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''
High
Richie Kotzen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I can't help but unwind
By now you know I'm not the stable kind
But you keep on testing me
Until I make you cry how long can I take you
You should know that the only way I can deal
Is to get high so high until everything in gone
I get high so high
Just to shut you out so I can't hear a word
I know your lookin' for an endless love
But this thing ain't what you think
It's more like endress work
You say I'm jaded and my mind is thick
And that I'm blind to trust
But I can see right through you
How long can I take you
You should know that the only way I can feel
Is to get high so high until everything in gone
And I can't say a word
I get high so high
Just to shut you out so I can't hear a word
When I am away from you my head is strong
When I get near you make sure my mind is gone
The only way to deal with you is to get high...
The lyrics to Richie Kotzen's song "High" are a tale of someone struggling to deal with the pressure put on them by a significant other. The singer admits to being "not the stable kind" and constantly feeling tested, leading to outbursts that ultimately result in tears. The only way the singer can cope is to "get high so high until everything is gone," effectively shutting out the world and the stresses within it.
The lyrics also touch on the subject of love and the idea of an "endless love" being more like "endless work." The singer acknowledges being accused of being jaded and having a thick mind, but claims to see through the partner's façade. The only way for the singer to feel anything in this situation is to once again rely on getting high to block out the turmoil.
Overall, the lyrics suggest a deep struggle with personal demons and an inability to properly communicate with a loved one. The reliance on drugs to cope with these issues only serves to further distance the singer from reality, thereby making it more difficult to navigate through the complexities of the relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
I am so innocent I swear to God o but you pressure me
I am trying to maintain my innocence, but you keep putting pressure on me.
And I can't help but unwind
As a result, I am becoming increasingly agitated and restless.
By now you know I'm not the stable kind
You are aware that I am prone to instability.
But you keep on testing me
Nevertheless, you continue to push me to my limits.
Until I make you cry how long can I take you
You persist until I reach my breaking point and make you cry. How much longer can I put up with this?
You should know that the only way I can deal
I need to make you aware that the only way I can cope is to resort to a certain behavior.
Is to get high so high until everything in gone
My preferred method of escape is to use drugs to reach a state of mind where nothing bothers me anymore.
And I can't say a word
I become so removed from reality that I am unable to communicate effectively.
I get high so high
I intentionally use drugs to reach an extreme state of consciousness.
Just to shut you out so I can't hear a word
I do this so that I do not have to engage with you or listen to anything you have to say.
I know your lookin' for an endless love
I am aware that you are searching for deep, long-lasting affection.
But this thing ain't what you think
Unfortunately, our relationship is not as fulfilling as you may have hoped.
It's more like endress work
In reality, it is a perpetual source of stress and hardship.
You say I'm jaded and my mind is thick
You accuse me of being cynical and unintelligent.
And that I'm blind to trust
You believe that I have difficulty placing faith in others.
But I can see right through you
But in truth, I am perfectly capable of seeing through your facade.
How long can I take you
How much longer can I endure your negative attributes?
You should know that the only way I can feel
You must understand that I use drugs as a means of coping with stress and anxiety.
When I am away from you my head is strong
I feel more stable when I am not around you.
When I get near you make sure my mind is gone
However, when I am in your presence, I feel obligated to resort to destructive habits in order to cope.
The only way to deal with you is to get high...
Ultimately, the only way I can handle being with you is to use drugs to numb myself to the situation.
Contributed by Sadie T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Aleinad SalValen
High
Richie Kotzen
I am so innocent I swear to god
Oh but you pressure me
And I can't help but unwind
By now you know I'm not the stable kind
But you keep on testing me
Until I make you cry
How long can I take you
You should know that the only way I can deal
Is to get high, so high
Until everything is gone
And I can't say a word
I get high, so high
Just to shut you out
So I can't hear a word
I know you're looking for an endless love
But this thing ain't what you think
It's more like endless work
You say I'm jaded and my mind is thick
And that I'm blind to trust
But I can see right through you
How long can I take you
You should know that the only way I can feel
Is to get high, so high
Until everything is gone
And I can't say a word
I get high, so high
Just to shut you out
So I can't hear a word
When I am away from you, my head is strong
When I am near you, make sure my mind is gone
The only way to deal
The only way i can feel
The only way to deal with you
Aurelio Moreira
I was there! 2007, it was a magic night... Eric Martin and his band played before Richie, and made an awesome performance too! Miss my friend Raquel Catena, who was a huge fan of Richie Kotzen and was there with me in this show...she passed away in 2019 by a terrible suicide.... great memories we had together... miss you Raki my friend !!!
Prometheus Predator
I am so sorry about the loss of your friend. I know she was a very special friend and person.
Jeff Wolinski
He deserves so much more recognition and success, he's the total freaking package.
Darren Pfender
Richie Kotzen is the most underrated musician out there! He's got something for everyone. His vocals are unrivaled..his guitar work is incredible..and lyrically great! Anyone who hasn't found out about Kotzen is missing out!!
tim albright
I'M JUST????
AMAZED!!!!!!
Jonathas Pinho
He's got something for everyone.
Young Tevanced
He is a virtuoso and a master level. Very well rounded. One of the greatest musician of all time.
Harrison Witham
Just saw him with The Winery Dogs Sunday night. Hands down the best concert I've ever been too. We were very fortunate to get front row. 😮
Luís Maciel
Richie Kotzen é um vício, inveja de quem foi a esse show em Sampa, espetacular.
christherocker93
This live version is just amazing ! So much feeling in his guitar and in his voice. Richie Kotzen is, for me, one of the greatest artist in the world.