In the early ‘80s, prior to forming a successful partnership with Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora auditioned for, and was turned down by, Kiss. In a new interview, he says that he didn’t particularly want the job in the first place.
“I didn’t really know what I was doing back then and didn’t really want the gig,” he told Metal Express Radio. “They wanted someone to replace Ace [Frehley] but I think they wanted someone who worshipped them. I liked their music but I wasn’t into them in a big way.”
Sambora saw himself as having more of a bluesier side than Kiss. “I was more into [Led] Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, B.B. King, Albert King and Johnny Winter and stuff like that which was totally different to Kiss so I wasn’t really that into the idea of joining the band. I just thought it`d be a good thing to go along and give it a go,” he continued. “I didn’t feel like wearing any of their makeup, that`s for sure.”