Can't figure out if it's lazy copywork or means something more. I still don't think they were made "official" (I mean in my mind it's all bull. They probably got a raise and are involved in photos but I don't believe their role in the band increased one bit)

THINFS (song) was written and initially recorded by JBJ, Shanks and Billy Falcon...
THINFS (album) is when David plays a "more expansive role without Richie Sambora"
DB: "OK, I'm going to do everything I can to fill that void. I worked my brain to death to come up with all the stuff that would equal a successful hit record."
JBJ: "Richie's exit gave Dave the opportunity to grow. I've got these 10 songs, we're going to go in and cut these."
DB: "I immediately go to the piano with the new book I always start for a new record, and I start charting the chords, so I have something that we take to the studio. We'd been in the habit on the last couple of records of doing backwards, where you've got the song and you add the drums, add the bass, add the other keyboards. I said, why don't we start it out like we used to? Get in a room and look at each other, and bash out the songs? And we did. We'd all sit around the piano, and I would play through a song. Them we'd get in the room and hash it out, and it was basically up to me, with a lot of input from John Shanks. A song has a line, whether it's a keyboard riff or a guitar riff or both, and he and I were just trying to come up with that line in a fun, creative way. What's based on that melody? What's that one lick that will make this thing work? What can we switch around? Maybe the tempo's wrong? It was really fun and collaborative. I knew the record was something special. Listen, this is a big record."
JBJ: "Ah, you never know."

Obviously, it's all bull. They're all Jon's employees anyway (incl. David and Tico), but the official presentation to the public still matters.

I'm curious, for anyone who bought the physical copy of THINFS - is there a 'members' section in the album artwork? How does it describe involvement of Hugh and Phil? Is there a distinction between them and John Shanks credits as a musician (who's supposedly not a member still)?

https://www.instagram.com/p/BqRHrEIA...=1b4r7z4flwbpx

Lead Guitarist with Bon Jovi doesn't sound quite the same as Lead Guitarist OF Bon Jovi. Am I reaching too hard and nitpicking the word choice?

There isn't actually a list of band members in this one, it just lists all of the people that perform on the album and what they do in this order.
JBJ
DB
TT
Hugh
Phil
Shanks
Lorenza Ponce
Amy Ralske
Thomas Dutton
Carl Falk

However - Tico, David, Phil, hugh and JBJ all get their own "Thank You" section in that order...

Could anyone take a photo of this? I wish the iTunes release came with a pdf of the booklet.

Very curious what

Lorenza Ponce
Amy Ralske
Thomas Dutton
Carl Falk

contributed. I think Lorenza did the string work and arranged Real Love, that might be that.

Thanks!

It seems like they're blurring the line on purpose, but if that question gets raised, the band supposedly officially has 5 members.

There's isn't a "members" section; the last page of the booklet insert just lists the album credits.

Produced by John Shanks and Jon Bon Jovi
Jon Bon Jovi: lead vocals
David Bryan: keyboards, background vocals
Tico Torres: drums
Hugh McDonald: bass
Phil X: guitar, background vocals
John Shanks: electric guitar, acoustic guitar, programming, background vocals

There are obviously a lot more credits than that, but those are the ones relating to what you're asking about.

Inside the back part of the plastic CD case that actually holds the CD there's a "Thank You" page. Tico, David, Phil, Hugh, and Jon (in that order) each have their own section listing the people they thank. Jon wrote "Tico, Lema and Hugh" pretty early in his list, with Phil X listed about 30 people later after his nieces and nephews. At the very end he wrote "And especially my THANKS to Mike Rew, Katie Agresta and John Shanks"

I don't know who wrote WITH: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DsF6vIkW0AAvIEN.jpg