Hypothetically - if Richie was going to come back....

jon-flp · #11 05-03-2017, 05:47 PM

Yes, no need to think about it. I miss him, I miss them together...that's it.

And I want to see Richie playing Runaway again.

Becky · #12 05-03-2017, 05:57 PM

It's not up to us, it's up to the band. But if he does come back, I hope they keep Phil since Richie might not show up all the time. But if the question is, do I miss him or feel he is necessary, no.

bonjovi90 · #13 05-03-2017, 06:13 PM

I'd like to see Phil and Richie together onstage shredding the shit out of some solos. But if Richie was ever to return, I'm almost certain Jon would keep Shanks around. And that guy has no stage presence whatsoever whereas Phil and Richie could take some of the "showmanship-burden" off Jon's shoulders.
The band is technically decent right now, but that's where it ends unfortunately. You can play the same or similar chords as the original, but it's just not the same. Just listening to Bad Name from this tour hurts...no talking about Jon's voice, but all the subtle nuances and the feel Richie had (even up until 2013) are gone and the song is bland. Richie's bluesy approach and Phil's powerful hard-rock attitude could breath some new life into the band's music. Let's face it, guitar-wise the last record has been a sad joke and nothing more.

jazzsta · #14 05-03-2017, 07:55 PM

Walleris said it nicely.

However Richie seems to have become quite a circus lately. It is sad.

rosa3 · #15 05-03-2017, 10:37 PM

A part of me is yes, and a part of me is no. Yes because of pure sentiment, I like Richie a lot in the band, he and Jon did have great chemistry, Richie does have a charm, sense of humor, and charisma and worked great with the band. However, in order for Richie to come back, both Jon and Richie need to be on the same level when it comes to the future of Bon Jovi and where do they want to go from here. They both need to listen to each other and once and for all tell each other where they, as songwriters, want to go, and both agreeing, because that I think is what happened the last time, both of the then had different directions, and we all know the result.

nikos greece · #16 05-04-2017, 12:38 AM

1000% yes...

my fear is that when history repeats itself most of the times its repeated as a joke. i d love for them to come back and prove themselves again with a great album...bj 2020. i dont know if they still have sth gas on the tunk, i am optimistic. i hope both jon and richie finally talk to each other and work it out. if bj are sth greater than jbj then they deserve a better ending, 30 years are a wonderful run but since they are all active they should find a solution as long as both sides want it for the right reasons.

Alphavictim · #17 05-04-2017, 07:57 PM

Absolutely yes.

He belongs in the band. He built this band, to an extent only rivaled by JBJ himself - he co-wrote a ton of songs, co-produced almost all the records, his fills and guitar playing were a big part of the songs' character, and he was the second most important showman live.

Richie may not like it, but he'll be remembered for BJ, not his solo work. He should cherish that legacy, not try to act like that stuff is beneath him. Him and Jon used to bring out the best in each other - even their best solo material is nowhere near as cohesive as the band's best stuff.

He has earned his place on that stage based on history alone.

JackieBlue · #18 05-05-2017, 03:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alphavictim

Absolutely yes.

He belongs in the band. He built this band, to an extent only rivaled by JBJ himself - he co-wrote a ton of songs, co-produced almost all the records, his fills and guitar playing were a big part of the songs' character, and he was the second most important showman live.

Richie may not like it, but he'll be remembered for BJ, not his solo work. He should cherish that legacy, not try to act like that stuff is beneath him. Him and Jon used to bring out the best in each other - even their best solo material is nowhere near as cohesive as the band's best stuff.

He has earned his place on that stage based on history alone.

This captures my feelings perfectly, except for two relatively minor details. First, I would add Richie's harmonies and backing vocals because I think they were as critical as his guitar, if not more so. And second, I think Richie does cherish the band's legacy.

To my knowledge, Richie has never said anything to suggest that he wants to be remembered for his solo work, rather than the work he's done in Bon Jovi. It seems to me that he simply wants to be recognized as a musician in his own right as well, apart from the band. To be seen as something other than just Jon's wingman, if you will. I can't fault him for that.

I know a lot of people think some of Richie's comments have been disrespectful to the band and its legacy; and they have every right to that interpretion. I just don't see it the same way because he's made too many similar comments in the past - before there was ever any reason to think he might have something against the band.

But to answer the OP's question: last night I was looking for an article that I recalled someone citing in the No Richie On the Current Leg thread. In the middle of a discussion about the video contest Richie had for AOTL, I ran across an exchange that pretty much sums up how I would feel about Richie returning to the band.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ticos_stick

Where are the people who called Richie all the names under the sun for ignoring the contest now?

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoviJovi

WTF does that matter? He's still a selfish, unprofessional prick

Quote:

Originally Posted by ticos_stick

He's engaging with his fans, nothing selfish or unprofessional about that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoviJovi

That doesn't erase the last 4 months.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ticos_stick

And the last four months haven't erased the commitment he showed for thirty years.

I think it's sad that people have allowed "the last four [years]", or more specifically, the events of one night four years ago to somehow erase the commitment Richie showed for thirty years.

Granted, some of the anger towards him goes back even further, to the cancelled shows in 2012. I get that. I was caught up in those cancellations, too. So I understand the disappointment. I just can't understand still holding on to a grudge after all these years.

But maybe that's just me. As I've said before, I can't hold on to a grudge with Superglue. As far as I'm concerned, life's too short for that kind of nonsense; but to each his own.

rosa3 · #19 05-05-2017, 04:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JackieBlue

This captures my feelings perfectly, except for two relatively minor details. First, I would add Richie's harmonies and backing vocals because I think they were as critical as his guitar, if not more so. And second, I think Richie does cherish the band's legacy.

To my knowledge, Richie has never said anything to suggest that he wants to be remembered for his solo work, rather than the work he's done in Bon Jovi. It seems to me that he simply wants to be recognized as a musician in his own right as well, apart from the band. To be seen as something other than just Jon's wingman, if you will. I can't fault him for that.

I know a lot of people think some of Richie's comments have been disrespectful to the band and its legacy; and they have every right to that interpretion. I just don't see it the same way because he's made too many similar comments in the past - before there was ever any reason to think he might have something against the band.

But to answer the OP's question: last night I was looking for an article that I recalled someone citing in the No Richie On the Current Leg thread. In the middle of a discussion about the video contest Richie had for AOTL, I ran across an exchange that pretty much sums up how I would feel about Richie returning to the band.

I think it's sad that people have allowed "the last four [years]", or more specifically, the events of one night four years ago to somehow erase the commitment Richie showed for thirty years.

Granted, some of the anger towards him goes back even further, to the cancelled shows in 2012. I get that. I was caught up in those cancellations, too. So I understand the disappointment. I just can't understand still holding on to a grudge after all these years.

But maybe that's just me. As I've said before, I can't hold on to a grudge with Superglue. As far as I'm concerned, life's too short for that kind of nonsense; but to each his own.

I agree with alot of what you said here, but as I mentioned earlier, in order for Richie to really come back is that both Jon and Richie are on the same page when it comes to music, songwriting, and where the future of the band would be. You can't have a successful band with one of them not being on the same page, or be in a different mindset. They can both share new ideas for songwriting and what kind of songs to write, but in the end they both have to agree.

Captain_jovi · #20 05-05-2017, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JackieBlue

This captures my feelings perfectly, except for two relatively minor details. First, I would add Richie's harmonies and backing vocals because I think they were as critical as his guitar, if not more so. And second, I think Richie does cherish the band's legacy.

To my knowledge, Richie has never said anything to suggest that he wants to be remembered for his solo work, rather than the work he's done in Bon Jovi. It seems to me that he simply wants to be recognized as a musician in his own right as well, apart from the band. To be seen as something other than just Jon's wingman, if you will. I can't fault him for that.

I know a lot of people think some of Richie's comments have been disrespectful to the band and its legacy; and they have every right to that interpretion. I just don't see it the same way because he's made too many similar comments in the past - before there was ever any reason to think he might have something against the band.

But to answer the OP's question: last night I was looking for an article that I recalled someone citing in the No Richie On the Current Leg thread. In the middle of a discussion about the video contest Richie had for AOTL, I ran across an exchange that pretty much sums up how I would feel about Richie returning to the band.

I think it's sad that people have allowed "the last four [years]", or more specifically, the events of one night four years ago to somehow erase the commitment Richie showed for thirty years.

Granted, some of the anger towards him goes back even further, to the cancelled shows in 2012. I get that. I was caught up in those cancellations, too. So I understand the disappointment. I just can't understand still holding on to a grudge after all these years.

But maybe that's just me. As I've said before, I can't hold on to a grudge with Superglue. As far as I'm concerned, life's too short for that kind of nonsense; but to each his own.

This is a really intelligent and well thought out response. I think people are allowed to carry a grudge because it comes down to trust. I can respect what he did the last 30 years and also not trust someone as an artist to follow through be it albums, tours, singles. Pleasing a fanbase for that long doesn't excuse someone for not following through.

What he did didn't tarnish the past for me in the least. I love the previous incarnation to pieces but once you let someone down a handful of times I don't believe smiling and saying "well he used to be great" is enough of a reason to accept what he's doing now and being on board. The clock starts at zero and everything needs to be earned back. Nothing concrete and long form has been released since he left so I think people can feel hesitant but some of them are doing it way harshly.

Hypothetically - if Richie was going to come back....

General BJ Discussion