Richie Sambora, does he save the live show?

He became unreliable. During and after his divorce, be started drinking more and more. The other guys had to convince him to go to rehab twice or thrice, I think. He also basically showed up drunk for a 2007 Unplugged show, I think. The final nail in the coffin for him was when he just didn't show up and didn't inform anyone. Jon's ego is too big to just go and ask Richie to come back after everything that's happened.

I noticed on his final show in 2013 he sang I'll be there for you, not sure how many times on the 2013 tour he did that but I can't see any... also the last show was one of the shortest. I reckon he was pissed at not being as involved, demands to sing a song in the set, Jon gets pissed hence the shorter show and what we have is a battle of egos that drives a wedge.

Maybe, but why would he go with them to the next city for the next show then? Surely if he was pissed he would have told Jon to f*ck off and leave then and there?

Maybe Jon makes it clear he ain't singing again, taking the spotlight... might be completely wrong but it sounds to me likely.

He never went to Calgary.

There was a break in between those shows. He didn't go to the next city. March 17 was his last show, April 3rd was the Calgary show.

You think he banned Richie from singing because he wants the spotlight for himself? That doesn't sound close to likely to me. But that's me.

Whatever the reason he needs Sambora now more than ever

Well, it was odd that Richie only got to sing a song on the very last show of the first leg when Jon was clearly struggling physically throughout all the shows and Richie was the one carrying most of it. Back in 2008, there were times when Jon had Richie sing two songs when he wasn't fit.

It was odd, yeah. I've talked about this before but seeing 20 shows between 2003 and 2013 in North America, the Richie songs got more of a piss break than the new material. Part of me thinks they/Jon didn't want to risk it because they were playing literally half of an unreleased album already. Whether or not that's the case who knows but for all we know Richie could have been okay with the decision. It feels like people are getting offended FOR him without really knowing why the decision was made and if it was right/wrong. I was gutted he didn't get a song that tour but looking at the setlist it makes sense to me.