Would Richie have even gotten a chance at a solo career?

Would Richie's CDs sound the same if not for the co-writing with Dave whom he met through Bon Jovi?

Would Bon Jovi had broken out big time without Desmond Child as a cowriter?

What if they hadn't worked with Bruce Fairbairn and Bob Rock?

What if Dave wasn't in the band to supply the keyboards and the sound that separated Bon Jovi from all the 4 piece rock acts or the 5 piece acts without a keyboard player?

What if Doc McGee wasn't the manager who made them tour like mad and get them exposure all over the world?

What if Jon had picked another bass player and there had been no Alec to introduce Richie to the band?

What if Tico had valued his marriage more than a shot at stardom and kept playing in cover bands so he'd have a steady income?

When it comes to Bon Jovi's breakout success, you have to look at a lot of factors and it goes beyond Jon and Richie. We know is that Jon would have gotten a deal because he got it before he had a band. Jon could have easily been marketed as a solo act. When it comes to songwriting, there are many songs he wrote solo on Bon Jovi CDs and he wrote the majority of the songs on his solo CDs alone. Richie's published three songs he wrote alone, so the comparison of Jon as a writer to Richie as a writer is warped. It can't be done because the numbers aren't there to make a real comparison.

It's all pretty much useless speculation. They are what and where they are because that's the way it worked out, not because of any one person or event.

The only thing I could say is if Richie quit the band, I'd still be buying their CDs tomorrow. I have no idea what I would have done 16 years ago.

Becky