Do you miss them?
 

Bon Jovi with Richie. Haven't really paid much attention to anything as I haven't been on a Bon Jovi kick, but listened to 'Homebound Train' the other day and since I have not listened to anyone other than Bon Jovi. Damn I miss them. Watching old live performances and thinking about previous shows I've seen etc, I don't think I can attend a future concert without Richie. It just isn't the same. Videos like this below are absolute magic and I think this is what we all want and need...a band having fun, being spontaneous and doing what they do best.

https://youtu.be/p8gX4TC4QKM

I'm over it. The last three shows I saw were without Richie and Phil X did a great job and he wanted to be there. I would rather attend a show where everyone wants to be there and is having fun and doing their job 100% than a show where one person isn't into it and is giving a half-assed performance.

I don't get to go to ten shows a tour. I'm lucky to get to one or two so I'll gladly go to a show, no matter who is playing guitar.

It started way before Richie left. I do miss the concerts blowing me away but this stopped after the Lost Highway tour. Actually the tour got me into them again and although I saw some good concerts afterwards, something was missing. I cannot say I miss them because I listen to a lot of other bands. I rather see some talented guy like Ryan Adams who is totally into his shows and who lives and breaths his music. I was listening to his acoustic show from New York and Jon's singing and those acoustic songs of his cannot hold a candle to Ryan's performance. So why should I listen to Bon Jovi if I can listen to good artists?

I actually think it has a lot to do with age, tbh. Around 2000/2001 they were still fresh but afterwards it started to decline with less and less 'wow' moments for me. I dont really care because why should I be stuck with the past. I try to focus more on artists that are worth spending my money on.

I dont know about your expectations, their concerts aren't bad but far from being great. Music always meant a lot to me but I have to connect to the people on stage to have a great experience and I just dont connect to this band.
If Bon Jovi were the only band there is, I would be sad but they arent :-). When I listen to a good performance of KTF or Dry County I wish I would be able to catch a performance the way it is supposed to but I know I never will.

I see your point but last tour it seemed like they were restricted and everything was so robotic. Like because Phil X was replacing Richie they couldn't go out of their comfort zone.

I too listen to a lot of other music. Bon Jovi probably aren't even my favourite band anymore, but they're still important because the music they created, especially between 86-95 was absolutely incredible and they've proved time and time again when they are 'on' they are a hell of a live act.

Well, yeah. That is the main reason I was listening to them but these times are over and have been over for quite some years now.

Do you miss them?

very much.

Even if at some point they were not at their best or they had some kind of tensions, which was still a great thing live together.

Not at all, I loved Phil X on the Asia tour and in Chicago on the BWC tour - he's just so stoked to be there I love his energy.
He was front and center in Singapore when Jon got him to come down the catwalk with him and he was great in the extended outros they played.
Hope to see more of him and I wonder what the results would be if he had input in the band's music.

I'll let you know after this new album and tour.

Asian Tour was even more disappointing for me. Had released an album with 10 new songs, and they just play We Dont Run. Jon could have played at least two or three songs easily. I'm Your Man, Saturday Night gave me Sunday Morning or Teardrop to the Sea come to mind.