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''
Losing My Mind
Richie Kotzen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Know where I am
I'm in love with my drugs and I feel like
Superman
Oh I'm just confronting my fear
Just another hit out of here oh oh
I know I know im losing my mind oh oh I
Think I can fly
Am I really here or am I losing my mind
I still talk to myself so I don't forget
Who I am
I can't sleep I can't walk but I can fly
Like superman
The lyrics to Richie Kotzen's song Losing My Mind seem to be about drug use and the feeling of being invincible while under the influence of drugs. The first two lines suggest that the singer is somewhat self-aware of their actions, but not enough to stay in control. They are using drugs as a coping mechanism to confront their fears, but it seems that they are losing control as they confess that they are losing their mind and feel larger than life, which is a common side effect of many drugs.
The line "Am I really here or am I losing my mind" suggests that the singer is questioning their reality and whether they are truly experiencing the things they are feeling or if it's all just a result of their drug use. They still talk to themselves in an attempt to remember their identity and maintain some semblance of control. The final line "I can't sleep, I can't walk but I can fly like superman" suggests that the singer has completely lost touch with reality and is experiencing delusions of grandeur.
Overall, the lyrics depict a person who is struggling with addiction and is on the brink of losing themselves completely. It's a warning about the dangers of substance abuse and the destructive effects it can have on one's mental health.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm in touch with myself just enough to know where I am
I have enough self-awareness to know my current state and location.
I'm in love with my drugs and I feel like Superman
I have an addiction to drugs that makes me feel powerful and invincible.
Oh I'm just confronting my fear, just another hit out of here oh oh
I am facing my fear by taking another dose of drugs to escape reality.
I know I know im losing my mind oh oh I Think I can fly
I am aware that I am losing my grip on reality, but I believe I have the ability to defy gravity.
Oh oh im larger than life, Am I really here or am I losing my mind
I feel like I have transcended the limits of humanity, but I can't tell if I am still sane.
I still talk to myself so I don't forget Who I am
I have to remind myself of my identity through self-talk to combat the confusion caused by my addiction.
I can't sleep I can't walk but I can fly like superman
My drug use has left me unable to function normally, but it also gives me the delusion of flight like the superhero.
Contributed by Juliana M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
FeelingShred
Damn, one of the best albums I ever heard but I don't think I ever watched the full music video... Lucky the ones who were able to see Richie playing live in the mid 2000's, felt like seeing a superhero in front of your eyes, I imagine Hendrix caused the same effect back in the day.
Such intense burst of energy can't be sustained for too long I think without causing permanent damage, eventually he had to stop, the candle burnout, to avoid self-destruction. But holy shit I'm glad I was able to see it. Music like that is supposed to move you.
Robert Charlton
Excellent, outstanding, impeccable, magnificent ❗
You described me to a "T"....
Thank you 🎸 🎶
You guy's freakin' jam !!❗ 🎸 ❗
maria casanova
richie c est du talent tout simplement <3
VenusMC
Rockin Tune 🔥🎸💯
Let’s Fly … hell ya!
I know
I know I’m losing My Mind…. 🖤
Keep Bringin the 🎸🔥Solos 🖤
SAL CURA
🎼🎵🎶🎼🎵🎶🎼🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷2020
Vrou Met Kitaar
that little boy holding the guitar while greeting Richie is so cute! i hope after growing up he will play the hell out of the guitar just like his hero :-)
mhollandtag
This song rocks!! Awesome jammin' video !
DevilSnake78
I looooooove this song, Richie Rocks!!!!!!!!!!
Daryl Didia
So underrated !
Ederson Albuquerque
👏👏👏