Why Is Richie Kotzen So Underrated?

Richie Kotzen is probably one of my favorite guitarists going today. Yes, he was briefly a member of Poison and Mr. Big, but his talents come through on his own solo work. Richie is a blues-man and he knows his way around the fretboard! I like listening to his stuff when I'm in a more mellow mood -- or when I'm trying to relax. Don't get me wrong -- his songs have that toe-tapping quality, but they aren't over-the-top frenetic like many Glam songs we love. There's no extra splash here: it's all raw talent.

Here's Richie on Two Tone Sessions.

And my favorite Richie song, "You Can't Save Me"

Comments

[Metalboy!]

I thought Kotzen was a good pick visually. Almost as gorgeous as Michaels (back then), a brunette to juxtapose the blonde frontman. But he sucked in the songwriting department.

Wanna keep the peace Fletch? Keep it about the music. One things for sure, you know your Rock and Roll. At least the lousy part of it -- all those songs you named, with the exception of "Little Dreamer" and "Dream On" are barely worth discussing. Same goes for your assertion that "Native Tongue" is any good. If you actually like "Native Tongue" over "Look What The Cat Dragged In" better, I'll let your statements stand as a barometer to all in answer to my question, "Do you know what Rock and Roll is?"

Note: As far as Arthur's Museum goes, I'd be surprised if he was the soul writer of any of it, though I don't know that for a fact. But he blazes on that album and he should have stuck to that formula -- shredding up someone else's songs.

Your grasping at straws, pal.

p.s. I actually thought of Joan Jett, but you'd have to put me in a time machine for that. Madonna isn't Rock and Roll enough for me. Same with Pink. GaGa's pretty amazing. I'd rather her for the talent more than anything else. Again, I'll let your silly questions and statements stand as representative of your knowledge of Rock and Roll. I'll stick with Allison Robertson. She ROCKS!

[fletch]

Re: Arthur's Museum. I have it on good authority that not only did he write every song, he lived and breathed them for years before he even brought them to his bandmates for consideration and was still unsure whether to record them, let alone share them others outside of his camp. Those songs are the real deal indeed.

I also always believed, like MB, that Poison (Bret), brought RK into the band because he was the good pick visually (perhaps, a little too much for Bret's liking), but also because he was being touted as the next Tom Keifer amongst songwriters. It didn't work out and I am sure there are many reasons why, but really, it's now over.

Gary makes an excellant point above (I'll paraphrase); perhaps, RK simply got disillusioned with the 'business" aspect of the Rock-n-roll business and prefers to do things "his way" despite not reaching the fame ond fortune of those before him. "Success" is a relative term. And, who knows, perhaps he is leaving some of his best for last..., no...for "later". peace, y'all

[Metalboy!]

He can't write, Fletch. And if he did write any of the Arthur's Museum stuff, then he must have fried his synapsis doing it because it all went to sh*t after that except "She" which doesn't hold a candle to any of that earlier material.

Still, no taking away from his supernatural, God given talent: guitar playing (sure as h*ll, not his singing -- just ask his throat surgeon).

[Stone]

I can't believe the drivel above regarding Richie Kotzen. Do you really believe an artist has failed because he insists on doing things his own way or because he could have done things differently to maximize his public acclaim? Please research history, folks. Was Miles Davis, for example, a popular culture figure? Was Einstein in his time?

Richie is doing exactly what he wants, when he wants, and how he wants. He lives in the Hollywood Hills, drives a nice new Porsche, has a fat bank account, has his own model of Fender Telecaster, is a world-acclaimed artist, and is doing 100% exactly what he wants. How can you fault that? I salute the guy. His life is a smokin' home run.

The other thing to consider is that he is living his dream lifestyle based on his enormous fan base world wide. Obviously, tens of thousands of people around the globe think he's a good enough singer/songwriter/shredder to have subsidized him for over 10 years, and will continue to do so for some time. Who cares if popular culture would rather fawn over "super stars" who cannot sing, play instruments, or even speak coherently?

Missteps? Um, no. Any of you wankers would trade lives with Kotzen in a heartbeat.