Quote:
Originally Posted by Captain_jovi
Dude co-wrote every single song on The Circle though. Every one.
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True, but it doesn't change the fact he was an employee, same as all the other guys. He was an important songwriting partner, something that was taken then by Shanks and Falcon, etc. But from Jon's perspective, I can see the deterioration of their relationship more akin to business relationship and less as "brotherhood", that stuff is more PR for the fanbase. There was at least no brotherhood, if not outright animosity between them. In fact, I would argue between Jon and others too in that period before WAN, as Jon was in his asshole rockstar persona more than ever (WWWB revealed some of that).
For whatever reasons, Richie fell of the wagon, he was a wreck on 2006 tour, he was a complete wreck for 2007 promo shows (and if I remember correctly, sometimes around that he was in rehab for the 1st time), then he needed replacement on 2011 tour with Phil X coming, before finally bailing out on WAN tour indefinitely.
I can rationalize Jon's point of view of being fed up that his "employee" and more and more distant partner is not reliable and is shadow of himself while he tries to make enough money for NFL.
I can also rationalize Richie's point of view, where he is struggling but his partner and "brother" is basically asshole CEO who doesn't care and breaks promise of a little hiatus after 2011 tour and cycle, and makes a rather rash decision to just not be there on the night of the concert. Whatever happens after that, and whatever they say about it, is very much everything except the cold truth, and probably it must be like that.
Jon is finally "humbled" by his voice, but I don't know if he truly sees his role in Richie's absence. I wonder, if not Richie, would it be possible that Tico or David in that time period said f*ck it, I won't do it? We know that Tico basically didn't show up for WAN early recordings? Jon was really obnoxious, even from far away