Originally Posted by rainsong

What exactly is Jon supposed to say?? "Umm sorry fans but Richie decided he wanted to do other creative things like play cover tunes at charity events, sell clothes at malls and do the call to post at horse races so he can't be with us this tour".
It's not like before when Richie was in rehab fighting his demons.
I don't think Jon wanted to replace him and won't but are he, Dave and Tico supposed to sit around staring at walls waiting for Richie to decide he's feeling properly creative, that he "wants" to be out playing for a few million fans??? Noone knows what Jon will do with the band after this tour but for now Jon did what he percieved to be the right thing, he got a guitarist and he's finishing the commitments that he and the band made. Richie is the one that felt his personal whatever was more important than keeping his commitment, one that he made of his own free will by the way, to tour with the band he has been a part of for 30 years.