Phil X is scheduled to play all of the May shows

The notion that Richie will be permanently replaced is stupid. The guy's obviously stoked to be playing in a band as big as Jovi (as anyone would be) and is being open and honest about that through Twitter - don't crucify him for being excited FFS!

Sure he's sympathetic to the circumstances but he's been brought in to do a job and he's going about it extremely well - give him a break! He hasn't exactly had a huge amount of time to learn the stuff, let alone sort his effects out on stage for the songs in the set, and yet he's done a brilliant job.

Is it Jovi? No, and I'd still rather they offer refunds than force fans to attend shows without Richie but they have a very capable guitarist in Phil X and in a situation as difficult as this, I'm glad they opted for a sensible stand-in as opposed to defaulting to Bobby.

I am a huge Richie fan but some people need to grow up a bit with the whole over-protective, over-reactive responses to a temporary session musician helping the band put on a show. He's never going to be as good as Richie but he's far from bad so get over it.

I don't want to be a party pooper but Richie needs more than a month in therapy. The guy has been in therapy MULTIPLE times - he has SERIOUS issues that need to be addressed and frankly no concerts are important compared to him figuring out how to put his life together.

Frankly he needs a long time to get well - not a bandaid quick fix so Europe will be happy. He either needs to get fixed or kick out him of the band or just end Bon Jovi (would be my choice). Whatever the others want - they all have lives in and out of the band. I can imagine that dealing with him, worrying about him is not fun.

Phil X did a great job - cannot wait to see them live in Orlando when they have had a better chance to gel.

You've stated just how I feel very well, Gav.

JB is one hell of a great songwriter (Always, Dry County, Santa Fe) but often needs help. For the more typical Bon Jovi popular music, he needs Richie's help and his opinion, in order to build the right music. It's not that I think Jon cannot do it on his own, we all know he can, and so can Richie, whatever direction that may be. But they have been together too long, and function best together.

For the sake of songwriting and music, as well as what is now a lifelong, and second nature partnership and routine, in a 'Bon Jovi' context Richie cannot and will not ever be 'replaced', end of.

He better be playing in Dublin or I will be gutted.

His i'l be there for you is beyond words brilliant.

Phil X must feel like he's living the dream, give him a break people.
Like others have said, he's just doing a job. Let's just sit tight and see what happens after May.

So, Phil should go out and purposely play shitty (torpedoing whatever reputation he has) juts to make it clear that he's not there to permanently replace Richie?

Anyway, I think people are being too hard on the guy. There's no one here amongst us that wouldn't be excited as hell to play with a band as big as Bon Jovi, even if it was under bad circumstances. But he's said all the right things on Twitter as far as hoping Richie's back ASAP.

Very well said.

As if on cue:

http://twitter.com/#!/TheRealPhilX/s...35880586805248

The dude is a class act. He hasn't had a lot of terribly nice things to say about the band in the past but hey, he's pulling it off well. It's amazing the amount of albums the dude's played on.

I agree Brian and I have pretty much posted the same thing in the New Orleans thread.