Anyone here like me? More of a Sambora fan then a fan of BJ/JBJ?

I couldn't agree more - it's not a matter of picking sides. But I cannot get passed the way Richie dumped his friends - and his fans. It hasn't gotten any more acceptable for me after a few years than it was when it happened.

Absolutely, he behaved like a selfish prick and deserved all the shit he got and still gets for it.

Yup.

What's funny is that since I got here (in 2010) it felt more like a pro-Richie board with him being viewed as being held back by the evil dictator/CEO Jon. And then it was a complete 180 with fans who are more pro-Richie were in minority.

Well, I don't think that split was a band thing. This House Is Not For Sale is a much better album than WAN, Richie is doing what he wants to do (get drunk and play stuff he wants) so it's an improvement for both parties.

The thing annoying me is Jon's voice, I really think things got to a point where he needs to do a medical treatment for his voice. I mean, how it's possible for a professional singer sing the way he is doing? The tuning in the old songs now are another step down, the new songs are all easy and yet they tuned it down...

...and Jon doesn't seem to bother. This annoys me a lot.

I don't have a preference, I don't know them and don't care. It's all about what attracts you musically. If you (OP) like Richie's albums more than any Bon Jovi album then yeah, you would prefer Richie.

I guess for the majority of us here on this Bon Jovi board, we like Bon Jovi's music more than we do Richie's or even Jon's solo (some exceptions for sure). I doubt many of us actually started liking Bon Jovi because of what we heard in the guitar playing. It is the songs and ultimately the voice that attracted us. Richie as co-writer played a huge part in that attraction of course, but there is no getting away from the fact Jon was the face and voice of the band.

If it is a case of "I love Bon Jovi, but Richie seems a swell guy and Jon less" who gives a shit?

I have defended both Jon and Richie to people at various times in the last few years, and been frustrated by both at various times.

While I agree with the general sentiment of your post ('everything is better now except for Jon's voice'), the part about the tunings is simply wrong.

The old songs they have played in 2015-2016 have been played in the same key they have always been played in the 2000s. One could argue they should transpose them lower, but so far they haven't. As for the new songs, they always downtune them immediately, whether they are easy or not; even when Jon's voice was better. The list of songs they have performed in standard tuning is extremely short.

Haha, can you go into details?

It doesn't need to be a pick sides as they both have flaws but musically & promotionally, since you ask - right now - I'd pick the band. Not an individual but the group of them. Stanger will be in my top 10, so years ago I would have been - but so much has changed - especially in a few years. Not an RSO fan. LIVE tells too much so nothing for "me" to look forward to. Anyone can sound good with modern studio equipment! So even IF/When they release an album I don't see my opinion changing.

I will always say that even though some say RS didn't "owe" it, some humility and I'm sorry I let the fans down would have helped. Don't need the "personal", actually wish that would stop, just remembering who helped provide this lifestyle. That is one thing I seem to see in PhilX - he is really grateful to be on that stage. Never be the chemistry that was - but that's gone now for me no matter.

Thanks for explaining, my commentary was not made with technical basis.