Apparently, this was posted two days ago, but only surfaced now. Jon speaks out about Richie again.

There's also an audio clip, so it's the real deal.

http://www.wrif.com/gmi/story.aspx?ID=1981955

Well, he mellowed his tone comparing to "you gotta ask him" from a couple of weeks ago. Does that mean the return more likely or is he just being more polite so it would be more encouraging for Richie to come back? Probably neither :D

He's basically continuing on the original route he came back to with that interview he gave while in Stockholm. I think he was about to say: "it's up to him", but eventually went for a more watery wording.

Okay. Fair enough.

No offense but I just don't get what some thought was so great about AMOTLD. To me it was much like Richie seems to be these days, just kind of all over the place. There were individual songs, 2 to be exact, that I really liked, but as an album, for me anyway, it had no flow. It seemed to be a jumbled mess of styles, bits and pieces of things Richie likes , but with no cohesive style.

Totally agree with rainsong.
I can't listen to Aftermath at all - it's just a horrible mixture of stuff.

I used to strongly dislike AOTL when it came out (or rather when it leaked), but have grown to really enjoy most of the tunes - especially after seeing them live. I'm really lovin' Seven Years Gone and You Can Only Get So High and I'd even go that far to say they are among the best ones Richie has written.
Still, as an album, it isn't a masterpiece by any means. But it pisses all over WAN for me. The latter one is mostly a piece of junk to my ears - but each to their own :D

If I were a betting woman, my money would be on her being the "source" of many of these leaks including the original one to TMZ.

LOL

But about Richie, am I wrong or he's been not denying those rumours? It's a tip that they're true I guess.

I feel the exact same way. The release of WAN has massively improved my appreciation for AOTL despite the fact that it is by no means a masterpiece. In hindsight, for AOTL has so much more Bon Jovi in it than WAN does.

There are far more good songs to me on What About Now than there are on Aftermath - Water, I'm With You, What's Left Of Me, Beautiful World - their all really solid tracks whereas Aftermath for me only has Seven Years Gone.

Aftermath has some nice guitar work but that's all it is - just a burst of random guitar that almost doesn't even seem to be part of the song it's connected to.

New Jon article that mentions Richie again, think its fairly recent but nothing new apart from ruling out there is no official date LOL

http://www.wrif.com/gmi/story.aspx?ID=1981955


"Same thing I've said since day one -- personal issue. We miss him, love him and he's welcome to come back when he's ready, and that's all I can tell ya...There's not a definitive date. It's up to...He's going through some stuff...It's difficult for me, too, but that's the story."

Or is that just the story they're sticking to?

He denied the rumour that the clothing line would be the reason. But that's all.

I actually posted this two pages ago. Nobody pays attention to me. *cries*

I'm just surprised it wasn't TheseDaysEra who posted it again. Give it a day or two...

Oh my love!!!
I'm here for you. I always read your posts.
please don't cry :))

I'm here to wipe your tears :p:D:D

Think this Tictoc fella has some Independence issues. Or perhaps he's a touch xenophobic?

Thanks for posting this for the first time ever in this thread. :D

I never even noticed the post. Actually I don't like anybody over anybody. If there's something to bash Jon for I'll do it except right now he's being the professional and Richie's not - I may come across as a Jon defender because well, he takes a lot of stick on here that isn't necessarily always deserved. I've just no interest in jumping on the hate-Jon bandwagon - but can appreciate why it comes across like I prefer one band member over the other. In reality, I'm a fan of the music. That's the be all and end all of it.

As to your other pretty needless comments - I like Irn-Bru. On the fence about independence.

Have you guys seen this one. Pretty interesting...

http://www.wrif.com/gmi/story.aspx?ID=1981955

In the light of the reports coming out of the Michael Jackson trial, it's probably a good thing that Richie is nowhere near AEG live if he's not 100%

Whatever the issues, almost certainly they'll be tied up with lawyers for a length of time (stress in itself) even if they're resolved personally.

I think Scotland should be independent, it can support itself and you can get away from the Tories. A win win surely?

I'm all for Irn Bru too. Nothing Xenophobic about me.

I don't really have a problem with your opinion but you keep regurgitating the same things over and over again to the point that it's become a bit sickening.

Sorry, yes I meant Nikki Lund. I didn't even realise that I wrote Reed.


Quote:
If I were a betting woman, my money would be on her being the "source" of many of these leaks including the original one to TMZ.

Yes, if you had to bet. Put your money on that because it's very likely that she is the source of most of these articles and leaks.

Is it sick that I was actually expecting a comment like this from you? LOL


I may pee my pants if this happens for real. LOL

Well that's because the same subjects keep coming up, but feel free not to read anything that makes you want to puke. I'd hate to be the cause of anyone's projectile vomit.

Anyway after this many hundreds of pages if anyone has anything new to say, I'd love to hear it ;)

Except I'm off to bed. Early flight to Dublin tomorrow. Night gang.

To each his own. I think that AOTL is the worst RS solo album but it still pisses over the crap WAN cd. I think it is their worst effort beating even the horrible LH. Water is the only bearablke song. I'm with you is a snoozefest and way to slow, What's left of me is the failed attempt to recreate the magic of SIBSN, and Beautiful World sounds love PINK. I love Pink but when it is sung by her not by a 51 yr old ex rocker trying to stay "current" by singing a pink like SOng. The other tracks you did not even mention are forgettable.

SYG has more substance and depth than the whole WAN record. I still think RS 's absence is due to the music which he is not into anymore.

Aftermath has these two things that I miss on What about now: passion and sincerity. Just listen to You can only get so high. Richie lived every line from that song. Look how he performed it on stage. He was so into it.

I actually agree that Seven Years Gone is better than anything on What About Now -but Seven Years Gone is an incredible track that trumps a lot of the Bon Jovi back catalogue and all of Richie's previous solo stuff. If Aftermath had more tracks along those lines I'd probably like it better, but as it is, it's the only song that really feels like Richie to me.

If his absence is because he's "not into the music though", that isn't acceptable to me - because at most their playing a few new songs each night. How could he still not be into Wanted, or I'll Be There For You or the dozens of other amazing songs he and Jon wrote together?

On a Richie note, I was listening to WSFM here in Sydney in the car on the way to work this morning.

They do this competition where you go to their website and guess which 'classic hits artist' is behind a almost fully closed blind. Anyway, today it was Richie Sambora and some woman won $1000.

Anyway the interesting part came afterwards when the two DJ's were recalling they interviewed Richie last time he was in Sydney in his hotel room. Richie had a glass of coke, and Amanda, who had no idea he was a recovering alcoholic, asked him what was in his glass.

"Just Coke" Richie said and she pretended not to believe him, went over and sniffed his glass!

Then Jonesy, the other host, said not long after that Richie went on a massive bender and it was all Amanda's fault.

It was an amusing start to my day.

I was impressed by the fact that no one felt the need to point out that Richie was the Bon Jovi guitarist at any point.

Yeah, but it could have been a tiff over him criticizing the new stuff. Remember at the Radio 1 gig they played 7 new songs and Jon said later 'the band told me that was too much'. Anyway, it's all just guessing until the fateful day when Richie tweets "Just to let you all know I have left Bon Jovi, thanks for the memories".

"Weathering the Storm," "Seven Years Gone," and "You Can Only Get So High" are gorgeous songs and I listen to them a lot. I adore his voice and that is what I miss most about this whole situation. Not being a musician I don't understand the intricacies of his guitar playing that everyone else is into even though I appreciate it. I think the longer this goes on, the harder it is going to be for Richie to return if indeed the "personal issue" is between him and Jon. Even though I am still hoping for the best, I am beginning to expect the worst--that he may not return.

If the problem is the music Richie is in a far better position than anyone to influence what the band puts out - well, if he shows up that is.

Even the Guardian is at it;

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2013...-bon-jovi-edge

Wow, the Guardian picking up gutter press rumours that haven't in any way been substantiated. Seen it all now.

I'm not familiar with the guardian. What is that?

So I just got back from the Sunderland show and I put I review in that post but wanted to address the richie disappearance on here as only time I ever seen them without him

Well I wasn't as bothered as some by his disappearance any way and I've just lost a lot of respect from him . .

And after last night as far as I'm concerned he can stay away . . Phil did amazing ... Was great on stage . . Interacted with he fans and looked to have some great banter with all of the band . . He's just having fun out there, I only noticed richie wasn't there once . . During the WANTEDs from dead or alive . . And that's not a big deal . .

Starting to really like this phil x and I just think richie is making it harder and harder to come back now . . Every time phil did a solo everyone around me was applauding him . . . I think he's starting to get accepted .

Over all great show and out of 9 shows I been to well up there as the best . .

One bummer is. Couldn't take my camera in . . Classed as a pro camera apparently . . Well I am a photographer . .

with all respect, phil x is nothing on richie sambora. yeah he s faster and flashier but richie is the guy that wrote these tunes!

yes, but Richie is the man who said f*ck to all his fans around the world...
Fans who were going to his solo shows (me and many of you), who bought Aftermath...

Thanks to Phil X to make this possible, and play the game afterall !