Richie's gone soft

I know I'm going to be in the minority for siding with this person but he's made it pretty clear that he's not just talking about this tour. I don't know why I'm agreeing but...something IS different with Richie's playing. The word sloppy comes to mind. The way he hits the notes changed a bit. Surely there are other guitar players around these parts that can throw in their opinion.

I'm sure I remember reading somewhere that Jon wrote the solo for Undivided and some of the others from Bounce sound quite basic/similar too, I must have read it somewhere, I don't tend to make things like that up.

Undivided has, IMO, the best solo on the whole Bounce record (especially the "One" demo), so if Richie wrote Everyday and Jon wrote Undivided, I'd say, way to go, Jon. What I've read is that Jon wrote the riff for Undivided. Maybe that's what you were remembering?

It was on bonjovi.com that Jon came up with the riffs (not solos, just riffs) for some of the Bounce songs--Undivided & Hook Me Up were specifically mentioned. I remember that because it simply surprised me so much that he was the one who came up with the harder edged sounds.

I also have an interview him talking about how he imagined the solo for Right Side of Wrong:

http://www.cosmopolis.ch/english/cos..._interview.htm

YES. I thought the song was merely okay until I read that interview. Really brought a new light to that song.

It's one that has stood the test of time. I like it more today than I did 4 years ago.

I know I'm not going to be objective when it comes to talking about Richie's playing because I've met and talked with him so that will make me biased. He's had an incredibly tough year, so I for one, am cutting him some slack. We'll see what happens with the next record and tour.

deb

these days richie, to me, just does enough

i mean he isnt 25 anymore- he doesnt need to be recognised as a top guitar player, he has earned that respect already, richie also isnt as fit and young as he once was therefore added with the strain of a broken shoulder this tour richie has maybe calmed down a fraction.

also in my eyes richie is still the same person as he always was on stage with the way he acts althought as a whole yes i would agree that a small amont of his stage presence has been lost but he still has the banter with jon and the crowd and in my eyes still steals the show night after night.

if you want to talk about solos and richies guitar work then i shall say this, in the past 20 years jon and richies writing style have fluctuated vastly menaing that they could wright big hitting ballads, hard rock anthems and pop rock. to me HAND and hints of Bounce are pop records and i dont think richie sees the need to play vast solos that show him off as being a brilliant guitar player, if you want to judge richies guitar work i suggest you buy NJ, TLFR and These days.

to me richie still holds his own on stage and it isnt as though hes majorly ****ing up every show, ok a few bum notes, but hes human and its to be expected. on the other hand this tour richie has been firing out immense solos in songs such as IBTFY, Dry county, In these arms etc...

the list goes on.......

i just cant see the big fuss everyones making

I agee with first poster.

And I say it again, Sambora has to leave to keep this band alive...

i totally disagree if anyone should leave it should be dave hes useless