Exactly. Bon Jovi are just as big as U2 (not quite as big as the Stones), so why do Bon Jovi have to continue to tour? Because Jon or the band or whoever are worried about losing money. They should postpone the dates, and offer refunds. With Bon Jovi being as big a band as they are, not too many people will need to make new travel arrangements, because they've probably toured around your area recently. Most of the crowd would probably go to the new shows.

Totally agree!!!

I. AM. INFURIATED.

And, would love to sell our tix but FC tix are not to be resold - hubby learned that the hard way.

Since it's our anniversary, the only thing that I can hope for is that we have amazing seats, (this is our one and only concert and our one and only mini vacation of the year), and that they bring on one hell of a guitarist and a few grand surprises to make up for the loss of Richie not being there.

I'm not holding my breath, but really hoping to be totally surprised and amazed at Jon's more classier and more generous treatment of the fans ...

What are my/our chances?

:(

Which show are you going to? He might be back...

What makes you think that? I don't pay enough attention to the Stones or U2 to know how they are about canceling shows. Do they have a history of canceling shows? I've been a Bon Jovi fan long enough to know that they show up when they say they're going to show up. I remember Dave playing when his father died and Jon playing with a bad back and hurt leg and they've all been sick for shows. One reason fans will make plans to travel to see this band is that they're reliable. I suspect that if the Stones and U2 are generally as reliable as Bon Jovi has been, they would play without key members too.

You stated this perfectly:)

Yes, they will. I never doubted that they wouldn't. I just think that it would be classier to give fans, options.

Awesome quote in that article:

"But the best substitute for Richie Sambora would be...Richie Sambora."

The selfish side of me does have to ask, can't this wait? Or, can't he do what others have done and bring someone on the road with him to help him out?

My wife isn't going to the show with me, but that's what she said as well. She's not a fan but even she knows how integral Richie is to this band.

You don't want to cancel? Fine. But like you said, give the fans a choice in the matter. To not, really sucks in my opinion.

Aloha !

How is it reliable to play without key members? I say postponing a show to give one the full package is actually more reliable than just going ahead and giving one a show one hasn't paid for. The Stones have postponed shows due to injuries of key members, but it's exactly because a Stones show without Keith Richards is unacceptable to the public.

Salaam Aleikum,
Sebastiaan

Atlanta - 2 weeks from tonight.

I'm just so... sad.

(As a disclaimer, I do hope that Richie gets the help that he seems to so desperately need, but --- I think the classy thing for the Bon Jovi organization to do would be to offer refunds to those that would like to have them.)

The sad thing is that my hubby, only recently, became a huge Richie fan. And, he paid way too much money for the tix, only because, it is "our" anniversary.

(I'm a Jon girl but simply cannot imagine a Bon Jovi concert without Richie and especially in this particular case. Sorry, I don't mean to sound selfish, but we don't have a lot of money, and this concert/trip was meant to be a very special treat/splurge for the BOTH of us (and a surprise for me from hubby.)

Anyway, we'll just keep our fingers crossed that Jon pulls off some very classy miracles...