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''
Sacred Ground
Richie Kotzen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My hands prayin but you know Im fakin
All of the thing that I feel
But none of the things are good for me
I know Im here but where I am
I'm in a fog
I'm in a final dream
Open my eyes
There is no light where I come from
When you're around
I feel like I'm on a sacred ground
You say love me
But how do I know you'll love me
I say touch me
But how do I let you touch me
Over my heart and my soul
Maybe you know maybe you know
How to bring light to the dark
And how am I letting go?
I'm in your hands
I am a primal scream
Help me be strong
To love my life
There is no light where I come from
When you're around
I feel like I'm on a sacred ground
The lyrics to Richie Kotzen's song "Sacred Ground" are about someone who is struggling with their faith and feeling lost. They are pretending to pray and go through the motions, but they are unsure of what they truly believe in. They acknowledge that they are not in a good place emotionally and spiritually, and they are hoping for guidance and clarity.
The chorus of the song brings in the idea of love as a source of healing and salvation. The person is unsure of whether they can trust someone else to love them or touch their heart, but they are willing to try. They feel like they are on a sacred ground when they are with this person, and it gives them hope.
Overall, the song is a plea for help in finding a direction and purpose in life. It explores the themes of faith, love, and self-discovery, and the lyrics are deeply personal and introspective.
Line by Line Meaning
My faith shaken and my heart is aching
I am filled with doubt and grief.
My hands prayin but you know Im fakin
I am pretending to pray, but in reality, I am full of doubt.
All of the thing that I feel
I am experiencing a multitude of conflicting emotions.
But none of the things are good for me
However, these emotions are causing more harm than good.
I know Im here but where I am
I feel lost and confused about my current state of existence.
I'm in a fog
I am disoriented and unclear about my surroundings.
I'm in a final dream
I feel like I am living in a dream-like state that is leading towards an inevitable ending.
Show me I'm wrong
I am willing to receive guidance and correction if I am mistaken.
Open my eyes
I am asking to see the truth clearly.
There is no light where I come from
My past experiences have only been filled with darkness and despair.
When you're around
However, being with you brings brightness into my life.
I feel like I'm on a sacred ground
You have brought me to a place of peace and sanctity.
You say love me
You have expressed your affection towards me.
But how do I know you'll love me
However, I am uncertain if your love is true or real.
I say touch me
I desire physical intimacy.
But how do I let you touch me
But I am hesitant and unsure about how to proceed.
Over my heart and my soul
My deepest emotions are at stake.
Maybe you know maybe you know
Perhaps you have the answers and can help guide me.
How to bring light to the dark
You may be able to help illuminate my path and bring clarity to my confusion.
And how am I letting go?
But I struggle to let go of my doubts and insecurities.
I'm in your hands
I am trusting you to guide and care for me.
I am a primal scream
I experience intense and raw emotions.
Help me be strong
I need your support to find strength within myself.
To love my life
I want to learn to appreciate and embrace my life fully.
Contributed by Violet N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.