Former Bon Jovi star Richie Sambora refuses to rule out a return to the band, insisting he just needed to take care of a few matters before he could sign up for a lengthy world tour.

The guitarist walked out on singer Jon Bon Jovi and his bandmates after he was given an ultimatum before the group's tour, but he claims any bad feelings he had when he left have passed.

He tells Lust for Life magazine, "There's no bad blood with me anymore. I still see the possibility of a return. There are just a few steps I want to... take."

And talking about his reported departure from Bon Jovi, the rocker adds, "It's hurt me that more and more untrue things have come out in the media. I just wanted calmer waters, and just do something for myself. But the Bon Jovi machine was on. I said I wanted a break. We had just finished with another tour... (and) I saw a year of other priorities for me. I wanted to make my own music, and preferred doing a few shows with my own band. That was just not accepted.

"(I was told) I could choose - join or leave. That's hard when you share joys and sorrows for 30 years... I've done a lot of wrong things in my life and I've regularly made bad decisions. But I think this step was the right one at last... We're going to record an album; I'd like to do a tour after that. Not a tour of 14 months in more than 50 countries. Just a nice tour, playing music then being home for a while."