So what's the verdict on Richie?
 

I've noticed in some of the threads around here people are saying that Richie has slipped off the wagon again and is drinking. What do you guys who've seen the band on this tour say? Is it as bad as people are making out?

His voice still sounds great, from what i can from youtube videos but some of his playing is really really sloppy!

I've only noticed a difference in his is behaviour since the Philadelphia shows. There's no other way to put it, he looks drunk.

I think if someone is genuinely suffering from an addiction to drink the worst thing to do is to take them places they assimilate with the drug...like a pub for the common man. Or in Richie's case the road.

He's holding it together-just and no more.

It's a shame...such a talented dude but he's clearly struggled with drink for a long, long time!

He kicked the coke so he can do it with drink if he wants to!

Yep, it upsets me to see him like this.

I just wonder, at what point would Jon call the tour off if Richie is indeed hitting the bottle again?

Does Jon even socialise with Richie on the Road? It's hard to know what goes on.

From what Jon's put on twitter/facebook it seems like they do hang out off the stage, he's mentioned meals/movies/bowling (sounds like there dating :p) but you brought up a good point about calling off the tour. I'd like to think he would do it but we really don't know do we!

chances of jon calling off the tour because a functioning alcoholic is drinking as per usual are little to none. in fact they are non existent.

i think this is why he's chewing the gum so much because booze ruins your throat and your range suffers.

there are hundreds of millions of dollars tied up in this tour...is it not the biggest they've done in twenty years or something?

I think until it becomes problematic and he's really making mistakes then the show will go on and even after Bandiera is there to cover his ass.

Jon also didn't call off the HAND tour where Richie was obviously struggling with heavy alcohol problems. He looked like my fat economics teacher there :D

I wanna go on tour with Bon Jovi :(

yeah

i mind him walking (waddling) onstage in Glasgow and thinking "who's the fat cunt dressed like Sambora?"

It was so shit. he was a mess...his vocals were poor and his playin routine.



Felt sorry for him. He needs a good woman to calm him down!

My thoughts entirely, this all stems from The HAND tour where Richie hurt his arm and took pills and booze to play through the pain. Surely Jon could see what was happening and intervene, but Richie was still functioning so I guess it wasn't a problem in his eyes.

It came to the stage where Richie stopped functioning (Unplugged) but the band weren't on tour. What's it gonna take for someone to realise he's in a bad way. Is Richie gonna have to get in the ol' Humvee and take the kids for an adventure?

I just hope we're wrong and he's okay.