Guitarist
Richie Kotzen
Interviewed by
Keith McDonald
Richie Kotzen got his career started at a very young age. At
an age when most kids don’t know what they’re going to do with
themselves, Richie was recording solo albums for the well know
Shrapnel Records. After doing tours and clinics Richie got a
call to join Poison as C.C.’s replacement and a few years later
replaced Paul Gilbert in Mr. Big. He has still carried on with
his solo career with the release of his new album ‘Get Up’. I
had the opportunity to speak with Richie and get the lowdown on
his new CD
How did you start playing guitar?
I started playing the guitar when I was seven years old. I
was very much into entertaining my family when I was a little
one. I’d jump around singing and air guitar playing all over the
house.... Somehow someone got the idea for piano lessons but
piano wasn’t very rock in my mind so I asked for an electric
guitar. That’s how I started.
How did you land at Shrapnel Records? How much did
recording with them advance your career?
I landed at Shrapnel Records through their magazine column in
Guitar World Magazine. The label owner Mike Varney did a story
on me when I was seventeen and then signed me to a recording
contract. As for the question how did they advance my career? I
guess if it wasn’t for Shrapnel one could argue that I’d be
playing a dive bar somewhere deep in the woods of Pennsylvania
right now.... Shrapnel got me world exposure as a guitarist.
After my first CD was released I got the cover of guitar
world. I was only 19, so at that point I was very happy with
Shrapnel Records.
You were very young when you started recording and
touring. How did this help your career?
I think it helped a great deal. I was playing arenas when
I was 22 years old. I was playing with a shit band but still
I was playing arenas and that was fucking cool for a 22-year-old
kid. I have made so many solo records since I was 18 and they
are all over the map as far as the style. I think that has to do
with starting to make records young. It’s like documentation....I know I hadn’t really figured out my identity as an artist
until the last 5 years. The guitar playing musician thing came
quick for me but I had to do a lot of experimenting musically
until I finally settled into what I'm doing on my new CD,
Get Up. This CD is really what I’m about. It’s
obviously rock, but I think the song ‘Remember’ is the most
definitive song I've written for myself.
Would you recommend someone touring at a young age or not?
Hell yes.... No doubt the best time to tour is when you’re
young.... It’s so much easier. You have less responsibility; you
bounce back from hangovers faster... You’re less likely to die
of a heart attack from snorting too much cocaine... You can do a
lot more fucking when you’re young.... I think the absolute best
time to tour is when your young.
Despite the controversy, do you think being in Poison
helped you grow as a musician or not?
Being in Poison helped me grow my bank account for a year,
but grow as a musician? Are you serious? Being in Poison helped
me forget I was a musician.
Do you think you fit, musically, in Poison, or not?
Well when I was in Poison I was the only one making any music
so yes I fit musically. I’m not really sure if those guys
even played on their own records before I got there, I know C.C.
did. I know I played the bass on a few songs on
native tongue.
When I went on tour with them did I fit musically? Fuck no. I
think if Rikki could have counted to four without getting
confused it would have been easier to fit in.
It was nothing personal ... I think my mind was starting to
rot away....g, c, d, over and fucking over - AHHHHHHH... The
best thing about being in Poison was fucking... A lot of
fucking.... I couldn’t stop fucking... At first it was fun but
then I started to get so weak. At one point I was worried about
my health... I’m so much better off now.
How did touring the world with Mr. Big help you grow as a
guitarist?
I’m not sure. I think playing with Mr. Big made me play
faster. I’ve never played faster than when I played with Mr.
Big.
What do you enjoy more - touring as a solo artist or in a
band?
It depends on the band. The most fun touring for me was
when I played with Vertu, which was the fusion band I was in
with Lenny White and Stanley Clarke. There were 2 women in
that band and it was constant chaos. I mean the music was
confusing enough, then with the girls and all their shit wow! It
was fucking wild. I remember in Italy we were playing in the
courtyard of this huge castle and I heard bottles breaking and
shit. I was down by the stage after the show signing CD’s and
somehow a huge fight broke out between band members up in the
dressing room. That band was more rock than any rock band
I’ve played with. Plus everybody was a sick musician....
Loads of fun!
Tell me about your Fender signature guitar. How did that
come about?
About 5 years ago Fender approached me to make a signature
model guitar based on my Telecaster. It is an honor to have it
exist. Last year the UK started selling the guitar as well.
It’s very cool when I go over seas because I don’t need to bring
my guitar.
How was it touring with Vertu? Different from what you're
used to?
Well I have never been in a band with a violinist. Karen
Briggs was on violin and she is the best soloist I have ever
heard play live in my life. She was awesome. So connected to
what she was doing...It was almost like she was possessed when
she would do a solo. She was an inspiration for me in that
band. We hung out a lot on the tour and had a great time
being friends.
You seem to blend a big bag of musical tastes (rock,
blues, fusion, etc.). How did that come about?
I guess I want to be a part of everything. I’m never
satisfied. I grew up as a rock guitar player listening to
soul singers outside of Philadelphia, PA. After a while the rock
thing became less interesting and I started listening to fusion
players then I started to get headaches and blurry vision so I
decided to get back to the rock.
I see you have a new album GET UP. How would you describe
the new material?
The best music I’ve ever made... ‘Remember’ is my favorite
song in the world. I love my record and I usually hate
everything I do a week after it’s finished. This is the first
time I can listen to my own CD from start to finish and not want
to vomit at some point in the process.
Will you tour behind this release?
Yes...I leave for South America on September 28th then its
Japan then its Spain, then it’s the UK, then it’s Italy, then
it’s hopefully going to be Germany then its back home to Los
Angeles.
How many solo albums do you have? Are they all available
here in the US?
There are 13 Richie Kotzen solo CD’s not including the 2 CD’s
I did with guitarist Greg Howe and not including the new best of
that’s coming out and not including acoustic cuts. Yes you can
buy them in the U.S. The new CD,
Get Up is being
sold through my web site at
richiekotzen.com. I am so tired of
people saying "hey man why cant I get your record".... So I
decided to sell it myself.... now I know that anyone who wants
it can get it. Very simple, go to my website.
Tell me about the new recording studio you opened. Who has
recorded there already?
The new studio is named headroom-inc..... Client list? Ok
here we go.... Gene Simmons, Dave Navarro, Keanu Reeves, Blu
Cantrell, Meshell Ndege’Ocello, Toto, John Wait, Doyle Bramhall
II, and me!
What lies ahead for you?
I don’t know.... Hopefully it’s good.
Thanks for having me!
www.richiekotzen.com