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''
Fear
Richie Kotzen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The shallow word that suffocates the air
There's always hope but then your never there
What can I do to forget that I'm breaking
And I fear that I've finally reached the end
And I feel like I'm gone again, gone again
Fear, I know it's never gonna end
I'm alone no matter where I am
The shadow led me to my own distress
Here I go into the black again
But you won't hear me when I'm waking with the dead
And I fear that I've finally reached the end
And I feel like I'm gone again, gone again
Fear, I know it's never gonna end
And I feel like I'm going down, going down, breaking
My mind tricked my mind and my soul sold my soul
My heart broke my heart and I'm wasted
And I'm wasted throught my fear
And I fear that I've finally reached the end
And I feel like I'm gone again, gone again
Fear, I know it's never gonna end
And I feel like I'm going down, going down, breaking, ooh, ooh
The lyrics of Fear by Richie Kotzen reflect the inner turmoil and struggles of an individual who feels trapped and lost in their life. The opening lines "I shut the door and promising, the shallow word that suffocates the air" suggest a sense of isolation and a desire to keep everything locked and hidden. This is further emphasized by the next line "There's always hope but then you're never there" which shows the character is looking for comfort but not finding any. The lyrics convey a feeling of helplessness as the individual tries to escape their own broken state of mind.
The chorus of the song begins with the line "And I fear that I've finally reached the end, and I feel like I'm gone again, gone again, fear" which expresses the fear of giving up and losing hope. The repetition of the line "gone again" emphasizes the recurring cycle of despair the individual is battling, as they struggle with their fears and inner doubts.
The second verse continues to display the individual's sense of loneliness and desperation, "I'm alone no matter where I am, the shadow led me to my own distress" suggests the character is haunted by their past and cannot escape it. The final lines, "And I fear that I've finally reached the end, and I feel like I'm going down, going down, breaking, ooh, ooh" express a sense of surrender, as the character feels themselves breaking down and giving up.
Line by Line Meaning
I shut the door and promising
I closed the door and made a promise to myself
The shallow word that suffocates the air
The insincere promise that is suffocating me
There's always hope but then your never there
I am holding on to hope, but you never show up
What can I do to forget that I'm breaking
I am struggling to keep from breaking down
And I fear that I've finally reached the end
I am afraid that this is the end for me
And I feel like I'm gone again, gone again
I feel like I am lost once more
Fear, I know it's never gonna end
I am afraid and know that this feeling will never leave me
And I feel like I'm going down, going down, breaking, ooh, ooh
I feel like I am falling apart
I'm alone no matter where I am
I feel alone no matter where I go
The shadow led me to my own distress
My own anxieties and fears are leading me to distress
Here I go into the black again
I am falling into despair once more
But you won't hear me when I'm waking with the dead
Even when I am at my lowest, you are not there to help me
My mind tricked my mind and my soul sold my soul
I deceived myself and lost my sense of purpose
My heart broke my heart and I'm wasted
My own heart is causing me pain and I am drained
And I'm wasted throught my fear
I am wasting away due to my anxiety
Contributed by Jayce E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Michael Massey
I shut the door on any promising
The shallow word that suffocates the air
There's always hope but then your never there
What can I do to forget that I'm breaking
And I fear that I've finally reached the end
And I feel like I'm gone again, gone again
Fear, I know it's never gonna end
And I feel like I'm going down, going down, breaking, ooh, ooh
I'm alone no matter where I am
The shadow led me to my own distress
Here I go into the black again
But you won't hear me when I'm walking with the dead
And I fear that I've finally reached the end
And I feel like I'm gone again, gone again
Fear, I know it's never gonna end
And I feel like I'm going down, going down, breaking
My mind tricked my mind and my soul sold my soul
My heart broke my heart and I'm wasted
And I'm wasted through my fear
And I fear that I've finally reached the end
And I feel like I'm gone again, gone again
Fear, I know it's never gonna end
And I feel like I'm going down, going down, breaking, ooh, ooh
Ivo Stan
More soul than a blues player ,more spontaneity than a jazz player ,and more technique than a shredder ! The greatest guitar player right now .
B C
@L T No need to compare but Richie is a damn rare talent
L T
why do we always need to compare everyone? Lets just have a good time jeez
Gary Harrison
hell yes, and one of the best singers out there.
Mike Wilcox
Heart..soul..passion ..grace and fire…a virtuoso with the guitar and…that voice..that goose bump inducing voice. Serious skills exhibited here…the man has his demons and we have a front row seat to his self exorcism….masterful !
Cristopher Acevedo
The solo that starts at 4:44 is one of the best things I've listen/seen in my life.
Pepe
he started it singing every fucking note, how's that even possible? inhuman!
Speed Bowl Band
unbelievable how he sings does high notes while playing them
frans venrooy
I agree SOOOO much with you my friend. 🎸 ✌️👌👌🙏
prusso09
he makes EVH look like a chump