The Times article about the last 3 years

Excellent article, I had not read this one so thanks for the post.

I noticed how he said he could go on without any "one" of them. Maybe I took that too literally (Yes Alec - but they have well moved beyond that point) and I wish the interviewer had ask about Tico's health scare.

At that point in the tour, if you just reread the pages here, Jon was imo getting tired, his voice was weaker with each show. That was a heavy tour plus add in the what could go wrong did pressure and I wonder if Tico had not been able to come back - would that have changed everything? Now - I'm thankful that Tico recovered, quite quickly actually and he has to be a tough man.

Just read the words to Ghost.... Fire and Gasoline.... now that the inspiration has been confirmed.

People go through hard times differently for different reasons.

I appreciate that he was willing to admit how difficult it was. To be honest, I don't care to compare the validity of how hard it was. I just care that he's honest and willing to be vulnerable. Because to be honest, vulnerable musicians write the best music.

One thing is certain. He is way more humble and less arrogant than before. Might be because of his voice is lacking and all issues Richie relating.

Agree with that.

I think it would kill his voice to do a huge stadium tour and I'm not sure there's any interest in stadiums any more from fans and possibly JBJ himself from the way he is talking.
Been there, done that and now move onto smaller venues.
It'll be hard for the ego at first but last night was exactly how I (and 100s of others) have always wanted to see them - 6 feet away on a tiny stage - which again suits a 50+ year old - no running around.
Play to 2500-5000 die hards every night rather than half full stadiums where you have to give tickets away in the town centre a few hours before the gig starts - as per WAN tour.
It's a new chapter so change the tour to a small venue done.

I thought the most telling quote was when Jon was asked to explain Richie's leaving, he said, “I haven’t done enough interviews to give you an answer to that... “There has been a history, let’s leave it at that." I expect Jon will come up with an answer--if not that one --that he will repeat interview after interview without giving away any information.

In another tv entertainment interview when he was asked if Richie had called him, he said that Richie left and they didn't hear from him in 3.5 years. He said Richie had posted "that thing" when THINFS came out and he responded but Jon clearly was dismissive about the whole thing.

In the meantime, Richie has been saying all along that he has been in communication with Jon. First he said that it was via texts and email but not to long ago he said that they had talked. I recall that a few weeks after he left he was interviewed on a fashion red carpet about returning to the band and he said that "it was close...Hyde Park was going to be too soon but September-October was more likely." So someone is lying. Jon says no calls in 3.5 years, Richie says otherwise. Probably their lawyers or management were doing the all the communicating. Obviously Jon worked out a deal with the record company "that I could live with and they could accept" but not a deal with Richie. That door is closed and locked.

I am glad the "new" band is being seen as happy and energized. Jon always does better when he has a chip on his shoulder with something to prove --even if he is saying right now that he "has a lot to say and nothing to prove."

I found that part weird to be honest, I thought that his "interview response" to all Richie questions was always going to be "it's not a life sentence to be in a rock band and there's no ill will", which he has said like 5 times already. But now it seems that he may indeed say something of more substance in the future.

As far as communication, Jon said he spoke to Richie on the phone once since he left and seen him 0 times, so I would assume the communication Richie referring has been one between managements.

Indeed, he is also more relaxed with the press and less, well, prick-ish.

I was thinking earlier that Jon seems more accepting of things, his voice included, that's a good thing.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm sure Jon has said that more than 5 times. I was getting tired of hearing/reading it, but now for some reason I wish Jon had repeated that yet again instead of mentioning "history".

Or maybe Richie just lied back then because he wanted the fans to think he might be back on the tour and he was put on the spot by journalists.