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''
Till You Put Me Down
Richie Kotzen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ain't no lying, ain't no fighting when you're gone
And sometimes you just have to turn the page
Ain't no game, ain't no struggle when its over
I can feel, I can feel when it starts turning cold
There's no reason to lie when you feel that it's gone
All that I've survived yet I can't escape the pain
All that I've survived yet I can't escape the pain
All that I can do is leave it up to you
Until you put me down
Sometimes it ain't nothing that you say
Just a look just a feeling or expression
And sometimes it ups and slips away
Out of your head, through your heart, through your fingers
I can't say that my heart has been telling the truth
But I know that my head has been spinning all because of you
All that I've survived yet I can't escape the pain
All that I can do leave it up to you till you put me down
All that I've survived yet I can'tescape the pain
All that I can do is leave it up to you
Until you put me down
In "Till You Put Me Down," Richie Kotzen recounts the experience of a relationship that has come to an end. The song speaks to a common human experience, that sometimes we just have to walk away from relationships that do not work out. This decision is not always an easy one, nor is it without its own complexities. Kotzen portrays this with the lyrics "Sometimes you just have to turn the page. Ain't no game, ain't no struggle when it's over" which captures the relief of moving on from a tumultuous relationship. The refrain of the song repeats the phrase "All that I've survived yet I can't escape the pain," which speaks to the emotional toll taken on our psyche through breakup and the difficulty of moving on.
Kotzen's in-depth reflection on the experience of heartache elevates the song beyond the realm of typical break-up songs. The lyrics describe a complicated relationship that has caused an immense amount of grief “And sometimes it ups and slips away/Out of your head, through your heart, through your fingers," yet he still grapples with the question of what-ifs; [they] have "left it up to you" until "you put me down." "Till You Put Me Down" deals with themes of uncertainty, hesitation, and heartache toward something that was once beautiful.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes you just have to walk away
There are moments when it's necessary to leave a situation or relationship.
Ain't no lying, ain't no fighting when you're gone
Once you're gone, there is no point in denying or arguing anymore.
And sometimes you just have to turn the page
Moving on is the only way forward sometimes.
Ain't no game, ain't no struggle when its over
When it's over, there is no room for playing games or struggling to keep things alive.
I can feel, I can feel when it starts turning cold
I am aware of when things start to shift and change for the worst.
There's no reason to lie when you feel that it's gone
Once love has left a relationship, there is no point in pretending it's still there.
All that I've survived yet I can't escape the pain
I have been through a lot, but the pain of this situation still hurts.
All that I can do leave it up to you till you put me down
I am putting the fate of our relationship in your hands until you end it completely.
Sometimes it ain't nothing that you say
Sometimes words can't fix a situation or change the outcome.
Just a look just a feeling or expression
Nonverbal cues can say more than words ever could.
And sometimes it ups and slips away
Love can disappear suddenly and unexpectedly.
Out of your head, through your heart, through your fingers
Love can permeate every aspect of one's being before slipping away.
I can't say that my heart has been telling the truth
My emotions have been confusing and unreliable in this situation.
But I know that my head has been spinning all because of you
You have caused a lot of mental and emotional turmoil for me.
Until you put me down
I am willing to continue this relationship until you officially end it.
Contributed by Levi R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.