I agree, I really don't think this is money. If I am anywhere close with my 'pull-it-outta-my-arse theory, then it's bigger than money for Richie and Jon is making it all the worse, rubbing his nose in it pushing this whole 'it's simple' angle. It's not simple to Richie, it's pissing him right off.

I honestly DO think that video by Ava is contrived. Richie knows Twitter by now, he knows social media or he at least has people around him who do. Everyone involved in this, knows someone who can work a MacBook and can get on a social media listening tool and search for trends, tags and see what Bon Jovi fans are talking about.

What have we been talking about? (Besides Touch The Winky) - Richie is in rehab, he's fallen off the wagon etc etc... Jon is standing by him.

Well, what if Jon is simply standing by a contract and Richie isn't? What if Richie can't make statements, can't answer questions on Twitter and can't contractually do anything with the videos his fans have sent in because he's in breach?

So Jon is on Ellen yesterday, telling everyone it's a personal issue and Richie is the only one who can resolve it and he's still my guitar player and to be fair to Jon, he's right... as I say, he hasn't changed the game, it's always been the same.

But Richie's had it up to here. So Ava (don't feel to bad for her, btw, she could always make her social media posts private if she wanted) flashes the camera at Daddy the very next day... and BOOM, the fans pick it up. It makes us question the 'truth' we've been told. I think this is what Richie wanted. If not, let's not be silly, he'd have said 'don't post that, people will go nuts.' You can't judge Richie and Ava in the same way you judge you and your kids; this family unit knows the media, knows social media and knows the press...

This also makes sense given that Richie didn't personally call Jon in Calgary; if they were such friends and brothers and the issue was health-related, he would have made a personal call. Richie was doing fine and playing fine and tweeting a lot including "the tour resumes on Tuesday, on the move again." The mysterious tweets about "Forgiveness Street" and "doesn't Easter make you feel Born Again" take on new meanings with this scenario of Richie falling out with Jon.

I just want to say that, no matter what happens, this thread has been a true gem.

I have absolutely no stake in this outcome- as far as I'm concerned this band is in free-fall and it would be merciful for us all if they just broke up. I will say I can't see how this isn't some sort of spat between Jon and Richie. Otherwise we obviously would have been told SOMETHING by SOMEONE official. I mean if booze, drugs, and criminal activity are not in the picture, what kind of 'personal trouble' would it be that no one can publicly explain it? No, the gag order on Richie and Jon being deliberately vague to put pressure on Richie makes a lot of sense. They're both waiting for the other to blink: Jon is hoping Richie will either cave and come back or quit (thus keeping Jon's hands clean), and Richie is hoping Jon caves into negotiating.

Personally I think the chance is remote that Jon would cave to any demands that Richie might have; he's just not the type of dude to compromise. Richie should probably just have the balls to quit.

Pretty much. Doesn't it always lead back to Jon and Richie fighting? Richie driving a car, he looks upset. Must have had a phone call from Jon.

So basically we are all back to square one. Jon and Richie fighting. We could have just cut out 190 pages of this thread!!

The only thing I question and which is what everyone else is question, is why no certain date of when Richie will return. On the 3rd April when the statement was released that Richie wasn't performing, they said this leg. Very simple. Cut and dry. Now no one is even saying that. So it went from this leg of the tour, to Richie is still a member of the band. Jon could have said on Ellen. It's a personal matter, his still a member of the band but he just couldn't do this leg of the tour but come next leg, he will be there. Then they wonder why the fans are worried and getting up in arms.

Good point. This would have been easy to clear up if was coming back on the next leg. I have 3 shows planned and I am not looking forward to them. This is the first time I have ever felt that way about this band of brothers... this will not go down well in Europe and they will be desperate to make the Hyde park show special as the stones play their next... without richie I just cannot see it being special.

It was horrible watching that. Had i been there, I'd have shouted 'stop being a prick Jon'

exactly...and also, Richie looks like a very funny person..he's always smiling,telling jokes.you just can't hate Richie:)...Jon became really pissed when richie said:"that's becasue I'm so hot" lool

I didn't get that sense at all. I think we are reading things into it since we are back to Richie/Jon falling out and Jon being a CEO/dictator theme.

You do have a point and I didn't even think about the timing. Hmmm...... Certainly Dad could have ask that it not be posted and Ava probably would have agreed.

"Personal reasons" could be quite simple as Richie's heart not being in this tour.

Jon admitted that he lied to the band about taking the year off. Tico told him no and I'm sure there's studio musicians on half the album (could be all with Richie coming in to do solos and backing vox). Even during/after last tour they were almost all saying the band needed to go away for awhile to make the fans miss them.

I can see him being on break for Easter in Hawaii, getting ready to go back out and just saying to himself 'I don't need to do this' (especially since Phil X has filled in before).

If it's true, it's a bad move to make day-of and screws the fans and the rest of the band, but it's something I can see happening even without a big blowout like TMZ was reporting.

If it was a family emergency, I think they would've said "family emergency." If it was rehab, I think they would've said "rehab" (just like before).

If my scenario is true, that truly is "personal reasons" for being absent from the tour.

Whatever it is, however, I think the whole organization is a joke in the way they've handled this and almost everything else for the past 5-10 years.