Richie Kotzen

[kotzen]

Hello everyone !!

I´m from Spain and I´m new here !! :)

Well this is my question : what do you think about Richie Kotzen???.....

I really LOVE Richie Kotzen guitar style, songs & music. It´s an amazing musician & guitar player. I love all Richie albums.

Richie is an awesome fusion guitar player with an amazing technique (sweeps, tapping, legato..). Please tell me what you think about Richie style.

And my last question : Someone can help me with Richie Kotzen guitar style??? ...someone have licks, lessons, tabs...????
I love Richie fusion style, PLEASE HELP ME with licks, lessons....

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

Regards. :)

[Anubis]

Hi and welcome.
This is a great forum.

Regarding Kotzen.....hmm.
I have never heard of him.
Is he famous?

[kotzen]

Hi Anubis,

Richie Kotzen famous???...:(

Anubis RICHIE KOTZEN is one of the BEST guitar players !! it´s famous shredder from ´80s !!! from Mike Varney "factory" !!
Please visit : www.richiekotzen.com

Richie played with famous band POISON and with famous band MR.BIG !!!! many, many records man!! and all the records on many different styles : shred, fusion, rock, soul, blues...

Richie has two albums with another MASTER of the guitar : Greg Howe !! two incredibles rock fusion albums !!!!

Richie too made MANY collaborations : Glenn Hughes, Gregg Bissonette, Steve Lukather, Stevie Salas...etc...


Abyway, please visit the official Richie Kotzen website for more information.

Thanks for your replay.

Regards.

(I hope you can understand my "poor" english, sorry i´m spanish :) )

[CaptainCarma]

hi kotzen and welcome to ibreathe...

I´m a big kotzenfan, too.
but I prefer the post-shredding recordings like "what is".

he is one of the very few who are able to touch me with their playing AND their voice.

listen to "what is", "tobacco road", "let´s say goodbye" and "I don´t belong" and you´ll find all the reasons for being one of my everyalltimefavourites...

[Sentinel]

"Richie played with famous band POISON and with famous band MR.BIG !!!! "

Seems to me that was Paul Gilbert in Mr. Big but then again, I don't have all their albums, so maybe I'm wrong.

[Bizarro]

Richie is a lesser known guitar hero in the US. He was one of those guys that recorded with Shrapnel when he was 17 and he has insane and monster chops, especially legato and sweeping. He's bigger in other parts of the world...

Richie is one of the more melodic and interesting virtuoso types. He doesn't play a lot of cheesy stuff like a lot of the "fast just to be fast" dorks in the 80's. He's a true musical genius in my opinion...

He played with Stanley Clarke, and was actually recruited to form Vertu, which a super group of jazz/fusion virtuosos.

Richie was good enough to fill Paul Gilbert's shoes when Paul left Mr. Big. My personal opinion is that Richie's compositions are generally more musical than PG, but that's just one guy's opinion...;)

[EricV]

Hey there....

Kotzen... he´s great. Great singer ( check out his vocals on Stevie Salas´ "Electric Pow Wow" ), great songwriter ( the "What Is..." album is full of great songs ) and certainly a great guitarist ( lots of feel and soul, bunches of chops... I wish he´d come to terms with his shred-past )
He actually turned Poison into a killer-band ( I like their bubblegum-poprock tunes anyway, but the album they did with RK certainly was different than their other albums ). I mean, the "Native Tongue" album was the most musical album they ever released IMHO, mostly due to Richie´s songwriting, his amazing backing vocals and his playing.

His "Electric Joy" album might not be a legendary album, but I must have listened to it thousands of times back in the day... it´s a very very cool, fusion-y album IMHO, and the playing on it is awesome... great technique, way different phrasing, writing and sound than most of the Shrapnel-records.
Richie rules !
Eric

NP. Johnny Cash - American IV - The Man Comes Around

[kotzen]

Hello

YES !! Richie is an amazing musician and singer !!

"What is" album is AWESOME !! all songs are great and the production is good.

"Electric Joy" is a GREAT instrumental album, cool songs and chops !!

Hey guys, have you listen Richie´s album"The Inner Galactic Fusion Experience"????? is one of the best Richie albums !!, with Gregg Bissonette on drums, Very GOOD fusion !!!!

And yes!! you´re right He's a true musical genius!!, he can play many diferent styles and Richie´s compositions are generally very musically !! great songwriter !! very song hits : with Poison ("Stand" & "Fire & Ice") and with Mr.Big ("Static", "Shine", etc...)


And...

PLEASE : Someone can help me with Richie guitar style??? someone have tabs, licks/chops, lessons....?????
I know Richie did lessons for japanese guitar magazine "Young Guitar" but this magazine is very difficult to buy here on Spain.

Anyway,

Thanks a lot for reaplys!!

Regards.:)

[Bizarro]

I'll try tab out some of his early licks.

You should check on eBay for the instructional videos. They should be fairly cheap now.

[Anubis]

Here's a few songs in powertab by Kotzen.

http://www.geocities.com/winkken/TabRichieKotzen#richie.html

I haven't seen many Kotzen tabs around.

[Bizarro]

Richie did something like this on his instructional video. He sequenced a bunch of these together, but he had minor variations too.

[kotzen]

Hi guys,

Hey Bizarro, THANKS for the ptb file.
I have got the REH Instructional video "Rock Chops" !! and is one of the best shred instructional videos with very cool tapping and string skipping ideas, sweeps... i recomened to EVERYONE !!!
But i need help on Richie FUSION style (licks/chops, scales, chords, etc...) !!! I recomened the albums with the master Greg Howe : "Tilt" & "Project" VERY GOOD ALBUMS !!!!!
And the amazing fusion Richie´s album "The Inner Galactic Fusion Experience"

PLEASE I need your help with Rock/Jazz FUSION STYLE !!!!

And, hey Anubis i know this link : http://www.geocities.com/winkken/Ta...zen#richie.html
This page is from INCREDIBLE guitar player Peter Lidström !! very cool guitar player and a good transcriber. Go to this link to his accurate powertabs :

http://www.geocities.com/winkken/Musicworks.html

Anyway, thanks Anubis.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH for the replays my friends !! :)

Regards.

[kotzen]

Hello again !!

OK, i´ll attached for you guys a Richie lick : Richie sweep style.
The Richie Kotzen sweeps/arpeggios are first all downstrokes and legato and then to up the arpeggio is all "hammer on from mowhere" (left hand tap).

I hope you like it :)

Regards.

[kotzen]

SORRY guys!!! i wrong on first powertab attachement : the "v" (upstroke) is DOWNSTROKE !!!!! (sorry :) . I´ll attached the correct ptb file.

Anyway, i post another powertab file with Richie sweep style (downstroke-legatos/hammer on from nowhere).

I hope you like it.


Regards.

[kotzen]

The other example :

[Jeansen]

have any one of you heard Ritchie's solo on deep purple cover "Burn"? have any one find the tab ? please tell me.
thanks guys..

[kotzen]

Hi !!

YES!! Richie´s solo on Deep Puple cover "Burn" is AWESOME!!!! really cool sweeps, legato and chops!!

Sorry i haven´t got the tab, is very difficult !!!

Regards.

[flathead]

http://www.theshredzone.com/content/article.asp?pageid=interviews_richie_kotzen

http://www.theshredzone.com/content/article.asp?pageid=interviews_richie_kotzen2

Here are some recent interviews with richie kotzen

OMG LOL I just finished reading them you have to read his answer when he mentions Poison (on page 2)

[GABRI]

Im an old fan of RK, I love his original style unique!!!!!! In my opinion the best is Jason Becker but IT's like say"I love God" do u understand? so richie is my favourite gutar player I love the debut so much.glamsters don't like native tongue but you know...they are a little ignorants!!!!!!I suggest you Rock chops istructional video to see him at the age of 19 when he recorded fever dream. the Mother family reunion is the warmest album I have....and I love atma so much. laso wave of emotion and electric joy.
he never shows his technique maybe in tilt with richie and greg...
I found "GET UP" very good, the only thing is the drum machine.....like slow.
Vertu shows a new Kotzen. have u listened the last of the two richie's cds with Mr.big? do u like it? I have a live with him.
Do you know where can I find some of his power tabs? I have electric joy, b funk, she,squeeze play and ome other song of electric joy.something new?

Jason becker says about richie:richie has become a genius type Prince. He can do most anything.
let's think about this

[DemonSorcerer]

Hey...

Kotzen has a new clinic video where he shows a few different licks...this one's oriented to Fusion, and in fact, he explains and shows at a real slow pace the whole solo that he plays in the video Intro...very cool, with very melodic and contemporary licks...modern Fusion, ya know...

The video is called "Hi Tech Rock Guitar"...you can download it from Emule...

David

[kotzen]

Hey...

Kotzen has a new clinic video where he shows a few different licks...this one's oriented to Fusion, and in fact, he explains and shows at a real slow pace the whole solo that he plays in the video Intro...very cool, with very melodic and contemporary licks...modern Fusion, ya know...

The video is called "Hi Tech Rock Guitar"...you can download it from Emule...

David

BUY THE DVD !!!!

[Duncan123]

Hi everyone at ibreathe. This is my first reply so if i do something wrong just tell me!



Originally Posted by DemonSorcerer
Hey...

Kotzen has a new clinic video where he shows a few different licks...this one's oriented to Fusion, and in fact, he explains and shows at a real slow pace the whole solo that he plays in the video Intro...very cool, with very melodic and contemporary licks...modern Fusion, ya know...

The video is called "Hi Tech Rock Guitar"...you can download it from Emule...

David
BUY THE DVD !!!!


I just wanted to ask kotzen where you can buy richies hi-tech rock guitar dvd as i've searched everywhere and cant find it! cheers for your help
duncan

[EricV]

As far as I know, this was released only in Japan by Rittor Music. Maybe it´s available as an import somewhere ? Or Ebay ?

[Diabolet]

I hated most of the stuff he did later on (when he got a hair cut), I love the rock chops video, the sweep stuff is great, notice that the first sweep example is more or less the unacompanied arppegio section in 'Go off' by jason and marty. Jason produced richies first (and greatest album) 'richie kotzen' and richie has said they jammed and traded ideas alot back then. Also some of the sweeping ideas were shown by jason on his legendary guitar video. Fever dream is a great album. My fav song is 'unsafe at any speed' of his first solo album.

[widdly widdly]

Don't get me wrong, I love 80's guitar but Ritchie Kotzens videos crack me up. It's like taking a lesson from a shred transvestite.

Other faves are the Marty Friedman videos, he reminds me of the that dog from the muppets.

[EricV]

But then again, we weren´t watching those vids for fashion-advice, right ? =)
Well, I guess those guys are cringing or laughing themselves when they see pics from that era, but hey, that´s what the trend was like back then.
I remember seeing the cover of the first Poison album thinking "Hey those girl look... YIKES, those are GUYS ?!?!" =)
Eric

[Shredmaniac]

The George Lynch video is pretty funny too, plus he looks completely high at some points, sweating and all. ("OK, this is a lick that I play in uuhh... E minor and uuhh.. Here goes <shredshredshredshredkillervibrato>... And there you have it")

Also, does anybody know why everybody that recorded a vid for REH had to play a Don Mock lick? Well okay, not everybody, but I noticed that. I point this out because in the George Lynch vid he plays a clean sound (oh noes !) lick over a jazzy chord like an Em11, without introducing or explaining what it is... I always thought it was the Don Mock law ^^

Another pretty scary one -as far as looks, poses...etc go- is the Michael Angelo Starlicks vid =)

[EricV]

Just would like to point out this:
Those REH videos often seem to me more like a "look at what this guy can do" type video than an instructional method ( even though the PG-videos of course were really helpful ).
This was not always the fault of the player, really.
I remember Greg Howe saying that he wanted plenty of time to prepare the content of the video, but he wasn´t given enough time. He didn´t come up with those little "plays" with his bro either...the ones you see in the video.
Vinnie Moore recorded his first video in two takes, and had to rush out to catch his train right after. Having that in mind, it seems even more amazing that the video is actually pretty helpful.
So stuff like the pinball machine-thing in the Kotzen-video, the "jazz licks" ( maybe Lynch did have no time to prepare either, and was going by Mock´s advice ? "Play something jazzy... " "Uhhhh...ok !" ), the outfits and video covers ( the Greg Howe-cover with the shredded DiMarzio shirt ) can´t be blamed on the guys themselves IMO
Eric

[Shredmaniac]

Yeah, I was so disappointed when I saw the Greg Howe video :'( And of course we can't blame the players for the lack of instructional content on some videos. I always thought Howe looked a little embarassed on his vid. Oh well, he'll probably write a guitar book someday (hopefully)

Regarding my "jazz lick" remark, I wanted to point out the fact that clearly it wasn't the player's will to play that kind of lick given the style he plays in =)

[EricV]

I know =)
I was just saying this as I heard Howe comment particularily on the fact that he asked for more time and didn´t get it. Just like Vinnie, he looks rather uncomfortable in his video.
In the book / CD version of "Intense Rock II", it says that Gilbert met up with some students of the GIT prior to shooting the video to discuss what he should talk about. I liked that, as he obviously tried to preapre himself well and tried to figure out what people wanted to know about.
To this day, IR and IR II are my two favorite REH videos. As I mentioned elsewhere, I did have a lot of them, but if you take "Rock Chops" as an example... I didn´t try to play any of the licks on there. I just watched it for inspiration, to get new ideas. The intro- and outro solos of that vid are really cool.
The vid by Kee Marcello ( Ex-Europe ) was really cool as well. He explained some of his solos, and it was great to see that he didn´t only have amazing chops, but also great tone, and those solos are really melodic... something that wasn´t discussed often enough in some vids.
Eric

[Shredmaniac]

I wouldn't be so harsh about the Kotzen vid. Hang on, I know why, it was my introduction to shred guitar (first instructional vid I ever bought, drooled for an hour). Plus I discovered that you can make cool noises by playing a random 3NPS stretch + one tapped note + string skipping (bloooppblooopblloooppp I'm so talented !!). And I still use his first legato exercise as a left hand warm-up. Money well-spent... Or not ^^

[Atomic Playboy]

yeah he is quite good, i have his instructional video back from 80s days :).....

[Diabolet]

Thats the one there talking about, he didnt look that bad! I wish i had jeans like his.

The starlicks mike angelo one is possibly the best star licks vid out. They dont sell it anymore though, theyve re released a bunch of them on dvd but not his yet.

I love kee marcellos video, with the solo to superstitious. Also the little bit with Joey taffola was pretty funny (another good video). Anyone get the vinnie vincent one? Mine came in a beta box, but i bought it a year ago lol. they must be out of print now.

heres a video you might be interested in...
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6880819151594951286&q=chris+impellitteri&pl=true

I know most people hate him, but those arppegios for 'secret lover' are quite good. Its the full video to which was nice of someone... Alot of people say 'he plays fast all the time' which i would agree usually but alot of people base that assumption on this video alone. It is called 'speed soloing' so what do they expect? BB king licks?

[widdly widdly]

Yeah, fashions and hairstyles aside, I do love the 80's videos. I think the Scott Henderson one is a gold mine of great advice. The Tuck Andress one is great too, although I've never gotten that Man in the mirror track down. I have a vid of John Scofield where he goes through each note of the chromatic scale and explains how to use them in improvisation which is great. I also like the bit where John stops for a ciggarette break.

Some of them I still find impossible though. The aerobics style shred workout from Frank Gambale is impossible. Still I can amuse myself by laughing at his daggy wig and crazy pants. The Larry Corryell one is unfathomable too..he plays some crazy chords very fast and sort of mumbles the names. I guess thats why it's called "Advanced Jazz Guitar"

I've gotta agree with Ericv though, the Paul Gilbert ones definetly stand out as being usefull rather than just showing off. I guess the same applies for the John Petrucci one too (although it's not 80's).

[Diabolet]

That frank gambale one is crazy, with all the women in the background lol. Its got a thicked book them rock discipline to. Gambales other videos are quite good though, the speed picking one, monster chops and stuff.

[Atomic Playboy]

i love everything in 80s from haircuts, fashion, movies to music..... :)

[UKRuss]

This is a public forum...;)

It was a strange decade. Most people speak of it as a time of no direction, no fashion, no decent music, crap hair etc.

But actually when it comes down to it most have fond memories.

Personally, I had a great time!

[widdly widdly]

Anyone else seen that video of poison playing at some awards night where the guitarist just keeps soloing even though the guitar solo is meant to have finished? According to some that is the exact moment 80's hair metal died.

[curiousgeorge]

This is a public forum...;)

It was a strange decade. Most people speak of it as a time of no direction, no fashion, no decent music, crap hair etc.

But actually when it comes down to it most have fond memories.

Personally, I had a great time!

Flock of Seagulls will ALWAYS be cool Russ!

[Diabolet]

Supposedly, C.C's guitar wasnt even plugged in, or was unplugged during the show but he just kept playing. They fired him and got richie in to replace him, He slept with the drummers ex fiance so they got rid of him to, then they got blues saraceno i think.

[EricV]

I remember that performance, it was a big controversy. Apparently, CC was drunk beyond belief, and then the song started, he started soloing, and kept doing so.
Then his cord fell out of the guitar.
That pretty much ended the performance. Quite embarrassing.
As Diabolet said, they fired CC and got Richie. The album they recorded with him ( "Native Tongue" ) is really cool. Richie contributed some song-writing, and he also did some very nice backing-vocals. I also like his playing and sound on that album.
After he was fired, they got Blues S. They recorded a few tracks with him ( for the Best Of ), and I think they even recorded an album with him, but I don´t know whether that was ever released.
Eric

[eastwood]

I adored the 80's !!!!

Loved the cars, fashion, music and everything else

Thats when women were women and men just looked like women !

I'm watching the Chris Imp' video at the moment....I remember it getting bad reviews when it was released

Not keen on his 'tone' though and I have spoke to someone who knew him very well that he just played the same lick over and over.....;-)

Daz

[UKRuss]

Cars?!?

The Ford Sierra? The XR3? The Capri 280special? The Mitsubishi Colt?

Are we talking about the same 80s?

[Diabolet]

Yea Impellitteris tone on that video wasnt to great. That is a Yjm signiture guitar hes playing with the headstock shaved so we cant see it lol. He did a good album with graham bonnet called 'stand in line' though.

[eastwood]

Russ,

RS 500

Escort Cosworth

TR7

2.8 Capri

They all rocked !

Daz

[eastwood]

He did a good album with graham bonnet called 'stand in line' though.

Who's Graham Bonnet ?

:p

Daz

[Diabolet]

Is that sarcasm lol? its hard to tell.

if it isnt hes the guy from rainbow, alcatrazz, Yngwie malmsteen (for oddessy). Been about abit.

[mattblack850]

Is that sarcasm lol? its hard to tell.

if it isnt hes the guy from rainbow, alcatrazz, Yngwie malmsteen (for oddessy). Been about abit.
Definite sarcasm!!!
Daz played guitar for Graham on tour last year!!!:D

[Diabolet]

:D Lol Impessive!

[eastwood]

Its my only claim to fame........and I'm gonna flaunt it !

Daz

[EricV]

well it prolly is other than being a kick-a** player and a helluva nice guy... so there´s even more to flaunt. Go ahead
Eric

[eastwood]

oooooh ! smiles all round !!!!!!! :) :) :) :)


I get married the following weekend plus its my birthday on the day of the wedding - what a week !!!!!

When's the Jemfest Eric ?

Daz

[EricV]

Yo Daz
Thanks for the email, hope I´ll get to chat with George at the Messe... I´ll be there tomorrow.
The Jemfest is gonna happen on May 13th...
Oh, and congrats ( in advance ) on getting married !
Eric

[eastwood]

Thanks buddy !

3rd time lucky hopefully !

Mite try and get there for Jemfest if I can

Take care....

Daz

[EricV]

It´d be awesome if you could come to Jemfest as well. It´s always a blast, and so we could hang out there and tell all the young `uns there about how it was in the old days, when we wore Spandex to school, had a can of Aquanet in the backpack, had to figure out music by ear and didn´t get to fight on the internet over who´s the best guitarist.

So if you can arrange it, that´d be awesome
Eric

[eastwood]

He he he !

Woah that sounds like a trip not to miss !

I will 'tech' for ya !

Do we get to visit every music shop in town too ?

We have a few customers in Germany....so it shouldnt be a problem

If you travel to europe are your flights reasonable ? I want to plan a trip to the US one day

[EricV]

Hey

Currently I am living in Germany, but when I am in the States, I usually am able to find cheap flights to Europe. Sure you´ll have a hard time to get one for 29 Euros, but if you invest some time, you´ll be able to find affordable tickets.

I wouldn´t even LET you tech for me ! I mean, IMO you should be playing there yourself ! =)
A trip to the music stores... Dunno if you´d want that, as the day is chock full of guitar-related stuff anyway. After like 10 or 12 hours of performances, workshops, discussions about playing, it often seems as if some people are happy to get the heck outta there ! =)
Eric

[eastwood]

PM me with your addy Eric...as we visit Germany quite often...infact 2 colleagues of mine where in Frankfurt tuesday just gone. Be cool to meet up !

LOL @ the tech thing and thanks for the kind thoughts at the same time - :D

Have you got anything new written for the Jemfest ?

What you did before was very cool and kinda refreshing compared to the others

Daz

[EricV]

Oh thanks. Yeah, the last 2 times I played there, I tried to offer something different, so after playing a few faster, more-shred-based songs I did play songs like "Canyon Of Spirits", which has no shred whatsoever, but instead gets me to for emotion. I think people liked it.
I am working on an all new song for it, something upbeat, melodic... we´ll see whether I´ll get it done. Last time I played a "Jemfest-ised" version of "Make A Noize !"
I´ll email you the addy
Eric

[CaptainCarma]

just to underline what eric already wrote:

jemfest is definatly worth a trip. and it´s always great to talk to him vis a vis.
so if you got the chance to manage, don´t miss.

[EricV]

...which hopefully means you´ll be there too, would be great to hang out and talk again, always enjoy that ! And thanks for the kind words!
Eric

[CaptainCarma]

sure, I´ll be there. just can´t miss it. I attended vol.1 and vol.2, so it´s a must for me to attend vol.3, too.
and as I said I always enjoyed talking to you, too.

[goofyke]

Hello,

I am also a big fan of hi-tech rock playing.
I have just ordered the instructional videos of Greg Howe and Richie Kotzen to improve my playing.
I am over my Satriani-period...I think he is still great but he doesn't do much arpeggios with sweep or skips.
I also have John Petrucci and Malmsteen and Gambale material (Gambale is a real MONSTER !!!)
Bye

[smallbusrider]

Can anyone remember what the name of Richie Kotzens first band was? I only know it because Mr. Kotzen did testomonials for guitar mags in little 3 inch ads for a guitar course in the 80's. Anyway, I'm just dying to know if anyone else knows it.

[frosty]

Hi,
I heard he had a band called Aurther's Museum, on Kotzen's Myspace he mentioned "Exis". Hope it helps you out.

My first post at this forum, nice to be here!

Per