Richie vs Country

I've seen a few people with the assumption Richie hates country, or doesn't like it, or wants to get back to rock...where did this come from? Is this a bunch of Richie fans who hate country just wanting to think Richie does too, has he given that impression in interviews...what?

Because the last news of Richie's solo album (that I'm aware of, at least, and I don't follow Richie that much) was that he was working with country artists, wasn't it?

http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/...bring_the_rock

That's old, and I know there have been a few incarnations of "Richie's next solo album", yeah, but is there any kind of source to assume he's done a 180, or he thought country was good enough for him but not the band?

Aloha !

It's part of the Richie fans who hate country. Richie has never said he dislikes country and would come across as a fool if he'd say he'd hate country while touring a country influenced album.

Salaam Aleikum,
Sebastiaan

That's what I've been assuming. I keep seeing it in a bunch of different places, so I was curious as to whether he randomly pulled a 180 and did a few interviews after the one I quoted where he said anything remotely like "I hate country, and I hope Jon never makes me play anything country-ish because I will cry salty salty tears."

For whatever reason, I'd be perfectly fine with a solo country record by either Richie or Jon. I am sure it would be something made NOT for mainstream pop-country radio but for old-school country fans. James Hetfield or Dee Snider also sang country. However, they sounds like Johhny Cash and not like this guy who's the husband of Tom Cruise's ex-wife (I can't remember either their names right now). Ahh whatever...

HA! Your post brings something to my mind!

If BJ made a record influenced by real country, ala Johnny Cash, and not a record influences by the new pop-country... it might actually be pretty decent. Johnny's "Man Comes Around" was just a masterpiece and did pretty well for him, I don't see how a record of country-fied covers wouldn't work to BJ's advantage. Instead, their reputation just keeps sinking. Aerosmith's was too so they made a risky move and recorded Honking on Bobo, which didn't sell as well as their pop stuff but was a great album.

As far as Richie saying the band keeps evolving, I think he's a little off, I think they are un-evolving because HAND and LH are about as good as BJ and 7800F.

I don't know if Richie ever said it, but back around the release of KTF Jon said he liked country but Richie didn't. I believe it was a Hit Parader article.

I can totally imagine that. Richie was a pot-smoking, head-banging, groupie-****ing guitarist. Well, Jon was quite the opposite :P

Ah, who cares. If Richie didn't like it, he should've quit the band. He is playing He wrote some songs. It's also his fault we get this shit. The only one I don't blame is Tico. He's the only one that stayed a machine. He's a damn animal. It's a pleasure to see him drum. 54 and rocking harder than anyone else in the band! Wasn't his birthday some time these days? And no one opened a thread. Shame!

VIVA la TICO

well Richie's roots are in Blues - I'd prefer that to be honest.

This already happened. It was called Blaze Of Glory.

i don't consider Blaze or the YG2 album as country.