Where did it all go wrong :(

That cuts both ways. Jon has all HIS fame and money because he handpicked 4 other guys he knew could take him to the top. They've worked their asses off and gone along with the bullshit that Jon and his organization have been selling to everybody who's gullible enough to fall for it, no matter how many times he contradicts himself, for 30 years. Jon may be the all-powerful Wizard of Oz. But I'll guarantee you that, just like in the movie, there's a whole world of shit that goes on that the Great Oz will never let anybody see unless some dog draws the curtain back and he gets caught with his pants down. And even that will probably only serve to make some fans more grateful because kissing Jon's ass will be easier that way. If they can manage to stop sucking down the kool-aid long enough, that is.

And for the record, David Bryan said in WWWB that he does resent Jon's control, but not enough to **** up his life over. That didn't sound like he was there because of loyalty to Jon or because Jon's such a great boss. He just doesn't want to lose the paycheck or the lifestyle. I'm surprised that he's stayed as long as he has because Jon treats David with even less respect than he treats Richie, but David's still hanging in there because he knows which side of his bread the butter's on. To the extent that he's now become Jon's ventriloquist dummy in interviews, spouting Jon's party line about Richie because Jon has obviously picked up on the fact that even HIS fans were sick of hearing him say it. But he still wants to remind everybody of how much they're supposed to be hating Richie, in case they might have forgotten, so he passed that assignment over to David and watches him like a hawk to make sure that he covers everything, but doesn't say too much.

David is obviously a successful songwriter for the theater and Tico has his artwork, but I have no idea how profitable those interests are. Richie may be in a better position to walk than they are because he has more songwriting credits and gets royalties from that. According to the biographers, he was able to negotiate a larger cut of the pie, too.

As for Richie being an asshole because he didn't follow through on a commitment (for reasons we still don't know) you can just paint Jon with that same brush you're holding. Choosing to "not show up" in Denver because you would rather perform in a different venue is no more justifiable than choosing to "not show up" in Calgary. Last time I checked, a commitment is a commitment, whether it's one show or 82, and regardless of whether you're letting down your brothers (who have since shown how loyal THEY are, too, btw) or just a bunch of fans that you've let down once already. And it's even more important if you're going to spend your days and nights touting your integrity, and tell the world, "What I do care about is that I have a commitment. And dedication and commitment to anything is paramount to me. And my integrity is more important than anything. I don't care about the money and I certainly don't work for anybody. So I'm [in Vancouver, 2015] because MY WORD IS MY BOND."

I'm sure Adam and the others like him who bought tickets to one or both Denver shows and made arrangements to travel cross country and took off from work, some of them twice now, have only the utmost confidence in Jon's "word". Because they didn't get any warning either.

Pointing out Jon is an arsehole doesn't validate Richie being one.

Richie didn't just bail on a tour. He's spent plenty of time during interviews painting a picture of HIM being THE songwriter of the band. He's classless.

He was my idol. Nowadays I think he's a joke.



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For someone who has been so adamant about how we shouldn't jump to conclusions because we don't know what really happened when it comes to Jon-Richie dynamic, you sure as hell did just that for Jon-David relationship.

In WWWB documentary David did not come across anywhere as miserable as you made him out to be. Remember, that it was David who was Jon's childhood friend and the first member of his bands. I''m sure that has to account to something, especially given his Broadway success, he could easily afford not being in Bon Jovi anymore. Tico is a guy who's never been polarizing and Richie has still showed him love even after he left. And he's 63, so how much additional money does he really need?

I'm sure the paychecks are very good, but to suggest that it's the main reason why they ditched their brother Richie to speak the "company line" against him does not sound believable to me. I still maintain that they would not stand so firmly behind Jon if they felt he treated Richie wrongly. Do we know that for a fact? Off course not, but that's reasonable assumption.

It's OK that you are more warm towards Richie than most of this board (because taking extremes is stupid), but I would expect a lot more reasoning from you, given the generally high quality of your posts here. If there are people on this board whom I would have expected to compare Richie leaving the band to Jon canceling the shows, you would not have been one of them. That's just plain wrong.

Hell, there are bands who tour 'till death do us apart' and there are bands who stop touring and focus on their lives. The legacy lives on. I've learnt one thing: no on in this world owes us anything. It's always a matter of choice. If someone is unhappy doing something but can't change it because of various extrernal obligations and inner sense of duty, I can only feel for him. Life is about experiencing, about learning, about loving. If your life resembles tradmill, the joy is out and money and fame just won't suffice! Taking a chance and changing the direction you're life is heading is surely one act of bravery, even if it still looks more like an act of cowardice. It's so easy to judge: he has not showed up, he's a runaway. He let his brothers down, he let his fans down, now he's going to pay the price. And he did. I'm just wondering if he would do the same move if he could turn back time. I'm guessing he wouldn't so at least he's happy with his life. Being the one who confessed that he was there to please Jon because a satisfied boss means good dynamics in a band I wouldn't be surprised that a lot of persuasion and sacrifice was in the game. No one denies, however, that there was a real bond who kept it going for damn so many years.

I truly believe what happened was alcohol. Or drugs. Or both.

Up to and including his last show, Richie was on fire. He wasn't on auto pilot just going through the motions; he was present, and truly appeared to be enjoying himself. And I don't think it was an act, because I just don't think he's that good of an actor.

Something happened during that 2 week break, and I personally suspect it was a bender. When he called to say he wasn't going to make it to Calgary, IMO his drunk ass thought he was just calling in sick and he'd be rejoining them, but Jon said hell no, not after a stunt like this. Even David said in an interview when asked about Richie's departure that Richie has his demons and needs to get help.

Jon may be difficult to work with and for, and Richie may not have loved the direction the band's music was headed in, but I just don't think either of those things caused this. And it most certainly wasn't because he suddenly wanted to be a stay at home dad for his 17 year old daughter, or that he felt "jamming with fabric" with that toxic Nikki Lund character was the more appealing option to keeping his job in Bon Jovi.

His addictions caused this. JMO

I'm 100% with you here. Nice job of articulating my thoughts after reading what Jackie wrote. I am sure that David and Jon's relationship goes waaaay deeper than a paycheck. And same for Tico. I've always felt that at the end of the day, though they may not always agree with Jon's tactics, there is 100% mutual respect there.

That's pretty much what I believe, too.

Yup - that pretty much sums up what I have always thought too.

cqleonardo, Becky, Jeeper and this!!! Richie - imo and experience, is a binger. Post healthy happy followed by fan videos of inconsistent,drunk, high or both shows. Go back through these threads and read. As long as he bank rolls a life surrounded by enablers and yes people he won't get the help, again-jmo he needs. The band doesn't "need" him, they are family but can afford to be the tough love. He doesn't think he needs it. I don't think I will forget how he left though. Not that he did - but how. He played a card, gambled and this time lost. Family will get tired of certain antics and say enough. How long before the fans do the same?

I don't wish to presume but I've long suspected he fell off the wagon during that break too. If he were sober, I can't see any justification for leaving the way he did, no matter how difficult his boss might be to work with.

This isn't meant to be an anti-Richie post. I love Richie. But it's precisely because of that that I worry I'll wake up one day to the news that he's done something that's killed him.