So, Who's Playing Guitar for Bon Jovi?

[JRNYMAN]

They're playing here next week and I can go to the show if I decide to but I'm curious who replaced Richie? One of the things that has always defined their sound is Richie's signature sound. It's one thing to hire a guitar player to fill in for someone. It's another thing altogether to REPLACE that person. Just curious if anyone's seen them live since Richie's departure and if so, who replaced him and are they any good? Is his absence noticeable? etc.....

[ebake02]

I think I read somewhere that Phil X is his replacement.

[scarygirl]

So is Richie gone for good???

[JRNYMAN]

So is Richie gone for good???

In the music biz, nothing is ever "for good" is it? I mean aside from Perry ever singing for Journey again. Seriously though, news from their camp hasn't been good and although no one has come out and stated for the record that he's officially no longer a member, they also aren't making any positive statements about the situation either. From everything I've read, be it legit news articles to fan boards, the situation between them (John and Richie) is pretty bad. Years of biting his tongue and being treated as one of John's "employees" (which is in reality what Richie and the rest of the band members are and always have been due to the way John setup the corporation that is Bon Jovi...) all came spilling out in a major fight and display of rage after sound check one day. And John has been silent on the incident but at the same time has treated it just like you'd expect any CEO by making the appropriate repairs and carrying with business as usual.
I sincerely hope it's not a done deal but we shall see...

[scarygirl]

Yes, the old corporation.... That happened sometime after either Slippery When Wet or New Jersey, can't remember which. As a fan, it seems before that the members at least as far as the media coverage was concerned were treated pretty equitably. In other words, they were a band, not Jon Bon Jovi and some other guys...

A member of my church is from Jersey. He has had his own run in with JBJ, not a nice one to hear him tell it. I will always hold my school girl crush of course, but my eyes were opened quite a bit to his smucky attitude during a concert a couple years back. He just seemed like a horse's ARSE, ATTITUDE, ATTITUDE, ATTITUDE. Granted singers need attitude, but ASSITUDE I cannot endure nor will pay for, not without Richie at the helm.

So is Richie gone for good???

In the music biz, nothing is ever "for good" is it? I mean aside from Perry ever singing for Journey again. Seriously though, news from their camp hasn't been good and although no one has come out and stated for the record that he's officially no longer a member, they also aren't making any positive statements about the situation either. From everything I've read, be it legit news articles to fan boards, the situation between them (John and Richie) is pretty bad. Years of biting his tongue and being treated as one of John's "employees" (which is in reality what Richie and the rest of the band members are and always have been due to the way John setup the corporation that is Bon Jovi...) all came spilling out in a major fight and display of rage after sound check one day. And John has been silent on the incident but at the same time has treated it just like you'd expect any CEO by making the appropriate repairs and carrying with business as usual.
I sincerely hope it's not a done deal but we shall see...

[slucero]

Petty (and the Heartbreakers) seems to handle his own setup with his band pretty well.. since it's pretty much exactly the same as Bon Jovi's....

[tater1977]

Had a friend went to see BJ last week...

(part of her commentary)..
NOW...NO RICHIE. I read a couple of reviews today that said Phil X took over and Richie was not missed. WHOOOOOAAAA...NOT SO!!! I'll give credit where it's due and say that Mr. Phil did quite a stand-up job - BUT it absolutely was missing that true JBJ sound. Richie's guitar and his vocals would have enriched every song played and brought the depth that we are used to. So while good - it was missing that "sound" that you love to lose yourself in. I longed to see the dynamic interaction between Richie and Jon and there was a big void.




http://youtu.be/kxDJgMh7Btw

[JRNYMAN]

Petty (and the Heartbreakers) seems to handle his own setup with his band pretty well.. since it's pretty much exactly the same as Bon Jovi's....

Yeah, apparently for some acts it works pretty well. Liberty Devito has played drums for Billy Joel since the Grand Canyon was merely a mud puddle and he seems to have made out alright as have the rest of his longtime band memb... er, I mean hired musicians. Billy of course added the after his name long ago. Shows real class when you register your name so that no one else can ever use it - without your permission and a contract of course.

[JRNYMAN]

Had a friend went to see BJ last week...

(part of her commentary)..
NOW...NO RICHIE. I read a couple of reviews today that said Phil X took over and Richie was not missed. WHOOOOOAAAA...NOT SO!!! I'll give credit where it's due and say that Mr. Phil did quite a stand-up job - BUT it absolutely was missing that true JBJ sound. Richie's guitar and his vocals would have enriched every song played and brought the depth that we are used to. So while good - it was missing that "sound" that you love to lose yourself in. I longed to see the dynamic interaction between Richie and Jon and there was a big void. http://youtu.be/kxDJgMh7Btw

Yeah, I'd have to say that's pretty accurate - and again, I've not seen them sans Richie so I can only assume but....
Since posting this question, I've watched a couple of fan-submitted vids from shows over the past couple of weeks and based strictly on what I saw/heard, I completely agree. While the right notes are indeed being played by Phil, the energy and the emotion Richie has always brought to the table was clearly missing both on stage as well as in the audience. During his solos there just wasn't any love or appreciation from the audience like there is for Richie. I submit this as an example: (Turn it up!!! )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... kuY#t=294s

[JRNYMAN]

Doing a little more reading...
Apparently Phil X is no stranger to Bon Jovi. He filled in for Richie for 13 dates while Richie was in rehab. When ebake posted the name, it didn't sink in who he was. Then I read who he's played with and realized I actually did know who he is - I just didn't know I knew who he is.
He's certainly qualified artist who's resume is long and impressive. You've got to hand it to him - or anyone in his situation. He knows ahead of time what he's stepping in to and no matter how phenomenal of a job he does he'll get no respect or appreciation from the fans due to the simple fact he's not Richie. It's gotta be tough from a musician's stand point. But, his willingness and ability to do what he was hired to do despite the drama and what he's facing goes a long way in showing his professionalism. Kudos to him for that. Now, put down the guitar, quietly exit the stage and get Richie back up there God Dammit!

[scarygirl]

Doing a little more reading...
Apparently Phil X is no stranger to Bon Jovi. He filled in for Richie for 13 dates while Richie was in rehab. When ebake posted the name, it didn't sink in who he was. Then I read who he's played with and realized I actually did know who he is - I just didn't know I knew who he is.
He's certainly qualified artist who's resume is long and impressive. You've got to hand it to him - or anyone in his situation. He knows ahead of time what he's stepping in to and no matter how phenomenal of a job he does he'll get no respect or appreciation from the fans due to the simple fact he's not Richie. It's gotta be tough from a musician's stand point. But, his willingness and ability to do what he was hired to do despite the drama and what he's facing goes a long way in showing his professionalism. Kudos to him for that. Now, put down the guitar, quietly exit the stage and get Richie back up there God Dammit!

lol