[Fritz]

Since Hugh has been playing for a few years now with BJ, does anyone know if they plan on making him an "official" member of the band? I've seen some promo material for the upcoming release, and he's suspiciously left out. The band is GREAT, and he's part of it. I'd just like to see all five in the pictures, press, etc.

[Martin]

hugh is a studio musician who works for other artists as well (e.g. ricky martin ) he also plays @ some charity concerts (i think i once saw him with pavarotti...) i think he likes it the way it is- he "is allowed" (<-- sorry) to play with the greatest band of the world in the studio and he also tours with them... all the stuff he's not in is the stuff no musician really likes (press conferences, photo shootings,...) and BTW for most of us fans hughey is an imaginary fifth member and i think he knows and appreciates that...

[Neurotica]

Hey fritz, couldn't agree more! Huey should be an official member, that's why we started the 'Huey For Member' campaign... Just visit www.hueymcdonald.com and sign the petition!!
And Martin, just a thought... all the guys in the band have played on other people's albums, I distinctly remember Richie playing on Pink's new album, does this make him less of a member?? Same goes for charity events...
Huey does the same work the rest of the guys do, he's there anyway when most of the interviews and photo shoots take place (just look at the new pictures from everyday: one picture he's in the next one he isn't.. doesn't mean he just dissapeared!) and I think it's about time he got credit for his work!!

[Derek Bliss]

Why can't we just accept that we have no say whatsoever on this topic. It's none of our business- it's between Hugh and the band (and not just Hugh and Jon...) We're not part of the band. All the petitions in the world are not going to chance something about which we have no say.

[Sambo-Chris]

It's not our business what kind of contract Hugh and Jon have. For most of the fans he is a part of the band and that's the important thing. Who cares what stands in their contract?

[gunner]

i guess hugh must be happy otherwise he would have left ages ago!!!!!!

[Martin]

all the guys in the band have played on other people's albums, I distinctly remember Richie playing on Pink's new album, does this make him less of a member?? Same goes for charity events...

whenever richie plays on an other's artists album then he is a "special guest" because richie works for Bon Jovi (actually for jon- he's the only one with a contract)- richie doesn't play entire albums but plays on one or two songs when the artist specifically wants bon jovi's guitarist richie sambora to play these songs
huey plays whole albums (mostly) for solo artists- artists which have no band (e.g. ricky martin,...) he's not under jon's thumb but under the thumb of the record label

[Mr Bluesman]

Didn't Huey say that he would like to be made an official member? I think he said somethin' like "Playing live with Bon Jovi is like Christmas everyday"... or somethin' like that. So he obviously loves bein' a part of Bon Jovi.
It might not be any of our business, but Jon always says that the band listen to their fans, so if this is what the fans want then wouldn't Bon Jovi listen to us?

[Neurotica]

Martin: I don't think Huey's under anyone's 'tumb'... and what wrong with playing on other people's albums when there's notthing going on with Bon Jovi? Sould he maybe design baby clothes or paint or write musicals to fit in more? Playing bass is what he loves, so when BJ's not recording or touring, that's what he does! And no, he doesn't play mostly on entire albums, he did in the past before BJ, but now it's mostly just a few longs (like Ricky Martin's sound loaded, he plays on 3 songs) - Not that this has anything to do with why he should or shouldn't be an offcial member.
Nor does what contract he and Jon have (Yes, Derek, Jon is the one who's making all the decisions, including if Hugh should be an offcial member)
The point of this whole campaign is to let the guys know the fans want Huey to become an official member... The way I see it is that a whole bunch of lies and cover-up's (the fact that Huey played on every album since SWW when 'officially' it was Alec, then the story about Alec 'leaving' the band cause he didn't want to tour anymore, but that he might come back, etc etc) that lead to Huey not being an official member... Anyway, the truth about this whole mess is out now, so I think it's time we fans said: ok, enough allready! the guy 's been with BJ for 16 years now, stop acting like he's not a part of the band... cause to us, he is! And I'm not talking about contracts here, I'm talking about 5 guys on stage and in the studio= 5 guys in the pictures= 5 guys in the interviews=5 guys in the video's etc... Jon's always takling about loyalty, why can't he be loyal to Huey?

[Mr Bluesman]

Well said! :P

5 guys on stage and in the studio= 5 guys in the pictures= 5 guys in the interviews=5 guys in the video's etc... Jon's always takling about loyalty, why can't he be loyal to Huey?

Thats what I feel aswell! I wanna see more from the man.