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''
Your Lies
Richie Kotzen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is it all throught deperation or are my feelings true
Lust and love I know they both complete
But I cant deny the atraction when I see you
Call it blind inspiration or a cosmic situation
I've got butterflies tied up
Am I losing touch?
Well my heart is beating faster
I can feel it
Can you feel it too?
All that I live for is waiting on a dream in your eyes
Tell me you love me tell me why
I'll believe your lies
Falling down into a tailspin
Using words that I swore I would never use again
Is a soul communication or emotional confirmation
In a language made by lover comunicated through touch
And how did it get this far?
Are you really who I think you are?
All these questions in my mind keep me up all night.
Is this feeling that Im feeling really true?
All that I live for is waiting on a dream in your eyes
Tell me you love me tell me why
I'll believe your lies
I'm falling deeper into you and
I can't explain what I'm going through
Deeper into you... Are my emotions justified
Or am I living blind
All that I live for is waiting on a dream in your eyes
Tell me you love me tell me why
I'll believe your lies
The lyrics to Richie Kotzen’s ‘Your Lies’ explore the singer’s inner struggle as they navigate through their intense emotions towards their love interest. The first stanza suggests that the singer is unable to distinguish between lust and love and is questioning the authenticity of their feelings. The line "Is it all through desperation or are my feelings true?" indicates that the singer is not sure if they are falling in love because it is what they want or because of the cosmic force that is beyond their control.
The second verse brings in a new layer of the singer's emotions with the repetition of the line "All that I live for is waiting on a dream in your eyes." It represents the singer's desire to be loved by the love interest and how they always find themselves looking for validation in their eyes. As the verse progresses, the singer’s confusion becomes more apparent as they question the relationship’s foundation and if it is built purely on lust or something deeper.
The chorus, "Tell me you love me, tell me why, I'll believe your lies," is the singer’s way of admitting their desperation to believe whatever the love interest tells them, even if it is not the truth. The final verse sees the singer admitting to falling deeper in love, even though they can’t explain what they’re going through, and they are questioning if it is justified or not. The song's overall message is that love is complex, and it can be challenging to distinguish between the genuine emotions and the superficial ones.
Line by Line Meaning
Stoned I've falling far too deep
I have fallen into a deep state, unsure if this is because of my own desperation or if my feelings for you are true.
Lust and love I know they both complete
I understand how both lust and love are important, but I cannot ignore the attraction I feel towards you.
But I can't deny the attraction when I see you
I cannot help but feel attracted to you every time I see you.
Call it blind inspiration or a cosmic situation
I am not sure if this feeling is completely random or if it is some sort of destiny.
I've got butterflies tied up
I feel nervous around you, like butterflies in my stomach.
Am I losing touch?
I am unsure if my feelings are getting out of hand and if I am not thinking clearly.
Well my heart is beating faster
My heart is racing whenever I'm around you.
Is it love forever after
I wonder if this is true love and if it could last forever.
I can feel it
I am very aware of my feelings towards you.
Can you feel it too?
Do you have any inkling of the feelings I have towards you?
All that I live for is waiting on a dream in your eyes
My whole life revolves around the idea of finding love and being with you.
Tell me you love me tell me why
Please confess that you love me, and explain why.
I'll believe your lies
Even if you may not completely mean it, I will still believe that you love me, because I want it so badly.
Falling down into a tailspin
I am slowly losing control of my emotions and spiraling downwards.
Using words that I swore I would never use again
I am expressing emotions I did not think I would feel again, and using words I thought I had left behind.
Is a soul communication or emotional confirmation
I am unsure if this connection is purely emotional, or if our souls are communicating with each other.
In a language made by lover communicated through touch
Our communication is not just limited to words, but also in the way we touch each other.
And how did it get this far?
I am surprised at how quickly my feelings for you have escalated.
Are you really who I think you are?
I am questioning if your true self aligns with the person I have created in my mind.
All these questions in my mind keep me up all night.
I cannot stop thinking about all the questions that come with the feelings I have for you.
Is this feeling that I'm feeling really true?
I am still doubting the validity of my emotions towards you, and if they are truly genuine.
I'm falling deeper into you and
I am falling deeper into my emotions for you.
I can't explain what I'm going through
I have a hard time putting into words what I am feeling.
Deeper into you... Are my emotions justified
As I fall deeper for you, I am questioning if my emotions are legitimate and reasonable.
Or am I living blind
I am unsure if my feelings for you are blinding me from seeing the reality of the situation.
Contributed by Julian S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.