Here´s something I never really understood:
When Jon got the news from his manager that Richie wouldn´t show up he wasn´t really suprised but all he did was accept it just like that?

Am I the only one who would have called Richie and asked him where the **** he is?

How do we know what goes on behind closed doors. We truly do not know what his reaction was. He's not going to exactly publically come out and say "Fuck Richie! He left! I demand to know where and why!"

You are right! But it is his band, he´s the boss and he still wants people to believe that after six month (if this interview was taken in October) he still doesn´t know what´s going on in his own business? Don´t tell me you believe that!
Of course they will never tell the public every little detail (and don´t have to) but Jon makes himself look like a poor CEO saying that he will wait til after the tour is over (8-9 month later) to find out what happened cause he still doesn´t know.

All Jon's interested in is taking care of business. He has a big tour to do and wants to focus 100% on the job in hand. He has the commitment from Phil to fulfill the void left by Richie until that moment Richie comes back. Of course he knows whats going on in his business. He knows he has shows to play and fans to please. Why draw away focus and waste time on investigating why Richie left when he has over 100 shows to organise, play and fulfill. Richie has been absent until Richie wants to go back. Phil is covering until that time. Its as black and white as that really.

Panicking and pleading with Richie not only panders to Richie's narcissistic ego, but also draws focus away from what is really important here. The shows. Its basic management handling of situations.

I don't remember reading that. Was it from an interview?

Last week at the airport: http://www.tmz.com/videos/0_qlki6tnh/

I blame that dodgy woman, she's in his head. Filling him full of shit most likely

I don't believe Jon when he says that there is no animosity. Of course there is or he would have occasionally called Richie if nothing else as a friend and brother to wish him happy birthday, ask how things were going, inquire about his family--all things a person does with a friend and brother. Regardless of him walking out on a tour. Previously on this never-ending thread, there were reports that Jon wasn't taking Richie's calls and had refused to meet with him when Richie flew back to New Jersey while the band was there.

Even if Jon wasn't surprised at him not showing up, it wasn't a good thing to happen. Of course he was angry and he has a right to be. Early on when reporters kept asking him questions about the situation, he said that it was harder and harder not to say anything

Did anyone else think it odd, or am I overanalyzing that Jon said no "animosity" - using the exact term Richie used on Australian TV? The evil Jon reports were mostly started by RS minions so take that with a major grain of salt IMO. But, aside from that - I don't think there is any animosity, I feel because of things as you mention, no Birthday shout out, no or limited contact at all leads me to feel it is worse. I think it has reached Apathy. That is more dangerous than anger.

Apathy is an interesting way of looking at it. I follow Richie on Twitter, and do any of you remember a few months ago that he asked fans to post links of their favorite songs? I sent him some Bon Jovi songs I like and he never re-Tweeted those or any other Bon Jovi song. It was only solo music. It was like he didn't want to acknowledge having a hand in writing and performing some of the best music of the last 30 years.

Also, did anyone else think it was strange that, when Slippery had its 25th anniversary, Richie was excited because Aftermath was one year old? Not that he can't be proud of his solo work but isn't 25 years a bigger deal than just one year?

Maybe Jon was apathetic, too, or is now. But Richie seemed to be uninterested in anything to do with the band a few months ago, to me. The fact he left out re-Tweeting Bon Jovi songs was very obvious. It was like he was saying the chapter is closed and he's starting over.