Entertainment TV Docuseries Richie Sambora Calls Bon Jovi Docuseries Jon's 'Perspective' as He Steps Out After Its Release (Exclusive) The rocker headlined the 11th Annual Unbridled Eve Kentucky Derby Gala shortly after the docuseries, 'Thank You, Goodnight,' dropped By Bailey Richards, Bailey Richards Bailey Richards is a writer-reporter at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE since 2023 and interned with the brand in 2022. Her work has previously appeared in digital publications like Paper Magazine and TV Insider. People Editorial Guidelines Charlotte Triggs, Charlotte Triggs Charlotte Triggs is a digital leader and veteran journalist with 20 years experience working in celebrity and general interest news. She is currently SVP and General Manager for PEOPLE. People Editorial Guidelines and Ingrid Vasquez Ingrid Vasquez Ingrid Vasquez is a Digital News Writer at PEOPLE. She graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor in Journalism. Before joining the team, she worked as an Editor at FanSided and provided work in the celebrity and lifestyle space for brands that include Teen Vogue, Cosmopolitan, EW, and more. People Editorial Guidelines Updated on May 6, 2024 01:30PM EDT Richie Sambora at the Kentucky Derby in Louisville on May 4, 2024. Photo: Daniel Boczarski/Getty Richie Sambora performed at a Kentucky Derby party on Friday eveningHe then spoke with PEOPLE about his thoughts on the Bon Jovi Huli docuseries Thank You Goodnight, saying he felt it did not tell his own story"It's his project and it's his perspective. I have a different perspective on all of that," Sambora told PEOPLE Richie Sambora is sharing his thoughts on the new Bon Jovi docuseries. Over the weekend, the former Bon Jovi guitarist, 64, stepped out for the first time since the Hulu docuseries, titled Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story, dropped on April 26, to headline the 11th Annual Unbridled Eve Kentucky Derby Gala at The Galt House Hotel. Following his performance at the annual event, in which he auctioned a guitar off for charity, the rocker spoke with PEOPLE about the series, saying that he felt it did not tell his story, but rather that of his former bandmate Jon Bon Jovi. "It's his project and it's his perspective. I have a different perspective on all of that," Sambora says of the project, which features interviews with him, as well as former and current Bon Jovi members such as frontman Jon, 61, keyboardist David Bryan and drummer Tico Torres, as well as former collaborators and management. A Bon Jovi source tells PEOPLE, "We’re confused that Richie says he has a different perspective. He was interviewed extensively over multiple interview sessions for the documentary and given free rein to offer his perspective. Were his own words not his perspective?" The four-part series was directed and executive produced by Gotham Chopra. Jon is not credited as a producer. Richie Sambora Discusses Sudden 2013 Bon Jovi Exit, Says He 'Didn't Receive a Lot of Compassion' Richie Sambora performs onstage at the 11th Annual Unbridled Eve Kentucky Derby Gala at The Galt House Hotel on May 3, 2024. Daniel Boczarski/Getty During his chat with PEOPLE, the legendary guitarist also reflected on his gala performance, calling it "really good" but "too f---ing short!" "I only had 23 minutes, but I blew the roof off the place," he says of the set, which included just two songs: Bon Jovi classics "Wanted Dead or Alive" and "I'll Be There for You." During the auction, Sambora noted, "We got $32,000 for the guitar for charity." The rocker also spoke about his new music, stating that "everybody's loving" it, which he explained "makes me so happy." Inside Richie Sambora's 'Unbelievable' Life After Leaving Bon Jovi: Source (Exclusive) Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora performing together in Los Angeles in September 1989. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Before the premiere of Thank You, Goodnight, which included discussion of Sambora's highly publicized exit from the band in 2013, Jon revealed that he and the guitarist watched some of it together. "He came over and watched three parts of the docuseries at my house," Jon told PEOPLE last month, adding, "There's never animosity." The Bon Jovi frontman also shared that "there was nothing but love" when Sambora left the band to focus on raising his daughter Ava, now 26, amid his divorce from ex Heather Locklear. "There was never a fight," the singer said. "Ultimately being in a rock band is not a life sentence. He had to deal with his other issues." Bon Jovi performing live on June 23, 1995. Dave Hogan/Getty Everything Bon Jovi Band Members Say About Richie Sambora's 'Heartbreaking' 2013 Exit in New Documentary In March, a source told PEOPLE that "Richie and Ava are very close," adding that she "means everything to him and always has." The source said Richie took advantage of the extra time he had after leaving the band to spend more time with Ava. "He would drive Ava to school," said the insider. "She had been going through a lot and he was there for her. He would wake up in the morning and make her breakfast." Richie Sambora with daughter Ava Sambora in April 2018. Mike Coppola/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Sambora also opened up about Ava being one of the main reasons he decided to leave the band in the docuseries. Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. “She needed me, and I needed here. Truthfully. We didn’t have enough time," he said his now-26-year-old daughter. “Things gang up on you, and I was dealing with that, as well as being a part of one of the biggest bands in the world." "The band was stale at that point, and my job was to say that," Sambora added. Thank You, Goodnight is currently available to stream on Hulu. Close