Bon Jovi Recruit Triumph Guitarist For Tour

After Richie Sambora bowed out of Bon Jovi's current US tour in order to check himself into rehab, the band have recruited Triumph's guitarist to take his place.

Friday's announcment that Sambora had temporarily left the band to check into rehab to be treated for alcoholism was swiftly followed by the announcement that Phil X had replaced him and the band played their first show on Saturday without their long term guitarist.

Bon Jovi hit the stage at the New Orleans Jazz Festival on Saturday evening with their current guitarist and made no mention of Sambora's absence until near the end of their performance.

Early reviews from the show suggest that the band's sound wasn't affected by Sambora's absence, with Melinda Newman of Spinner commenting "The band started their tour without missing a beat. Phil X was extremely proficient and they kept the tempo upbeat throughout, knocking out one arena-rock anthem after the next with a polished precision."

Phil X will stay on tour with Bon Jovi for the remainder of the summer, which includes a performance at Hard Rock Calling in Hyde Park, a show at Edinburgh's Murrayfield Stadium and Manchester's Old Trafford Cricket Ground.

Here's the dates:

22 June - Edinburgh Murrayfield Stadium (CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS)
25 June - Hard Rock Calling, Hyde Park, London (CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS)
24 June - Manchester Old Trafford Cricket Ground (CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS)