The guitarist insists there was "no malice" in his sudden decision to leave the band. Instead, he says he needed time away from the constant grind after 30 years.

And he says he's considering rejoining next year � although it's not a certainty. Sambora tells the Hollywood Reporter: "We were the hardest-working band in the world. You're talking 24-7 and you don't get to come home.

"I missed so much of my child's life, and you get to that place where you realise: 'Oh my god, this is so important.'"

He's spent his downtime with teenage daughter Eva and with his mum, who recently broke her hip. He says: "Everything has its time. I had some time to grow up � rock'n'roll will make you a virtual 17-year-old.

"I needed to be with the kid, go to the parent-teacher conference, take out the garbage, pick up the dog sh*t, watch her play and put on her sweet-sixteen party."