New Studio Album - Forever

It's really not about honoring the founding members at all anymore. That was what the hall of fame was for, and they did it. Going out of tour again to promote a new album is just that, the same It's always been. I know we all see this as the last tour they're ever going to do, but I'm not sure they're seeing it like that. I truly don't think we'll ever see a farewell tour from Bon Jovi. And as much as I hate to say this, Jon could survive a tour if he paces himself and takes care of what's left of his voice. I'm not sure Richie could survive a full-fledged tour tbh. He's erratic, all over the place, resentful, attention hogging, not sober, doesn't like to rehearse. It would be a train wreck of a tour.
Lastly, no one really knows how much if any talks of coming back actually happened. To me, Richie's just talking shit hoping some of it sticks. Others choose to believe it. Like I said, I wouldn't get my hopes up about the Richie thing. It's been a one-sided affair since he left, and nothing from the official camp has gotten close to confirming anything....

I agree, and I would add that there is a loss of trust that find very difficult to recover. And it's a shame, Axl and Slash have hated each other so much for 22 years, but they finally forgave each other, repaired their trust, and are now strong as a team.

However, Bon Jovi, the band of optimism, who constantly sings of love, is unable to take the same path, feeling resentful on both sides, both Jon's and Richie's. For a lifelong fan, that's a bummer.

Sorry then I misinterpreted what you wrote. As I much as I hate to say it, I think there's bad blood between those two and deep down I think the fact that Richie and Jon couldn't agree anymore on the musical direction of the band could be a possible factor why he left in the end.

Of course I would love Richie to come back to the band, but I've skeptical from the beginning when it he said that he and Jon would talk about a reunion. Concerning Jon's voice problems I hope that he will be able to pace himself, to care as much care of what his left of his voice.

of course i ve seen Richie play the last years...i ve seen the banned podcast twice before it was taken down and i m saying you as a pro guitarist Richie would really kill it after a couple of shows and rehearshals...
as far as the song folder...jon is a songwriter and always liked to collaborate...i may be a romantic but not giving a chance to listen what richie has to offer musical appears weird to me...
in any way, and not trying to revive the Richie drama, they are at a certain age, they once ruled the world and wrote anthems together...insisting on the current line up/cover band hurts the legacy..

It'll hurt the legacy even more if they put on a major tour with Jon who cant sing and Richie whose playing is all over the place. The last ten years have been everyone saying "it'd be fine if they...." "if he would rehearse he'd be fine" and I don't know if I buy that. Richie couldn't pull it together for the handful of shows he's done since in the last five or six years, Jon couldn't pull it together for the...what...30 shows they did last tour? The strain on Jon's voice and whatever is going on with Richie's playing/voice isn't the state of the band I'd prefer coming back and resuming the legacy.

i have to say i dont agree with your points here...
jons voice is a whole other matter...if they decide to tour its their decision, imo i want to see them live even if its not good..
regarding Richie, being sloppy is sth completely logical if you havent performed a song in months or years, it just takes some time and then it will flow...
Richie is a truly gifted musician, unique guitarist, songwriter and vocalist. he is a liabilty ok but he belongs there, in the stage with the other guys..
when you do this at this lvl you can have an extra musician, and other solutions to work beyond certain difficulties...
i find it crazy that after all these years some fans prefer a version with shanks and Phil x instead of Richie...saying that phil x could should stay along with Richie

Aloha !

That's really not how it works. You're either a sloppy player or you're not. If you haven't performed a song in months or years you might not remember the right chords or guitar solo's. You do remember scales and chord progressions though. If you've dedicated most of your life to playing pop rock songs with the same chord progressions you don't forget how these things work once you no longer play some specific songs.

Think of it like this; You move to another country in which they don't speak in your native tongue so you're bound to speak their language. Do you suddenly forget how to talk? It's nothing to do with being sloppy, because once again, comparing it to talking, being sloppy would mean using the wrong pronouns and prepositions. Richie's forgotten how to talk because really, no matter what he plays, it's shit anyway.

Richie's issue isn't sloppiness. It's him, for whatever reason, losing dedication to his own craft. He wants the fame and attention but no longer wants to put in the work. His past decade of mediocre performances, including the Hall of Fame performance, have showed this quite well. Saying "he belongs on there" when his past decade has shown why he shouldn't be there is a pretty good reason why he's not welcomed back with open arms.

Salaam Aleikum,
Sebastiaan

But this doesn't make any sense. That's not how it works. I'm not saying he's performing songs badly now he used to play good. I mean I am but I'm talking about him as a guitarist. There was long periods with RSO where his playing was just....off. He's missing notes, going out of key, relying on the same three or four "moves". The creativity feels just about gone, ya know?

Yes, he belongs there, but you're pitching a version of the band that will sound worse because of the past. I don't want to be painted a someone who is praising Shanks and Phil. . I think Phil and Richie would be a great combo, agreed.

Richie's discussion already feels tired. Let's face it, Richie has been a mess for 10 years. Jon at least hasn't lost focus, the big problem is his voice and way of singing.

In my opinion, Bon Jovi with the current Sambora would be a complete disaster but there would be a lot of nostalgia for the old fans. However with the current lineup, although it is still a disaster so there is damage control. For me, both options are equally bad, but if I have to choose between both options, I will always choose the train wreck with Richie. If you're going to fail anyway, create an explosion with Potato Sambora, at least there'll be some uncertainty and danger, and there's no denying that Richie fills the stage with his charisma.


Returning to the new album... I'm open to anything, although I would like to hear a collection of songs that are out of the ordinary.