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''
Let's Say Goodbye
Richie Kotzen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We wore this thing so far down I can't tell what I'm talking about
Take what you want, this old love is empty
And I don't have anything here that I can't live without
You say your spirits gone, I can't say that your wrong
Oh, I know we tried, we came into it strong
Maybe we stayed in too long, woman, let's say goodbye
Tell me a lie so I can believe
There's more than this moment to moment passing us by
Look in my eyes and I'll know it's over
And I will go on from right here with the rest of my life
You say your spirits gone, I can't say that your wrong
Oh, I know we tried, we came into it strong
Maybe we stayed in too long, woman, let's say goodbye
I can take a loss I will move on, say goodbye, yeah, ooh
Let's say goodbye
Oh, you said that I will never leave you
I said, "I think you're crazy"
You said, "I would never leave you"
I said, "I think you're crazy"
You said that I would never leave you
And I said, "I think you're crazy"
The lyrics of Richie Kotzen's song "Let's Say Goodbye" depict the painful end of a relationship. The singer urges his partner to turn out the light and say goodbye, as their story has come to an end. The couple has gone through many ups and downs, but now the love has become empty and there's nothing left between them that they can't live without. The partner expresses the feeling of being at a loss and asks the singer to tell them a lie to believe there's more than this moment passing by. The singer looks into the eyes of his partner and knows that it's over, and they both need to move on from here with the rest of their lives.
The song highlights the difficulty of letting go of a relationship that has been a significant part of someone's life. The lyrics capture the essence of the struggle between holding on and moving on in a relationship. The singer is ready to say goodbye and move on, accepting the loss and uncertainty that it brings, while his partner is hesitant and unable to let go.
Line by Line Meaning
Turn out the light, our story is ending
The relationship between us is coming to an end
We wore this thing so far down I can't tell what I'm talking about
Our relationship has been strained for so long that it has lost its meaning
Take what you want, this old love is empty
You can take whatever you want because our love is no longer fulfilling
And I don't have anything here that I can't live without
I don't need anything from you to continue my life without you
You say your spirits gone, I can't say that your wrong
You feel like you've lost hope, and I can't argue with that
Oh, I know we tried, we came into it strong
We put in our best efforts, but it wasn't enough to save us
Maybe we stayed in too long, woman, let's say goodbye
Our relationship has reached its expiration date, so let's end it
Tell me a lie so I can believe
I want you to reassure me that there is more to life than just this moment
There's more than this moment to moment passing us by
I hope that there is more to life than just living moment to moment
Look in my eyes and I'll know it's over
Our relationship is over, and looking into each other's eyes confirms it
And I will go on from right here with the rest of my life
I will move forward with my life starting from this point
I can take a loss I will move on, say goodbye, yeah, ooh
I can handle this breakup and move on with my life
Oh, you said that I will never leave you
You were convinced that I would never leave you
I said, "I think you're crazy"
However, I believed that was an insane thought
You said, "I would never leave you"
You were convinced that you would never leave me
And I said, "I think you're crazy"
But I didn't believe you because I thought that was an insane thought
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RICHARD DALE KOTZEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
filip o
Turn out the light, our story is ending
We wore this thing so far down I can't tell what I'm talking about
Take what you want, this old love is empty
And I don't have anything here that I can't live without
You say your spirits gone, I can't say that your wrong
Oh, I know we tried, we came into it strong
Maybe we stayed in too long, woman, let's say goodbye
Tell me a lie so I can believe
There's more than this moment to moment passing us by
Look in my eyes and I'll know it's over
And I will go on from right here with the rest of my life
You say your spirits gone, I can't say that your wrong
Oh, I know we tried, we came into it strong
Maybe we stayed in too long, woman, let's say goodbye
I can take a loss I will move on, say goodbye, yeah, ooh
Let's say goodbye
Oh, you said that I will never leave you
I said, "I think you're crazy"
You said, "I would never leave you"
I said, "I think you're crazy"
You said that I would never leave you
And I said, "I think you're crazy"
kricket1972
I remember the first time I heard Richie's voice. I fell in love that day and remain that way. His vocals are haunting and beautiful and his skills with a guitar are beyond amazing. He takes me to another place...a nicer place.
Jessie Henderson
Im as cold as they come,but when play his music the ice melts just a bit😢
Esther Souza
Que música! Richie faz com a alma! Sem explicação.
Łukasz Rusiecki
I love his voice, so emotional, so nostalgic, so magic, so wonderful, so true...
Ronald Johnson
Absolutely amazing!!!!I love the soul in his voice and guitar playing.
Cristiano Tavares
Épico 👏👏👏
filip o
Turn out the light, our story is ending
We wore this thing so far down I can't tell what I'm talking about
Take what you want, this old love is empty
And I don't have anything here that I can't live without
You say your spirits gone, I can't say that your wrong
Oh, I know we tried, we came into it strong
Maybe we stayed in too long, woman, let's say goodbye
Tell me a lie so I can believe
There's more than this moment to moment passing us by
Look in my eyes and I'll know it's over
And I will go on from right here with the rest of my life
You say your spirits gone, I can't say that your wrong
Oh, I know we tried, we came into it strong
Maybe we stayed in too long, woman, let's say goodbye
I can take a loss I will move on, say goodbye, yeah, ooh
Let's say goodbye
Oh, you said that I will never leave you
I said, "I think you're crazy"
You said, "I would never leave you"
I said, "I think you're crazy"
You said that I would never leave you
And I said, "I think you're crazy"
Pat C
This man has so much soul it overflows from him.........Brilliant
TheNarrowPath
RK is simply amazing! He plays, writes and sings with such emotions that hit me everytime! Nice video! =)
gika gikaes
Pedazo de crack.....es genial este tipo. No me canso de escucharlo y de recomendarlo. Ya sólo me faltan 3 albumes paar tener tida su discografía