MusicRadar
The No.1 website for musicians
Richie Sambora on songwriting, soloing and Bon Jovi's success
"Good songs, man. That's why we're still around"
Joe Bosso, Mon 12 Apr 2010, 6:30 pm BST
Richie Sambora talks at length about what it takes to be a worldwide smash (© Eckstein/Retna Ltd./Corbis)
A couple of weeks ago, Bon Jovi's Richie Sambora sat down with MusicRadar to answer questions submitted by our readers.
The affable guitarist, singer and songwriter was fresh from a sound check at the Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino in Connecticut where Bon Jovi were going to rock an intimate crowd (for them) of 5000 screaming, crazed fans.
We're now pleased to present part 2 of our interview with Richie Sambora, during which the uber-successful musician - at last count, Bon Jovi have sold over 120 million albums worldwide - discusses his approach to songwriting, guitar solos, instrument design and the band's latest album, The Circle.
Oh, yes, Richie also weighs in on that most important question of all: The Beatles or The Stones?
Listen to the podcast below and read on for text of the interview.
Download (PC users right-click and Save As...)
You and Jon were inducted recently into the Songwriters Hall Of Fame. Some pretty heavy are in there.
"It was a real honor, because it's basically voted on by your peers. The first time I went was five years ago - I went as a guest of my publisher. So I go to the dinner, and the next thing I knew I was on stage with Paul McCartney, James Brown when he was still alive, Billy Joel, James Taylor, Carole King, Brian Wilson, Neil Diamond…and myself!"
Now you're name-dropping.
"It's true. Man, I standing there and I'm going, 'Wow, this is incredible!' They all got inducted that year, so it was pretty heavy. So I'm up there and I'm gonna jam, right? And Paul goes, 'Kansas City - you start it!' I was like, 'Me?!' I'm like junior. But it was cool, so I started it and we had a great time. And then I became friends with those people.
"Since then, I've inducted Les Paul into the Songwriters Hall Of Fame. And then we got inducted. It was a real honor. I loved it."
Let's talk about songwriting. If you can put it into words, what have you learned over the years? Can you learn something over time?
