He talks about him having to cut his solo tour short

Maybe he doesn't like the "mammoth machine" anymore.

My initial reaction to Richie's absence was one of irritation and disbelief, and I had seriously considered not attending the Denver show. I did, and it was a blast, although Richie was certainly missed.
My feeling now is that, if Richie is sitting out the tour for "personal" reasons, even if they are as simple as being with Ava as she learns to drive, I accept that and am glad he's healthy (apparently). Although, he did look kinda pufftastic in that pic.
If he's putting being a Dad over rocking, I support that.
If he's simply burnt out, I even support that. There was nothing on my ticket that guaranteed me Richies presence. I was promised a show and got one.
I'm going to be in LA at the time of the proposed RIR concert, and if he's gonna be there, so will I (although I prob won't buy tix until the last minute)
Also "casualed" should be added to our vocabulary here.

Ha ha ha..as we say in the south, "that tickled me"...

Oh yes Mireille I got in your first post that you were pointing out that Phil X is being critical of Bon Jovi music to his Drills fans. The thing is that doesn't bother me and I would doubt it even bothers Jon, Tico or David as they know the man's role. He's simply here as a substitute for Richie. I think you are more bothered by Phil X (or appear to be) because you see him as a real threat to replace Richie. That would ONLY happen if Richie decides to walk away and whatever the issue is now, I just don't see that happening.

Why can't he ever express his own thoughts? He always just regurgitates what Jon says in interviews... The Stones are the benchmark... Each band member has their own outside interest that they bring to the table...

Richie has so much more personality than Jon, but in promo interviews for the band he just repeats the same crap Jon has said for years.

Richie Sambora wants to be a father first, then, a rock star.

Dorothea can be a mother... but with Ava, their mother is even in worse mental condition than Richie.

Maybe that's the 'personal reason'.

Jolo.

Master Seb doesn't seem to think so.

Jon sounds nasally when he talks live these days, too.

They have a DeLorean and travel to the sixties, that's the reason.

http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/9464/avabeatles.jpg