Bon Jovi - Richie Sambora Details Personal Struggles In New Songs

The guitarist has endured a turbulent few years which have included a stint in rehab, a drink-driving conviction and a divorce from actress Heather Locklear, and he has opened up about his addiction issues and personal problems in his third solo record, Aftermath of the Lowdown.

Sambora admits the tracks are written about his real experiences before he cleaned up his act and he has poured his pain into the music.

He tells the Los Angeles Times, "When I fell off that cliff, I realised who I was, unrelated to the band (Bon Jovi) I'd started to clean up five years ago, but I slipped, and made those amends. I'm lucky I wasn't a guy who lost his family or relationships...

"I had cleaned up my act about 85 per cent five years ago. But I was naive. I just wanted to drink as a stress reliever, and I slipped again."

The rocker also reveals he is still working with music teachers to improve his songwriting skills. He adds, "I'm still learning; I still have a guitar teacher and a vocal teacher. I've tried to maintain my innocence as a musician and be able to tell my story, and I'm realising it's kinda everyone's story."