RadarOnline: Richie Sambora Checking Into Rehab

Just a point about this - you can't sell fan club tickets if you aren't going to be there to pick up the ticket.

Beside that it is probably way too short termed until we get to know if Richie will be there or not at the concert we planned to go. So no chance to find a buyer in case.

Did not know this! Perhaps you have no choice then, which sucks, but I still don't believe this is all cold and calculated like some people are saying. It is just a crappy situation all around. I feel the most sorry for Richie, as from the stories I have heard from people who have dealt with him personally, all say he is a very nice guy.

I've been reading through all these posts over the past days, contemplating if and/or when I'd write a few words on my own. So I finally decided to write something down. Of course it is all to easy to look at it only out of your own perspective, since the only perspective we really have are our own. One can always feel angry/let-down/pissed off/dissapointed/infuriated or whatever other words most suitable to ones own vocabulary regarding the matter as a whole, that doesn't mean you don't care about the man (Richie) being sick - because in honesty he really is sick with alcohol issues. I don't think anyone here on the board doesn't care about Richie and not wanting him to get better, that would be cold. That doesn't mean we are not allowed to be let down or infuriated about it occuring at such a bad timing. That doesn't make us any less of a fan or a "bad fan" if you would choose that word. It only makes us human because we are, in fact, paying usually big money to see a group of people doing a professional job. And this is mostly where my own world collide - professional job. The job of these five guys (tour crew etc aside) is to show up, entertain people and touch their hearts in one way or another. Bon Jovi is an installment where all the people add to the equation that makes it into a functional unity. Because in truth - no other sings like Jon because he has honed that skill for more than 30 years where the same rules apply to the rest of the members. The only one I could ever be seen substituted for a few shows are Hugh, even though he's great, that would be less noticed. A guitar is a very distinct instrument and no one can play that instrument exactly like someone else just like almost no one else can share your identical DNA. Add to this the vocal harmony between Jon and Richie, the dynamic between them, the simple magic between them in a live setting. It is something that goes deeper than what the instrument is actually playing. That magic is a key ingredience of a Bon Jovi show and can't be faked, less copied. And if that ingredient is missing, it just isn't Bon Jovi as we have come to know, respect, and love.

The whole discussion about re-scheduling, refunds or the likes are beyond the scope of my text here, this is about me and my reaction. So on a personal note, of course I'm pissed and let down. I understand all the reasons behind it, I understand health comes first (I bloody well should as I'm a doctor), but if I plan to go and see Bon Jovi I want to see BON JOVI, and with that I mean all the things that are the magic and not only the notes and choruses. For some time I have felt that this band is heading for retirement, in my opinion time is catching up to them on so many levels. I have lived and breathed the music of this band for almost 20 years, they have been a major part in my life through ups and downs; dancing with girlfriends, periods of being brutaly dumped, in the background when my kids were born - they have been there. I saw them live on magic moments between 1993-2001, and now I haven't seen them for pretty much 10 years for a various amount of reasons. I wanted to see them at least once more when they are still fit to deliver their magic in a pretty decent and straightforward matter, so I got tickets to Munich for me and my son, booked flights and hotel and was so looking forward to a night with my musical heroes and legends. That I now might witness this maybe very last evening with one of those heroes and legends missing, well if you call me stupid for that reason - go ahead. I want to see Bon Jovi, and for me Bon Jovi is Jon, Richie, David, Hugh, and Tico - not Jon, David, Hugh, Tico and someone else.

After 20 years this is not how I wanted the most magical musical journey of my life to end, and for that very reason I'm both angry and let down. That doesn't mean I don't care about Richie, on the opposite, I react this way BECAUSE I care.

Postpone/cancel has appeared alot in this thread. Also crew and contracts. Maybe Jon hasn't cancelled any show because he aswell as us are in the dark as of how long Richie will be away. It would be unfair to cancel the next x shows and then Richie is available for x - 3.

Just a thought (and please excuse me if it's already been mentioned- there are so many posts I may have forgotten seeing it), but would the shows still be going ahead if Jon was the one missing for a dozen shows? Richie and Dave could share the vocals, or they could bring someone in. But would it still be Bon Jovi? Would this forum be split on cancelling the shows, or unanimous in opinion? I know where my money lies on that one...

There is not a chance in hell that they wouldn't cancel the show. Jon is the lead singer, and Jon is more Bon Jovi than the others. Casuals will know the difference if Jon's gone, not as many will notice if Richie is.

Easy answer, no. There is no way that the show would go ahead and you can't even compare. Bon Jovi is Jon. You can try and argue and have all discussions about Richie and David but there is no way, that people would go to a bon jovi show and Jon not singing. That is like saying U2 to go ahead without Bono or the Stones with Mick. No way!!

I could also say U2 should play without The Edge, or The Stones should play without Keef.
I've no doubt at all that the shows would be postponed if Jon had to pull out. I fully understand about the casual fans seeing Jon as the main event.
The common opinion is that the diehards are the minority but I think we do ourselves a disservice by sometimes thinking we are a very small minority. A large portion of the crowd would feel the same about losing Richie, Richards or The Edge as they would losing Jon, Mick, or Bono. Which is why I think postponing the shows would have been best outcome- why are the true fans losing out to suit the casuals.

Fredrik, that was very well said. I don't have the same long history with the band that you have, but my feelings are very similar. It's the "whole" that makes the magic. Once you break pieces out of that whole, it simply isn't the same. A different combination may make the same music, but that isn't the whole story.