Old Joysey |
04-16-2015 04:17 PM |
Maybe we should define "respect"... What I really meant is that Richie is (was?) considered as "someone that counts" by the music industry and his peers as a guitarist, not only as "Bon Jovi guitarist and sidekick".
If Eric Clapton played on his first solo album it's because he was flattered and touched by Richie's letter (I posted it here last year but sorry, I won't bother to look for it now: I'm typing this post for the second time because I lost that page when I tried to open a new window and this get.media blank page is really REALLY annoying!). Anyway. Clapton didn't need to play with the famous younger guitarists of the era to stay relevant or further up his career and certainly not for money (he played for Richie for free), he did it because he felt like doing it, because he liked the guy (cf what you posted).
The same kind of thing happened with other guitarists: Richie happened to play with them at a charity concert or at some award ceremony gig, i.e. at events where musicians are assembled by the organizer or the music director, then Richie's playing and persona were appreciated by others and so they became friends and decided to play together again later. Rich and famous musicians don't bother to play with each other when they can't stand each other, they won't guest at someone's gig unless they truly appreciate the musician, there's nothing to earn in terms of fame and fortune so what for if not for the sheer joy of jamming together? I disagree with you, I don't think they see him as "Richie Sambora, Bon Jovi guitarist" or else they would rather die than be caught by his side! Remember that in the 80s/90s BJ bashing was the most common sport in the music industry and in the media (that is well documented too) and yet more respected guitarists jammed with him and/or listed him as one of the best guitarists around.
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That's obviously the reputation he is trying to shake right now, and fair play to him for going into it 100%. It just isn't for me due to the sheer lack of quality in all aspects he has shown over the last two years.
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I agree. It's understandable that now he wants to be recognized as an artist on his own after 30 years in a band as second fiddle but he should have done so earlier, when he was at the top of his craft, not now that he's entangled in a downward spiral. But midlife crisis hits you at midlife, not at 30 or 40!
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