Aloha !

http://www.generatememes.com/media/created/t0f75r.jpg

Salaam Aleikum,
Sebastiaan

i think most of us complain because jon transformed a band into backing sessions musicians...he should be more loose sometimes and let the band shine rather than trying so hard to be relevant and making cliche pop songs with no substance

If Richie had left the band, I'd have sold my tickets right away. Bon Jovi is a band, not a solo act.

About the shows Richie cancelled in America, it's got more to do with the album being sooooooo bad I guess.

Lea jovi: So anyone around here can be offensive to evil Jon but it's not OK when it's about Richie? The truth is that though Jon isn't half the singer he used to be, the same goes with Sambora and his guitar skills. And yes AOTL is crap. You just need to read fan reviews talking about how it's genuine with heart and soul to understand it. When something is really good, you don't need to support it with such lousy arguments.

I know little of Phil X but I don't believe you're capable of being objective on this point. Not a dig, just an observation.

Some of the nonsense about US v European fans is laughable too. Grow the **** up lads and ladies. Stupid generalisations and I say that as a European.

Some of the Jon bashing is also disgraceful.

We could wait for an official announcement or continue to rip JBJ apart and make up shit about Richie?
Meant to be fans Ffs!!

My show is next Monday and when I found out that Richie isn't going to be there, my thought was that it isn't going to be a true Bon Jovi concert without him. I am an American and I know how integral Richie is to the performance. Someone posted that most people in the audience won't even notice Richie's absence and to a certain extent that's true. During a concert I enjoy focusing on different band members at different times and it makes me truly appreciate each and every one of them. IF I still go, it's going to be very hard to over look Richie's absence. Watching that Wanted clip was just so da** depressing.

For what it's worth, Im a yank, and had been considering skipping Denver because Richie won't be there. Ill be going to support the guys.

Also I don't understand all the hate towards Matt? What'd I miss?

Tell us more about your objective standpoint, samboraisgod. Especially how it relates to your personal preferences.

Phil X is a top guitarist and very versatile. That said he is also a classic gun for hire musician, and in my opinion he does not have the guitar voice that Sambora has. However, not being in a massive band and getting lazy has meant he has kept up his craft, so at the moment he is probably more consistent, although Richie can deliver the magic that Phil cannot. Remember, magic is not all technique.

Having wrote that, I am not sure who cares. There are better players than Richie, should they join Bon Jovi too? Surely that is not the point.

the moment Richie quits BJ, they're done in Europe.

The most sensible post yet. One day I had to leave my work 2 months ago just before I arrived in. My dad was rushed to hospital with heart problems. Just because Richies job is rock star in a band doesn't mean things like what happened to me (and all of us) won't happen to him! My team knew I left work for personal reasons. That's all I told them. Same thing here.

I don't think Richie quit. He loves being Jon's right hand man. Ever since the break between New Jersey and Keep The Faith, I've never seen a desire on his part to be "the" star.

Hahahaha at Phil X's tweet...

@TheRealPhilX
it's like answering the BATphone only every 2 years

But wait, why his solo efforts wasn't successful as band's albums in the US?

No. The shows didn't sell because no one gives a crap about him here. The album that no one heard didn't even get the chance to be considered because everyone has a preconceived notion of the guy and it had zero promo. It's not like millions of people heard the samples and said "no thanks"

Another thing. None of us know Jon, no matter how much we want to or profess too. I think he comes across a right douche, but I would not even start to say I know how he is as a person. There was a post that has been hailed as amazing, but truth is it was just speculation about a man's character, a man none of us know.

All I will say is it is possible to be something in work (Bon Jovi is his job) and something else away from it. And if I was famous with the media I would be an utter cunt, when in real life I am only a little bit of a cunt.

And Phil done a good enough job with the Wanted solo, was a pretty faithful rendition.

In all honesty, isn't that true everywhere? I am not talking about die-hards or the fans of the band but generally the causal fan will only think of Richie in that light everywhere around the world. You can't say that only die-hards go to the shows in Europe because if that was the case, the album sales would be different. Not everyone in the audience who sees the band, has got the CD. So the majority of the audience everywhere are causal and they would only see Richie as the dude who was married to Heather, went out with Denise and Cher and was in rehab.

I would love to see the turn out for Europe if Richie wasn't there. Again, not talking about die-hards and Richie fans who say no Richie, no them but generally. Would there be a mass walkout? would we notice the difference in audience? I honestly think it would be a case of some not going but others going to the show and then the comments of great show but different without Richie etc etc.

I am from Australia and I am trying to think of how it would be here if it was know that Bon Jovi was coming without Richie? We are a band's band here. Bon Jovi is a band, not just Jon in Australia but still I don't think people wouldn't go to the shows.

I won't. I want the 4 of them.

I just want to know when does Richie get the blame in all this? When does someone point the finger at him and say shit move, dumb ass?

Back in 2011, when this happened with Richie, people blamed Jon. Bastard Jon, continues on with the show, he doesn't care about anyone but himself and money, the stupid CEO. Poor Richie, what he and the band has to put up with. Granted it was a drugs problem then and he had to go to rehab but again, Jon got the blame for Richie's problem.

Happens again in 2013 and again the finger points at Jon. Richie leaves the tour for personal reasons, gives no explanation, nothing. Again, what has Jon done? its all Jon's fault, Richie is a true musician who plays from the heart, Jon doesn't care.

What does Richie have to do until someone says hey, WTF are you doing? you are doing this again to your fans? What? I hear Jon can do no wrong to his fans but heck, Richie fans are much worser. He can screw them over by not turning up for shows and they will forgive him anything. You have our love and support Richie. We are sending you our prayers, Hang in there. There are pages in support of Richie, send him your love. What does he need our love?

When is he ever going to get some of the blame for his actions. When is someone going to tweet him and say I am spending hundreds of dollars travelling to see the band just to see you and you are not turning up to the show? Are you ****in kidding me? No wonder he does it because he knows that his fans will forgive him. I don't need to turn up, they still love me.

Jon, Tico and David have never left the fans high and dry. You know when you go to a show, they will be there. Richie is not looking so good at the moment. 2011, 2012 and now in 2013 and yet it's all Jon's fault....................

Best thing that can happen is Richie sorts out whatever it is, joins the tour again and they keep Phil X on too instead of Bobby!! Then Richie and Phil can jam away together!!

This has probably been mentioned in this thread before, but my bet is that something has happened to Heather, who's been struggling a lot lately, far worse than Richie, it seems, and that Ava very much needs her dad right now. That would also explain all the secrecy; they probably wouldn't like to share that info with the media, and thereby put more focus on the strained situation. Especiallly since Heather is a celebrity in her own right.

I honestly don't believe that there's a financial issue, and with all other possible scenarios (Richie's mother being ill, a relapse, whatever), I really think the band would've put out a statement to end all speculation.

On the US fans debate, its not really much surprise that they are very Jon-centric when that is how the band has been pushed to them. All Jon interviews, Jon on the record covers, Jon only in some videos... The band and the PR have gone that way so its no surprise that a lot of the fans are more of the "Jon and a band" opinion.

Ava Sambora ‏@avasamboraxxoo 5m

Passed my permit test on my first try ��������


Who knows WHAT is going on, maybe he wanted to be there for Ava......................Sheesh

@lisa71

Good post

What's going on there is a teenage girl is using her twitter, probably not realizing that a bunch of fans of her dad are disturbingly picking apart every tweet she makes about her personal life to try and find information about a situation involving her dad's career.

I gotta say, I agree with a lot of the sentiment here, and I'm someone who tends to be more of a Richie guy.

That would be cool.... but Phil X would be left with all the rhythm parts. He's get over it quickly.

I hope that fans and reporters have enough regard for Richie to not badger him in the future for reasons. Personal is personal and not our business. Yes, I am crushed I won't see him at my show but I've decided to go and have a good time anyway.

It is interesting how one moment Jon or Richie can give a "substandard" Bon Jovi performance and people immediately say the band is over, should call it quits and that they aren't going to go to a show this tour. Then they give a great performance and people trip all over themselves with excitement.

I do think the music releases have changed over the years. The band no longer lives in the studio making band music together. Jon develops the songs that he has to sing/present as the frontman and the others still have input when they are in the studio but it is not an organic, from scratch process. Jon keeps the brand going, keeps the Bon Jovi sound identifiable. Perhaps now he is seeing how fickle his fan base is and how fast things can go south.

I am beyond tired of the European attitude that Jon "wouldn't dare tour Europe without Richie, he would have to cancel the tour." If the exact same thing happened in Europe on the eve of the tour, Jon would not cancel the shows period. If you want to look at an arrogant attitude, look no further than those posters who think this.

First of all, you were offensive because of the "MS" thing, not because you bashed Richie's work. You are certainly entitled to your opinion.

Second, we get that YOU don't enjoy AOTL, please stop shoving down our throats that it is crap and giving the same lousy positive arguments you despise but in a negative way.

LOL. That was funny.

Loooooooooooooool :D

I love how this thread has gone on long enough to go from "It must be rehab." to "Is addiction a disease?" to "Richie and Jon are fighting over money" to "Richie's out of the band" to "Richie's not out of the band" to "Jon's an ass" to "They'd never tour Europe without Richie" to a European vs American argument while all the while we know nothing more than we did Monday.

Oh god please no!

Bobby is so inferior to Sambora that we just don't mind him all that much, but if it were Phil X there, I don't want a war.


Well, thinking about it maybe Richie would step up his game :D

I find it one of the most interesting threads of the last few months :D

of course Jon would not cancel the shows...fans would

Take a f***** Chill Pill
 

Please watch this video and tell me how is this a band that is fighting? (4:00)

And many more videos especially from the Cleveland stream. Just check out how Richie stepped in to save Jon with an extended solo when Jon couldn't hit the notes on Always after 3 hours of singing his ass off.

People tend to blow things out of proportion and start imagining scenarios and then fight about them? The posts suddenly change into Jon bashing then Richie bashing then US vs European fans. Seriously?!

The dude had to take care of a personal matter that apparently he doesn't know how long is going to take. Could be his family, could be his ex-wife, could be a hemroid, could be anything!! Why do you need to know? People as well as things break down and sometimes it not really planned and you have to deal with it.

If yo want to go see the show without Richie then go and if you don't then don't! it's your choice, your decision. They were clear about refunding tickets before shows. No body owes you anything, not for telling you what the personal matter is or when Richie will be back.

^^this. I agree. It's always Jon's fault, for some reason.

I dunno what the heck is wrong with Richie, but whatever it is, I hope he is okay.

THIS. If Jon were the asshole that people around here make him out to be, he'd have a string of failed relationships and ex band members. He inspires deep loyalty from the people who surround him. He must be a good guy or people wouldn't keep coming back for more.

I agree. I wish that the screens that I see on clips would show more of the rest of the band. During the last tour when there was a facebook vote on what photo to use in a full-page magazine ad, I chose the one with the full band but the fans voted for the Jon-only ones which annoyed me.

With regard to interviews: I've often wondered why the rest of the band even bothered these last few years with press conferences. All the questions go to Jon and a few to Richie. No wonder Tico looked like he fell asleep at the last press conference in Britain. I do not fault Jon for his interviews and I think that he usually presents himself very well and can still be engaging. It is just different thirty years on. As to charm...the flirty Jon went over well in his 20s, 30s, 40s. I am not sure it would go over well in his 50s. It really wouldn't shock me for Jon to go on as a singer (if he can vocally)when Bon Jovi ends and the rest of the band will also go do their own things. Dave and Richie will stay in music; Dave as a composer, Richie as a performer on a smaller scale. I still think Jon genuinely likes to sing and perform. But who knows--I hope to be around long enough to find out!

Okay, slight suspicion of an oxymoron there, I admit it haha :p , I didn't articulate myself particularly well.

The gist of what I was getting at was if a casual observer compared the Wanted solo Phil X played last night to the way Richie usually plays it, they would find prefer Richie's version.

Of course I have an affinity to Richie (really wishing I chose a different username when these arguments come up), but I don't think Phil X is a guitarist who can "play circles around him" as some people seem to be saying.