Pretty much this. Shanks is perfectly fine. He's unobtrusive, is having a blast, does what he's paid to do and his stage presence is not clashing with anybody else's. The guy seems pretty nice too.

Why did Bobby B. leave btw? I know he was a touring member so there was no need for an explanation, but it seems odd there's been no mention since 2015

Edit to change a date, my memory is shit lol

He had quite a big dispute with Jon around 2015 when his personal life went shit and that ulitmately lead to him leaving.

Really?

http://i.imgur.com/uZ2Yc0Q.gif
:mrgreen:
I didn't edit my post again due to laziness, but I've found they did a gig together in March'16 (Gaynor Gala 2016 at the American Museum of Natural History in NYC), you can easily google the pictures. And I think that Bobby B. is still using BJ songs in his charity gigs. I find super strange that they'll part ways like this. I can't imagine a reason, now I'm curious...

Edit to add: that '16 gig was after the infamous interview where he "dished some scoop" on the band, which was what first came to mind as a reason why they would stop having Bobby B. around

What interview? can you please share?

Well said.

I feel the fact that he's the producer of like 40% and co-writer of 30% of the band's catalogue is not being brought enough (random numbers, but not too far off). And while I agree that this is not their peak work, but it's damn significant. And music, when possible, should always be performed by the people who make it, rather than hired guns. That's why my ideal lineup would have Richie and Shanks.

It'd be one thing if Shanks was a bad guitar player, but he's definitely not.

It was discussed here in detail when it came out, probably easy to find the thread (can't remember right now):

No, it’s not going to happen. And I feel pretty confident to state the following for everybody to see because I know it’s not coming back to bite my ass: “I’ll eat as many hats as any of you want because no, Richie is not coming back as a band member and/or permanent touring member”

Will they reunite for a one-off performance (charity, HoF induction…)? Sure, there’ll always be love and respect between them, if only for the years they spent together and the great legacy they created. But Jon and Richie as writing partners, sharing “moments” on a show? No, no way, that relationship is damaged beyond repair. When it happened, I had the strong gut feeling that there was no going back, due to the scarce but not really subtle hints at that time and due to many many other things along the way. And the way things have turned out and recent less than subtle hints… pretty clear the chances of having Richie back are zero. And it would hurt them more than help them, in all honesty. Both sides.

I know there’s nothing special or earth-shattering about a band breaking up/losing a key member. It happens all the time. But after so many years and such a painstakingly maintained tight-bond image, they wouldn’t even know where to begin in order to mend it

I really hope not cos ppl here tend to be overcritical specially when it comes to him, but he must know... if he does read the bullshit we say here (does he even have time for that?)... we all love him.
It's cheesy, but it's true.
We wouldn't be here if we didn't. And we only want to see him enjoying what he's doing up there, not struggling like in the gigs early this year.

Also on that note...

HEY, JON! * waves *
VOCÊ É GATO!!

I think this is the thread you're talking about. Old Joysey posted the podcast in post #79 and I transcribed the "BJ" section of it for rolo a couple pages later.

https://drycounty.com/jovitalk/bon-j...ml#post1198779

You give me hope for the future, RDK, but unfurtunately I don't think it'll be like that. Like symbeline said above, it seems that relationship is damaged beyond repairs.
It's not a band that keeps breaking up and coming back together all the time (well, I can only think of the fight after NJ tour) and band members leaving and also coming back later, it was always that tight group... that family, as they always described themselves. That family's broken, they're trying to rebuild that but, damn... it's hard when you lose a member of the family, isn't it?
I really don't see some "Axl and Slash" thing happening to them, really don't.

Also, please pleeeease don't "they were mere bandmantes" me... please, don't. Even if the band doesn't spend time together when not on tour, doesn't mean they're just guys that work in a band together.

Anyway, I don't see it happening. Wish I was wrong... guess we all want it to happen, don't we? Deep inside, we all want to see our Happy Family™ back together.
But we can only hope, let's move on for now and see what these guys still have for us :)
Well, it's what we've been doing for 4 years :rolleyes: