here's a quick one for the good times ;)

The 2nd O2 show was a very good show indeed, I would put it up there as one of the better ones I've seen. None of the others were anywhere near, but as a whole it was good to hear a good few different songs- nowhere near enough from what they could, and should, have done, but I couldn't have forseen getting Let It Rock and Santa Fe (irrespective of performance quality) before the shows began even with them being generous with rarities.

i'm a guitarist myself and I did not find it horrible. richie's been slightly lazy over the years, much due to his personal problems. I'm not saying he's excused, as people paid money to be blown away. richie's been doing some minor mistakes here and then but so has the rest of the band. and don't get me started on poor performances cause Jon takes the lead on that !

anyways, i'm not "whining" about richie not being there. I'm sad, that's a fact, I praise his work very much and i've been a fan for 15 years. and I don't think there's anything wrong with being sympathetic with someone you admire, even if you don't know him/her personally.

and no, I don't believe his performance on let it rock was awful. I just don't see it.

that's what I don't get in the first place. you're ether a richie hater or you're a whiner, according to Mr. Hawaii over there.

Not often I agree with you but I have to say I agree on everything you said here. The o2 shows I witnessed was absolutely stunning. But don't forget that Seb is the king here and everything he says is law. Pathetic really,

sloppy, hit a few bad notes. sounds like a drunk guy in a cover band.
and ya Jon is flat, the band is weak, uninspired. (except for Tico who is playing pretty good there)

If that is where the bar was set for "good times" and that was "the end" of the good times.
I am shocked.

I'm not a Richie hater, but I sure get tired of spoiled rock stars thinking they can do whatever they want

as far as the sympathy thing goes.. maybe there has been a little too much sympathy and not enough "pull your shit together people are counting on you" over the years.

Having said that I hope he gets the help he needs and he takes care of himself.

You know, I don't get this. Why is he consently called a douche? I don't see what he said wrong but no matter what, he is called this or that. Not saying that he isn't a douche because he probably is but honestly, it gets so old.

When did Richie become the star turn? Not bashing you but in Europe, is Richie more popular than Jon? (being serious here, not being a pain).

I don't see it as Richie hate but for me personally, I think he is getting a lot of "poor Richie". I definitely do hope he gets better but at the end of the day, it was Richie who got himself in this mess. At the end of the day, if he is not in Europe, it's not the band's fault, it's Richie's fault. I see Richie being handled with kid gloves and Jon as the big, mean bastard and it's all Jon's fault.

well, remember the beatles ? everyone had their 'favourite' beatle right ? richie is some of us favourite jovi.
anyway, i called him a douche cause he can be too harsh sometimes and really respect other people's opinions. that's why.

Richie is my "favorite Jovi". He is one of the main reasons that I like Bon Jovi over other bands, and is one of the main reasons that I picked up the guitar and learned to play. But I don't buy into all of this depression surrounding his departure. Of course, it affects the shows, and everybody is entitled to their own opinions.

I have little sympathy for him. He did this to himself, he ****ed himself over. He's already been in rehab before. He will be fine, just give it time. We've still got 25+ years worth of history to fall back on if I need it.

Don't get me wrong, I wish Richie a speedy recovery, but I don't want him rushing into anything he's not ready to do. If that means staying in rehab throughout the entire European leg, so be it.

We are pretty much the same... as far as history and reasons for loving the band goes.

That being said, have you been or do have tickets to a show that takes place post (this) rehab?