Bor… Read Full Bio ↴Richie Kotzen is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter.
Born in Reading, Pennsylvania on February 3, 1970, Richie Kotzen was soon taken by music and first began playing piano at the age of five. At the age of seven he was inspired by New York City band KISS to learn the electric guitar. Relentlessly developing chops and his own unique voice on the guitar, Kotzen was eventually discovered by Shrapnel Records' Mike Varney, and he recorded his first album by the age of 18. During that same year, he also graced the cover of several publications including Guitar World Magazine. He created the video Rock Chops for REH video in 1989, highlighting many of his formative techniques, including using wide-intervals and fluid sweeping.
In 1993, Kotzen made his big break when he joined the rock band Poison at age 20, co-writing and performing on the album Native Tongue. This album produced two top twenty singles which Richie wrote, Stand and Until You Suffer Some. Kotzen was subsequently fired from the band when it was discovered that he had been romantically involved with Deanna Eve, the ex-fiance of Poison drummer Rikki Rockett. Kotzen and Eve later married and divorced. In 1999 Kotzen replaced Paul Gilbert as guitarist in the mainstream rock band Mr. Big. Kotzen maintained the band's enormous success, performing on the Mr. Big record Get Over It, which sold more than 1,975,000 copies in its first two weeks in Japan, eventually reaching platinum status. Kotzen also contributed guitars to Mr. Big's subsequent release Actual Size. The record included the Kotzen song Shine, which debuted at number one on Japanese radio charts. Following the disbanding of Mr. Big, Kotzen released the solo album Change, in 2003. The title track, and the song Get A Life were featured in TV commercials throughout Japan.
In mid 2002 Kotzen established a recording Studio/Production company in Los Angeles, California. He has since been producing acclaimed solo albums and collaborating with various figures in rock, jazz, and fusion. He now has formed a band called Forty Deuce which recently released a new album entitled Nothing to Lose.
Richie has a unique style, which he has described as a mix of rock, jazz fusion, and soul music. Of his albums, he claims he is most proud of Vertu. Kotzen utilizes a heavy amount of legato playing into his solos.
Richie is now living in Los Angeles, California. Besides playing the guitar, his hobbies include exercise and sports, especially basketball. Richie has said that if he had'nt become a professional musician, he would have liked to play professional basketball.
In 2008, Kotzen released his first official live album, "Live In São Paulo", which featured Johnny Griparic on bass and Dan Potruch on Drums.
Discography
* (1989) Richie Kotzen
* (1990) Fever Dream
* (1991) Electric Joy
* (1991) Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey (Soundtrack)
* (1993) Native Tongue (Poison)
* (1994) Mother Head's Family Reunion
* (1995) Inner Galactic Fusion Experience
* (1995) Tilt (with Greg Howe)
* (1996) Wave of Emotion
* (1996) Times Gonna Tell (EP)
* (1997) Kotzen/Howe Project (with Greg Howe)
* (1997) Something to Say
* (1998) What Is
* (1999) Break It All Down
* (1999) BiPolar Blues
* (1999) Vertu (project with Stanley Clarke and Lenny White)
* (1999) Get Over It (Mr. Big)
* (2000) Deep Cuts (Mr. Big)
* (2001) Actual Size (Mr. Big)
* (2001) Slow
* (2002) In Japan (Mr. Big)
* (2003) Change
* (2003) Acoustic Cuts
* (2004) Get Up
* (2004) The Best of Richie Kotzen
* (2005) Nothing to Lose (Forty-Deuce)
* (2006) ZxR Ai Senshi
* (2006) Into the Black
* (2007) ''Return Of The Mother Head's Family Reunion'' (Japan & Europe)
* (2007) ''Go Faster'' (US only)
* (2008) ''Live In São Paulo''
* (2009) ''Peace Sign''
* (2011) ''24 Hours''
* (2013) ''The Winery Dogs'' (The Winery Dogs)
* (2014) ''Unleashed In Japan: The Second Show'' (The Winery Dogs) Released only In Japan (DVD/2CD)
* (2014) ''The Essential''
* (2015) ''Cannibals''
* (2015) ''Hot Streak'' (The Winery Dogs)
* (2017) ''Salting Earth''
Videography
* (1989) Rock Chops
* (1994) Mother Head's family Reunion (Videoclip from the Mother Head's family Reunion Album)
* (1996) Wave of Emotion (Videoclip from the Wave of Emotion Album)
* (2001) Don't Wanna Lie (Videoclip from the Slow Album)
* (2001) Shine (Videoclip from Mr. Big's Actual Size Album)
* (2002) ''Hi-Tech Rock Guitar''
* (2005) ''Live In South America''
* (2008) ''Chase It'' (Videoclip from the R.O.T.M.F.R. Album)
* (2008) ''Bootlegged in Brazil''
* (2014) ''Unleashed In Japan: The Second Show'' (The Winery Dogs) Released only In Japan (DVD/2CD)'
* (2015) ''Live''
Air
Richie Kotzen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
you've been damaged, not by me, And I can't help feeling us fallin' out...
But I'm uncertain what it means , I still feel it but I don't believe...
And I can't help wondering how long...
Air... carry the words to my ear... But it's so hard... to feel, what once bled from the heart... And these words no one can deny...
Time has played us, Time will take us...
If we break it, or if we succeed...
The same sand burys you in the end...
Air... carry the words to my ear.. but it's so hard..
to feel, what once bled from the heart... And my words no one can deny...
Air... carry the words to my ear.. but it's so hard..
to feel, what once bled from the heart...There is truth here...
Love, once was our reson to start...but its so hard To feel, what once bled from the heart.. and my words have finally grown cold...
I met you on the wrong side of town, you just told me that you wanna get down,
I don't know what you come to do but I just came to funk you...
I wanna funk you You know I wanna funk you
O Can you taste the Funk its a vanilla funk flavor comin' at you Philly style from the East coast baby SING! Funk you you know I wanna Funk you... Oh keep on funkin'...
The lyrics to Richie Kotzen's song Air are about a relationship that is falling apart. The singer has been a witness to the ups and downs of the relationship and knows that love is the key to keeping it together. However, the other person in the relationship has been emotionally scarred by past experiences, and this is affecting their ability to love and be loved fully. The singer is uncertain about what this means for their future together, but they can't help but feel a sense of loss and doubt. The song acknowledges that time is a factor that can play a role in making or breaking relationships, and regardless of the outcome, we will all eventually end up in the same place.
The refrain, "Air... carry the words to my ear," is a plea for communication in the relationship, despite the emotional distance that has crept in. The line, "But it's so hard... to feel, what once bled from the heart," speaks to the difficulty in rekindling the passion that once existed between the couple. The final lines of the song, "There is truth here... Love, once was our reason to start... but it's so hard to feel, what once bled from the heart... and my words have finally grown cold," express the singer's acceptance of the end of the relationship and the inability to love as strongly as they once did.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been here and I've been seen
I have experienced and observed things in life
What it means when there is love...
The significance of love in one's life
you've been damaged, not by me
Someone has hurt you, but it was not me who caused it
And I can't help feeling us fallin' out...
I sense our relationship is deteriorating
But I'm uncertain what it means
I am not sure about what is happening between us
I still feel it but I don't believe...
I have emotions, but I find it hard to trust them
And I can't help wondering how long...
I am curious about how long our relationship will last
Time has played us, Time will take us...
Time has impacted us in different ways, and it will continue to shape our lives
Where we're goin' Where I will be...
I am not sure where we are headed or where I will end up
If we break it, or if we succeed...
The success or failure of our relationship is uncertain
The same sand buries you in the end...
Death is the great equalizer for all individuals in the end
Air... carry the words to my ear...
I long to hear some words in the wind
But it's so hard... to feel, what once bled from the heart...
I struggle to experience emotions that used to be so strong
And these words no one can deny...
The truth behind these words cannot be disputed
There is truth here...
There is an underlying reality present in this situation
Love, once was our reason to start...
Love was the basis for our beginning
and my words have finally grown cold...
I no longer have strong feelings for you
I met you on the wrong side of town, you just told me that you wanna get down,
I first encountered you in an undesirable area, and you expressed interest in engaging in intimate activity
I don't know what you come to do but I just came to funk you...
I am not sure what your intentions are, but I am here to have fun with you
I wanna funk you You know I wanna funk you
I desire to engage in physical activity with you
O Can you taste the Funk its a vanilla funk flavor comin' at you Philly style from the East coast baby SING!
Can you experience the sensuality I am offering you with a funky Eastern-inspired twist? Sing with me!
Funk you you know I wanna Funk you... Oh keep on funkin'...
I am letting you know that I am interested in engaging in intimate activity with you, and I encourage you to continue to indulge in sensual enjoyment
Contributed by Chloe B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Rianna Au
My favorite song from Kotzen