Richie Sambora leaves Bon Jovi tour

On Tuesday, Bon Jovi took the stage at a Calgary show missing one key member -- guitarist Richie Sambora.

Bon Jovi fans might need to get used to that sight for a while. The band said in a statement that Sambora has pulled out of the arena-rock band’s tour for the foreseeable future, citing only “personal issues” for his departure.

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It’s uncertain how long Sambora will be off duty. The band’s tour will take them through Europe, South America and South Africa before some October U.S. dates.

It’s not the first time Sambora has been sidelined for personal reasons. He’s previously been to rehab for painkiller addiction and arrested for DUI.

Last year, however, he released a well-received solo album “Aftermath of the Lowdown” on local indie Dangerbird Records. Many of its songs were about those struggles with addiction.

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Bon Jovi is doing its best without him, however. At that Calgary show, the Daily Mail cited singer Jon Bon Jovi telling the crowd, “I had two choices -- pack up and go home or give you everything I got .... Richie Sambora won’t be performing for a while. If there’s ever a night I need you, it’s tonight, Calgary!”

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