Sambora: No freedom in Bon Jovi

What did Jon even say?

I totally agree with you, Becky. Still, I think that for the next Bon Jovi album, if there's any, Jon, Richie and David (would say Tico but, does he write at all? I know he used to) should sit and write a lot of songs together as a band.

Still, to be fair, what I think that Richie wanted to say is that Bon Jovi is a brand, their audience is going to be expecting some kind of music and both Jon and he "have" to write inside that margin.

Will Richie ever shut the hell up?

Should be the next album title.

Haha, perfect!

Richie does write and produce the songs. That's what co-writers and co-producers do. In exactly the same way that Jon wrote IBTFY or NSG (and has said that he wrote them). In the same way David wrote In These Arms (and said, "I wrote it.").

They don't, however, have final say about what songs are used and what happens on stage. Richie has said for years, and rightfully so, that when he writes for Jovi he's limited to the songs that Jon, as the band's mouthpiece, can sell; songs that Jon can sing with authority and authenticity. And those songs may very well not say all that Richie, as a solo artist, wants to express. So in that regard he is "being held back."

You may think Richie's albums are similar to BJ musically (although, given the way you seem to think so little of his solo work, I admit I was surprised to read that you would give him that much credit); but I would argue that, lyrically, his songs are "drastically different" from anything Jon or Bon Jovi has done.

Richie isn't saying anything recently that he hasn't said before in countless interviews. The only difference, now, is that people are pissed off at him and because of that they are hearing it with different ears. So if it was something you were hearing I would offer that as a possible explanation. As for what you're smelling, I think that's probably coming from a different source.

Hmm I see in this interview sentence "also in Bon Jovi".

Most of you interpreting this like Richie would said "outside Bon Jovi I did what I want. In Bon Jovi I was like in prison".

But I would said it sound to me like this:
"In last past years I was like in musically cage which I made for all my single solos songs, projects which I choosed to take part and ALSO in Bon Jovi "

so I think he says
All my music decisions were done like I was in cage

not

Jon made like I feel in cage...

Anyone agree with me??

I agree also with people that AOLowdown sound like Richie take some outtakes from Bon Jovi past albums and record as his own.

I agree with everything in this post.

Lyrically, his solo material is much different to the cut and paste Bon Jovi lyrics used so widely since Crush. Musically, it may sound similar because it's played by the same guy who writes (or co-writes) the guitar parts. I do think people are perhaps so wrapped up in their own ideas as to what Richie really wants to do, that when he finally gets his 'freedom' and produces the likes of AOTL, it doesn't meet their expectations and so he must be full of shit.

I think he is writing what he wants - it's just some people still don't like it.

As for the 'freedom' aspect of performing, the number of times we've said, "there's no spontaneity in the band any more," "they aren't the BIG bar-band they once claimed (rightly) to be," "the whole show and setlist seemed like auto-pilot,"... I'd be getting sick of that too if I were in Richie's shoes. Richie was the one who knew the likes of 'Stick To Your Guns' etc., when banners were held aloft but you can't help but wonder if the reason those tunes aren't in the sets any more is because of Jon's vocal limitations. It's all ground and speculation that has been covered plenty of times before on here but all of a sudden, because Richie acted so controversially and bailed on the tour last year, those now half-confirmed whispers are completely thrown out because of him leaving so abruptly. It's like people have gone completely overboard and give him no credibility at all for where he's coming from because he walked away mid-tour and yet still nobody around here is aware of the full picture.

He's answering questions fairly honestly, something we've been clamouring for the band to do for a long time and of course interviewers are going to ask him about Bon Jovi. He's probably being a little naive with the truth but I'd still be more inclined to believe where he's coming from than some pre-planned, PR statement from brand Jovi that's riddled with corporate spin.

Jon forced one record, one tour. He no care a shit his band. He always has a spare for Tico, David and Richie. When a leader records a new album and no matter what their peers are in the studio is a problem.





If AOTL was a album jovi would be talking of best effort post 2000. WAN is an example of what you want Jon, songs based on a production, no powerful messages in his songs, no guitar solos, not enough rock for a rock band. AOTL is very different, it is an album that is not based on production, but have the message, is not perfect, but God knows there is a big difference between the two albums. There are decent guitar solos, and as a fan of Bon Jovi missed him. Why don't have big riffs and guitar solos the last albums of Bon Jovi?

If AOTL it were a Jovi album all agree that would be one of the best albums post 2000.

Ah Rolo behave yourself. You've made the last statement sound like an indisputable fact and it isn't. Not by a long way.

AOTL is great in places. "I'll Always Walk Beside You", "Seven Years Gone", "Learning How to Fly..." and "You Can Only Get So High" are the best run of four songs I've seen on any Jovi related release since 2000. They're all tremendous songs. But stuff like "World", "Sugar Daddy", "Nowadays" and "Weathering the Storm" are pretty mediocre while "Taking a Chance on the Wind" is generic sounding on the album (unlike the live version). AOTL is patchy and not as good as Crush, Have a Nice Day or Lost Highway for me.

In terms of Jon and Richie and their interviews - Jon is coming out of this as a class above Richie. Richie is sh!tting all over what made him famous and looking a bit petty while Jon is just seemingly rising above it.

**** no. AOTL is a massive turd which took 10 frigging years to be completed, which gives you an inkling of how little talented and inspired Sambora may be these days.
Anyway I still think Sambora should shut up now though I'm glad he feels free to play his solo crap (crap which fits perfectly his old tramp look and drunkard behavior).