Agree 100% !! there is bad blood between them and there are many unsolved problems, richie left for his reasons but the fact that wanted to come back shortly after (he wanted to play the london gig for example shows it wasnt one huge fight but many complaints etc)
richie should admit his own mistakes as well as jon, they are grown man and should find the courage to face one another. Also jon is in a lose lose situation but since richie wanted back he should lay down some terms and accept him with open arms...bj was richie as well, bj will never be phil and shanks and jon should protect the legacy by understanding this even if richie was a liability sometimes

And that's why so many people think Bon Jovi is actually Jon Bon Jovi. He decided that Doc gave the band a bad name (Paul Stanley of KISS said once that he's really happy working with Doc and while he could be a bad manager for other bands, KISS is actually going along well with him), Alec was a drug addict who f***d up most of the time (the infamous interview where Alec said Jon was bashing him for playing like shit), Richie was an unreliable drunk, Bobby was no longer needed, etc. I don't know how could some people believe Jon that easily when he said he would accept Rich back with open arms. Richie screwed big time but I do believe in the guy's sanity and that this 'sudden departure' was an answer to a equally grave situation he got stuck in. I do understand Jon's behaviour, too. He's a very private guy and yet, he has millions of people watching his every step and listening to his every word. He needs to say something to quiet any unnecessary rumors that may be out there. It's his mode of dealing with fame and especially the stinky stuff.

I do admire the band's loyalty to each other, though. Saw and read so many 'tell-it-all' books, 'revealing' interviews, etc. What do we have here? Some bits and pieces of sometimes contradictory statements. We're confused because we do feel we deserve the truth. The fact is, it's not up to us and I don't think we'll ever get to know the whole of it.

What I've learnt is that we shouldn't expect anything because nobody ows us anything. It's a free gift. Being grateful for whatever we get because it can't be taken for granted.

Don't discount that Richie could have been lying when he said he wanted to play in London just to placate fans/press. I, for one, took it just that way. He was all too happy to boast about never playing Runaway again. Yeah, insult the song that got the Jon, therefore you, a record contract. Classy.

Richie's drug problems were the reason Phil was on standby and are probably a great contribution to his split. If it were Jon directly, why are David, Tico, and Hugh still loyal to Jon? The WAN tour could have been the end, justified easily by Richie's departure and Tico's health problems and Dave's pursuit of Broadway projects.

Oh, I may be wrong, but I think I've read somewhere that Jon isn't too keen on singing Runaway that much, either. Can't find it now so I can't tell for sure. Hearing such statements hurts, though. It seems resentment runs deep in the family. And their both lying or not telling the whole truth' may be an attempt to hide the real reasons behind the split and the core of the probs. Jon wants to retain this squeaky clean image of the band so Richie's drug addiction is almost like an insult to the injury, a skeleton in the closet. The whole band has their secrets they want to 'take into the grave' so I wouldn't assume the others haven't indulged more or less, too. It's not about pointing fingers or Jon-Rich duelling because you know what, I would LOVE to seem them both ROCK the stage together AGAIN. It still doesn't feel right. Interestingly enough, the whole mess resulted in a really good album. We will see if it will last or the thrill wears off and we'll be given another run-of-the-mill album. I do hope for a reunion but I wouldn't want it forced or grandstanding. Bon Jovi is Jon's baby. It doesn't surprise me at all that he goes to great lengths to make it work, even if it involves unpopular and painful decisions. Then we get a song where he sings:

I got what I wanted
I paid every cost
I'd give it all back
To get back what I've lost

Thank God Tico's recovered and Dave took on a bigger role in the band. They deserve that for sure.

The Richie Sambora & Orianthi album
 

Agree he needs to release something (For his own sake and career ) soon. How hard can it be to release a digital ep?

If you look on the RSO Facebook page, there are pictures of Richie with a new pet cat. Awww.

Of course this means he will never be able to tour again. Cats don't like to travel and they rule the roost. (I am clearly joking, okay?)

Good to see you are joking. I'm getting really fed up with the topics you are butchering into cat topics..

I've seen some folks wishing Richie would split up with Ori so he could come back to Jon and the band. As long as the guy's happy, then I'm happy. If the reunion happens, I think it will be some kind of a tour and not a regular thing anyway...

And I agree he should release some digital EP with a few new songs instead of repeating 'soon' like a mantra. Ori seems to be good at sooning, too :3

It's the only thing RSO has posted as news. I think it's relevant to this thread that there is something new there.

Would it really hurt is pride that much to not release it on a major label? Come on Richie. This is really disappointing to me because I think Aftermath was better than anything Bon Jovi has done in years and I was looking forward to more new stuff.