I think it's more than that that stopped this tour being any good. Jon's lack of vocal range plus his inability to put down the guitar, own the stage and sell the songs have been a massive let down for me.

I was never a 'Richie lover', I sing in a band, I am 37 years old and idolised Jon as a frontman from the age of ten, since the first time I saw the Prayer video. I unfortunately predicted this new, acoustic strumming Jon when the album came out; stating how my opinion of the new album would be coloured by whether he sold the songs live or whether he tethered himself to the mic stand with that f*cking Takamine strapped around him for 2/3 of the set.

I honestly take no pleasure at all in watching Jon's decline. We could all list the songs he can no longer sing, the middle-of-the-road plop he puts in the middle of the set to give his voice a rest are down to him; not Richie's absence.

People are extremely fond of rolling out how many shows Richie has missed on this tour - and he is a pr*ck for missing them, I admit that - but if you are saying that, then you have to admit that Jon has had plenty of time (around 7 months) to change the set around and it can't be blamed on Richie's absence. Jon shoe-horned this tour in to 2013, knowing Richie's album was out in 2012 and Dave's new musical was ramping up in 2014. He loaded the gigs up and picked sets to accommodate playing over 100 shows in a year, compared to 85 on The Circle tour - to make sure they got the number one tour again.

Blame Richie for being a total bell-end but even if he'd been on this tour for the entire year; this album, Jon's lack of energy and hiding behind his guitar, the crappy setlists would have remained...

I (unfortunately) have to agree with much what you said. Jon knew that David was not available in 2014 (at least that's the way I heard it) so he got this tour in. The shows I saw were not bad, Jon didn't sound horrible, but there was little setlist variation at all which really bothered me.

I agree with everything you said except I think there would have been a few more gems thrown into a lot of shows, especially the big ones like Slane, had Richie been there. Whilst Jon could plan the setlists and have Phil learn rare songs if he wanted too, the moments songs like that have appeared in recent years haven't ever been part of the pre-planned set-structure - they've always been thrown in as audibles when the set-list was written for whatever show.

I'm in no way saying the main setlist would have been better, that was planned from the start and hasn't changed much since the tour started, but it's been that way every tour. But the main set never bothers me - it's those moments that are almost sporadic (though we know their not quite) which make things special for all of us who know every possible setlist variation back-to-front. Richie's absence made that a difficult thing to pull off other than just Jon pulling them out on his acoustic (like the Cardiff show) and that's not quite the same.

Well, if Sambora not left the tour, I'd wager that Jon would make an extension of the tour in 2014, as happened with The Circle Tour 2010 - Greatest Hits Tour 2011.

Jon thought release a compilation (live or unreleased songs) that Obie was mixing. And he supposed would come out in the first quarter of 2014, the launch could be an excuse to continue a tour until summer 2014.

Also there was another rumor, would have dates for Europe in 2014, with a possible negotiation at Wembley Stadium. Now, all this will not be possible. If Richie had not deserted, the next to suffer the aftermath of tour had been David Bryan for combine their diary.

Add also, would have happened if Richie left on this tour on January?, without promotion of the new album. I think the negativity would have taken over, and they would not have gotten a number one album, not sold well the tour. It would be strange to hear a new single and tour called "Because We Can" and Richie is not part of all this in the promotion and tour.

Undivided reminds me of the energy this band had, however theres no way Jon is singing that live.

I guess the "Iiiii"-shouts in the second verse are samples? The rest seems live, though, especially since he misses the "where" in the second chorus... it's not like there's any spectacular notes any way.

Good version of a great song, though!

No that's really him. He could get that raspy growl if he really went for it back then. You should check out some vids on youtube of the beginning part of the tour, there's some awesome versions of KTF, Blaze and Undivided floating around on youtube where he's just going 100% on his voice.....

I was at the CD:UK recording.... Band were all on great form that day.
And, yes Captain.Crash it was all done live. They had to redo a couple of the songs because Jon wasn't happy with them.
Jon even gave my wife his guitar pic at the end!

great rock sound compared to what they produce now! Still love listening to undivided, hook me up and everyday live with the deep guitar and drums.

Hook Me Up was badass.




Great staging. Very cool lights.