BON JOVI Enlist Former TRIUMPH Guitarist Phil X For Upcoming Live Shows; New Orleans Jazz Fest Footage Available
May 1, 2011, 13 years ago
While Richie Sambora is checking into rehab to regain his sobriety, BON JOVI have enlisted Phil "Phil X" Xenidis on the band's current tour dates. The Canadian-born Phil X is best known as the guitarist who replaced Rik Emmett in TRIUMPH for the Edge of Excess album and tour.
Bon Jovi's new line-up made their debut at the New Orleans Jazz Fest's Acura Stage yesterday (April 30th).
According to a review by Keith Spera from The Times-Picayune , Sambora's absence didn't much matter. For nearly two hours, Jon Bon Jovi and Phil X worked extremely hard to deliver a show that, on balance, was more electric and more satisfying than Bon Jovi's 2009 Jazz Fest set. With Bandiera laying the path, Xenidis was free to walk in Sambora's shoes. He wasn't shy about it. He soloed in the opening 'Forever Young', and busted out the talk-box in 'It's My Life'. He dressed up 'Runaway', a thrill ride from Bon Jovi's debut album that the band did not perform at Jazz Fest in 2009, with extra licks and fills.
Read the entire review and check out photos here. Watch fan-filmed footage of Bon Jovi's New Orleans Jazz Fest appearance below.
About Sambora's future, Bon Jovi released the following statement:
"Our support for Richie is absolute. He is, and will remain, a member of Bon Jovi. Although he will be absent from upcoming shows for the time being, we very much look forward to his healthy return. In the meantime, we will keep our commitment to our fans and continue our tour."
