JAMMIN’ ON A PRAYER … Phil X addresses being on stage with his predecessor Richie Sambora

**Richie Sambora, Orianthi and Phil X front and center for the Rock For Responders benefit concert in Los Angeles** **– February 27th 2025**

“It did kind of catch me off-guard, when he knuckle bumped and hugged everybody else except me.”
— Phil X of Bon Jovi on being on-stage and jamming with Richie Sambora

Los Angeles — During the recent Rock For Responders benefit concert in Southern California the event took an odd turn towards the end of the night when current Bon Jovi guitarist Phil X was on stage with the band’s classic era axe-man Richie Sambora at the same time, and they even jammed on a Bon Jovi song.

The guitar duo’s appearance took yet another twist, when it became a live three-some with the addition of Orianthi.

For those who don’t know, Sambora and Orianthi dated from 2014 to 2018, while Phil X has been Bon Jovi‘s lead guitarist since 2016, a few (3) short years after Sambora‘s departure from the group.

The interesting part of this video shared below, is when Sambora first gets up on stage, he hugs host Sammy Hagar, along with drummer Matt Sorum and Carmine Rojas on bass… but there is no acknowledgement of either Orianthi or Phil X who are both standing less than 10 feet to Sambora‘s left.

**Richie Sambora giving Phil X a quickie fist-bump after their initial jam on the Bon Jovi song “Livin’ On A Prayer” at the Rock For Responders benefit in Los Angeles on February 27th 2025**

The guitarists all jammed “Livin’ On A Prayer” with Sambora singing lead, and the former Guns N’ Roses drummer holding it down on the kit.

Chris Akin of Chris Akin Presents and co-host of The Classic Metal Show recently interviewed Phil X and asked the guitarist if it was awkward playing with Sambora as he seemingly ignored both X and Orianthi when first entering the stage.

The odd moment was realized by many who were in attendance and watching online as Sambora clearly greeted every other member on stage with a hug before their first song, with the exception of both stage left guitarists (X & Orianthi).

Phil X on what happened that night (Transcribed by Metal Sludge); “To preface what it was like on-stage, everybody was buddy-buddy backstage before. So we’re buds, we’re hanging out, he’s talking about something, I’m laughing, I’m making him laugh, we’re all like, talking about stuff, and then Sammy (Hagar) is there and we’re all hanging out, it was a really cool hang.”

“So, it did kind of catch me off-guard, when he knuckle bumped and hugged everybody else except me, and then ahh… but later on as the night unfolded, you know he (Richie) was like, ‘Hey man, c’mon let’s do it’, and we’re like playing guitar and sharing moments.” added X about jamming with Sambora.

While there was seemingly no acknowledgement from Sambora of X during their first song, we watched the final jam and around the .25 second mark, Sambora does lean over towards X giving him a quick fist-bump which we have screen captured at right.

After the Bon Jovi song, the guitarists all stayed on stage to do a final jam with a trio of vocalists that featured; Robin Zander (Cheap Trick), Glen Hughes (ex-Deep Purple) and Kevin Cronin (REO Speedwagon) taking turns singing lead.

The event also included Steve Stevens and Paul Trudeau of the Billy Idol band along with host comedian BJ Lange and some surprise guests.