]

It's not even fair. After a while.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah. And of course, you've heard the stories how they would just party for days and just jam.

[Richie Sambora]

And I know they weigh about a buck 25 a piece.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

Yeah.

[Billy Corgan]

Just kind of songs would emerge out of the morass of this.

[Richie Sambora]

I want to see every time. It was one of those bands that I saw every time.

[Billy Corgan]

Right.

[Richie Sambora]

Had to.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah. Okay. Go back to your story, because it's a good story. So Don was So.

[Richie Sambora]

Yeah, they were recording crystal. So then Don said, hey, why don't you listen to some of this stuff? Because I had, like. I got, like, Billy Preston and the Cats.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

You know Like. Yeah, but it sounds like a band.

[Billy Corgan]

Okay.

[Richie Sambora]

You know what I mean?

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

I give good band.

[Billy Corgan]

Okay.

[Richie Sambora]

I always have. That's not sexual. But. But so. So. So then I was allowed to come in and hang out while they were cutting.

[Billy Corgan]

That's cool.

[Richie Sambora]

Which was in. So beautiful to watch.

[Billy Corgan]

Is this. Is. Is Bill Wyman still in the band at this point?

[Richie Sambora]

No, no. Daryl's playing. Daryl who played on my record.

[Billy Corgan]

I know Daryl from Chicago. Darryl's lovely.

[Richie Sambora]

Lovely playboy. Miles Break.

[Billy Corgan]

He's okay.

[Richie Sambora]

Yeah, he's just okay. He's just a beautiful cat, too, so. But I'm watching. And it was fun to watch them how they started up. Yeah, Keith was really good. Just getting. He. They all had understudies, which is very interesting. I'm sorry if I'm giving your secrets away, but, you know, Charlie was alive. He had Kelvin. Yeah, right. Waddy.

[Billy Corgan]

Right.

[Richie Sambora]

You know, and Keith said. Keith had Waddy. And everybody else didn't have anybody.

[Billy Corgan]

Okay.

[Richie Sambora]

They get a riff and groove going and tape is. They're doing an analogy. I'm looking at Don and I'm seeing piles. You're gonna have to go through that stuff.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

Oh, my God.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

Yeah. And we're really good friends at this point, Don and I, you know. So then me and Don, Keith would be listening mixes. I'm sitting there. This is surreal. The kids, you know, Brian didn't jump over to push them. Talking about Brian Jones, I went cold.

[Billy Corgan]

Oh, yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

Brian was great. I thought. I mean, he lat.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

You know, I mean, everybody there. So much music there. God bless him. Go big.

[Billy Corgan]

Hey.

[Richie Sambora]

Unbelievable. I mean, I have heroes. They're all my heroes. They're still my heroes.

[Billy Corgan]

Mick's a hero in many regards. Right. We all should be so lucky as we age.

[Richie Sambora]

And his business acumen has taught me that it's cool to know the business.

[Billy Corgan]

Oh, yeah. Nothing wrong with Know what you're signing away or signing or what you're getting. I don't want to. You know, let's go back to the beginning. But I get the sense that you're.

[Richie Sambora]

You can. Billy.

[Billy Corgan]

Well, okay. But I read some stuff, so, you know, it's. Who knows what you read, but it was talking about the loss of your father, Adam, and your mother. Is your mother Joan, still alive?

[Richie Sambora]

Yes.

[Billy Corgan]

God bless.

[Richie Sambora]

I stayed with her for five weeks. She's 88.

[Billy Corgan]

Amazing.

[Richie Sambora]

First thing I did. I'm very proud of this. I'm not bragging. First thing I did when I made money, my father out of the swamp.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah. God bless. And it must have been a problem. Must have been a proud day in.

[Richie Sambora]

Your life for me.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

The house that I. My partner used to let me stay at and I told him I was going to buy from him. I got some dosh.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

And I bought a cash, knocked it down, rebuilt it for my parents.

[Billy Corgan]

Right.

[Richie Sambora]

And designed it. A boat, couple jet skis. Cadillac at Lincoln.

[Billy Corgan]

Nice.

[Richie Sambora]

Sold their house, put that money in the bank for them and went, you're done. I've retired you. I'm going back to work.

[Billy Corgan]

Wow. Proud day.

[Richie Sambora]

Proud day. First thing I ever did with money.

[Billy Corgan]

And I tried that with my.

[Richie Sambora]

You know what else it does? Shuts them up.

[Billy Corgan]

Well, I tried that with my mother. And she told me, no, she didn't.

[Richie Sambora]

Take it from you. But my mother tried to. No, you know what? My mother tried to not take it from me too. And my dad was like. My dad was working two jobs, man.

[Billy Corgan]

I'm ready. I'm ready.

[Richie Sambora]

We were low.

[Billy Corgan]

So where's your mom living?

[Richie Sambora]

Point Pleasant, New Jersey.

[Billy Corgan]

She still wants to be up northeast.

[Richie Sambora]

You know what?

[Billy Corgan]

She likes the weather. I thought you were going to see Florida.

[Richie Sambora]

You know, it's just this place. It's on a river. It's just.

[Billy Corgan]

Okay.

[Richie Sambora]

Peaceful.

[Billy Corgan]

I get you. And that's what she knows.

[Richie Sambora]

When I was like 19, I had a partner and he had owned 13 houses you could own in the 70s and write them all.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

America was doing that for you.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

And so it was this beautiful house on the river, but it wasn't that beautiful or big. Very. I. I could take care of it myself.

[Billy Corgan]

Sure.

[Richie Sambora]

You know, but I had freedom to play at night. My house was this big. My grandparents lived upstairs. We lived here. A kitchen, living room and one bathroom. Thank God, a basement.

[Billy Corgan]

So you're down there with the black.

[Richie Sambora]

I was down there playing with my bands. And my mother let. My mother, Father let me do that. That was cool. They. They loved music. They were ballroom dancers. They wouldn't. At one point. Yeah, that's how they met. Dancing. So music was always.

[Billy Corgan]

I love it.

[Richie Sambora]

You know.

[Billy Corgan]

I'm not trying to be morbid, but it's.

[Richie Sambora]

It's.

[Billy Corgan]

It's. It has a personal question. And you can jump around it if you want, but I looked at the dates of when your father passed and I looked at the date of when you left Joby, and it was about five years. Right. And the reason I bring it up is my mother passed away in 96 and five years. Almost like five years to the date. I just lost it. I had this, like, weird delayed reaction. Did that happen to you?

[Richie Sambora]

Yes.

[Billy Corgan]

It's almost like a bomb went off in my head.

[Richie Sambora]

I thought it was a couple times. Puddles.

[Billy Corgan]

I thought it was, like, cool, you know, I mean, like, you're good.

[Richie Sambora]

I thought that was releasing. Yeah, it was releasing tremendous grief.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah. Did you have a delayed reaction to grief?

[Richie Sambora]

Yes.

[Billy Corgan]

Isn't that an interesting phenomenon?

[Richie Sambora]

I explained that to my daughter. I said, sometimes you'll wake up and everything's going great, and then you'll have.

[Billy Corgan]

A thought and then boom.

[Richie Sambora]

And puddles.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

And it's okay.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

It's better.

[Billy Corgan]

Your father had cancer, is it? Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

He was a greaser from the 50s. They didn't know any better.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

And he smoking the worst, like lucky snow filters.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah. My mother, same thing.

[Richie Sambora]

Three packs.

[Billy Corgan]

My mother, same thing.

[Richie Sambora]

And luckily, I was in investment with the. The head of MD Anderson, which is the largest cancer center in America. I had invested with him in a few different things. He was in this group I was in. And her. And her. You can't get in there for like six months.

[Billy Corgan]

Right.

[Richie Sambora]

And I happened to be with Denise Richards at the time. And her mother had lung cancer, too. Almost similar ages. And I go, just get on a plane and meet me. And Houston. And I called on a Friday and we were in on that Monday.

[Billy Corgan]

Right.

[Richie Sambora]

Just her.

[Billy Corgan]

Right.

[Richie Sambora]

Friends, you know, and business partners.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

And a few different things.

[Billy Corgan]

So works in, in this. Because again, I, I don't think.

[Richie Sambora]

Yeah. But it does come back. I actually wrote a song, Seven Years Gone.

[Billy Corgan]

Okay.

[Richie Sambora]

About that. And I brought you that album, actually.

[Billy Corgan]

Thank you.

[Richie Sambora]

I did.

[Billy Corgan]

I, I. Because the reason I thought of it is, it's like, you know, people always go to the lowest hanging fruit of any situation. Like, oh, you left your band. Why? What happened? And this. And, and they often miss. Is that there's like a river. There's underlying things going on. Life goes on.

[Richie Sambora]

Yes.

[Billy Corgan]

Like, we're getting older.

[Richie Sambora]

It's the same life.

[Billy Corgan]

We're getting older. We got kids. There's other things going on.

[Richie Sambora]

I wrote a diamond song the other day, and it said, the poorest and the richest still need an ambulance.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah. Right.

[Richie Sambora]

It doesn't. You know, just because you're a rock and roll star or you're a successful musician, you are going to have the same problems that everybody else has.

[Billy Corgan]

So in this, if you follow my thought on this, if there's this delayed grief, did you have that moment where you're like, not, what am I doing with my life, but a lot of my life is flying by here. My father's gone, My mom ain't getting any younger. You know. Was there a kind of a cumulative effect for you where, like, well, I need to kind of. Does it make sense the way I'm putting that?

[Richie Sambora]

Well, yeah, but no, the definitive cumulative effect literally was I was having a mental health issue with my ex.

[Billy Corgan]

Right.

[Richie Sambora]

And that was. And I was leaving my young daughter, who was very bright and beautiful.

[Billy Corgan]

She would have been around what age?

[Richie Sambora]

Just exactly what the child psychologist told me about nine.

[Billy Corgan]

Okay.

[Richie Sambora]

They're going to start realizing things.

[Billy Corgan]

Okay, nine. So you're at this point of like, well, now. Yes.

[Richie Sambora]

Explain Lucy, you know that point.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

And I'm like, I. I actually enjoyed therapy. I was just like, major. And I went to a child therapist. I said, I'm just brushing up, but what can. And what can I. What would be the proper thing to do for this goal?

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

At the end of the day, here's.

[Billy Corgan]

Where my focus is. Yes.

[Richie Sambora]

And she basically says, you can't say nothing.

[Billy Corgan]

That's going to be hard for you.

[Richie Sambora]

No, it's true. You can, you can. You can say about the time you spend, but not my mom can't say anything about that. They have to realize these things for themselves.

[Billy Corgan]

Okay.

[Richie Sambora]

And I said, oh, okay. You know.

[Billy Corgan]

Right.

[Richie Sambora]

It was. It was that kind of thing. And I have a great rapport with her. I mean, we're. We're even closer than ever. I don't know how that can happen, but we just. Just ourselves, you know, like. Oh, it's okay.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

Like, there's a bunch of stuff over here that was taken care of for you.

[Billy Corgan]

So, you know, if I'm oversimplifying, you're still in process of grief over your father. You're dealing with issues at home. You're in a band at that point for X number of years. You're toured, your brain's out, you know, you've had all the success that anybody could have. Like, at least put me emotionally at the crossroads you were at.

[Richie Sambora]

Oh, I felt like John was changing his focus and he often wanted to, you know, be a solo artist. And I go, you make yourself. I made five, I think, you know, and toured.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

And enjoyed it, you know, immensely.

[Billy Corgan]

Was it he was trying to turn the band and when it was solo band, if that makes any sense.

[Richie Sambora]

Yeah, it seemed. It seemed like he was. Well, he was definitely changing directions. I came off the road with the aftermath of Load on record that I did, which was independently released, and I brought you one.

[Billy Corgan]

Thank you.

[Richie Sambora]

Just because I. I was listening to.

[Billy Corgan]

Some of it today.

[Richie Sambora]

Just a little. Thank you.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah, yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

And it was. I was tuned. I had great musicians. And he said, all of a sudden, no, you don't got to worry about it, John Shanks. And I wrote, like, 30 songs and. Wow. And I went, hello. Oh, that hurt a little bit.

[Billy Corgan]

That hurt me.

[Richie Sambora]

It hurt. Hello. Now, here's a process of, like, 31 years of it going. Not just.

[Billy Corgan]

Well.

[Richie Sambora]

Like, you can't even think about it. Well, you did. Okay. The well meter as well. Beyond the meter.

[Billy Corgan]

You're in the red.

[Richie Sambora]

You know what I mean? And I got nothing for gratitude for the opportunity.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

You know.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

And that just. It shook me a little bit. But I said, all right. I said, what do you got? And it didn't sound like Bon Jovi sound like the best.

[Billy Corgan]

It sounded. What did it sound like to you?

[Richie Sambora]

Like, I don't know. It sounded like every song that I didn't want to write or something.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

It just. It was.

[Billy Corgan]

I hope you take this as a compliment, because I really mean it as a compliment. If you sat me in a room and you said, here's all the Bon Jovi songs. Pick the ones you like and you be okay with on a desert island, and discard the ones that you just don't have any connection to. So I know those songs. Cause I've heard them. And, you know, even I've found deep cuts that I like and stuff like that. And it's one of those things where I've grown to appreciate the band even more as I've gotten older. Maybe at the time, the hair metal y kind of times, you know, the grunge thing, we were all kind of like, ugh. It felt so oppressive to us. You know what I mean?

[Richie Sambora]

Yeah. You have to be categorized.

[Billy Corgan]

It was in our. Right. But, you know, for us in that generation, it was in our face with mtv.

[Richie Sambora]

Oh.

[Billy Corgan]

Every time we turned around, you guys had really big hair and you looked really cool and you had hot girls, you know, and we were like, you know, in clubs. So I'm saying everybody was working. Right. But you understand the joke I'm making, which is like, of course, it's a generational thing to just reject whatever is there. It's not even personal.

[Richie Sambora]

Absolutely.

[Billy Corgan]

Like, I liked a lot of your songs, but it was like, get out of the way.

[Richie Sambora]

Yeah. No, but it wasn't cool too.

[Billy Corgan]

Sure. But I'm saying, now that I'm older and I look back, there's a lot of stuff there that I really like. I mean, genuinely, I think this is great.

[Richie Sambora]

Well, thank you.

[Billy Corgan]

Okay. So when I was listening to a lot of your solo work in preparing for today's interview, it was like I had this feeling. I'm getting chills, and I hope you take it as a compliment. I was like, this is the Bon Jovi that I like. Where is this Bon Jovi? And then it's like, it's Richie.

[Richie Sambora]

Thank you.

[Billy Corgan]

That I like in this mix. The magic is Richie in the mix.

[Richie Sambora]

And.

[Billy Corgan]

And the musician in me goes. It's that the way you synergize. Blues, pop, other influences. Oh, look at you.

[Richie Sambora]

The same thing. My God, you infiltrated so many different genres. And that's what I'd love.

[Billy Corgan]

I'm a thief in the night.

[Richie Sambora]

That's what I loved about your record.

[Billy Corgan]

Thank you. Thank you.

[Richie Sambora]

I couldn't wait to see what you were gonna.

[Billy Corgan]

How I was gonna destroy my records.

[Richie Sambora]

What wheelie you were gonna pull artistically.

[Billy Corgan]

Thank you.

[Richie Sambora]

No, I mean that you would change your voice.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

And why.

[Billy Corgan]

When you sing like a Ringwraith, you have to. You have to figure some stuff out.

[Richie Sambora]

Sheila. Daphne.

[Billy Corgan]

Thank you. Thank you.

[Richie Sambora]

All those records were.

[Billy Corgan]

We've entered the final stretch of our psychological dissertation here.

[Richie Sambora]

Okay.

[Billy Corgan]

I want to talk real quick, because I was sort of fascinated and it was hard to find some information. I saw something about. So the band was called message, right?

[Richie Sambora]

Yes.

[Billy Corgan]

1982. I saw somewhere where it said you were signed a swan song. And then I saw somewhere where it was like, a failed. So give me the story in that real world.

[Richie Sambora]

Well, I. I got signed. Song. Song, like, 19 and a half.

[Billy Corgan]

You must have been freaking out, man.

[Richie Sambora]

What, are you kidding me? I go, did you get to meet. No, not then.

[Billy Corgan]

Okay.

[Richie Sambora]

Not then.

[Billy Corgan]

But was there a con?

[Richie Sambora]

Yeah, I was in the studio. Mitch Fox, Sam Azer.

[Billy Corgan]

Okay.

[Richie Sambora]

And Stephen Marsh was the lawyer.

[Billy Corgan]

Okay. And you're in what studio at this point?

[Richie Sambora]

Lots of different ones. I was in the power station.

[Billy Corgan]

Okay.

[Richie Sambora]

I was in. What was the one on 57th doing with church Media?

[Billy Corgan]

Okay. Okay.

[Richie Sambora]

So a bunch.

[Billy Corgan]

Put. Put. Put me in the room with Message, because there's not a lot of information about it.

[Richie Sambora]

Well, it started out it was a bunch of guys that had a band in New York, and they were looking for the guitar player. And I got in, and the name of the band was Screaming Mimi's for a while.

[Billy Corgan]

Okay.

[Richie Sambora]

It was a punky kind of New Yorkers. It's musically finest back.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah, yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

Now I believe.

[Billy Corgan]

Okay.

[Richie Sambora]

Max's and.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah, yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

Everything was. I was Playing Guild of Sleuths a couple nights a week, you know, just all around town. And that name wasn't working. And tried another name that wasn't working, but we had the label and she was everything. And they were serious.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

And they put up the money.

[Billy Corgan]

So did. If it. Did it ever. I know it came out later, but again, that's.

[Richie Sambora]

No, you know what?

[Billy Corgan]

The information is really messy.

[Richie Sambora]

Yeah. No, that never came out yet.

[Billy Corgan]

Okay.

[Richie Sambora]

But I am planning on recording a song from that era.

[Billy Corgan]

What? Why didn't it work? I'm just curious. Because. Because the reason.

[Richie Sambora]

The real story is the business. The label blew up.

[Billy Corgan]

Okay.

[Richie Sambora]

You know, Jimmy and Robert, you know.

[Billy Corgan]

Okay.

[Richie Sambora]

Yeah. And they were running the label. And Bad Company was on the label.

[Billy Corgan]

Right.

[Richie Sambora]

With my label, man.

[Billy Corgan]

There were a couple other bands that were on the label that were kind of.

[Richie Sambora]

Frank Carlo. That's it.

[Billy Corgan]

There's a name that.

[Richie Sambora]

How do I remember that? I don't know. But you were there, and he was. He was very good. But there was, like, you know, to try to get Peter Green. I mean, Peter Grant's attention was.

[Billy Corgan]

Hello.

[Richie Sambora]

People would wait a month.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

Downstairs at his house.

[Billy Corgan]

Really.

[Richie Sambora]

What? I'm not kidding. Like, employees.

[Billy Corgan]

All right. Final stretch. It's not as cheesy as, hey, look at the camera and tell Bonchobe fans what you want them to know. But I feel like there's, like, let's call it the cheesy version of, like, you know, I still love you. And, like, what don't they unders. Maybe this question? What don't they understand about the story? Like, what's the missing. What's the missing.

[Richie Sambora]

I like the first part of that question because I don't like to accuse anybody of not understanding because everybody has their own perspective.

[Billy Corgan]

Sure.

[Richie Sambora]

On understanding. Right. But all I would say, sincerity, beyond the image, beyond what you might think, beyond what you even might have heard or read. It's. I'm a sincere musician and sincere artist, and I will try my hardest till I'm dead. But, yeah, like Billy said. Yeah, that's it. But it's really.

[Billy Corgan]

I love it. That's the you I know.

[Richie Sambora]

Yeah.

[Billy Corgan]

I don't know you well, but that's the you I know. You're a straight shooter.

[Richie Sambora]

You know me well.

[Billy Corgan]

Okay. And we. We have mutual friends and they.

[Richie Sambora]

I know.

[Billy Corgan]

But I speak very highly of you and vice versa. Thank you.

[Richie Sambora]

And rightfully so. Right on your end.

[Billy Corgan]

That's the part, I guess, but that's the part that sort of annoys me because I see the the clickbaity stuff. And, you know, I see where people like, you know, well, the phone didn't ring and it's like. It's a lot more complicated. And then on another level, it's a lot more simple than that.

[Richie Sambora]

You got it. You don't got it. You know?

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

And if you like. I feel like I was born with it. It was a language I understood immediately. It didn't take me long to teach myself how to do any instrument.

[Billy Corgan]

Sure.

[Richie Sambora]

And pick it up very quickly. Yeah.

[Billy Corgan]

I mean, you can.

[Richie Sambora]

I had to go backwards and take theory. To put it the other way. I really had muscle memory and ear.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

You know, then notation to go back and learn. That was. I learned backwards, basically. But going out and playing live, you know, and getting paid for it. So going to the gym. Lovely.

[Billy Corgan]

Okay. Last thing. When. When you reach that point in the band where you're like, I gotta get the hell out of here. I have that about once a week. So I'm with you. You know what I mean? Where you look and you go, shut up already.

[Richie Sambora]

I've had with you.

[Billy Corgan]

Right. No, it's not fair to go back in time. But what happens in critical moments in our life and our associations with our. Our bandmates. You know, cuz. Like. And you know this feeling, no matter what we do in life, always be a pumpkin and you'll always be in that band.

[Richie Sambora]

Absolutely.

[Billy Corgan]

It's weird because the. In the fan's mind, you're in the band even if you're not in the band.

[Richie Sambora]

It pisses you off somehow. Because it's hard to get around the image. Sure.

[Billy Corgan]

But it's also. On some level, it's a testament to what you've done. Right.

[Richie Sambora]

Okay. But I think both of us, at least me and my solo career and you in your whole life had covered so many genres and covered them well.

[Billy Corgan]

Thank you.

[Richie Sambora]

That you'd be able to go and find a genre in your maturity.

[Billy Corgan]

Sure.

[Richie Sambora]

As an artist where. An amalgamation of a couple of those categories or just one or two.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

Will would be at your access to paint sound.

[Billy Corgan]

Sure.

[Richie Sambora]

I feel that way about myself.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

I feel like I'm. I'm like, well, you're.

[Billy Corgan]

You're just as capable as ever. You haven't lost a step.

[Richie Sambora]

No, I just like lessened and I was like a whole other thing. Like the guys that stayed in the band. God bless them.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

And they were in that groove. I was in no groove. I was in. I was teaching myself and getting into jazz more different areas of music. And it was very enriching.

[Billy Corgan]

But the last thing I'm after is, you know, I'm not saying as dramatically as the last day before you step through a door and you're like, okay, I'm done. But I'm saying is there are moments in those situations, and I've certainly experienced them, where you don't feel you're getting the support you need. You feel like you're saying, does anybody hear. See what I'm going through? Can you. Can you. I'm your brother. Can you relate to where I'm at?

[Richie Sambora]

Yes.

[Billy Corgan]

And it becomes about either dollars and cents or ticket sales or cancellations, and you're like, hello, what up? My name's Richie. And I just, you know, I want to be loved. You know what I'm saying?

[Richie Sambora]

Yes, yes.

[Billy Corgan]

Okay.

[Richie Sambora]

I feel that way. And what I've gained to experience out of many, many years in this business, as you know, is that people experience fame and fortune at different speeds and do different things with their lives. So the element of man's core changes. Man.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

And it's like, you know, it magnifies.

[Billy Corgan]

And then at some point it can.

[Richie Sambora]

Yeah, right. It does. You know, the straight on focus of when you're young and you don't have any other things to bother you or annoyances or things Ferraris or not even. Just the responsibilities.

[Billy Corgan]

That was a joke.

[Richie Sambora]

But, yeah, but I. I do have Ferrari. But what are you gonna do?

[Billy Corgan]

Sorry.

[Richie Sambora]

Sorry about that. It's 20 years old. You want to buy it? It's for sale.

[Billy Corgan]

Richie's. Carlos.

[Richie Sambora]

No, no, I'm only good. But that's true. I think that we, as artists at our age, and, and me being very sincere at every. Right, every second. It's not even the music is the way I spend it, but people should have gratitude for every second and really understand the weight of it.

[Billy Corgan]

If you'd gotten some of the support you needed, then would it have turned out different? Or you had to go at that moment? Because it was just. That was the time.

[Richie Sambora]

The turning point was obviously my daughter. I mean, right? Daughter looks at you and goes, daddy, I need you.

[Billy Corgan]

That's it.

[Richie Sambora]

And I go, you know what? I need you too. Did you. In other words, it's like, did you.

[Billy Corgan]

Try to explain that to the guys?

[Richie Sambora]

Yeah. And plus, they should have saw it. And, and so.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

And then. And you know what? We're all friends. Everything is. There's not like there might be some animosity towards me in. In some directions, but I fought for that man, to put that man Together. And then I really wanted us to be abandoned. Help those guys get involved with even the financial and business end of it, which is boring stuff to be talking.

[Billy Corgan]

About, but it does matter behind the scenes.

[Richie Sambora]

It matters because there is a glue and a caring.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah. You're ultimately a family, whether you want to be or not. And it includes the crew and.

[Richie Sambora]

Absolutely.

[Billy Corgan]

The guy selling T shirts. He becomes part of your outer world.

[Richie Sambora]

Yes. It's. It's. I. I chose to actually be.

[Billy Corgan]

Okay, last question. Last question. And I'm not looking for dirt. I'm looking for an opinion.

[Richie Sambora]

Because you're looking for dirt.

[Billy Corgan]

No, I'm not. I'm not. I'm really not.

[Richie Sambora]

He's looking for dirt.

[Billy Corgan]

I'm not that interested.

[Richie Sambora]

I'm only kidding.

[Billy Corgan]

No. Because I think.

[Richie Sambora]

You know what? I love this interview, by the way.

[Billy Corgan]

Thank you.

[Richie Sambora]

And I want to thank you for asking me, because you're a great interviewer.

[Billy Corgan]

And now I gotta ask the jerk question.

[Richie Sambora]

You could jerk me off if you want. I don't care.

[Billy Corgan]

You're a very handsome man.

[Richie Sambora]

Stop already. All right, I'll put my intelligent glasses on.

[Billy Corgan]

If there's a. In my mind, there's like a. Like a dial sometimes with the decisions we make. Right. So if. If. If a band is 70% music and 30% business or 60, 40. You know what I mean? At some point, did that dial get to become too much about business and not enough about music? Does that make sense?

[Richie Sambora]

Yes. But not to me. It wasn't that.

[Billy Corgan]

No. But I'm saying, with the people you were in business with, did you feel that they got too much about business and less about music because you as a musician.

[Richie Sambora]

No, I didn't feel that. I didn't feel that.

[Billy Corgan]

Okay, so you were good with that.

[Richie Sambora]

I was. I was good with that. It was more. It was. It was getting stale. It was 30, almost 32 years.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

And there was some feelings that needed to be communicated.

[Billy Corgan]

Sure.

[Richie Sambora]

That were not.

[Billy Corgan]

But that's not atypical.

[Richie Sambora]

You know, it's not. Especially.

[Billy Corgan]

Especially with guys.

[Richie Sambora]

Yeah. From New Jersey. Give me a break. So, you know, I don't want to bring my problems to work.

[Billy Corgan]

Sure.

[Richie Sambora]

They were everywhere anyway.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

You know, I didn't even have a publicist, and I was just everywhere, no matter what I did. It was just one of those things.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah. And you were clickbait before clickbait.

[Richie Sambora]

I was. Isn't that sexy? But I have a girl now. I have a woman now that I've had now over two years. And we have a Wonderful relationship. And to fall in love at 63 with the wisdom.

[Billy Corgan]

Okay.

[Richie Sambora]

And she's also smart, and she's also healthy and beautiful and 60. And it's a different way. It invigorates you very much. It's a different way to fall in love.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

It's like. It's like, you know, people that wish, they say, well, I wish I knew that. That one. I was damn in high school back then.

[Billy Corgan]

What's that line from the Rod Stewart song?

[Richie Sambora]

I do know that.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah. I wish I knew now what I knew. Ronnie Lane, I think, wrote that line.

[Richie Sambora]

Yes.

[Billy Corgan]

Beautiful.

[Richie Sambora]

I wish I knew. Yeah.

[Billy Corgan]

Well.

[Richie Sambora]

But so that kind of happened to me, and it was crazy because I was at my singing teacher's house and I was getting ready to do a show, which was a ridiculous show, but a lot of fun to do, called the Masked Singer.

[Billy Corgan]

Okay.

[Richie Sambora]

In England.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

Hard to costume very well. It's wild you did that.

[Billy Corgan]

I didn't see that.

[Richie Sambora]

Yeah. And I almost. You can't really win. It's like, who's fooling who?

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

But I got a chance to just go out and sing.

[Billy Corgan]

Okay.

[Richie Sambora]

Right. And whenever I took that damn mask off, people were going to be surprised.

[Billy Corgan]

Yeah.

[Richie Sambora]

You know, So I was doing it for a little bit of an ulterior motive.

[Billy Corgan]

Sure.

[Richie Sambora]

But there were three networks that wanted me in England to be, like, a judge on this. That kind of thing. And I go, that's the hardest one, though. But I think it'll have the most value in the end, you know? And I didn't pick the songs, and they don't want. It's a really wild album.

[Billy Corgan]

But they have you sing.

[Richie Sambora]

I sang. I opened a show as the first artist, and it's the biggest show on TV there in England with Elvis, Vivi. Las Vegas.

[Billy Corgan]

That ain't an easy song to sing.

[Richie Sambora]

I gotta admit. I don't listen to anything you killed. I killed it. Then. I did. Well, you at least, you know, Hallelujah. After that.

[Billy Corgan]

Okay. That ain't exactly easy either.

[Richie Sambora]

I. And that was good. And then they wanted me to do something by a woman, and I said, name it whatever you'd like. So I had Back in Black and Sweet, Sweet Dreams by Annie. You were in She's a Mezzo. That's an A. That's perfect for me. I did have to change the key for Amy, and as a goof, I did a version of if I Could Turn Back Time.

[Billy Corgan]

Oh, my God. I think that's where we end right there. I can't top it.

[Richie Sambora]

No, no, no.

[Billy Corgan]

Thank you. God bless you.

[Richie Sambora]

Thank you. God bless you, Billy. It's a lot of fun.