Richie Sambora insists that his recent stay at a treatment facility in Los Angeles was more about detoxing than rehabbing.

After what he called “a rough year”, Richie entered a treatment programme at the UCLA Medical Center earlier in the month and completed the week-long session last week.

He told The Today Show yesterday: “I didn’t check into rehab. I did detox.”

“Instead of me heading into a place - I was just drinking too much and I needed to get my life together. I’m still in therapy and stuff like that, but it’s good. I’m great. I feel fine.”

Bon Jovi bandmate Jon Bon Jovi added that the band is fully behind Richie’s decision to seek treatment even though they’ve got a busy promotional schedule for their new album and short summer tour: “We’ve been through everything together and there was no way that we were not going to be supporting Richie right now – and that’s what we’re doing. He’s been through the fire, and we’ve been there for him.”