Originally Posted by Jim Bon Jovi (Post 1047921)

Comparing Richie to Keef and the Edge who are worldwide megastars in their own right is ridiculous.

To your average Joe, Richie is the guy that used to bang Denise Richards and Heather Locklear not an integral part of a world famous band. If you're objective about it you know that's the truth.

Originally Posted by samboraisgodUK (Post 1047923)

That's assuming the "average joe" is someone that reads shite magazines and is not into music. To be honest, I think Richie's much more famous among "average joes" for his music than banging Denise Richards and Heather Locklear.

I'm not saying he's incrediby famous, but i do think he is known for a little bit more than that..

Originally Posted by Jim Bon Jovi (Post 1047924)

You're average Joe does read and listen to shit...

If you had to approach 10 people in the street and ask them who the Edge, Keef and Richie were, 9+ out of ten would know who Keef and the Edge were, I'd be shocked if more than 5 knew who Richie was.

I know people who have been to multiple Jovi shows that don't know who Richie is and don't care.

Originally Posted by Fredrik (Post 1047813)

I've been reading through all these posts over the past days, contemplating if and/or when I'd write a few words on my own. So I finally decided to write something down. Of course it is all to easy to look at it only out of your own perspective, since the only perspective we really have are our own. One can always feel angry/let-down/pissed off/dissapointed/infuriated or whatever other words most suitable to ones own vocabulary regarding the matter as a whole, that doesn't mean you don't care about the man (Richie) being sick - because in honesty he really is sick with alcohol issues. I don't think anyone here on the board doesn't care about Richie and not wanting him to get better, that would be cold. That doesn't mean we are not allowed to be let down or infuriated about it occuring at such a bad timing. That doesn't make us any less of a fan or a "bad fan" if you would choose that word. It only makes us human because we are, in fact, paying usually big money to see a group of people doing a professional job. And this is mostly where my own world collide - professional job. The job of these five guys (tour crew etc aside) is to show up, entertain people and touch their hearts in one way or another. Bon Jovi is an installment where all the people add to the equation that makes it into a functional unity. Because in truth - no other sings like Jon because he has honed that skill for more than 30 years where the same rules apply to the rest of the members. The only one I could ever be seen substituted for a few shows are Hugh, even though he's great, that would be less noticed. A guitar is a very distinct instrument and no one can play that instrument exactly like someone else just like almost no one else can share your identical DNA. Add to this the vocal harmony between Jon and Richie, the dynamic between them, the simple magic between them in a live setting. It is something that goes deeper than what the instrument is actually playing. That magic is a key ingredience of a Bon Jovi show and can't be faked, less copied. And if that ingredient is missing, it just isn't Bon Jovi as we have come to know, respect, and love.

The whole discussion about re-scheduling, refunds or the likes are beyond the scope of my text here, this is about me and my reaction. So on a personal note, of course I'm pissed and let down. I understand all the reasons behind it, I understand health comes first (I bloody well should as I'm a doctor), but if I plan to go and see Bon Jovi I want to see BON JOVI, and with that I mean all the things that are the magic and not only the notes and choruses. For some time I have felt that this band is heading for retirement, in my opinion time is catching up to them on so many levels. I have lived and breathed the music of this band for almost 20 years, they have been a major part in my life through ups and downs; dancing with girlfriends, periods of being brutaly dumped, in the background when my kids were born - they have been there. I saw them live on magic moments between 1993-2001, and now I haven't seen them for pretty much 10 years for a various amount of reasons. I wanted to see them at least once more when they are still fit to deliver their magic in a pretty decent and straightforward matter, so I got tickets to Munich for me and my son, booked flights and hotel and was so looking forward to a night with my musical heroes and legends. That I now might witness this maybe very last evening with one of those heroes and legends missing, well if you call me stupid for that reason - go ahead. I want to see Bon Jovi, and for me Bon Jovi is Jon, Richie, David, Hugh, and Tico - not Jon, David, Hugh, Tico and someone else.

After 20 years this is not how I wanted the most magical musical journey of my life to end, and for that very reason I'm both angry and let down. That doesn't mean I don't care about Richie, on the opposite, I react this way BECAUSE I care.

Originally Posted by Jim Bon Jovi (Post 1047921)

Comparing Richie to Keef and the Edge who are worldwide megastars in their own right is ridiculous.

To your average Joe, Richie is the guy that used to bang Denise Richards and Heather Locklear not an integral part of a world famous band. If you're objective about it you know that's the truth.

Originally Posted by Javier (Post 1047925)

That makes me sad :( .....

Originally Posted by Jim Bon Jovi (Post 1047924)

If you had to approach 10 people in the street and ask them who the Edge, Keef and Richie were, 9+ out of ten would know who Keef and the Edge were, I'd be shocked if more than 5 knew who Richie was.

Originally Posted by Solid Sambora (Post 1047932)

I didn't for a second say Richie was as famous as Keef, however I'm not sure The Edge is an awful lot more well known than Richie, especially not with the Average Joe. To say The Edge is a 'worldwide megastar' is probably a bit ridiculous too.
My point was that someone had said the frontmen of these bands were irreplaceable, and I countered that to the real fans the whole package is irreplaceable.

It actually brings up a good point though. When Keef fell from the tree, they postponed their gigs for about 2 months while he recuperated from surgery. Could they have played on without him? They had Ronnie, they could bring in someone else to play guitar too. It would have been the wrong decision, but they could have done it and his absence wouldn't have been as huge as Mick's. The Average Joe would have been happy because the songs would have sounded about right because Mick was singing it; again real fans would be disappointed though not to have Keef. If Mick had feel from the tree, a replacement singer wouldn't have worked with Average Joe, so couldn't be considered. The Stones simply made the right call, by postponing, maybe because they get that it should be about the whole package!

Originally Posted by Solid Sambora (Post 1047935)

You're probably right about Richie, in fact 3 out of 10 would be good.

However, there's more chance they'd say The Edge was a wrestler. There's no way 9 out of 10 people know who The Edge is without a hint.