‘Richie left because his daughter truly needed him’: Richie Sambora’s friends reveal why he REALLY left Bon Jovi as they brand Jon Bon Jovi ‘low-class rock star’ for publicly saying he wished his ex-bandmate ‘had his life together and hadn’t quit’

Friends of Richie Sambora have rushed to defend the musician after Jon Bon Jovi said he wished his former bandmate had ‘his life together’, DailyMail.com has learned.

The 58-year-old was asked during an interview last Wednesday with YouTube channel Rock Antenne, if there was anything he’d change about his career.

Bon Jovi quickly launched into a monologue about Sambora, 61, saying: ‘There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t wish that Richie had his life together and was still in the band.

‘In a weird way, it’s because of his inability to get it together anymore that we went on and wrote [the album] This House Is Not For Sale.’

Sambora famously left the popular group in April 2013 for ‘personal reasons’ after three decades with the band.

A close friend of Sambora’s slammed Bon Jovi for the low-ball comment, exclusively telling DailyMail.com that the singer is only commenting on his old friend to ‘become relevant’ and labeled him a ‘low class rock star.’

They added: ‘This is a desperate attempt to discredit Sambora for leaving Bon Jovi when Sambora was forced to leave the band in 2013 because his daughter truly needed him.’

Friends of Richie Sambora have rushed to defend the musician after Jon Bon Jovi said he wished his former bandmate had ‘his life together’, DailyMail.com has learned

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Bon Jovi quickly launched into a monologue about Sambora, 61, saying: ‘There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t wish that Richie had his life together and was still in the band. ‘In a weird way, it’s because of his inability to get it together anymore that we went on and wrote This House Is Not For Sale’. Pictured: Bon Jovi and Sambora in December 2012

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A close friend of Sambora’s slammed Bon Jovi for the low-ball comment, exclusively telling DailyMail.com: ‘This is a desperate attempt to discredit Sambora for leaving Bon Jovi when Sambora was forced to leave the band in 2013 because his daughter truly needed him’. Pictured: Sambora with his ex-wife Heather Locklear in 2010

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Sambora shares daughter Ava Sambora, 23, with his ex-wife Heather Locklear. The two married in 1994 but divorced in 2007. In the subsequent years after their divorce, Locklear had a string of reported suicide attempts, a DUI arrest, medical facility visits and a domestic violence arrest. The friend added: ‘History has proved she did need him and Ava has gone on to be a straight A student, now in grad school and staying out of the limelight’

Sambora shares daughter Ava Sambora, 23, with his ex-wife Heather Locklear. The two married in 1994 but divorced in 2007.

In the subsequent years after their divorce, Locklear struggled. There were 911 calls placed over concern about her mental health and safety, a DUI arrest, medical facility visits and a domestic violence arrest.

In 2016, Sambora said of his departure from the band: ‘I mean, I really needed to take some time to be with my daughter. She needed me, and I needed her, actually,’ he shared.’

The friend added: ‘History has proved she did need him and Ava has gone on to be a straight A student, now in grad school and staying out of the limelight.’

Bon Jovi also took a second swipe at his former bandmate, suggesting in the interview that Sambora’s departure led him to write quality songs, saying: ‘Maybe we would have gotten lazy. … I don’t know where we would have gone, but through all that pain and heartbreak came this.’

Megyn Kelly also came to Sambora’s defense, tweeting in response to an article about Bon Jovi’s comments: ‘What a low-class attack on the guy who made you a star, Jon Bon Jovi. ‘

She added: ‘Sambora is the most genuine, kind, giving friend, dad, human there is. No one has a bad word re: him-except you, always you. Guess you need att’n for your new album? Sad.’

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Megyn Kelly also came to Sambora’s defense, tweeting in response to an article about Bon Jovi’s comments: ‘What a low-class attack on the guy who made you a star, Jon Bon Jovi’

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Pictured: Lead guitarist Richie Sambora, lead vocalist and band namesake Jon Bon Jovi, and bassist Alec John Such, all with the rock band Bon Jovi in June 22, 1985

Bon Jovi and Sambora have long traded back and forth insults since his departure in 2013.

Sambora was forced to deny Bon Jovi’s comments that his shock departure was down to his history with substance abuse.

At the time, Bon Jovi, 50, hinted that Sambora may have quit their then world tour because of the same reason he quit in 2011, when he missed dates to go into rehab for alcohol abuse.

‘It’s getting more and more difficult every day to not just sit here and say something… Because all I can say is this – it’s for personal reasons,’ he said.

‘He’s been through it before, fortunately for us the same guy who filled in last time was available this time.’

Sambora quickly defended himself saying: ‘Enough with the trash talking!

‘I don’t have any major problems in life right now, I love my fans and I feel bad for them at the moment. Bottom line.

‘My opinion is Jon wants to see if he can pull off stadiums by himself. He is making it very difficult for me to come back.’

He added: ‘Jon needs to stop talking about me publicly.’