A source tells PEOPLE that “personal issues” and stress within the band contributed to why the band’s longtime lead guitarist, 64, in the midst of their world tour in 2013 for personal reasons.
Three years before he departed Bon Jovi, Sambora “was feeling demoralized.”
“There were tensions in the band and Richie had a lot of personal issues,” the insider tells PEOPLE. “His dad died. Heather divorced him.”
The fact that the iconic rock group “never took a break” didn’t help either.
“They never even unpacked their bags,” the source says. “They did this for 30 years.”
Ultimately, the source claims, the “Ballad of Youth” performer “didn’t have the spirit” for being in the band anymore.
“He needed to be home with his daughter, take care of her and also take care of himself,” they add.
Currently, Sambora resides in Calabasas, with homes in Orange County and Hawaii, where he is focused on his family, a source confirms.
After his departure from Bon Jovi, his life was “unbelievable” as he was able to drive his daughter Ava to school and be there for her “full-time.”
“Richie and Ava are very close,” the insider says. “She means everything to him and always has.”
Although Sambora and ex-wife have been he still sees her “from time to time” and “is close with her family, too,” per the source.
“She and Richie are tight,” the source adds. “He just wants the best for her.”
Heather Locklear, Richie Sambora and daughter Ava in June 2005.
They also explain how Sambora’s decision to tour after he “fell and tore his shoulder” in the shower on a break contributed to his addiction to opioids.
“Jon was maybe gonna cancel the tour. Richie was like,’ No, I’ll put the guitar over my other shoulder,'” the insider says. “He got on oxycodone, and he played 30-35 shows. They brought in $100 million bucks.”
After the 35-show tour, the source says Sambora got “hooked” on oxycodone.
“He thought he had Parkinson’s [disease] because he was shaking,” the source says. “He had to be on that drug to play the guitar cuz his shoulder was ripped off.”
According to the insider, Sambora has been working with musician/producer Bob Rock, who collaborated on Bon Jovi’s 1986 album Slippery When Wet.
“Nowadays, he’s a songwriter, so he’s constantly writing, playing,” they say. “It’s the life of a musician.”
The source adds: “He spends millions of dollars to record with these other artists because he loves what he does. It’s his passion. He’s a musician’s musician.”
Currently, Sambora is focusing on writing his own music after collaborating with on “Rockstar” for her album , which was released in November.
He is set to appear in the upcoming docuseries , premiering on Hulu next month in conjunction with the band’s 40th anniversary.
While Sambora told PEOPLE in November that a reunion with his former band the “Hard Times Come Easy” artist ceremony honoring Bon Jovi in February.