Sambora The SuperGroup - Who would get your shout?
 

Here's a scenario for you and if this has already been covered, then I apologise...

IF Richie has left, his rep is going to have sustained some damage. However, the overriding feeling when listening to Aftermath is that despite some epic moments of self-awareness and musicality, the man does need someone else to bounce off of.

So let's play...

Come up with a possible SuperGroup and also name maximum one producer and two songwriters from outside of the group who could assist. Then give your reasons why you picked them.

I would love to see/hear what Richie could come up with if he nabbed the following guys and wrote/recorded something...

Vocals: Sammy Hagar
Drums: Mark Richardson (Little Angels/Skunk Anansie)
Bass: Duff McKagan
Guitar & Vocals: RS
Rhythm Guitar: Ron Wood
Keyboards: Nick Rhodes (Duran Duran)

A throwback group, I know but f*ck it... they'd be such a crazy mix of genres, I reckon it could work.

Hagar is a simple man, he sings for pleasure, nothing more. I think this would suit Richie down to the ground and be a HUGE change of pace for him.

I was going to go with Zak Starkey on drums but I don't want to over complicate things and Mark Richardson is an intelligent and versatile drummer, he could fit in with whatever comes out of the sessions.

Duff... speaks for itself. He can play punk, rock and all with effortless cool. The bass can be a lead instrument or a beautiful thumping, sloppy heartbeat... and live, you wouldn't be gutted if you ended up on his side of the stage, watching him play.

Ronnie can play anything and, again, the common thread here is (as well as all being over 40!) they LOVE their music... writing it, recording it, playing it live. Richie's guitar spends too much time fighting with Bobby and JBJ for space, the songs were never intending to be two/three guitars interwoven... but Ronnie would make Richie a much better player...

Nick Rhodes? Watch the BBC documentary about the album Rio and tell me this guys isn't the most eccentric, wonderful musician since Keith Moon. He always fights for the integrity of the song and knows when a tune is about guitar, not keys.

Producer: Rick Rubin.

Co-writers:

Danny O'Donoghue - The man can write a hook and will bring a nice, fresh perspective. Plus, he is used to adapting to the room he is in and writing for the artist.

Jon Bon Jovi - Yep, really. Why not? Him in a room, being kept honest by Sammy and the rest, they might just tap some gold. Of course, they might end up writing something like 'Put The Boy Back In Cowboy', in which case, I'd have to have them all beaten with hosepipes but they might, just create something magic.

That's mine. Don't slate it, come up with your own.

Good shout with Hagar. Love his voice, much prefer Van Hager to Van Halen. But I'd want Richie on lead vox obviously.

To be honest, I'd love to have Alec, David and Tico on board too...

Surprised with your Danny O'Donoghue actually, but yeah that guy can write a hook and produce too. For that poppy slant, i'd go with Ryan Tedder for cowriter then..

But I'd be looking a hard rocking blues influenced album with a contemporary edge from them. Like Stranger in this town, updated. So I don't know who'd I'd go with..

Richie should ''do a lenny kravitiz'' and just write,produce, and play all the instruments on his next project. He'd love that shit.

Andi

Would love to hear what he could come up with on his own... completely on his own...

My ultimate supergroup would be (if he left)

Lead Guitar: Richie Sambora
Keys: David Bryan
Drums: Tico Torres
Bass: Hugh Macdonald
Lead Vocals: Jon Bon Jovi (Even though he's the devil)

+1. I could listen to it as is "the new thing of Richie", but wouldn't be excited at all.

Sloooooow hand clap...

I said at the start of the post, this is a hypothetical question based on Richie leaving Bon Jovi...

Personally, the band you mention above have bored me shitless for quite a few years and, according to many on here, have stifled Richie's talents so this was a quest for opinion on who would allow them to flower again.

Yeah cuz Jon Bon is the devil.

Sammy Hagar is a great call for lead singer, the laid back nature of him and Richie could lead to something cool. Although I will not copy so here is my band.

Scott Stapp (lead singer): Not a fan of Creed at all but he has an interesting enough voice.

A great alternative would be Steven Tyler: While Bon Jovi and Aerosmith are pretty similar I think a collaboration between Tyler and Sambora would throw up something different and would be really good, it could also be a strong writing partnership.

David Bryan: The only Bon Jovi member I will include. Would be interesting if he and Richie formed the core songwriting team.

Michael Anthony (Bass): good player, experienced

Roger Taylor (Drums)

Malcom Young (rhythm guitar) could add some meat and I would want someone who is a rhythm player by trade and not a rival for Richie. I would be a little concerned his sound would not mix with the feel of the band so in that instance I would perhaps go with Dave Sabo, solid rhythm player and knows Richie well.

Of course, Richie on lead guitar with some vocals etc etc.

It would be easy for us all to just name names in a ahh look who I know kind of way. I decided to go with a band that would fit each other and could produce a style of music. The more I think about it the more Tyler would be the lead singer.

Spot on with Tyler... just imagining him singing Stranger In This Town...

As much as I like ST, I still think Richie himself should sing Stranger and no one else ;)