Richie Sambora

You have to remember that for a tour days off are expensive. You make no money, but you can't send the crew home so they still need to be payed, as well as hotels and/or bus and truck rentals, the cost of days off can add up and more than a day off (or two at a push) between each show could make the tour financially unviable.

This guy's voice basically had 2.5 years of touring rest between late 2019 and early 2022 and still worsened rapidly. Days off inbetween won't save that anymore. That may have been a helpful tool back in 1987 or 1993 when they had up to 5 shows per week, but not anymore.

Wondering if a surgery could helped at this point? Maybe a surgery that already took place?

Anyway, Richie could do 1 or 2 songs, like IBTFY like he did in the MSG DVD, David could do a verse or two in ITA and a sing along during Wanted (plus Richie doing part of the song) like it happened in 2011 Open Air Tour (check video below) and Prayer as well and still be fine. Plus Richie’s backing vocals can help cover Jon’s weaknesses.

https://youtu.be/YBXhV23NI3Y

https://youtu.be/9tuyArjhCPU

I think this will be the key, if it happens, rather than Richie having a set of songs. Richie's voice has always been prominent in the live mix, as far back as Slippery. On that tour Richie was carrying a lot of the weight vocally, you can hear it on an recordings from that era. He's always harmonised with Jon a lot, and not just on the Chorus'. i think using Richie's backing vocals to cover Jon's shortcomings vocally would take the pressure of Jon, enabling him to relax more and be what he's best at - a front man!

I think that’s what’s been missing from Bon Jovi’s shows. Seeing them live in 2011 (with Richie), 2013, 2019 without him, and seeing the videos from the RNRHOF induction, Richie’s backing vocals is what’s been missing all along from the show vocally. Apart from Richie’s playing and being the soul of the band, his backing vocals have been missing heavily during the show. Vocally, Richie has been an indispensable part of the show and of the band, and Phil X can’t replace that, neither can David or anyone else for that part.

Isn't that what Everett was more or less hired for, to be main backing vocalist?

Pretty much, but his voice was still way lower in the mix that Richie's ever was, and his vocal parts were not as prominent. Richie was out front and the main focal point after Jon when he was in the band, so to have Richie help with a lot of the vocals seemed natural. Some random guy at the back (sorry but to most of the crowd that's what he is) would seem odd. Phil doesn't have the right kind of voice for it, and besides none of them sound as good as the Jon/Richie combo vocally. It would be interesting to see how/if that still works with Jon's current voice...but to me there was no better vocal combo in rock music.

No clue but I can't even tell that Everett (great guy btw) sings the band's backing vocals during the live concerts. Also Everett is being busy with the E Street Band so I guess no Bon Jovi tour in 2023 unless Richie returns and they go with him instead.

Nonetheless, Richie and Jon combined was always natural and I'm pretty sure that's what has been missing from the band all this time making Jon sound as bad as ever. Richie's backing vocals helped A LOT to cover for Jon's messed up vocals and also helped the show with some sort breaks. The WDOA video from Athens, Greece can show that too.

I'm pretty sure if Richie returns to the band, Jon would also sound way better, at least as a combined thing.

Oh I'm not implying it's better with Everett or I prefer him over Richie. I just don't understand the constant rhetoric that having Richie there will allow Jon to relax. If Richie being gone is the reason Jon can't relax enough to sing a) that's insane and b) He would have been back years ago.

I'm not trying to poop on parades, the 2018 rock hall performance was great for nostalgia warm fuzzy feelings but as far as quality goes? Not great. and that was almost five years ago. Neither J or R were at their best for that show, is it sustainable for a whole tour?

EDIT: Is Everett on tour with Bruce this year? I didn't realize he was part of the touring lineup and can't find much mention of it online (which doesn't mean much, obviously, just curious)

It remains to be seen. But Richie being there to pick up the slack/more difficult notes if Jon is having an off night would be a relief surely. He certainly carries more weight vocally than Everett.

Not really. There are clearly other issues between Jon and Richie that needed to be worked out first. Maybe still do. Also Everett wil be much cheaper than Richie