2024 World tour

Band album is basically Jon's album, he'll continue those as long as core band members are alive. In addition to promo shows, I think what's possible is that he signed for South American festivals this late summer. Regarding Richie, he is just an employee for a long long time, especially distant and not very dependent employee since 2006.

Why co-write with Ed Sheeran if it's not gonna matter at all? If (and it appears he does) Jon wants to add building blocks to the legacy, he owes it to the legacy to write the best Bon Jovi songs he can. And we know that him writing with Richie, recording with Richie, adds to the songs.

And so do they. Both of them.

Dude co-wrote every single song on The Circle though. Every one.

I think the thrill of writing and releasing is there but keep in mind we know that a tour is coming next year, or least something he's preparing for (unless he's being genuine when he says he doesn't know).

But I'm talking NEXT album. Let's say they hang up touring, I don't know if I see him still putting out albums under the Bon Jovi name if he's unable to go on the road. Thats' just my opinion though.

I think we are getting a next album regardless. Even if he cannot tour, I think he would sign off the band with a new releases. After that who knows, but then that is the case anyway considering how old everybody is. I don't see Bon Jovi releasing albums in the 2030s either way.

True, but it doesn't change the fact he was an employee, same as all the other guys. He was an important songwriting partner, something that was taken then by Shanks and Falcon, etc. But from Jon's perspective, I can see the deterioration of their relationship more akin to business relationship and less as "brotherhood", that stuff is more PR for the fanbase. There was at least no brotherhood, if not outright animosity between them. In fact, I would argue between Jon and others too in that period before WAN, as Jon was in his asshole rockstar persona more than ever (WWWB revealed some of that).

For whatever reasons, Richie fell of the wagon, he was a wreck on 2006 tour, he was a complete wreck for 2007 promo shows (and if I remember correctly, sometimes around that he was in rehab for the 1st time), then he needed replacement on 2011 tour with Phil X coming, before finally bailing out on WAN tour indefinitely.

I can rationalize Jon's point of view of being fed up that his "employee" and more and more distant partner is not reliable and is shadow of himself while he tries to make enough money for NFL.

I can also rationalize Richie's point of view, where he is struggling but his partner and "brother" is basically asshole CEO who doesn't care and breaks promise of a little hiatus after 2011 tour and cycle, and makes a rather rash decision to just not be there on the night of the concert. Whatever happens after that, and whatever they say about it, is very much everything except the cold truth, and probably it must be like that.

Jon is finally "humbled" by his voice, but I don't know if he truly sees his role in Richie's absence. I wonder, if not Richie, would it be possible that Tico or David in that time period said f*ck it, I won't do it? We know that Tico basically didn't show up for WAN early recordings? Jon was really obnoxious, even from far away

Of course he was an employee, he always was. I was more responding to the point "Regarding Richie, he is just an employee for a long long time, especially distant and not very dependent employee since 2006" and 2006 felt a little early to insinuate he stopped beign dependandable and wasn't part of the song writing team. I think he still had a strong involvement in the albums barring WAN that was far more patchy.

You have a point, it's reasonable. I was more thinking perhaps in live setting, which is more pressing for a band to have functional members. But yeah, perhaps too harsh.

Personally I don't think Richie was not able to even finish WAN or whatever, he was a high functioning alcoholic since 80's (not so dissimilar to Jon?), just hit a rough patch after 2005. But I think that his deteriorating relationship with Jon played important part in his decision to quit from 2013 tour. If they were more closer, then Richie could've explained or convinced Jon (with others) to delay WAN cycle. But I presume they were all very distant in that sense, while I don't think that was the case in 2000 or 1995 (even though they were equally "employees")

Here is an excerpt from Tico Torres interview with Billboard on Jon's vocal recovery with JBJ interview as well:

Jon, there are a few moments in the documentary when you talk about finding joy and how that was hard to do while you were really struggling with your voice. Where are you both finding joy these days?

Tico: I think we’re living the joy now. Jon’s been through a lot, and of course everybody goes through that pain with him. The joy is the revival. Doing a record together is cleansing. Jon’s lyrics — and I’m not a lyricist; I don’t listen to lyrics — but this is one of the few records where I listen to every one of them, because they just grabbed me. There was a lot of joy in making this record. I think we’re enjoying it. Jon, what do you think?

Jon: Well, we are. I’ll give you a great example: when we’re at these rehearsals and we’re just marking the progress that I’m making on a monthly basis. There’s no miracles, but when I look around the room and not once does the band sit there and go, “I don’t want to be here.” Or “I don’t want to play that song again.” That to me is love on a whole other level.

We know we’re not going out on the road tomorrow. We know we’re not being paid to sit in this rehearsal space. But the guys are like, “Of course I’ll be there. Let’s go. Let’s do it again.” Or if I crash and burn, they go, “Okay, I traveled all this way and we played an hour before I’ve gotta cool it.” Nobody has cursed me for it. They’re like, “We’re with you.” That’s the love of family and band and brotherhood that no presents, no cars, no art, no silly kids’ stuff could ever, ever replace.

Source: https://www.billboard.com/music/musi...source=twitter

I like this. It seems genuine, not just businessman Jon adjusting the PR angle