Here's a scenario for you and if this has already been covered, then I apologise...

IF Richie has left, his rep is going to have sustained some damage. However, the overriding feeling when listening to Aftermath is that despite some epic moments of self-awareness and musicality, the man does need someone else to bounce off of.

So let's play...

Come up with a possible SuperGroup and also name maximum one producer and two songwriters from outside of the group who could assist. Then give your reasons why you picked them.

I would love to see/hear what Richie could come up with if he nabbed the following guys and wrote/recorded something...

Vocals: Sammy Hagar
Drums: Mark Richardson (Little Angels/Skunk Anansie)
Bass: Duff McKagan
Guitar & Vocals: RS
Rhythm Guitar: Ron Wood
Keyboards: Nick Rhodes (Duran Duran)

A throwback group, I know but f*ck it... they'd be such a crazy mix of genres, I reckon it could work.

Hagar is a simple man, he sings for pleasure, nothing more. I think this would suit Richie down to the ground and be a HUGE change of pace for him.

I was going to go with Zak Starkey on drums but I don't want to over complicate things and Mark Richardson is an intelligent and versatile drummer, he could fit in with whatever comes out of the sessions.

Duff... speaks for itself. He can play punk, rock and all with effortless cool. The bass can be a lead instrument or a beautiful thumping, sloppy heartbeat... and live, you wouldn't be gutted if you ended up on his side of the stage, watching him play.

Ronnie can play anything and, again, the common thread here is (as well as all being over 40!) they LOVE their music... writing it, recording it, playing it live. Richie's guitar spends too much time fighting with Bobby and JBJ for space, the songs were never intending to be two/three guitars interwoven... but Ronnie would make Richie a much better player...

Nick Rhodes? Watch the BBC documentary about the album Rio and tell me this guys isn't the most eccentric, wonderful musician since Keith Moon. He always fights for the integrity of the song and knows when a tune is about guitar, not keys.

Producer: Rick Rubin.

Co-writers:

Danny O'Donoghue - The man can write a hook and will bring a nice, fresh perspective. Plus, he is used to adapting to the room he is in and writing for the artist.

Jon Bon Jovi - Yep, really. Why not? Him in a room, being kept honest by Sammy and the rest, they might just tap some gold. Of course, they might end up writing something like 'Put The Boy Back In Cowboy', in which case, I'd have to have them all beaten with hosepipes but they might, just create something magic.

That's mine. Don't slate it, come up with your own.