After 30 Years, Jon Never....

Richie is not a bass player. Jon is a Guitar player. That's why...

With all the Richie issues Jon has been having these past 6 years, I would think Jon (and Bobby) would learn more guitar parts. What if Phil was unavailable? He'd have to do the half acoustic set which I actually wouldn't mind, however most people probably would. They want to rock out to Prayer in a stadium.

Sorry, mate, that's garbage. If you know how to play every kind of scale then you can play bass.

Going by that logic, bass players are capable lead guitarists as well.

Not at all. It's more difficult to play lead guitar to a level like Richie than it is to play bass. Kinda obvious I would have thought.

Are you a guitar player or just incredibly ignorant?

I remember reading in an article from awhile back that Richie is able to play all of the instruments in the band (though to what proficiency, I don't know).

Still, though, it would give him a big advantage, I would think, regarding how he is able to 'hear' what is going on musically and would affect any improvisational moments, etc. Whether he could pick up any other instrument and play it as effortlessly as his guitar is not so much the point to me as is the idea that he understands, musically, what the other instrumentalists are doing.

Are you a guitar player of just incredibly retarded. Get a grip

Well, that worked out well for you.

There is no reason in hell why a dude like Richie could not play a basic instrument like the bass guitar.

Richie is a self taught guitarist through his ear. He is one of the best guitar players in rock n roll history

The dude could also play the accordion which means he could most likely play the piano too.

Unlike Jon, Richie is a talented Mother F-er.

If Hugh broke his finger, it would be cool to see Richie take over bass and Jon take over the lead guitar for a show or 2.... Although, I think I have a better shot of seeing Alec comeback then that happen.

You'll have to get Richie back first.

I think I have seen an interview where Richie says he can play just about everything, including piano to at least some degree of quality. If that is the case I can't see why bass (the easiest to adapt to from guitar) would be hard for him.

Didn't he also play a load of different stringed instruments for TLFR?

All this "are you a guitarist?" chaff. I doubt anyone here is actually a guitarist anyway. Play guitar yes, but actually makes a living from it? Naaa