After decades at the right hand of Jon, lead guitarist Ritchie Sambora has cited “personal reasons” for bailing out of the current Bon Jovi tour.  The tour soldiers on with an unnamed replacement.

At the show in Calgary, Canada last night, Jon Bon Jovi told the crowd, “I had two choices -- pack up and go home or give you everything I got..  Richie Sambora won't be performing for a while. If there's ever a night I need you, it's tonight, Calgary!”

Jon also told the crowd he’d make up the loss to them and donate $100,000 to the Calgary Homeless Foundation.

It’s not clear how long Sambora will be gone.  Bon Jovi will play a series of dates in North America for the rest of April.  After that, it’s off to South Africa and Europe for the late spring, before returning to Americas for the rest of the summer touring season.

Sambora has taken leave from Bon Jovi in the past to go to rehab.  But the US gossip site TMZ reports Ritchie is clean, and the absence is due to personal and money disputes between the two men who’ve worked so closely over the years.