HSHost:  Hello from HOLLYWOOD! It's Rebecca here coming to you live from BoxTop Studios where all the hip kids come together & share their most intimate secrets. Welcome back to HOLLYWOOD SPOTLIGHT on realhollywood.com. Joining me in the studio tonight are my producer Mike, my screener Glenda, and our fabulous typist Michelle."

HSHost:  I am really excited about tonight's show. We have a very special guest joining us in the studio, Richie Sambora, let's all welcome Richie to the show! Hey Richie! So excited to have you here! How are you?

RichieSambora: Hey, what's happenin! I'm excellent!

Joao Marcelo Correa: Richie are you going to tour this year?"

RichieSambora:  Absolutely! We're starting in Japan on June10th in Tokyo. Not sure what's happening after that, looking for dates. Usually once a year since 1983 we've gone to Japan.

guest4887:  Will you be touring in Europe this summer?

RichieSambora:  Yeah, absolutely. I'm looking to be touring everywere. I'm proud of this new record. Hopefully we'll get on the road this summer and tour the world. Undiscovered Soul, relates to human life experience and I wanted to do something timely and hit them in the heart. It's one of the best album of songs I've ever written in my life. Produced by Don Was and I had amazing musicians on this record, Billy Preston, Chuck Lovell, Kenny Arinoff, Pino Palladino, ... Steven Tyler, Greg Phillanganes, Pauhlino DaCosta. I hope everyone will like it, I think it's the best record I've ever made.

HSHost:  It's great! I heard it last night.

RichieSambora:  Thank you!

Joao Marcelo Correa:   Richie was it Steven Tyler who played harmonica in If God Was A Woman?

RichieSambora:  Yes. That was him.

Joao Marcelo Correa:   Richie what does that bonus track in the Japanese Undiscovered Soul mean?

RichieSambora:   An alternate version of All That Really Matters. We tried something different a whole different vibe, ethereal approach. It never made the record, but I wanted to add it on the Japanese version to make it interesting to listen to.

ExciteUser:  Hey Sambie how did you get started?

RichieSambora:   I guess it just came from loving music. When I was in college, I had a chance to play with a band who had a record deal. It went on and went crazy from there.

HSHost:   Who was that?

RichieSambora:   A guy named Bruce Foster on Casablanca.

Kellee3:  What is your favorite of the Bon Jovi albums? I love and will always love your music!

RichieSambora:   Thank you very much. These Days is my fav record, the last one we did and the most connected I am to the Bon Jovi albums. I think that as you get older and you write songs, you have to write songs that mean a lot to you. These songs mean more to me than any on the Bon Jovi records.

HSHost:  I see.

mscaprio:   You have already played with your favorite guitarists Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton. Is there still someone you dream of jamming with??? Who??

RichieSambora:   Um, yeah! Everyone. I love to play with musicians. The spirit of it is playing with wonderful musicians. That's what excites me and keeps me in the business. The list is endless. I couldn't just list one.

HSHost:   Okay.

Debsy:  I know the reason for your visit is to discuss your new album, what I want to ask is why such a change from your style of Stranger which I think is a superb album and definitely a classic?

RichieSambora:   Thank you. I think the great thing about being an artist is redefining yourself. It came out 6 years ago, so this record comes with a different period of time. It gets hard to get the records heard, so I had to make this a lot more clear. Stranger was more of an abstract painting. I'm not sure who's going to be in it.

guest4887:   Who's in your "band" during your solo tour?

RichieSambora:   Evert Badly on percussion. Not sure about others but I'll see.

Kasteen: What was your favorite thing about your experience with Bon Jovi?

RichieSambora:   There's so many good experiences that came out of that band. When you have a number one song it's a pretty cool experience. Also playing stadiums is pretty cool. Lucky for me that I've been privileged enough to have a good career. I'm a lucky man.

HSHost:  You definitely are.

Joao Marcelo Correa:   Richie did you write a specific song to your daughter?

RichieSambora:   Not really. She creeped through some of the songs and her presence wasn't really made until well into the record. All That Really Matters is what she creeped into. The foundation of any human life or You're Not Alone, telling anyone you love that no matter how far they get away from you, they're not alone.It's especially true of your kids. The love that you share with these little people is intrinsic. You can't put a finger oh it. It's inside you. It changes everyday! I'm doing some edits for radio right now. Graceland is a unique track. It really sounds like Richie Sambora. A unique record sonically. Graceland is my fav at the moment.

HSHost:   It's good that you're proud of your work!

RichieSambora:   Yeah.

Cristiano Costa:   How do write your songs? Do you use lyrics that come from real facts or you just use your imagination?

RichieSambora   Well, when you write it comes from all different kinds of inspiration. I use my life as a mirror. I use my emotional memory ... things that I remember when I was a kid. I have a pretty acute emotional memory. You can write from observation, almost like a musical journalist. All different sources for me.

Debbie1:  Hi Richie....I love the new album. I'm from New Jersey...do you have any plans on doing a show here anytime in the near future?

RichieSambora:   The record dropped 3 weeks ago. Touring has become expensive these days, taking 20 guys out on a crew and renting busses and trucks, PA's lighting systems, hotels, salaries. You have to plan correctly. I know we're going to be around, just not sure when.

HSHost:  Okay.

Nick14M:  What kind of guitar is your favorite?

RichieSambora:   I have a Richie Sambora signature series Stratocastor. but, I'm partial to vintage guitars. I have a slew of them and I love them all. hard to say what's my fav. I just love 'em all!

Debsy:  I saw you in concert at Milton Keynes in 93 you flew in over the arena in a helicopter, What is your thoughts when you see the crowd waiting just for you guys?

RichieSambora:   Excitement you know! I never take that stuff for granted! It's a great day! It's a lot of fun, chomping at the bit to get out there. It's a rush, a privilege to do those kinds of gigs.

mscaprio:  Richie, among the bands that are on top now, what are your favorites?

RichieSambora:   I think one of my favs is The Wallflowers. For such young guys, they have a maturity and a song sense. Jakob of course the apple don't fall far from the tree. He's really up there. It's just a great record. Not that new, but it's great! Check it out.

stk2urgns:   Richie, we love hearing what your inspiration is for each song because they inspire us! Can you tell us some of the inspiration for Undiscovered Soul?

RichieSambora:  You try to write something people can relate to ... if there's people out there discovering who they are and defining your own life. It's about the journey to have the strength to go find yourself. I'm trying to define myself with this record outside of the band ... stylistically as an artist.

Abinez:  How do you attack new songs... do you come up with the words or start with the guitar parts?

RichieSambora:  Usually I start with a title. It'll give you your whole story. The songs are cinematic, a beginning middle and end just like a movie. It's really about the lyric ... so the title comes first. It happens different ways, but I like to have the title before I start.

HSHost:  That's interesting!

guest4957:   Richie I saw you the other night in MTV Latino. You had an awesome performance I'm your biggest Mexican fan.

RichieSambora:   Thank you very much. I had a great time doing that from Miami.

nany:   Hi Richie, I'm Nany from Brazil. Please tell me about you recorded two songs in Spanish. It's was cool for you?

RichieSambora:   Oh yes! I enjoyed it a lot. I've never done it before, but I think I did well with it. I'm hearing from the company that there are so many American artists doing Spanish versions right now they're not that special. One of the songs came out so well in Spanish, I almost liked it better! Call the record company and tell them to put it out! I did the Spanish version on the MTV Latino thing and they're probably reacting to it.

Joao Marcelo Correa:  Richie: I BEG YOU RICHIE!!! COME TO BRAZIL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!

RichieSambora:  Oh, thank you! (smiles ... blushes)

SpicyD:   I would just like to thank you for sharing your music with us. It's the most wonderful gift you can give to your fans. Luv ya always!

HSHost:   They love you Richie!

RichieSambora   Thank you so much!

guest4887:   Where do you enjoy playing? Big or small places?

RichieSambora:   I enjoy everything. I'm a kind of a musician's musician. I enjoy all processes of it, writing, recording, I'm in the studio editing as we speak. I enjoy the intimacy of a smaller place and the bigger ones.

guest4887:  Will you be doing small shows or big stadium shows during this tour?

RichieSambora:   If anyone tells you they don't like playing stadiums, they're lying! I have to be humble so I know I won't sell big places out. I'll be trying to do theatres across the globe and hopefully get on festival dates as a backup act.

iffy_:  Hey richie you ever get together with Jon and jam...any chance of Bon Jovi getting back together again?

RichieSambora:  Bon Jovi will probably be back together again in '99. This is the year of Sambora, '98. Nowadays it gets hard and you have to go out there and promote it. Between touring and promotion, I'll be busy til late fall, take Christmas off, and get back to the band again.

HSHost:   That's awesome!

Debsy:  I love the song Hard Times Come Easy and have been constantly bugging our British Forces Radio Station, I got a reputation here on the island of Cyprus for being a BON JOVI Fan, what I want to know now is Does that song portray how you felt at the time? oh by the way I love you!

RichieSambora:  (laughs!) Love you too, honey! I don't feel like I'm having a hard time now but I'm sympathetic to a lot of people and I think that song says no matter what walk of life you're in we all share a common human life experience. Everyday when you wake up you don't know if you're going to lose your job, whatever. Hard times are guaranteed to come. You have to keep your chin up, it's a part of it.

m0895:  Do you feel that you have gotten away from what made Bon Jovi famous in the mid 80's?

RichieSambora:   We're all going to have our bad days, you know. I don't know. Interesting question. I don't think so. I think what made Bon Jovi famous was the songs. It's a testament to our longevity as a band and me as a solo artist.

HAWK_guest459:  What is the best advice that you could give a small time band to get noticed by the labels?

RichieSambora:  A lot of our contemporaries are not around anymore. Good songs are the foundation of every great record and the foundation of the music business. Keep on trying. A lot of people will tell you you'll never make it. But, concentrate on songwriting. Good songs and playing from your heart. Don't listen to people, keep your chin up.

brighteyes f:  Do you remeber a roadie named "cowboy"?

RichieSambora:  Yeah, I do!

HSHost:  Well, there ya go~!

chasityf: Would you do anything different if you turned back time? What?

RichieSambora:   I have no regrets, thank God. At the moment. I think things are going pretty well. If I ever hurt anyone without knowing it, I wish I could take that back.

Joao Marcelo Correa:   Richie: Do you still have a blues band?

RichieSambora:  But, as far as me in the rock business and with my family, things are good. I play7 with Hook and the Hitchhikers. He lives in Spain now. So we've been playing blues in Spain.

HSHost: Very cool!

adidas99:  What do you think about Metallica???

RichieSambora:  They're a great band! They've survived the test of time, too. A dynamic band to see live. People will always want to see them. And, they're a good group of guys, too.

Spiegel:  Any chance of you making any guest appearances with Heather on Melrose Place?

RichieSambora:  (laughs) I would say not. We like to keep our careers separate.

Abinez:  Have you ever thought about doing an all instrumental guitar album?

HSHost:  So she won't be joining you singing on the albums anytime soon?

RichieSambora:  (laughs) no. No. To me, songs are about singing. I hope I'm a good singer, I like to think I can sing. People know me as a guitar player more but I'm a complete artist. I think I do all equally as well. But, it's hard to get out from the shadow of Bon Jovi. I don't really ponder doing a guitar instrumental album. Maybe an instrumental song or two.

naildriver_1:  I understand that Clapton played lead rides on Mr Bluesman....was it a tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughn?

RichieSambora:   It was a tribute to Eric Clapton. I wrote the song about a young boy wanting to be a blues guitar player, essentially it was me. Eric completed the cycle, he came and played guitar on it. It was a cool thing.

mscaprio:  Did you write If God Was A Woman thinking of someone? Who?

HSHost:  Very cool!

RichieSambora:  It was a fun title we had laying around, we decided to have fun. If you look deeply into the lyrics, it's kind of fun. If God was looked at as a woman, things would be upside down.

HSHost:  For me, she IS!

RichieSambora:  Well, there ya go!

redflyer:  I had you as a passenger on a flight of mine from Indy to St louis and I just wanted to say you are by far the nicest celeb I have ever had the pleasure to serve!

RichieSambora:   Oh, thankyou very much!

gtahvfaith:  Richie.......what has been the biggest heartbreak in your life and how did you cope with it

RichieSambora:  Geez. I guess, for me right now, it'd be my grandparents dying cause they lived with me when I was growing up. Losing someone has got to be the biggest heartbreak of your life.

Original_Gonzo:  Do you name your guitars ... ?? And do the names have any meaning??

RichieSambora:   Sometimes I do. It's just because they're distinct and when you're on stage, you go, "Gimme Dean!" I have a Martin acoustic, one of my favs, so of course, Dean Martin! Just to be distinct so they know which one I want. I don't do it traditionally. I don't name each guitar.

HSHost:  Right.

Abinez:   I remember when I was on my first concert... it was in 1989 (I was ten years old). New Jersey tour, Helsinki Icehall, -20+ degrees. And to my question, do YOU have any time to go to concerts yourself?

RichieSambora:  20 below! Absolutely! Sure, I'm a big concert fan, I go to as many as I can.

MingoJones:  What were the last three CD's you bought?

RichieSambora:   Muddy Waters box set, Savage Garden and Matchbox 20.

guest4887:  Do you like being on-line chatting to fans? And will you do it again soon?

RichieSambora:   Absolutely!

Joao Marcelo Correa:  Who's your best friend, Richie?

RichieSambora:  My wife.

HSHost:  Good answer!

gracegirl:   Hi Richie, have been a big fan of yours for years but would like to know: Do you ever get tired and just want to hang it all up, go home, relax, have a beer, etc. and not worry about it?

RichieSambora:  No, not really. I dig making music. I can't get away from the guitar or songwriting or singing. I'd be doing it in some shape or form no matter what.

Kat_guest4524:  Hi Richie, have you ever had a time when you had trouble writing lyrics or music and what did you do to get past it?

RichieSambora:  Sure. Sometimes you get stuck. Sometimes you don't have anyting on your mind. I write with other people to get past it. Just like a conversation, you can have a musical conversation with someone else who's a writer and help get them to where THEY want to get. Doesn't have to be you. That's for egomaniacs.

Kasteen:  Do you remember your worst on stage blooper?

RichieSambora:  (laughs!)  I don't make many, Thank God. Probably so long ago, I don't remember. I was playing with ZZ Top and an amp blew up and I felt like I had my shorts down.

amanda:  How do we really know that this is Richie Sambora?? Is there anything you could say to prove to us that it is you?

RichieSambora:  Everything you just heard! (laughs!)

Proctologist:  Hey ya' Richie. I'm also in a band, and we are putting up the cash for our own album with our own label. What's your advice regarding what to expect from the marketing end of things?

RichieSambora:  You're not going to have a lot of money leftover to market. It costs a lot of money to make them and market them. If you have a plan, that's good. If not, I suggest you make a great demo tape and take it to record companies and solicit it properly. If you want to put it out to just sell in clubs and take it to retail stories on your own, that's fine. But, there won't be mucyh money in it.

Golden Z:  Do you ever get back to Sayreville much anymore?

RichieSambora:  No. I was in Jersey to do a benefit but I've been traveling and I want to spend as mucy time with my family in California.

Juliet148:  Were their any hostile fans you came upon? If so, what did they do?

RichieSambora:  Knock on wood, been pretty good so far. The only times things get out of hand is when there's too many people .. They start pushing and shoving. Usually people are pretty nice.

guest4957:   Are you into electronic music?

RichieSambora:  Sometimes. I think that you know, define electronic music.

Joao Marcelo Correa:   Do you intend to learn another istrument, besides guitar?

RichieSambora:  Yeah, I play a lot of others, piano ... trumpet and sax in school when I was a kid. I started out on an accordion, but you can't get no chicks with an accordion! (laughs!)

HSHost:  No! Except the funky freaky chicks! Someone told me to ask you to do your Sammy Davis, Jr. imitation!

RichieSambora:  (he does Sammy) ... (very well).

mscaprio:  Do you like the Spice Girls?? Which one is your favorite??

RichieSambora:   I'm not even that familiar with them. They're entertaining. That's the best I can say about them.

ok100: What do you think about Hendrix, Gilmour and Blackmore?. And who is your favorite guitar player?

RichieSambora:   It's hard to say, Hendrix is right up there. Hendrix took it out farther than anyone else. Clapton is a fav, and I've listened to Jimmy Page and Blackmore for ages. I listen to modern day blues players from that era. So many of them... I listen to all of them. I love them all.

thunder35:  Richie, AWESOME Guitarist, You are the nineties Jimi Hendrix!

HSHost:  Right.

RichieSambora:   Well, thank you very much!

Joao Marcelo Correa   Richie: Do use the Internet often? How's you relantionship with computers?

RichieSambora:  I do a CD Rom instructional video. I do have a home computer but I'm never home enough to use the damn thing! I'm so busy, I don't use it as much as I want to.

itsup2u:  Richie, I worked security at one of your concerts and got hurt bad I just want you to know that it was well worth it ok please answer.

RichieSambora:   (laughs!) I'm sorry about that! We try to keep things as safe as possible. Sorry that you got injured.

ebonyflowerchild:  Is it hard being the person you are? Being such a star?

RichieSambora:  I don't know. I'm just me. I don't look at it in that respect. The only thing that could get hard is some of the media attention, but lucky for us, it's been good to me and Heather.

kg123:  I don't really know much about you but I just wanted to say I like the fact that you are really down to earth!

RichieSambora:  Thanks, man!

Cielo_Azul: Richie, what is your nationality?

RichieSambora:  Mostly Polish and a small bit of Italian.

nany:   It so cool to see you here Richie!!!! thanks so much for taking the time to chat with your die hard fans! We love you Richie, so much!

RichieSambora:  Thank you! Thank you very much!

DiamonDie:  Did you know that some people would like to hear your songs in their funeral?

RichieSambora:  "Mmm. Well, that's flattering in some way, but if a songwriter can make death a little easier I guess that's important, too.

ja_guest6199:  It must be an amazing feeling to know that your music can affect so many peoples lives.

RichieSambora:  Yes, it certainly is a privilege.

Saint_guest5730:  Do you have anybody that you thought of as a role model or idolized as you grew-up, say maybe KISS?

RichieSambora:  Well, not KISS but many others. All the guitarists I've mentioned before, the Beatles, Lennon McCartney, the Stones, Dylan, Wonder, Redding, Gaye, Paul Rogers, people with a lot of soul in their voices, I love that.

Hooper_guest8376:  Do you still have your double acoustic guitar?

RichieSambora:  Yes, I do.

inj:  Have you ever met Don Henley or any one else from The Eagles.

RichieSambora:  I actually got a chance to play with Don at the City Of Hope dinner. He's a wonderful player and a huge talent, great guy.

zazu28:  Are you mad at Howard Stern for attacking Heather at the Blockbuster awards?

RichieSambora:  (laughs!) Nah! I can't get mad at Howard! He's just crazy. What are yougonna do?

heyu812_guest943:  Do you have a favorite place to have a concert at?

RichieSambora:  I don't think about it that way. There's so many good places to play.

Juliet148:  What do you think of Jon Bon Jovi's new acting career?

RichieSambora:  You know, I don't know, he looks like Jon to me when he's acting. But, I don't think I'd be a good judge.

undscvdsoul:  What do you think of tribute bands, there's a great one here in LA called Bad Medicine?

RichieSambora:  (laughs!) Oh, really! I've never heard them, tribute bands are cool. When I grew up there was a band called Crystal Ship that used to do The Doors really well.

violet_guest5182:  What's the grossest thing someone has thrown at you onstage?

RichieSambora:  There are some good ones. Well, it wasn't thrown at us, it was actually thrown at RATT, it was a pig's head. It was still on the stage when we walked out there.

Cade19:  What is the hardest obstacle you've had to get past in your music career?

RichieSambora:  Just geting your first record deal or ANY record deal is the hardest thing going. But, then it gets harder after that. You have to be conscientious and diligent to be a rock musician.

rocker31:  Do you miss the glam band era of the 80's?

RichieSambora:  No. I certainly was apart of it and you just mature and you grow up.

Debsy:  Richie I am a tad addicted to chat programmes do you ever go online and chat under a psuedonym?

RichieSambora:  No. I don't have the time at this point. My solo stuff and doing what I'm doing and then being in Bon Jovi and trying to have a life beyond that.

Hooper_guest8376:  What and when was the best moment musically for you? When did you feel that you had made it?

RichieSambora:   I have my own Indy label and management company out of NY, so I'm pretty busy. Right now, it's this record. I'm very proud of it. It's the most evolution I've really made. Before that, it was the first time we had a hit record.

outof time_guest:   Richie is having a good voice essentail for making it as a great guitarist?

RichieSambora:  No. If you have another singer.(laughs!)

MortyDK:  Made in America seems to me to be a very personal song, almost like a transcript of your life. Is that correct?

RichieSambora:  It's a biographical song in nature. What I tried to do, I felt people have this distinct idea of me as the guitarist for Bon Jovi, not that I can sing or be a songwriter in my own right. So, I thought people should know who they're talking to, so I wrote about how I grew up in America and what it was like for me.

guest4887:   Do you enjoy doing shows with other artists... like benefit shows?

RichieSambora:  Sure! I enjoy playing music. The more you play with people the more you learn.

guest4992:  I thought I could detect some Eric Clapton influences in your music. Was that by design or does it come naturally?

RichieSambora:  It comes out of me growing up with a lot of Eric's records. I'm self taught so I learned from listening to other records and trying to play like others. Hendrix, Page, Clapton were my teachers. Good teachers.

HSHost:  Totally!"

Madison88: When was the first time you realized you wanted to be a musician?

RichieSambora:   "The first time I saw the Beatles on Sullivan when I was 5. I realized that was what I wanted to do.

Cielo_Azul:  What model Kramer do you use?

RichieSambora:  "I don't use Kramers anymore. I use stratocastors and Richie Sambora series.

HSHost:  Must be nice!

RichieSambora:  It's a good thing.

gtahvfaith:   Richie...if you knew you were to pass on tomorrow what one message would you want to leave with the youth of today?

RichieSambora:   "Hmmmm .... That's a rough one. An existential question. Hard to say in one paragraph. Society gets deeper and deeper in it's own sickness and you've got to keep your chin up and have a family and keep them close to you and try to get through it.

HSHost:  Right.

MaryLynn:  Didn't you audition for Kiss?? Glad you didn't choose that route?

RichieSambora:  Yes, I did. And, I think that the fact is they didn't choose me. I'm more of a modern day blues player kind of guy and even back when I was 18 auditioning for them, I was still fitting that mold as a blues player. Bon Jovi just looked crazy but we were rock n roll. We may have looked glam, but we werent. Really.

redneck55:  How does it feel for you and your family to surrender yoursevles to the public? Can you go anywhere without being recognized?

RichieSambora:  Basically, when you come into Hollywood out of town, you really get bugged. If you stay out of town, which we do most of the time, we have a decent time of it. People are pretty cool.

HSHost:  That's good!

SpicyD:  You're in one of the most popular bands in the world, released 2 solo albums, played with some of your idols (such Eric Clapton), married and a father, what else is left for Richie Sambora?

RichieSambora:  To continue as a musician, to make more great records on my own, write great songs, make people happy, remain an entertainer, produce others, be a good family man, have a nice life with my wife and kid. Continue to make more strides, hopefully you make your own luck and open your own doors.

HSHost:  Sounds good, Richie!

RichieSambora:  Thanks for having me! I'd like to say hi to everyone and thank you and I hope you like my new album!

HSHost:  I apologize for all the technical stuff we had. Richie thank you so much for joining us tonight, it was great to have you on our show. And thanks to all you folks for joining us from excite, and to all of you here on realhollywood.com. Please join us again tomorrow night at 7PM when our guest will be Jonathon Silverman. Goodnight Everyone!