Richie Kotzen is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter.

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''

Deeper
Richie Kotzen Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I look around and all i see is empty spent and broken down
Rows of people manufactured plastic magic
Arent they beautiful
Then you come over to me
Holding something so fresh and natural
Now i dont know why it coul be disguise
But hey, something moving me
Your stuck on my mind

No matter how head i try i keep getting into it more

Im goin deeper im standing higher im falling harder into you
Im getting weaker im sinking deeper
Im falling harder into you

How many times have i tried to fit into this phony world
Sometimes i cant help but think that
Maybe i should go on and get outta here
But then i see you im thinkin it through
Say the words and i will understand every one

Im goin deeper im standing higher im falling harder into you
Im getting weaker im sinking deeper
Im falling harder into you

Ive been all around the world up and down
And i could never find what i was looking for
All i had to do is look at you and i would finally see
Youve be a part of me

Im goin deeper im standing higher im falling harder into you
Im getting weaker im sinking deeper into your heart
Im falling harder into you im goin deeper
Im standin higher
Ill take you all the way were goin home girl im bringing you home

Im takin you home with me
All the way... all the way home to philadelphia

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of Richie Kotzen's "Deeper" expresses the sentiments of disappointment and despair, with the lyrics “I look around and all I see is empty spent and broken down.” The lines are accompanied by a somber and soulful guitar riff. He describes people as being "manufactured plastic magic", calling into question the lack of authenticity and originality in people. Kotzen, however, gets lifted out of this disillusionment when he is approached by someone who holds something "fresh and natural". This someone stands out from the manufactured crowd and captures his attention, despite not knowing why. He becomes consumed with thoughts of this person, "stuck on my mind".

The chorus consists of Kotzen's voice soaring with the guitar and drums beating with increasing intensity, conveying the idea of someone falling head over heels in love. He uses phrases like "I'm gettin' weaker", "I'm sinking deeper" and "I'm falling harder". He feels like he is going deeper into something meaningful, higher in terms of being emotionally elevated, and falling harder. Throughout the song, the guitar solo complements Kotzen's voice, contributing to the unhurried flow of the song.

Line by Line Meaning

I look around and all i see is empty spent and broken down
The singer sees a world that is hollow and drained, full of artificiality and decay.

Rows of people manufactured plastic magic
The people appear fake and insincere, like their life and persona have been created artificially.

Arent they beautiful
The people are attractive in a superficial way, but lack any true depth or authenticity.

Then you come over to me
The singer is approached by their love interest.

Holding something so fresh and natural
The person is carrying something genuine and true, which contrasts with the artificiality around them.

Now i dont know why it coul be disguise
The singer is uncertain about the true nature of the person's intentions, whether they are authentic or not.

But hey, something moving me
However, the singer is still drawn to the person by an inexplicable force.

Your stuck on my mind
The person becomes a fixation for the singer, constantly occupying their thoughts.

No matter how head i try i keep getting into it more
The singer cannot resist their growing attraction to the person.

Im goin deeper im standing higher im falling harder into you
The singer is becoming more and more emotionally invested in the relationship as time goes on.

Im getting weaker im sinking deeper
The singer's attachment to the person is becoming stronger and more intense, but this also leaves them more vulnerable.

How many times have i tried to fit into this phony world
The singer has attempted to conform to the artificial culture around them, but it has always felt empty and unsatisfying.

Sometimes i cant help but think that
At times, the singer becomes disillusioned and considers abandoning their efforts to belong.

Maybe i should go on and get outta here
The singer questions whether they should leave this inauthentic world behind.

But then i see you im thinkin it through
The singer's love interest makes them reconsider, realizing that they have found something genuine and meaningful.

Say the words and i will understand every one
The singer is receptive to the person's communication and desires a deeper connection with them.

Ive been all around the world up and down
The singer has traveled extensively, searching for something that was missing in their life.

And i could never find what i was looking for
Despite their efforts, the singer never found that which could fill the void in their life.

All i had to do is look at you and i would finally see
The singer finds that their true purpose and fulfilment were in the person they love.

Youve be a part of me
The person has become an integral part of the singer's life and identity.

Ill take you all the way were goin home girl im bringing you home
The singer is committed to a lifelong journey with this person and will always be there for them.

Im takin you home with me
The singer is inviting the person into their home and their heart.

All the way... all the way home to philadelphia
The singer and the person are bound by their love for each other, and nothing will ever shake their commitment.

Writer(s): RICHARD DALE KOTZEN

Contributed by Evelyn A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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