No, it’s not going to happen. And I feel pretty confident to state the following for everybody to see because I know it’s not coming back to bite my ass: “I’ll eat as many hats as any of you want because no, Richie is not coming back as a band member and/or permanent touring member”

Will they reunite for a one-off performance (charity, HoF induction…)? Sure, there’ll always be love and respect between them, if only for the years they spent together and the great legacy they created. But Jon and Richie as writing partners, sharing “moments” on a show? No, no way, that relationship is damaged beyond repair. When it happened, I had the strong gut feeling that there was no going back, due to the scarce but not really subtle hints at that time and due to many many other things along the way. And the way things have turned out and recent less than subtle hints… pretty clear the chances of having Richie back are zero. And it would hurt them more than help them, in all honesty. Both sides.

I know there’s nothing special or earth-shattering about a band breaking up/losing a key member. It happens all the time. But after so many years and such a painstakingly maintained tight-bond image, they wouldn’t even know where to begin in order to mend it