SamboraBlog

"The songs of ours that have really resonated with people are the ones they can relate to on a day-to-day level. Songs about doubt, about those times that you hope for wisdom" Richie Sambora

There will be no motorcycle riding in the near future for Niki Taylor.

The '90s supermodel, sporting a small bump in a colorful dress and jeans at the 10th Annual Harley Davidson's Bikers Bash at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Friday night, is due in March.

She has twin sons with her ex husband, football coach/actor Matt Martinez, whom she divorced almost a decade ago. But the honeymoon is far from over for Taylor and her new hubby, race car driver Burney Lamar.

''He's my soul mate, the love of my life,'' said the 33-year-old cover girl, adding Lamar is a ``great kisser.

''Taylor, who was born in Fort Lauderdale and raised in Pembroke Pines, now lives in Nashville. Alas, Grandma's going to have to travel to see the little one -- all the Taylors remain here.

Taylor can't wait to get back in the saddle; she's been riding a Road King for five years. Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora was a guest of honor but called in sick.

Fans at the $500-a-plate charity event still got to mingle with his buddy, Aerosmith's singer/songwriter Richie Supa, as well as American Idol finalist Syesha Mercado, According to Jim's Jim Belushi, Big Kenny of Big & Rich and NASCAR legend Kyle Petty.

Asked how many bikes he owned, Petty said, ``If you talk to my wife, she'll say I have two too many.

''Seriously, Petty owns 20 -- Triumphs, BMWs, Harleys. Old only. ``No one wants to see that new stuff.''

Richie Sambora

On his first Les Paul:
“I had a Univox Les Paul because I couldn’t afford a real one. My first Les Paul, I worked as a janitor at a hospital. I worked there for six weeks, and I finally made enough money — like 500 bucks — to buy my first Les Paul. And I went down to a place called Lou Rose Music in Edison, New Jersey, and got him to sell me my first Les Paul. And I had it from the time I was 17 all the way until I was 23. I was in Bon Jovi. And we were rehearsing, and we didn’t have a lot of money. And we were rehearsing in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, and it got stolen. It was my first professional guitar.”

Why did he want a Les Paul?
“All my heroes were playing them — God, everybody. I just thought it was the most powerful guitar. It was sexy. It’s got the most output. You plug it into a good amplifier, you’re gong to get more out of it. That’s my staple when I go to a session, my ‘59 custom. I’m lucky enough to have two of them.”

As a blues guy, what does he get from a Les Paul?
“When you put that rhythm pickup in and clean it up — there’s so dexterity in the Les Paul. It has so many different sounds. You listen to guys like Jimmy Page, the textures they use, the tapestry that was created with a Les Paul was just singing.”

Bon Jovi’s refrain for 2008 could well be “have a nice payday,” as the veteran New Jersey rock band topped Billboard’s tally of the year’s most lucrative concert tours worldwide.
The group – from left, Richie Sambora, David Bryan, Jon Bon Jovi and Tico Torres – attracted nearly 2.2 million fans and grossed $210.6 million, according to Billboard’s Boxscore, outpacing fellow Jerseyites Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band’s “Magic” tour, which raked in $204.5 million during the period of Nov. 14, 2007, through Nov. 11, 2008, covered by the magazine’s survey.
Madonna’s “Sticky and Sweet” tour, which is continuing, tallied $162 million during the period to place third, followed by the second leg of the Police’s reunion tour, which brought in $150 million.
Celine Dion rounded out the Top 5, generating $91 million.

In between dodging disgruntled Red Sox fans waving around $400 billion lawsuits while attempting to take over Hollywood one film score at a time, Bon Jovi's Richie Sambora is stopping by to talk to MusicRadar next week. And, as ever, we're giving you the chance to ask the questions…As lead guitarist and primary songwriter alongside Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora has sold over 120 million albums worldwide. That's a hell of a lot of albums. He recently released a signature guitar, too: the ESP LTD Richie Sambora SA-2.

"Dark Streets" is not a musical, though it does showcase original music performed by Etta James, Dr. John, Aaron Neville and Richie Sambora, among others. It's not a period piece, though it is set in a vaguely speak-easy-era city filled with moody lighting, chorus girls and cufflinks. It's not a comedy, though ridiculously stock characters say things like, "That new little pony of yours? She's the one riding you."

Richie Sambora pled no contest to driving with a blood alcohol level of .08 or higher earlier this year with his daughter in the car -- but he doesn't think that's bad enough to get him on Santa's "naughty" list.

In the waning minutes of last night's Rutgers blowout over Louisville this kid took to the Jumbotron at the stadium and blew the crowd away with his Guitar Hero-esque performance of Bon Jovi's "Shot Through the Heart." We were all hoping that video of his performance would hit the internet today and it has.
Let me say: This kid is a legend.

The holidays are a time for giving and John Mayer and Mark Chesnutt are proof that musicians aren't opposed to joining the festivities.
Mayer will celebrate the season Dec. 6 with his 2nd Annual Holiday Acoustic Revue at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles with some help from up-and-coming U.K. singer Adele. The show will benefit Toys For Tots and Los Angeles Food Bank. Fans are asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy (of $10 value or more) to the show and deposit them in the bins at the venue.
Chesnutt will do his part for the little ones Dec. 14 by performing at the 21st Annual SFPC Christmas Toys in the Sun Run Concert at Markham Park in Weston, Fla. Joining the singer are Bon Jovi's Richie Sambora, Big Kenny from Big & Rich, singer/songwriter Brett James, guitarist Richie Supa (formerly with Aerosmith and Sambora) country artists Shelly Fairchild and LoCash Cowboys, NASCAR legend Kyle Petty and supermodel Niki Taylor.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital in Hollywood, Fla. All funds raised go toward the cost of cancer treatments for children at the hospital.

LOS ANGELES (Billboard) - The album "Dark Streets -- Original Motion Picture Soundtrack," boasts a lineup of top soul, blues and rock names -- including B.B. King, Etta James, Richie Sambora and Chaka Khan -- that many would associate with a big-budget film. But this particular soundtrack is the musical companion to an indie .

Released digitally Nov. 25, the Atlantic Records set follows the label's No. 1 "Twilight" soundtrack.

The movie, a neo-noir musical, opens Dec. 12 in select cities via Samuel Goldwyn Films.

Own the bowl signed by musician Richie Sambora.� Mr. Sambora (Bon Jovi) signed the bowl at the American Music Awards to support Feeding America and their "Fill a Bowl, Feed America" campaign.

Remember that $1 provides 16 meals for a child.� Proceeds from the auction benefit Feeding America.� Special thanks to Dick Clark Productions, the American Music Awards and the Official Silver Spoon Gifting Lounge for their support.