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''
Cannibals
Richie Kotzen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Are you craving just a small peace of mind?
Too much now it′s not enough it's the price we′ve got to pay
O it's a shame when you self degrade degrade degrade degrade
Now we're living like animals we′re becoming the cannibals
It started off with a taste and now we′re tasting what we're made of
Another kill to be better off a slice of life for the cannibal
It′s time to sharpen the claws and go get yours
Are you guilty to the bone?
What's the difference? We are cut from the same stone
Stop now but we′ve gone too far its a war we've got to wage
There′s always someone with a sadder face to pay to pay to pay
Now we're living like animals we're becoming the cannibals
It started off with a taste and now we′re tasting what we′re made of
Another kill to be better off a slice of life for the cannibal
It's time to sharpen the claws and go get yours
What are you made of?
Now we′re living like animals we're becoming the cannibals
It started off with us tasting now we′re tasting what we're made of
Another kill to be better off a slice of life for the cannibal
You′d better sharpen your claws and go get yours
What are you made of?
Animal, animal bury me deeper in the ground
Animal, animal bury me deeper in the ground
The lyrics to Richie Kotzen's song "Cannibals" touch upon themes of human nature, self-destructive behavior, and the consequences of our actions. The song suggests that as humans, we have become like animals, driven by our desires and cravings. The opening lines, "Are you hungry for your kind? Are you craving just a small peace of mind?" provoke thoughts about the lengths we are willing to go to satisfy our desires, even if it means harming others or ourselves.
The lyrics also highlight the idea that our insatiable appetites for material wealth, power, or success can lead us down a destructive path. The line, "Too much now it's not enough it's the price we've got to pay," suggests that we constantly strive for more without considering the consequences of our actions. The repetition of the word "degrade" emphasizes the self-destructive nature of these behaviors.
The chorus, "Now we're living like animals, we're becoming the cannibals," further reinforces the idea that our actions resemble those of animals devouring each other. The lyrics imply that this behavior started with a mere taste or desire, but has now escalated to the point where we have lost touch with our humanity and the consequences of our actions.
The final lines, "Animal, animal, bury me deeper in the ground," express a sense of surrender or resignation, perhaps reflecting the realization of the destructive path we have taken. It serves as a plea to distance oneself from such behavior and to recognize the need for change.
Overall, "Cannibals" serves as a critique of human nature and the destructive patterns we fall into, urging listeners to reflect on our actions and make a conscious effort to break free from this self-destructive cycle.
Line by Line Meaning
Are you hungry for your kind?
Are you longing to consume and destroy your own kind?
Are you craving just a small peace of mind?
Do you desire some tranquility, no matter how fleeting?
Too much now it's not enough it's the price we've got to pay
Excessiveness has become insufficient, but we must endure the consequences
O, it's a shame when you self degrade degrade degrade degrade
Oh, it's regrettable to witness your own deterioration and decline
Now we're living like animals we're becoming the cannibals
We have regressed to primal behavior, transforming into creatures that devour each other
It started off with a taste and now we're tasting what we're made of
It began with a mere sample, but now we are experiencing the essence of our being
Another kill to be better off a slice of life for the cannibal
Another act of destruction to improve one's situation, a mere fragment of existence for the predator
It's time to sharpen the claws and go get yours
Now is the moment to prepare oneself for aggression and claim what is rightfully yours
What are you made of?
What is the essence of your being?
Are you guilty to the bone?
Are you consumed by overwhelming guilt?
What's the difference? We are cut from the same stone
There is no distinction, as we originate from the same source
Stop now but we've gone too far it's a war we've got to wage
Although it is tempting to halt, we have already crossed boundaries and must engage in a battle
There's always someone with a sadder face to pay to pay to pay
There will always be someone in a worse situation to bear the consequences
You'd better sharpen your claws and go get yours
You should prepare yourself for aggression and claim what rightfully belongs to you
Animal, animal bury me deeper in the ground
Oh, to be buried further into the earth like an animal
Writer(s): Richie Kotzen
Contributed by Madison D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@fernandaalines
Kotzen can do pretty much anything he wants with his guitar or any other instrument (his voice included). Fuckin' genius.
@FikretTanyas
He is a great guitar player,great singer,great songwriter...and this one is absolutely awesome AGAIN!!!
@Triani26
00:09 Richie signing my poster in Budapest on his tour bus.. ))))))
@ivijimix7714
Lol
@greekfreak1980
Man,that song has a serious groove.
@Sibyllblues
Yeah, i love the bass groove very much :-) Great song
@jeanno7711
Yeah great solid bass and awesome song. :D
@Unchangeableness
Don't get me wrong, I love this song. But I do wish he had given it a more inventive beat.
@michaelpachuau3885
Jesse Bailey He made this album as a more stripped down R&B outlet as compared to the more experimental outing with the Winery Dogs, so i'm pretty sure it was intentional. Though Richie's albums always have been kinda basic when it comes to the percussion, maybe has to do with it being him writing everything
@nelsonduenas6214
You're the greatest one........Richie Kotzen is the last guitar hero.....can´t wait for the upcoming tour