If Richie is gone for good, what should happen with Bon Jovi?

So basically "**** the guy who really played bass on the albums and has been the live bass player longer than the previous guy, we need Alec back for the farewell tour?"

Call it a day. There would be a MASSIVE metaphorical asterisk next to them any time they're mentioned, I think. It would be in EVERY interview for the remainder of their careers, too. Not good publicity.

It definately would be bad publicity, especially since Jon has been bragging in interviews about still having the same band all this time.

If Richie leaves for good, then the band is dead to me. I wouldn't care what happens to them. Harsh but true.

Call it a day until Richie returns.

Whilst I agree many casual fans think Jon is BON JOVI, I'm pretty confident they would be able to tell the difference between a new Jon solo album and a new Bon Jovi album. Richie is the soul of the band and brings way more to proceedings than he is potentially given credit for by both casuals and the media.

Alec left when the KTF tour was over. It was during the release of Someday I'll Be Saturday Night when he was already gone. In the clip was Hugh and I remember they performed the song on Letterman (or Leno) and Hugh was the one who performed with the band.

If Richie is gone for good, I think Jon will continue but as a solo artist. Richie is too much of a member of the band to continue without him. It's been too long, a 30 year career to just continue without him. Richie was always vocal in interviews, front and center and it will be so weird to see Jon try to bond with another guitar player as he did with Richie.

I've got to ask, did Joe Perry ever leave Aerosmith and then come back? I think I remember reading that and he did a solo CD? Did Aerosmith continue without him and then Joe came back or were Aerosmith on a break too? And I don't want, no way Steven wouldn't do that to Joe and tour without him!!

You do realize that for questions like these we have Wikipedia, where you can find out the answer in less time than it takes for someone to write a comment here explaining it?

RHCP survived when John Frusciante left (twice!), albeit the bands best and most successful work is when he's on board. He's one of the most respected rock guitarists and songwriters out there, with a lot more credibility from the critics than Richie.
And if a band like Iron Maiden, Van Halen or ACDC can all continue on without their original lead singer and be just as or even more successful than before, it's safe to assume Bon Jovi can continue on successfully in some form without Richie Sambora. Sad, but true.


Andi

Well - Iron Maiden only became successful with Dickinson....and AC/DC is the exception to all rules. Van Halen is a good example though. But the question is not Will Bon Jovi continue but Should Bon Jovi continue....quite different. While I agree, they (he!!) would still be successful without Richie...it's still not the right thing to do.

Having said that, Bon Jovi are dead anyway. I'm only here for nostalgia reasons and let's face it, so is everyone!!!

For this tour they have to carry on. Would be financially crazy to stop now.

Then sit down and discuss what to do.

Nope. I love the new album more than any other since These Days.