Richie Sambora will not be performing on the current leg of the Bon Jovi tour, which began tonight in Calgary. And after the Because We Can Tour opened in such dramatic fashion in February, who knew the start of the next leg of the tour could be shrouded in just as much, if not more drama?
About half an hour before the concert was set to start, the announcement was made at the arena and on the Bon Jovi website:
Due to personal issues, Richie Sambora will not be performing on this upcoming leg. All shows will go on as scheduled.
The venue announcement also stated that Bon Jovi would be donating $100,000 to the Calgary Homeless Foundation.
There are few details other than these vaguely worded messages but the band was supposedly all set to go in Calgary until about 3:30pm when Richie wasn't at soundcheck. Jon told the crowd that "Richie isn't in jail or in the hospital or anything but he won't be playing anytime soon." Which still doesn't really clear anything up.
Given Richie's past addiction issues, there's plenty of speculation along those lines, as well as some tweeters saying he had a heart attack, but we honestly know nothing at this stage. I would imagine that a fill-in lead guitarist (maybe Phil X?) would be used for the remaining shows and hopefully we get some more details when that is announced.
Jon was reportedly in top form tonight and shared guitar duties with Bobby Bandiera, although You Give Love a Bad Name was apparently played without a solo and Richie's talkbox was missing from It's My Life (Apparently Bobby used talkbox on an acoustic/electric hybrid of Livin' on a Prayer).
Were you at the show?
Calgary, AB, Canada - Scotiabank Saddledome - April 2, 2013
- You Give Love a Bad Name
- Raise Your Hands
- Runaway
- Lost Highway
- Because We Can
- That's What the Water Made Me
- It's My Life
- Someday I'll Be Saturday Night
- What About Now
- We Got It Going On
- Keep the Faith / Sympathy for the Devil [The Rolling Stones cover]
- (You Want To) Make a Memory
- Bed of Roses
- I'll Be There For You
- We Weren't Born to Follow
- Born to Be My Baby
- I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
- Who Says You Can't Go Home
- Bad Medicine / Old Time Rock 'n' Roll [Bob Seger cover] Encore:
- Wanted Dead or Alive
- Livin' on a Prayer
Short show. I wonder if the $100K donation to the homeless foundation was Richie's salary? This isn't the usual thing is it (announcing charity donations before a concert?) I guess the donation is nice but it probably didn't make the audience feel any better.
ReplyDeleteDarn it! I'm seeing them on the 14th in Denver- of course our tixs are right on the Richie side! We saw Phil X too when he filled in last time. Will be good show, but just not the same. Hoping for the best for him all around.
ReplyDeleteFans, we spend our hard earned money on concert tickets, get the new album to #1, and this is how Richie repays us...uhm TWICE!
ReplyDeleteThey didn’t need Richie anyway it was one of the best concerts I have ever been to…Jon played without him… pull up your bib boy panties Richie jeez…
ReplyDelete