Should the band go on without Richie?
 

Let's say, Richie isn't well enough to get back to work in time for the Lost Highway release. Do you tihnk the band should wait for him?

I for one, say hell yes. Bon Jovi just isn't Bon Jovi without Richie. I tihnk it would be a slap in the face to him, and to the fans, for them to do anything without him ready to come back.

On the one hand, fans want to see Richie with the band and the band wants Richie to be there.

On the other, they have contractual obligations. They've got thousands of fans who have planned to be at shows on certain days which means many of those fans have made travel arrangements which they may not be able to have refunded. The people who work for these events count on such things for their income. If the band doesn't show up, do they get paid for a day they were scheduled to work or not? It's not *just* about Richie or the band.

I'm sure they won't make their decision lightly. I can understand if they go either way and I don't envy them the decision.

in an ideal world - yes wait.

but this ain't an ideal world. and i don't think postponing gigs is an option. if it was a tour then yes. but this is promo work, the album comes out soon. it is a tight schedule.
i think they will go on....hopefully Richie is back for the O2 gig. because it won't be Bon Jovi without him, but we will have to see.
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I think the band should wait. I hope he'll beat at the O2 gig for all the fans.

bon jovi is a band and thats the way it should stay.
THE STAGE would be empty without Richie.
Jon and richie bounce off one another on stage. It would be criminal to see either of them on their own. THEY HAVE BEEN THERE SEEN THAT AND DONE THAT WITH THEIR SOLO ALBUMS, THIS IS ABOUT BON JOVI THEY ARE TEAM AND I SAY WAIT. 5 ON STAGE OR NONE!!!! TRUE JOVI FANS WILL UNDERSTAND. BE HEARTBREAKING TO SEE SOME GIMP FROM SOUTHSIDE JOHNNY SITTING IN FOR RICHIE

Sure, they'll understand that Richie needs rehab. But if they've paid $500 to fly somewhere for a concert and can't get their money back will they all be so willing to donate that much to the cause of Richie getting better?

I have tickets for a July show and I'm quite glad I haven't booked my flight yet.

Umm is that even a question!? BON JOVI isin't Bon Jovi with out Richie Sambora.... why don't you go and replace Jon while your at it.

Richie WILL get better. He's just going through a tough time. It's not like he's going to let this road patch ruin the band and his career!

I'm praying for you Richie <333

I think Zero Zero UFO summed it up beautifully.

But the question is, (To Becky) would you be happy seeing a BJ concert without Richie, purely from a die hard fans' perspective.

How would you feel seeing Dave Sabbo doing the intro to Wanted?

I must admit it would sort of be a hollow feeling.

But then again, the girl from Hole that replaced Tommy Lee did a pretty good job.

It's a scary thought imagining someone trying to fill Richie's shoes... just imagine someone else on talk box duties :O it really would not be right at all... i really hope he's back for the O2...as it will be a real shame if he's not...

I don't think the Bon Jovi world revolves around how *I* would personally feel.

But to answer, I'd feel sad, disappointed, and like there was a great big hole on the stage if I were at a show where Richie couldn't perform. That's how I felt the first time I saw the band without Alec. There's a magic in Jon and Richie that very few singer/guitarist combos have achieved.

At the same time, I'd be pretty upset off if Richie's addictions let to a $1000 or more (tickets, airfare, hotel room) of my hard earned money wasted because the show was cancelled altogether. One thing I have greatly admired about Bon Jovi is that they don't have a habit of cancelling shows. They've gone on with illness, injuries, & personal loss. Their fans can count on them to at least show up, even when the show is the best they can do at the time, but not necessarily their best.

How would *you* feel if you put $200 into tickets, $500 into airfare, $150 into a hotel room, and whatever for tranportation to and from airport-hotel-venue-hotel-airport and the day you got there you found out there was no show? You're out money, time off work (and you only get a few vacation days a year), and have nothing to show for it. Hey, I like cheese as much as the next guy, but I wouldn't fly to Wisconsin just for the cheddar.

How would *you* feel if you're the minimum wage making guy who serves the hotdogs at the venue and you had 3 nights on your schedule where you'd make some money and the shows got cancelled, you didn't get paid, and you couldn't afford your rent for that month?

It's a great big picture and someone has to look at all of it to make the right call. As I said before, I'm glad it's not me!