HEATHER LOCKLEAR’S MARRIAGE CRISIS!

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By JULIA ETHERINGTON and MICHAEL GLYNN

Actress Heather Locklear‘s 10-year marriage to musician Richie Sambora has hit a sour note — and her ex-husband, bad boy Tommy Lee, is back on the scene!

Now, with Richie on tour with his band Bon Jovi, fears are growing that the amount of time they spend apart could finally kill off what was thought to be one of the strongest marriages in showbiz. And observers are watching closely to see how her friendship with ex Tommy develops.

Said a source: “Despite all the problems they had years ago, Tommy has always held a special place in Heather’s heart. She still remains very fond of him.”

The tension comes as friends claim the marriage is at its breaking point because of their frequent separation.

A friend of the couple revealed: “Heather hardly saw Richie at all last year. At this point, it’s like they’re becoming strangers.”

According to pals, the couple’s marriage went off track last year when Richie had a hiatus from Bon Jovi — but Heather spent the better part of the year working on the series LAX and her film The Perfect Man.

Said the friend: “Richie wanted to devote a big chunk of 2004 to Heather and their eight-year-old daughter Ava, but it just didn’t work out that way.

For more of this story, pick up this week’s issue of The National Enquirer.