I think Richie had every intention of coming back to the tour at a later point and I doubt there was any ill intentions on his behalf towards the band or the fans on his decision. Selfish yes, but everyone is allowed to be a bit selfish every now and then. Now I sympathize more with Jon and the bands point of view because hey, how would you feel if you worked with someone who could just up and leave whenever he chose to do so, leaving you to carry on the production and pick up his slack and then come back as if nothing had happened?? That's a shitty position to put anyone in. I'm sure Richie's ego got bruised on how they kept going and selling out shows even after they were announced and he had left but he may have accepted it already as time has passed.

On to the album, they have every right to make a band album at this stage, Jon should know that the direction WAN took was lacking way to much on the guitar department, I'm optimistic that he'll want to change that but the fact that Shanks is the producer yet again doesn't leave me with much hope. Also I'm perfectly aware that they will face some criticism either way, add a very prominent guitar mix and they'll say that they're over compensating Richie's absence, put an album lacking in guitar solos and the like and they'll say that the band doesn't show much punch without Sambora. It's a weird position they find themselves in, which is why I'm surprised they decided to regroup so early....