Rock legend Jon Bon Jovi has opened up about the tumultuous period that led to his vocal cord issues. He pointed to the abrupt departure of longtime bandmate Richie Sambora as a pivotal moment in his career struggles. The revelations came during an interview on the How To Fail With Elizabeth Day podcast.
When asked when he first realized something was wrong with his voice, Bon Jovi traced the problems back to 2013, a year marked by personal and professional upheaval.
“Well, in this latest chapter of the saga of this body, probably 2014. In 2013, I had a tumultuous time. I lost a band member [Richie Sambora] who abruptly quit on us — the band, the crew, the fans. A couple business dealings that didn’t go the way I’d hoped they would. And we overcame that. And I did a hundred shows and persevered,” he said.
The physical toll became undeniable the following year. Bon Jovi initially struggled to understand what was happening.
“In 2014 the body crashed out from under me, and I wasn’t even aware. But I know that when I walked by my guitar, not only didn’t I touch it, but I gave it the middle finger. I wasn’t at all interested in seeing my friend. And by 2015, when I was attempting to go back to work maybe even a little bit, something just wasn’t right. So this was odd for me. This wasn’t just, ‘Okay, I’ll beat the muscle back into shape,’” he explained.
The singer continued to push through despite mounting difficulties. He released the album “This House Is Not For Sale” in 2016, which he described as “very much a statement record” with “a chip on my shoulder.”
“There was something wrong, but I couldn’t figure it out. [In] 2016, we put out a record called ‘This House Is Not For Sale’. It’s very much a statement record. There’s a chip on my shoulder. We work, but, again, physically I’m not quite right and I don’t know why. So the tour is very short,” he said.
After the COVID-19 pandemic, Bon Jovi attempted to return to touring in 2022. The problems persisted despite his determination.
“And by 2022, when the world is opening up again, I’m thinking, ‘Okay, what’s the big deal? Let’s go. I’m past the difficulties of ‘This House Is Not For Sale’. I’m past COVID, like everyone else. I’m dying to get out in the world.’ I do what is to become a 15-show tour, and it’s just not working anymore. And I don’t understand it, because, in a clichéd world, they say, ‘Well, what have you done? What excesses?’ It wasn’t that. The only thing that’s ever been up my nose is my finger,” he said with a laugh.
The turning point came after the final show of that 15-show tour in Nashville. His wife delivered a difficult truth.
“At the end of the 15th show, I remember going into that dressing room in Nashville, Tennessee and saying to my wife, ‘It was pretty good.’ And she looked at me and she said, ‘It wasn’t.’ People think, ‘Oh, what a blow.’ It really wasn’t, because she’s gonna tell me the truth. That day I remember thinking to myself, ‘Well, time for a drink. I don’t think I could do this anymore. I don’t know why, but I’m okay with walking away from this because there’s no way I’m dragging down the legacy,’” he revealed.
This moment marked the beginning of Bon Jovi’s journey toward addressing his vocal issues. It ultimately led to vocal cord surgery and his ongoing recovery.
The vocal problems that plagued Bon Jovi for years were eventually diagnosed as a damaged vocal cord that was atrophying. Fox News reported that he underwent major vocal cord surgery in 2022 to repair the damage through a medialization thyroplasty procedure. An implant was placed to rebuild the weakened cord.
Following the surgery, Bon Jovi embarked on an extensive rehabilitation process. It included vocal exercises and rebuilding his stamina. The band documented part of his recovery journey in their docu-series, “Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story,” which was released on Hulu in spring 2023. The series provided fans with an intimate look at the challenges the rock icon faced during his recovery.
Business Insider noted that Bon Jovi expressed he would have considered stopping his music career entirely if his voice hadn’t recovered. However, his dedication to rehabilitation has paid off. He is now preparing to return to the stage with renewed passion and appreciation for performing.
The recovery has been successful enough that Bon Jovi announced his return to touring with the “Forever Tour” starting in July 2026. ABC News confirmed that this tour marks his first performances since the surgery. It will conclude at Wembley Stadium in London in September 2026, bringing the rock legend back to the stage where he belongs.
