One more word about the Extra guys
 

Just a comment about the two extra touring musicians....

I have come to the conclusion that I am happy these guys are there, as long as Jon and Ritche don't go overboard and start adding another drummer, backup singers, all that The Who circa 1989 BS or Pink Floyd now BS.

I'd much rather have extra musicians than backing tape. Van Halen is a little ridiculous. So many of their songs post 1984 have prominent keyboard parts, and for a couple of tours he played them himself... then, starting on the Carnal Knowledge tour he resorted to piping in all of his keyboard tracks. It's a little ridiculous to see Eddie sitting there noiselessly strumming his guitar while the intro to 'Right Now' plays, or to just stand there hitting power chords during the 'Jump' keyboard solo. He can't find a keyboard player? Is his ego that big that he'd rather have backing tape playing than a live musician OTHER THAN HIM playing his keyboard parts?

Bands like Queen and the Who (forgetting their 'Join Together' tour) employ an extra keyboard player and not much else. That's fine by me. If Bon Jovi feels that a backup guitarist and keys are needed to fill the sound, more power to them as long as they are NECCESARY. On most of the HAND songs, they are neccesary..... on TLFR material, they're neccessary. I originally voiced my concern about them because I was overall disappointed in the show I saw Tampa night 2, but that's worn off. Leave the extra guys be... they're working musicians ...

Oh, and Hugh McDonald played on the albums? I didn't know that. I knew he played on Runaway...

KJ

Yeah, rumour has it, as far as I know this has never been confirmed by an official source. It came up before Alec was fired when he said that he wouldn't be playing bass in the studio on These Days as Jon kept telling him he sucked and was a control freak but he would be doing the tour. Obviously it was an ill-advised move to criticise Jon in public and pretty soon the posters were up for the These Days tour with only 4 members of the band. People then saw that Hugh was on the thank you lists of all the other albums and put two and two together.

Someone may correct me here but as I said I have never heard this from an official source. If it was the case why does Jon still show such (public) loyalty to him by saying there will never be another bass player in Bon Jovi. It's not like the guy was some great looking chick magnet to help sell the band image. Why bother pretending he was really on the albums and take him on tour when he was supposedly a live liability and looked about 20 years older than the rest of the band.

Hugh has confirmed he played on the past albums if that helps.

I think it's that Jersey sopranos loyalty.
Alec was there in the beginning when noone believed.

Yep, and Jon has said that. That in the beginning Alec was there and believed in the dream so therefore, he'll be the one that goes into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame if they make it.

deb