God I'm so tired of Richie Sambora, this is already the 3rd time since 2007. Just replace that dude with Phil X.

You're undoing all your good work with this...

Mate; addiction is based around the brain altering to accomodate a substance. In Richie's case - what we know of it - the addiction to opioids, analgesic pain killers was in response to an injury. So even if you think a heroin addict isn't worth a job or your sympathy, addiction to pills that were meant to make him better (so he could continue to do his job) but adjusted his mental state to the point of dependancy, ought to be enough to garner a shred of empathy from you?

Re-read what I said. I said I DO have empathy for people with substance abuse problems. I'm just saying I think to begin taking them is a choice. My understanding is Richie's problem was with alcohol. That is a complete 180 from painkillers. If I was wrong and his problem is with painkillers, different story entirely.

Richie has been battling an addiction issue for years. The fact that he is functional, aware of it, and addresses it each time speaks volumes. He is not some druggie laying in some crack house.

This is what you call real Rock and Roll. This issues date back to Elvis and The Beatles. Do you think we'd have "Yellow Submarine" if it wasn't for drugs?

You take the drugs and alcohol out of R&R and you get GLEE. Look, I'm not condoning any of it but the 60's, 70's, 80's, and 90's rock and roll genuineness was built on drugs and alcohol. It’s just part of the business.

There are guys in this business that have it much worse than Richie. Richie has just been in the public eye for 30 plus years. And sadly, guys die.

But you are a fan of rock and roll...... That's like someone being a fan of the army but against the right to bear arms.

Nobody forced him to use anything? It's his own choice remember.

Im backing you up Dan. Substance abuse is NOT a disease. There is a group of people who are unable to use drugs or alcohol in a recreational way. We call them addicts or alcoholics. The fact is that the vast majority of people can socially consume alcohol or drugs without becoming dependent, but some of us cant.

A disease is an illness of some kind, alcoholism is an addiction.

You'd have no problems selling them, but with a 25% fee to pay to StubHub, you sure as hell won't get your money back!
I now understand why the StubHub ticket prices are so high - because of the money you lose in fees.
For example, if I were to sell our Diamond Circle tickets (with the early entry package) at face value, I would be selling for £385 for the pair and I'd lose almost £100 of that.

We've been here before with Richie and he's returned for the European leg. With major headline appearances at Slane and Hyde Park, not forgetting the Isle of Wight festival, I only see 2 options:
a) Richie returns for Europe
b) The big Europe dates get canned

I mean come on, if it's a festival (which is televised), you pretty much have to be at full strength - you can't go in there with Bobbie on lead!

So who played Richie's parts yesterday?

What Richie said to O Globo (newspapper in Brazil):

I don't know how's gonna be. I want to keep doing promo for my album. The only thing that I'm sure it's that I'll be in Brazil with Bon Jovi in 2013. If there's a break between shows I will try to make a solo show. I guess that's how's gonna be from now on.

This kind of statement opens up a lot of chance to speculation.