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Richie Sambora inspired by daughter to get sober

Sep 14, 2012, 15:03 GMT

Richie Sambora with Ava and ex-girlfriend Denise Richards

Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora says his daughter was his motivation to get sober.

The rock icon has admitted that 15-year-old Ava - his child with ex-wife Heather Locklear - was a 'big part' of his decision to go to rehab to be treated for alcoholism for a second time last year.

He told Classic Rock Magazine: 'She (Ava) was like an angel to me, man ... that was the catalyst for me actually getting sober.'

The 53-year-old musician continued: 'Luckily I wasn't that guy who lost his band, his family, his house and his job. I wasn't a victim.'

His first spell in rehab was in 2007, after the death of his father Adam and amidst the breakdown of his marriage to actress Heather.

Richie blames being in a rock band for his substance abuse problems, which included heavy drinking and eventually a reliance on painkillers.

He explained: 'I was in a rock 'n' roll band! Drinking was a badge of honour.'

His prescription drug addiction started when he broke his arm just two weeks before Bon Jovi were due to start a stadium tour in the mid-2000s.

He recalled: 'I was in a bad way with my arm and I needed to get through it.'

Enlisting the help of 'various physical therapists,' Richie began taking 'a bunch of pain pills,' something he'd never done before.

He admitted: 'I've conquered a lot of stuff in my life, but when I tried to get off those things I couldn't do it ... I was drinking too, which makes it double bad.'

Despite his addictions, Richie thinks rehab isn't as bad as it's perceived and is actually a good experience.

He said: 'People look at rehab as a bad thing ... I looked at it as an opportunity to do something positive for myself.'