Richie Sambora’s cherished 1976 Gibson Explorer has returned after being stolen 41 years ago. The former Bon Jovi guitarist purchased the instrument at 16 from Lou Rose Music Center in Edison, New Jersey, inspired by Eric Clapton’s performance on a similar model. Sambora customized the guitar with an ebony fretboard and signature stars. The Explorer appears on Bon Jovi’s debut album and 7800° Fahrenheit. Thieves stole it from a Perth Amboy warehouse in 1985 while the band toured Japan. “It was f—ing trippy as s–t,” the 66-year-old musician said about the reunion. “I put it on, I started to play it. It seemed like it was untouched.” The guitar surfaced at Matt’s Guitar Shop in Paris, where owner Matthieu Lucas recognized its significance and facilitated its return. Sambora plans to perform with the recovered instrument at Louisville’s Unbridled Eve Derby Gala on May 1. Story URL
David Allan Coe, the controversial outlaw country musician known for hits including “The Ride,” “Mona Lisa Lost Her Smile,” and “You Never Even Called Me by My Name,” passed away at 86. Born in Akron, Ohio in 1939, Coe began songwriting in 1960s Nashville for established performers. His breakthrough came when Tanya Tucker’s version of his composition “Would You Lay With Me (In a Field of Stone)” topped country charts in 1973. Columbia Records signed him afterward, leading to his 1974 debut “The Mysterious Rhinestone Cowboy.” His 1977 song “Take This Job and Shove It,” performed by Johnny Paycheck, reached number one. Coe’s career included controversy through his “X-Rated” albums containing offensive content. Legal issues emerged in 2015 when he pleaded guilty to tax obstruction, receiving three years probation and nearly $1 million in IRS payments. Story URL
The Rolling Stones relaunched their Crossfire Hurricane Rum with a completely new formula made entirely in Jamaica. Originally introduced in 2023 as a Caribbean blend, the reworked expression now sources rum exclusively from four respected Jamaican distilleries. The rum uses copper pot and column distillation from molasses and local sugarcane. Named after the opening lyric from “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” the brand celebrates the band’s fifty-year relationship with Jamaica spanning recording sessions and performances. “Jamaica got into everything we did in the early seventies – the music, the rhythm, the pace of life,” the group stated. Story URL
Ozzy Osbourne’s signature cologne of over three decades is now available to fans through a special limited edition release. London fragrance brand Czech & Speake announced their iconic No. 88 cologne in black bottles with purple foil, priced at 250 Euros ($370). The scent features bergamot, geranium, rose otto, cassie, frangipani, vetiver and sandalwood notes. Sharon Osbourne recalled discovering the fragrance at Jermyn Street, saying Ozzy immediately declared “I’d like to smell like this for the rest of my life.” He wore it to every concert and appearance for thirty years. The Prince of Darkness kept his signature scent secret from most people, once gifting SiriusXM’s Jose Mangin a bottle with strict instructions not to reveal the brand. Fifty Euros from each sale benefits Cure Parkinson’s charity. The limited batch sold out quickly after the April 29th announcement on social media. Story URL
Korn bassist Ra Diaz has recovered all 15 bass guitars stolen from his Las Vegas storage unit two weeks ago. Local musician and tattoo artist Dave Chipp discovered the instruments at Henderson music shops, recognizing distinctive markings including “RA ST” on the twelfth fret and a Chilean flag reflecting Diaz’s heritage. Chipp alerted Henderson police, who recovered all basses plus an amplifier, effects pedals, and personal memorabilia within days. “I can’t believe how lucky I am that mine has a happy ending,” Diaz posted on Instagram, thanking the Henderson Police Property Crimes Unit. Detective Jameson Harding noted one bass with a Chilean flag was particularly significant as Diaz planned to take it on Korn’s upcoming Latin American tour starting May 2nd. No arrests have been made. Diaz replaced original bassist Fieldy Arvizu in 2021. (Story URL)