Quote:
Originally Posted by JackieBlue
I wouldn’t say “a bigger loss” but I agree that Tico is an unsung hero and the loss would be just as big if it were Tico (or David, for that matter). Bon Jovi owes their success to the combined efforts of the entire band, not any single member (including Jon) more than any other.
I have no doubt that Jon Bongiovi would be successful at whatever he decided to do. He’s simply that talented and that driven. But, imo, the phenomenal success that is “Bon Jovi” would never have happened had it not been for the synergy of Jon, David, Tico, and Richie (and I would also add Alec). The spotlight would probably still have shone on Jon no matter what; but the glare wouldn’t be as bright, nor the audience as big, if it hadn’t been for his “employees” and their unique contributions, individually and collectively.
I apologize for a cross-thread response here; but this is exactly why I kept harping “we don’t know” on the Richie/tour thread and begged people to wait for the facts before writing Richie off so completely.
I get what you’re saying: people can’t truly evaluate the concert experience only from what is available to them through YouTube and comments others make about the experience. While they have a right to their opinions and a right to express them, the fact that they don’t have the whole experience somewhat invalidates them.
By the same token, isn’t assuming that we know enough about Richie and/or his motivations in the current situation (based only on random pictures, tweets, and the comments of others) the same thing…
And about that:
My personal theory: THIS, not hemlines, is Richie’s personal issue. No facts to back it up; just a gut feeling.
Let’s face it. Nothing has changed legally since the first contract. Jon has always been the owner. Jon has always been the boss. Richie, David, Tico, and Alec were always employees.
But look at the early documentaries, the early interviews, the early shows. While legally, Jon was “Bon Jovi”, in actuality, “Bon Jovi” was a band; and everyone had input and shared the spotlight. Consider Jon’s own words about Garageland from the Boxset DVD:
…because there’s an opportunity for a band to grow as a band, to go out there on the road and become one, you know where each of the members of the band is as important as the next. It’s not just about the close-up in the video of the singer’s face. And that’s what Garageland was about. It was about this (holds up fist and begins holding up one finger at a time and putting it back down as he continues) because if anybody sticks out, you’re not gonna win the fight, y’know? It was important that the unity, the closed fist, is what …
Anyone who has watched what’s been happening over the last few years can see how this philosophy has changed.
Maybe the personal issue is that Richie never wanted to be a session player. That’s not what he signed on for – then or now. It would have been better for the fans if the decision had been made prior to starting the tour, but like people who complain about shows: unless we’re actually there we don’t know why it happened when it did.
And maybe this is why Richie said, “I feel bad for the fans. They’re not getting the real deal.” Not because he’s not there; but because in recent years shows have evolved into JBJ and Friends and comments have become peppered with more “I”s than “we”s (which is how Doc defines the beginning of the end after NJ in the same DVD.)
Or maybe you and the others were right and it’s all just a ego-driven hissy-fit on Richie’s part... No one really knows.
Stepping off my soapbox now. If this whole thing taught me one thing, it’s that people (myself included) are going to believe what they want to believe. And that’s probably as it should be.
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You say things have changed in recent years about the "band" vibe vs it being a Jon and a band vibe. IMO you are correct Jon has worked harder to keep the spotlight so to speak on himself. Here's where "richie" diehards get angry with me.
Has it occured to any of you that Jon did that because in the last decade Richies alcohol/drug issues got increasingly worse, he was often off in his own world onstage, Jon wasn't ever sure which Richie he was going to get, Richie didn't show up for rehearsals etc, by their own words if you didn't chain Richie to a chair he wouldn't talk to you about how he was etc... and up to the MTV taping where Richie couldn't play Wanted, he didn't even acknowledge he was in trouble.
Yes now it seems Richie is sober and yes maybe Richie feels he's earned another shot at being completely trusted by Jon, but it's tough to give up those protective habits and even tougher to treat someone like an equal again after you watched them fall so far, and alot of the time you don't even realize you are still treating them like you were when they were fragil.
07-06-2013, 09:51 PM
