August 18, 2017: Bon Jovi Endicott, NY

This is a tough one for me, because I see both sides of it. Some aging rockstars are still coloring their hair, wearing it long, and when they are 55+, it's looks kind of ridiculous (although I think Steven Tyler pulls it off well.) But at the same time, Jon with gray hair is such a shock. It added 15 years to him it seemed overnight. And to make it worse, he lost his voice drastically around the same time.

Is it still all rainbows and ponies on backstage, or are they discussing this?

I'll play devils advocate here... This is one of those discussions that go full circle...

Just because Jon's voice isn't up to par doesn't mean he needs to quit. I just think he needs to make adjustments to match his current capabilities...even if that means pulling out classic hits...

He's not up there performing so people can watch smart phone videos on YouTube or so people can collect bootlegs. When you go to concerts, it's a 'live in the now' moment... I personally think that he's got some echo or auto tune device on his mic that doesn't work with phone analog but does well with arena acoustics...

The shows I attended in Philly and MSG did not sound nearly as bad as the YouTube videos I've watched. And plenty of other fans confirmed this too.. I'm not going to state the reasons why again but as long as fans can still have a good time, so be it...

I've seen some bands this summer that were far worse that Bon Jovi. The singer might sing better but everything else was a disaster.

When I go to concerts, there are other elements I enjoy. To be able to attend a Bon Jovi show 35 years in is pretty cool. So I watch Jon blunder a few songs. So be it... There are still plenty of other enjoyable factors...

You have a choice! If it's not your thing, don't go! Jon's 55 and has the right to slow down. We get an album every 2 to 3 years. We get a tour every 2 to 3 years... Jon does 30 shows within the US major cities - first leg... Takes 3 months off and does 15 shows over in Europe - second leg.... Then Jon disappears for the next 2 to 3 years and the cycle continues...

Again, I just think Jon needs to make adjustments to match his current capabilities and continue on. I'd rather hear an acoustic version of Bed Of Roses that's enjoyable verses one that is unlistenable.

Pretty much this.

Hey, maybe there was something inside the hair color he was using that helped him sustain his voice for this long? Like a fountain of youth or something. Just kidding, of course

I agree for the most part. And I don't want him/them to stop, since he's my all-time favorite artist and BJ my all-time favorite band. And I'll still go if they should come to Europe. Yet I hope he'll continue to improve and reach some level where he feels comfortable again. The rest would come naturally then...

And no, we don't know if that's possible or not. We just don't. It could very well be that it isn't, but as far as I'm concerned, he's improved a lot since the 4 promo shows, so keep going Jon!

Thing is, for me seeing Bon Jovi was always about 4 main things:

The Songs, The Voice, The Front Man, Sambora.

Nowadays we only get The Songs. That's just not Bon Jovi for me.

I do agree that Jon should adjust things to suit his voice, but for me it still wouldn't be Bon Jovi. Call it Jon Bon Jovi. The band is done...

Couldn't agree more. Dunno how can some ppl play devil's advocate while there's so little to defend! The demise is obvious, painful and irreversible. It's a matter of time when the band calls it quits because you can't go forever anyway.

I agree. I'm not saying that Jon needs to quit at all; I just think it would be healthier if he would take care of himself first. Then he can determine what his current capabilities truly are, without the "push" factor that seems, to me, to be hindering more than helping. (Think, "I ain't quittin'; I'm just splittin' for a while.")

And I totally agree with "if it's not your thing, don't go". I'd even take it a step further. Watching YT is a choice, too. Nobody's holding a gun to anybody's head. If you can't watch the YT videos without it putting you into a deep funk because your band isn't what it used to be, don't watch 'em.

But if someone chooses to watch them, and wants to come here and bitch about it, that's another choice; and people should be willing to accept it as an opinion. Nothing more, nothing less.

The way I see it, a forum is a place where people can discuss topics of mutual interest and express their opinions, whether they are popular opinions or not. It then becomes my choice to follow or participate in the discussion, if I'm interested, or move the hell on if I'm not. I can choose to agree or to disagree with someone's opinion, debate it, or ignore it altogether.

Or enjoy it for nothing more than the entertainment value.

Sorry, but this I can't agree with at all. I don't think we know that anything is irreversible. Especially when we don't know what is causing the situation as it exists (on many levels; since I seem to find myself saying that about a lot of different things related to the current state of the band).

The jury is still out on all of it, imo.

Me, too. Just not necessarily in that order.

I don't know, but judging by the criticism BSWJBJ has received here, it's been a board where no bad word of Jon has been allowed to be said. But, to be honest, even the Backstagers must have fully acknowledged Jon's problems by now, as his all-round deterioration as a performer has been way too obvious to go unnoticed. Even the newspaper reviews of recent BJ gigs have pointed out Jon's vocal decline.

Right, we don't know what caused such FAST deterioration in Jon's overall performance (because age and impressive period of showmanship surely took its toll on him) but it's progressing and even though some folks noticed he must have had some voice coaching, it's still not enough! Would surgery be the only way out? Well, you can iron your face so it's wrinkless but dunno if the surgery can work miracles. It can help, obviously but it won't magically turn back time. And the psychological factors are surely connected with the lack of confidence when you know your voice sucks. Vicious cycle, folks! Plus he surely misses Richie more he'd ever admit for a million of reasons even though he bailed on the tour and sort of betrayed him and the band. Still, I don't believe one person is entirely to blame so that's why there are surely more factors playing a role in the drama. Can't see Richie coming back to the band anytime soon though and the guys ain't getting any younger! At least Phil X is enhusiastic about going on tour again. He showed his guitars on twitter and I must admit I like the guy more I'd expected I would.

Besides, I'm sure Jon has already consulted the best docs out there. He's not stupid, he can afford that. If it was the case, he'd be recovering somewhere in secret so we perhaps wouldn't even know. Richie's coming back won't solve all his confidence probs, either but his fricking harmonies would be of GREAT help. I remember one of Howard Stern's shows where Rich demonstrated his vocal skills and man, it was out of this world!