When the first rumours about Germany came up and the promotors said Richie wasn't going to be there. Someone asked Matt and he said not true Richie would be in Germany.

They have been deleted. He said it. Yesterday, Matt didn't know if Richie would be in Europe but today he knows its not illness, not ego and his still in the band. The man knows shit.

For me, I truly don't care the reason any more. Fighting, illness, boredom. I don't care. I am looking towards the future now. Is he still in the band. Mr Sambora needs to put out a statement about that in capital letters. I am still in the band 100% but just can't take part in the tour but I'm with the band.

Wonder what the Slane and IOW promoters think?!

Jon should now play a lot more from the album, no point a greatest hits your without Richie!!

This is the part that gets me the most. It's unprofessional, disrespectful and dishonest to the fans.

Just read he's now pulled out of the entire tour.

Not sure what to think, but if there's been a falling out, Jon and Richie should focus of solo careers for a few years. Time may heal and they have been needing a break for 12 years now.

I believe Jon when he describes how he found out 5 hours before show time in Calgary, because he went onto perform without a lead guitarist. So it seems like something happened late in the 2 weeks off that they had out from the tour.

I'm already starting to imagine an official statement on Richie's website saying he's going to concentrate on being a solo artist and session musician for the foreseeable.

Because of their 'to the grave' mentality, I don't know if we'll ever really find out what has happened or not happened. In the VH1 Behind the Music documentary, Richie makes a point of stressing how he disliked how Alec John Such sold a story to that magazine and 'we don't air our dirty laundry in public' kind of thing.

I don't think that mentality has changed.

Kinda off topic, but was there issues between Richie and the band during this acoustic set ?? I remember reading something about it away back but I can't find it.

all this talk about needing a break is bullcrap. this ain't the 80s anymore people. it's not like they're putting out a record every year and touring relentlessly. last tour ended in Lisbon on July 2011. This tour began a year and a half (!!!) after that. a year and a half IS A LOT OF TIME for a musician to rest his/her bones and take pleeeeeeeeenty of time off. what would they do with a 5 year break ? I don't see Jon going back to acting. It took em almost 4 years between the circle and WAN. 'twas enough time for Jon to write a few songs for a movie, TAKE PART in a movie which I don't want to see and finally, play a few one off gigs both a solo artist and with the band. Richie wrote and recorded a solo album and played a few shows. that's it ! they had plenty of time to rest and plenty of time to stay the hell away from each other. they're not in their 20s anymore. a whole year means one step closer to the grave. so, again, saying they 'need a break' is pure bullshit.

Not that particular stripped though it was the same period of time. It was the acoustic Unplugged from June 24, 2006 that Richie was smashed at. He couldn't even play Wanted after several takes and it's not on the broadcast. The next morning he went into rehab.

richie seems kinda bored on this one and Jon looks like he's upset. don't know. but I remember reading they had to plenty of versions of Wanted during the (horrible) MTV unplugged back in 2007. yeah, the one with the all american rejects. what a pile of shit.

Ahhh I see, thanks for the info guys.

I remember the performance with All American Rejects, talk about a strange/random pairing.