Bon Jovi frontman Jon Bon Jovi insists that Richie Sambora's reason to leave the band in the middle of their world tour is purely a personal matter. The singer blasts celebrity gossip website TMZ for publishing false information about the band.

Last week, Richie was a no-show at Bon Jovi's Calgary stop. Jon took the stage to announce the news.

"I had two choices: pack up and go home or give you everything I got," he told their fans. "Richie Sambora won't be performing for a while. If there's ever a night I need you, it's tonight, Calgary!"

Speculations abound over the real reason why Richie suddenly disappeared. So Jon talked to the Austin American-Statesman to clear the issue.

"I think Richie's doing all right, (but) I haven't spoken to him," he told the paper. "We were surprised. It was 3:30 on show day on Tuesday and we got a phone call that he wouldn't be there. It's a personal matter.

"Don't believe what you read on TMZ because it's the furthest from the truth," he added."

So what was on TMZ that the rocker doesn't want their fans to believe?

The website claimed that Richie quit the band's world tour because the tension between him and Richie had finally exploded. The two have apparently been getting on each other's nerves for years, with Jon constantly belittling the guitarist.

Another alleged reason why Richie left was because of financial reasons. The website didn't specify, but the two were apparently fighting over money.

Richie has been replaced by Phil X as the band's guitarist for the rest of the tour.