Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora entered a treatment facility in Los Angeles for an undisclosed problem, a spokesperson for the band said Thursday.
"He asks that you respect he and his family's privacy at this time," her statement read. Sambora went into treatment Wednesday, People.com reported.
It wasn't clear how Sambora's treatment will affect his role in the band. Bon Jovi's new album "Lost Highway" comes out June 19, the same day the band is scheduled to appear on the "Today" show.
At one time in my checkered and sordid past, I had the privilege of working for Bon Jovi. Specifically, I was Richie's roadie for a while. Now normally, I do not tend to jump into commenting much about celebrities and their latest pharmacological travails, except to maybe comment on their stupidity. But not with Richie.
I haven't one bad memory of working for the guy. Incredibly funny, smart, kind, generous...there just aren't enough superlatives I can come up with to do justice to Richie. He's just that good of a person. A real salt of the earth guy in an industry stiff with sociopaths and aspiring serial killers.
When I was there, I don't think I ever saw him blasted. Just wasn't Richie to do that. His head was always on straight and squared away. He has been going through some tough times of late, not the least of which was the loss of his father to lung cancer. Richie was close to his family, as one might expect of a good New Jersey Italian boy, which is basically all Richie is. Good New Jersey Italian Boys like Richie tend to take such things very hard.
So say a little prayer, send a little love or energy or brownies or whatever. One of the really, really good guys could sure use it right now.
Oh, and Richie, if you ever read this: Let me introduce you to my leetle fren':
Sobriety. He won't let you down.