| Old Fan |
03-21-2014 11:55 PM |
Hi guys. Long time lurker - first time poster.
Like a lot of you, I've been a fan for nearly 30 years, so I'm saddened by this stand off. And, I must say, I'm less enamoured with Richie's behaviour than I would have been 20 years ago. Here's why.
I do think that Jon's been rather stupid for the past decade or so. He's been using Bon Jovi as 'his band' to make 'his music.' Now, he has every right to do that - but it's just a stupid thing to do when you have writers like Richie and Dave beside you. Bon Jovi is a business, but Jon seems to have forgotten that their business is creativity. They will never achieve their maximum creative output, unless they deploy all their creative resources. That is, take Richie, Dave and Jon, maybe throw in Desmond Child as another long term collaborator, and write to their vision - not Jon's vision. Each one of those is a gifted songwriter in their own right. If Jon can let go of the need to write for radio, and write from the heart, (like he did with songs like Living in Sin, Silent Night, Bed of Roses, Dry County, Midnight in Chlesea etc) with these three guys by his side - if he can co-write their songs as well as having them co-write his - I firmly believe he can create an astoundingly beautiful record - as part of a fitting tribute to one of the greatest bands in rock history. These guys came from the same place, went through the same experiences, and are now in the twilight of a wonderful career that they forged together. Don't tell me that they have nothing in common, or nothing to write about. They have - and it could be truly outstanding if they throw off the shackles and just go for it. One last time - one fond farewell - no need to create hits - just the desire to leave a legacy that transcends the hit parade. Jon would be a fool not to get it done - and he's been a fool that he didn't do it sooner. He may be the boss, but the best bosses allow their subordinates to take the reins and drive the company as a team. Only the worst of bosses act like dictators. That's a fact in any business.
For all of that - he is the boss. There would be no band without him. If he wants to be an idiot, and make Richie write the way he wants Richie to write, whilst completely side-lining Dave, he has every right to do that. And Dave and Richie have every right to walk away. We all chose who we work for, and wealthy man can make that choice more easily.
But what Richie shouldn't do (and what Dave has never done) is give a commitment and then fail to live up to it. It is clear that he committed to the last tour. Now even if Jon started to move the goal posts and add more dates (which is likely given his history) Richie knew what he was getting into from day one. He gave that commitment, he should have honoured it. The rest of the band did, and I'll bet that most (if not all) of the road crew did. Us little folk live up to our word. It is an essential part of what we offer to the employers/customers who pay our bills. An ordinary Joe like one of us, would have walked away before or after, but not during the tour. Instead, Richie the rock-star threw his toys out of the pram and left his employer swinging in the wind.
Then, to make matters worse, he went on the airwaves and started talking trash about the company. He and Jon put their names to These Days, and Richie makes some daft comment about it being 'my song.' I couldn't care less about the truth of that - it's just not something that a dignified and dependable worker would do. Would any of us publicly take credit for something that we created for another employer? Of course we wouldn't. It'd be daft, stupid, and devoid of common sense. Once you've been paid for a job, you put your money in your pocket and move on. Only a child feels the need to 'claim credit.'
Richie should go to Jon and acknowledge that his behaviour is not that which an employer is entitled to expect from an employee. He should do the right thing, and apologise. Then, he may wish to make it clear that he's not coming back unless he gets to share in the creative vision for the bend, and not just write to Jon's agenda. If Jon wants to be a fool and flush Bon Jovi down the toilet by continuing to ignore his greatest assets, that's his problem. Richie can shake his hand, tell him that it was nice working with him, and move on with honour, whilst maintaining cordial relations with a long-time friend.
Here's hoping they get it together. They always struck me as having more class and work ethic than bands like G 'n' R. GnR had so much talent, but threw it all away, because they were almost all spoiled and lazy. Lets hope Bon Jovi give it one more belting blast of true teamwork, on an outsanding collaborative album.
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