I'm not scared

Oh crap, it happened again. I was implying that Trump did lose the popular vote therefore RDK was wrong. I wasn't commenting on what you were saying whatsoever.

I have no clue if substance abuse played a part in Richie leaving.

However, I find it amusing that people still say there has been no visual evidence Richie has been high and/or drunk in the last six years. There has been plenty of visual evidence and I guess those who don't see it have never been consistently high.

I mean, it is what it is. In terms of being a cause for him leaving, I am unsure. Richie just didn't show up according to Jon, so how would he have known he was off the wagon? I think it's fair to assume Richie did fall off the wagon after Calgary at some point, but how would Jon know it happened during the tour break if there was no contact?

I don't think anyone has ever said that though!? Just that there was no evidence that he didn't show up because he was high...indeed just before that he was on fine form at the shows...

He was in no fit state to play that first show back. Having remained tight-lipped on the subject Jon is now apparently happy to admit as much.

Richie looked completely clean and fresh leading up to his departure but he didn't look particularly happy on stage. He seemed focused and his playing was good.

The Radio 2 promo show where Jon says Richie stayed home and watched the football rather than rehearse was a clear indicator at the time that Richie had lost interest completely.

I think he came off his solo album feeling somewhat more self centered and couldn't stand Jon's shit any longer and just snapped and quit at short notice. Then he probably got wasted because he had no commitments and Jon latched onto that as his excuse for Richie leaving rather than have a discussion about the real reasons which I believe to be Jon's tyrannical control and dumbing down of the bands sound.

Jon may be dictatorial in the way he runs the band and I’m sure it has pissed various members off over the years but that wasn’t the reason for Richie’s departure. He wanted back in right up until the point it was made clear to him that wasn’t an option.

Do you know when that point occurred?

No they don't.

You'll find a lot of posters here who claim they know the truth when in fact they're speculating like the rest of us.

Doesn't sound too far away to me.