The man is just a mess, really.

Of course "April" happens to be the next month.... so it's entirely feasbile that, rather than April being a person, he is referencing that he's got a busy month ahead.

I think Nickolai gets it. He was making fun of Akma.

The month of April is the month when Richie either records / or releases his next solo album. (He could be releasing it. Why else would Ebbin be hanging around the past 6 months? Because he likes playing club gigs with Richie?) so Akma said that she's waiting for April so then Nickolai twisted it into being about a person.

Man, one thing I noticed. people outside the US don't get sarcasm. Well Nickolai does.

Thanks Rdkopper, for explaining a very simple gag to the masses. And I commend you for getting British humour. I mean it's not hard, but then again this is America we're talking about. Taking things so literally and that.

Hey, I'm anything BUT American......
And I just jumped the gun rather than read the whole segment, so apologies for having to point out the obvious!

He said people outside America DON'T get sarcasm. I am American and I got your "gag" just fine. :rolleyes:

Which was a completely ridiculous thing to say

I don't know if Richie started using drugs again (though as he looks like an old tramp that sounds plausible), but CKatz is definetely high, living in a parallel world where Sambora gets all the credit for Bon Jovi the band and is a muscial genius though it took him 12 friggin years to release a massive turd like AOTL.

Haha very good Rolio

Where's the like button when you need it?

Haha...was just thinking the same :D

This thread is like a train wreck LOL

Yup. Since about page 2, I think! LOL

Wasn't it 1 year ago today we lost RS? March 17th, 2013 RS last gig with Jovi!

Richie's talent and song writing is not in question here, Roly. Just his professionalism and him as a person. Stop trying to get KUDOS for Richie by posting pointless articles. Start a new thread or something. This is about Richie's absence.

I dont get why people post these shitty little gifs. I dont even understand what this one means

They are ****ing stupid. I could see the person who post these laughing to themselves like they just ****ing accomplished something. The problem is, if you don't ignore them they just post more.

These things were funny 10 years ago when you were 18. Think of something else clever and new for a change.

Honestly can't believe this comment. Jon got to where he was because he's done what every successful person in the world has done - worked damn hard to earn it. And the bit the hard work didn't do, his looks did for him. Jon was going to be a star with or without the rest of the band. Where would the rest of the band be without Jon? Probably successful in their own way. Maybe Dave would have got into musical theatre sooner. Richie would be a lead guitarist in another band, though probably one that faded with the 80's. Tico would be being Tico somewhere.

Bon Jovi's megastardom is no doubt achieved because of a combination of all their efforts but it was driven by one persons vision, stubbornness, and yes, arrogance. That's how you get to the top.-

Dave himself has said the reason for their success was have a frontman like Jon.

They have all said Jon just had that something, "star quality" even Richie has more than once.

That said we can debate all night who would have gotten where with who or without. Regardless of that argument, the comment made by Catz is the worst I have seen during my admittedly short time on this board. So now Jon has rode coat tails to get to where he is, and is not someone other musicians want to play with. Utter ****ing nonsense of the highest order.

First, as this is clearly turning into a Jon vs Richie thing. Richie is trumpeting that x person will do something with him, but the only person who is interested is Orianthi. Richie is riding coat tails right now by name dropping at any given opportunity. That said, the comment is rubbish beyond the childish Jon v Richie thing that is going on.

I can´t believe that suddenly it has become that Richie carried the band all these years, he wrote all the good songs, and he is the one respected in the industry. I think it is naive to think Jon couldn´t show up on stage with Alice Cooper, Stevie Wonder, or Sammy ****ing Hagar if that´s what he chose to do. In fact Jon could probably get most classic artists to record with him next week because rightly or wrongly his name carries more weight in the industry than Richie´s.

As stupid comments seem to be in vogue. How about this, Richie and Jon both announce a show on the same night in the same city. Who would get the bigger venue, who would get the most people, and all that crap? It´s obviously Jon, the reason for that is because Bon Jovi on something means more than Sambora. I am a huge backer of the thought that Bon Jovi is all of them, and they are better together than apart, but make no mistake that most people show up to see Jon.

People in the industry respect Richie we are told, but why do you think they don´t respect Jon? He has done more lag work over the years than Richie by a mile, and has displayed as much or more talent. However, it seems as the face you get the plaudits and the brunt of people´s ire.

Richie is playing pubs, I shit you not there are local bands who play to more people than him, but somehow he has become a musical demi-god. Richie´s best work is all in the past, and 90% of it was with Bon Jovi. The same is true of Jon, but he is not bullshitting the masses by acting like he is a huge individual star (which ironically he actually is).

Don´t make the mistake of thinking this is an impassioned and biased defense of JBJ, it isn´t. In fact I could write an essay far longer than this on what Jon´s problems are, but to turn a guy who built a business and rolling juggernaut to someone who just got lucky is mental stuff. It is like saying Steve Jobs didn´t build and later transform Apple because he was just a hanger on who got lucky.

Not respected by critics or his peers? Let´s tackle the critics first, because you´ll have to show me all the glowing 5 star reviews for Richie´s work, and doesn´t it rather contradict the point that Richie was the talent behind Bon Jovi? If he was, isn´t it really him the critics are not respecting? Jon was named 13th(?) in Classic Rock´s Greatest Frontmen of Rock.

Considering he is not respected by his peers, he has done a good job showing up on stage with the likes of Ray Davies, Bob Geldof, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, and more. It is no different to Richie showing up on stage with Stevie Wonder, except the other guys probably know who Jon Bon Jovi is.

Delicious post.

I could be wrong, so feel free to correct me, but I think that taken out of context, CKatz's statement might be seen as over the top, i.e., if she had posted it out of the blue. But, in fact, it was posted as a rebuttal to Becky's implication that Richie had done nothing more than ride Jon's coattails all these years and now, tired of doing so - or seeing coattails he liked better - was now riding Orianthi's coattails; and that this is the only way he will ever achieve success. All of which, as reactions go, is just as over the top.

Truth be told, we really have no way of knowing who, if any, of the band would be stars today had things not happened the way they did. People assume that Jon would have been a star, regardless, because of what we know of his talent, charisma, looks, and determination, all of which he has in spades. But even with the combination of all those things, we can't know for a fact that he would have been a star. There have been any number of people who have had "star quality" who never made it simply because they weren't in the right place at the right time.

And we can never know what might have happened with the other equally talented members of the band either. Who knows what level of determination they might have developed had they not joined up with Jon and allowed his drive and their common vision to pave the way for them all.

Bon Jovi, as a band, succeeded beyond everyone's imagination because of the magical combination of 5 guys and the people with whom they surrounded themselves. They collectively hitched their wagons to one star, yes, but the name of the star was BON JOVI. By that, I mean that they hitched their wagons to each other and their common dream.

Jon hitched his wagon to Richie, Dave, Tico, and Alec, (and Doc for as long as he needed him) just as assuredly as the other four did to him. Otherwise, why did he send Sabo packing when Sambora came around? He did it because he recognized something in Richie, just like Richie recognized Jon's "it" factor, and he knew that Richie was the one who would help them get where he wanted them to go. And I'm not giving Richie all the credit here; I'm just saying that he played his part in the band's success, just as Jon, David, Tico, and Alec did.

I think everyone could agree with that except for one fact. About a year ago - for whatever reason - Richie disappointed a lot of people and their disappointment has allowed them to rewrite history, at least in their own minds, and to come to the conclusion that his contributions to the band's success weren't really all that important anyway, that there was nothing special about his playing or singing, that anybody could have done what he did (the flake), and the band would have been just as successful without him, because Jon was there.

Forgive me if this offends you, but that's just utter nonsense. Jon may have been as successful, in his own right, with or without Richie. But BON JOVI would never have been the band it was without the unique contributions of all five band members. And the events of the past year don't change that. It just changes how people see it.

And yes, IMO, it is a Jon vs Richie thing and probably always will be to some extent for this reason: Unless I'm mistaken you have four types of BJ fan: Band fans who truly don't have a favorite member, a smaller group of fans who are Dave or Tico fans, and the rest, which based on my observation comprise the vast majority of fans, are split into Jon fans or Richie fans. The Richie fans will probably never think that he gets enough credit and the Jon fans will probably always think that Richie gets too much credit. I think it's always been that way and probably always will be. It's just that the current situation has turned the spotlight up on it. JMO, for what it's worth.

When I look beyond the messy state of the band at the moment and how Richie left the tour so abruptly, I must say that I think it is great for anyone at 53 to envision a fresh start. Richie still has a passion for music and after 30 years of being a lead guitarist in a globally successful band, he desires to have a more individual musical voice. Kudos to him for being willing to get out there, play with different people and work on building a solo platform--that was an element that was missing with his promotion of Aftermath. With Aftermath, he promoted it heavily in interviews and on TV but he had no real history of playing with anyone besides Bon Jovi. He was seen as a Bon Jovi guitarist putting out a cd on an independent label, not has a singer/guitarist with his own voice and style. No, he will not fill arenas as a solo performer but if he can play smaller venues and be happy, that will be more than enough since he doesn't need the money. I don't think he is done with Bon Jovi but he is more than due this time to be a solo artist. I am optimistic that he could be a strong part of future Bon Jovi efforts. For all the sloppiness that he sometimes brought on stage (alcohol related or not), he has also been a very loyal band member who has promoted the hell out of the band spouting statistics right and left and glad-handling people when Jon couldn't be bothered.

I think he was relatively silent while the tour was in progress not out of contractual restraints but out of common sense and respect for the band. Now the tour is over, Richie is in the public eye and he is trying to promote his past achievements with Bon Jovi and his future solo musical endeavors. That is what happens in interviews: you try to sell yourself and your product. So the media constantly references Bon Jovi and Richie tries to move the interview away from that. And then everyone interprets him as bashing Jon or the band. lol

Taken out of context? Impossible, because whether it was a tit for tat rebuttal or not it was utter crap. If Catz does not agree with what Becky said then there are ways to show Richie´s contribution to the band. Either way, people saying the same about Richie are full of it too.

I am not a Jon or Richie guy, both stink at the moment in my opinion whether solo or in the band. I also don´t particularly care if the band reforms or not, but I think most sensible people know Richie and Jon´s respective qualities over the years. And the band split into four groups, how childish it that? I don´t offer adulation to people I will never meet or know, just respect, and in that regard Jon and Richie equally commanded my respect, Tico and Dave didn´t simply because they were not as ingrained in the whole process. As people, I couldn´t care less how they are, and we´ll never know, and truthfully I find it is female fans who for the most part engage in that who is your favorite member rubbish.

This is where I have had the problem this past year. Naively, probably, being but a simple man, I was a fan of the band as a whole and supported all its members also in their solo projects because I liked them too.

The whole Jon fans/Richie fans things actively being against other members of the same band has made me shake my hand on numerous occasions. They have barely rising above 1D fans and teenage crushes with their silly defending and sniping and it has made me embarrassed to be a Bon Jovi fan.
There's quite a fair bit of it on here, you can spot them a mile off, but thankfully a lot of us are objective on the whole. Social media is just pathetic though, Twitter messages & FB groups are just talking the biggest load of shit I have ever seen. A lot of these so-called fans basically need to grow up.

best post ever.

That post is all over the place and I am not quite sure what you are trying to say with it. You start by slaughtering the view that, musically speaking, Richie has carried Bon Jovi over the years (which in my opinion is a justifiable comment to make and can't be ridiculed as you do) yet back it up with all kind of points around popularity, venue size, and industry recognition. The two have nothing to do with each other. And I will not go into bubble gum pop territory to make my point - but how many people would have gone to, say, a Paul Anka gig and how many people would have gone to see Frank Sinatra?

Note, I am not even insinuating anything here...just don't like that kind of rhetoric.

Gotta ask: Did you deliberately juxtapose Paul Anka and Frank Sinatra or are you just instinctively that brilliant? :D

That's your opinion and you're certainly entitled to it. I stand by mine. :)

Hey, I resemble that remark! ;)

To be fair I wrote that late last night after a day of work and a few bottles. Nevertheless I think most of what I wanted to say I said, and the points I was making you missed. Maybe that´s my fault, maybe not. I am busy right now but if the thread has not moved on by time I can be arsed to respond I will try to explain myself a bit better. Maybe.

Thanks for maybe taking the time to think about maybe replying. Also, maybe it was just me who didn't get it so maybe don't even bother. Also, maybe, you didn't even make any point at all and maybe nobody gives damn rat's ass?? Maybe, certainly, I don't.

All I said is that I didn't like that post and told you why. Whether you elaborate on it or not, doesn't make a difference. I still won't like the attitude you expressed through some of those made up factoids like Jon Bon being ranked in the top 15 by Classic Rock. He might make the top 15 in the BWJBJ top 10 singers of all time. As about Richie Sambora - while I'd take him over Jon Bon, both of them are two rich ungrateful SOBs who are not worth anyone's time. And that's DEFINITELY the only thing that matters in this discussion. No maybes.

My my you are making a bit of a willy of yourself there. I dont get how you would have a fat drugged up back stabber over someone that has successfully let this band for 30 years. This comment makes no sense whatsover. Yeah back the guy who's trying to kid one person that actually thinks what he's doing has integrity - himself. And how is Jon ungrateful? Are you drunk/stoned? There is only one person in the band that is ungrateful....

Why are you coming across so aggressive? Are you jealous that you didn't write one of the best posts in a long time? I think that Richie and Jon are worth EVERYONES' time. Because thats why you have written 8,648 posts in nearly 14 years. So it has to mean something to you. Just pipe down a bit why dont you, and stick to the agenda. And stop trying to come over all billy big bollocks.

Hi guys. Long time lurker - first time poster.

Like a lot of you, I've been a fan for nearly 30 years, so I'm saddened by this stand off. And, I must say, I'm less enamoured with Richie's behaviour than I would have been 20 years ago. Here's why.

I do think that Jon's been rather stupid for the past decade or so. He's been using Bon Jovi as 'his band' to make 'his music.' Now, he has every right to do that - but it's just a stupid thing to do when you have writers like Richie and Dave beside you. Bon Jovi is a business, but Jon seems to have forgotten that their business is creativity. They will never achieve their maximum creative output, unless they deploy all their creative resources. That is, take Richie, Dave and Jon, maybe throw in Desmond Child as another long term collaborator, and write to their vision - not Jon's vision. Each one of those is a gifted songwriter in their own right. If Jon can let go of the need to write for radio, and write from the heart, (like he did with songs like Living in Sin, Silent Night, Bed of Roses, Dry County, Midnight in Chlesea etc) with these three guys by his side - if he can co-write their songs as well as having them co-write his - I firmly believe he can create an astoundingly beautiful record - as part of a fitting tribute to one of the greatest bands in rock history. These guys came from the same place, went through the same experiences, and are now in the twilight of a wonderful career that they forged together. Don't tell me that they have nothing in common, or nothing to write about. They have - and it could be truly outstanding if they throw off the shackles and just go for it. One last time - one fond farewell - no need to create hits - just the desire to leave a legacy that transcends the hit parade. Jon would be a fool not to get it done - and he's been a fool that he didn't do it sooner. He may be the boss, but the best bosses allow their subordinates to take the reins and drive the company as a team. Only the worst of bosses act like dictators. That's a fact in any business.

For all of that - he is the boss. There would be no band without him. If he wants to be an idiot, and make Richie write the way he wants Richie to write, whilst completely side-lining Dave, he has every right to do that. And Dave and Richie have every right to walk away. We all chose who we work for, and wealthy man can make that choice more easily.

But what Richie shouldn't do (and what Dave has never done) is give a commitment and then fail to live up to it. It is clear that he committed to the last tour. Now even if Jon started to move the goal posts and add more dates (which is likely given his history) Richie knew what he was getting into from day one. He gave that commitment, he should have honoured it. The rest of the band did, and I'll bet that most (if not all) of the road crew did. Us little folk live up to our word. It is an essential part of what we offer to the employers/customers who pay our bills. An ordinary Joe like one of us, would have walked away before or after, but not during the tour. Instead, Richie the rock-star threw his toys out of the pram and left his employer swinging in the wind.

Then, to make matters worse, he went on the airwaves and started talking trash about the company. He and Jon put their names to These Days, and Richie makes some daft comment about it being 'my song.' I couldn't care less about the truth of that - it's just not something that a dignified and dependable worker would do. Would any of us publicly take credit for something that we created for another employer? Of course we wouldn't. It'd be daft, stupid, and devoid of common sense. Once you've been paid for a job, you put your money in your pocket and move on. Only a child feels the need to 'claim credit.'

Richie should go to Jon and acknowledge that his behaviour is not that which an employer is entitled to expect from an employee. He should do the right thing, and apologise. Then, he may wish to make it clear that he's not coming back unless he gets to share in the creative vision for the bend, and not just write to Jon's agenda. If Jon wants to be a fool and flush Bon Jovi down the toilet by continuing to ignore his greatest assets, that's his problem. Richie can shake his hand, tell him that it was nice working with him, and move on with honour, whilst maintaining cordial relations with a long-time friend.

Here's hoping they get it together. They always struck me as having more class and work ethic than bands like G 'n' R. GnR had so much talent, but threw it all away, because they were almost all spoiled and lazy. Lets hope Bon Jovi give it one more belting blast of true teamwork, on an outsanding collaborative album.

You don´t happen to work in a job center do you?

While you are fundamentally right, we can´t apply real world employment practices to the life of a massive rock band, the same rules just don´t apply. Of course most people are pissed at Richie for some of the things you detailed above, so perhaps it is something that matters. I wasn´t going on the tour anyway so am not pissed at him for that, I am pissed that he is a shadow of his former self.