Go Huey!!!
He is a champ.....I think that he should be accepted as a band member by now. He has been around long enough

@neurotica: i didn't say that i don't like huey, or that he's a bad bass player (as a matter of fast he's 10.000 times better than alec- rumours are that he played bass on bj albums ever since!!!), i didn't say it's wrong that he plays on other artists albums (it's his job) and i didn't say either that i wouldn't like huey to be an official member! i just said that huey has got a contract with the record company as an don't know what they call it... maybe additional musician- so there's a CONTRACT which is between huey becoming the 5th member and i think (<-- states a personal opinion which may be correct but mustn't be) that he's happy with the way it is- anyway it's not on us to decide so it's the best if we leave it at that

Captain Crash, it IS none of our business.

To tell you the truth, I'm getting a bit tired of reading that line... so, for the sake of argument, let's say you're right, this is none of our busniness. Then what is? The songs on the next album? No, it's the bands business what songs they wanna put on there and what songs not. And it's their business if the songs they wanna write are pop or rock songs, good or bad songs.. so let's stop all the discussions about the new album, it's none of our business. So, what can we talke about? Songs for the concerts? No, again, it's the bands business what songs they play at a concert, not ours, so no need for discussions about what songs should make the setlist, it's none of our business. What else? Jon's looks? Again, none of our business, he can look the way he wants too... Richie's guitarplaying? He can play whetever he wants to, good or bad, none of our business... you know what, let's all go to the non-BJ board and talk about other bands.. Unless that's none of our business too...

Sorry, but it is a difference if the fans talk about songs, concerts etc. because that is made for us. But to interfere in their business contracts that are absolutely behind the scenes is too much. And somehow I don't see a reason for that. Hugh plays bass on all albums and tours, even at Jon's solo-tours so what makes the difference if he becomes a contract in that stands "bandmember"? He would still play bass on the albums and tours.

And IF you really start such a petition you maybe should ask Hugh first if he wants it. Maybe you even act against his wish.

Chris, again, this petition isn't about a contract saying 'bandmember', the truth is I couldn't care less what that contract says (contracts are boring). It's about Huey being present in pictures, in interviews, in all the video's, therefore, this discussion is no different from a discussion about for example wanting to hear richie play some solo songs during the concerts or wanting to hear more from Obie at BJ HQ or wanting to see more from Dave on BJ TV...
Also we didn't just start this petition, It's been going for almost a year now (same as the site), so this is not some spur-of-the-moment thing, everything on the site has been thought about.
and without going into private stuff (which I'm not gonna do!) I can tell you this much.. I know for a fact Huey knows about the site and the petition... so if it bothered him, don't you think he would have said something by now??

Sorry, maybe I really misunderstood something. To me it sounded like "Jon, give Hugh a contract as an official member".

I agree, he should be involved in photos and all videos (not only in a few).

The wish to see him more often on photos is for sure a wish of a lot of fans, esp. since he is a part of the band for the big mayority of us.

I hope you can forgive me, but maybe the names of the topic and your petition were a little unfavorable choosen because it really sounds like something that goes too far behind the scenes and didn't really make clear what you really want.

Can you forgive me ;).

yours
Christine

I'm gonna add my two-cents worth.

I actually think its great that the Bass-Player is getting so much attention (as a bass player myself) - as they r usually the most overlooked member of a band.

To me he is an integral part of Bon Jovi (has been from the start), contract or not. I too would like to see him appear in more photo shoots / get more exposure than he perhaps is. However I'm sure he would only need to ask & this would happen - I personally think he doesn't really want all the exposure that would come about with being an 'official member'. The fact that he is happy with this arrangement is surely shown from the amount of work he does for BJ & the fact he goes on tour with them & doesn't miss a show. However if a petition would change this - then all the better & I'm sure he is flattered by the response.

Although if this fails to change things, then I think we all need to accept that the current arrangement is one that will not change.

Mike

hey, No hard feelings Chris, it's just that I was getting a bit tired of hearing that over and over again lol... i really don't care about contracts, just wish they'd start treating like a member, after all, he is a part of the band to the fans! and who knows, if enough fans sign the petition, they will finally realise how the fans feel about this! :)

Perhaps he doesn't wanna be a member of Bon Jovi?! Maybe he likes his place within the band....?