Richie Sambora fractures hand, forced to undergo surgery: ‘So much pain'
Former Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora didn't let a little thing like an injury stop the show from going on at the Kentucky Derby this weekend.
Indeed, the 65-year-old musician rocked on through the serious injury — incurred while he was playing touch football in his native New Jersey — at the Unbridled Eve Gala on Friday.
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4 Richie Sambora performed at the Unbridled Eve Kentucky Derby Gala despite 'over the top' pain from a fractured hand.
Getty Images for Churchill Downs
'He caught a ball and some guy gave him a touch right into a curb. He was completely swollen, and fractured his hand in two places,' a source told People magazine. 'He'll undergo surgery next week.'
Despite 'over the top' pain, the former Bon Jovi guitarist performed four of the band's classics, all of which he co-wrote: 'Livin' on a Prayer,' 'It's My Life,' 'I'll Be There for You' and 'Wanted Dead or Alive.'
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'He killed it. Richie just rocked the house. The fans were going nuts,' the source said. '[But] he was in so much pain. When he told the doctor he was going to the Derby, the doctor said, 'You're out of your mind.' But he said, 'See ya! I'm going.' That's the kind of guy Richie is. He's a man of his word.'
Sambora has been attending the Kentucky Derby for 11 years — and each year, he's given back for charity, raising more than $700,000. This year, he auctioned off a custom-designed guitar and lessons at the gala, which raised $35,000.
4 Richie Sambora performed the Bob Jovi classics 'Livin' on a Prayer,' 'It's My Life,' 'I'll Be There for You' and 'Wanted Dead or Alive' at the Unbridled Eve Kentucky Derby Gala.
Getty Images for Unbridled Eve
Proceeds went to numerous charities selected by the Unbridled Charitable Foundation, including Blessings in a Backpack, which mobilizes communities, individuals and resources to provide food on the weekends for elementary school kids who might otherwise go hungry.
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'I had a great gig at Unbridled and this is my 11th Derby,' he said in an interview with FanDuel. 'This is an amazing thing.'
Sambora has been living in the New Jersey basement of his 89-year-old mother Joan's house, taking care of her amid health struggles.
4 Richie Sambora performed at the Unbridled Eve Kentucky Derby Gala despite a fractured hand.
Getty Images for Unbridled Eve
4 Richie Sambora performed with Kings of Chaos at February's Rock for Responders benefit in San Pedro, California.
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Sambora revealed last year that he'd come back to Bon Jovi after the group's namesake frontman, Jon Bon Jovi, got his voice back after recovering from vocal surgery.
But Bon Jovi himself told Entertainment Weekly that there was no decision made regarding Sambora's return.
'You never say never,' the rocker said. 'I mean, he quit the band 11-plus years ago, and he's had to deal with a lot of things in his life. But there's no animosity.'
'I've made four albums since his departure,' the 63-year-old singer added. 'The band goes on, you know? We'll see when we get to that point of touring.'
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