Beekstraat 1 - B-2640 Mortsel - Belgium

RICHIE KOTZEN – INTO THE BLACK

Release

Style

The guys at Frontiers records really know and appreciate a good rock voice. This year they released several albums with great vocalists.  In January there was the http://www.prog-nose.org/nederlands/albums_2006/ambition_same.htm project with Thom Griffin (Trillion), Jean-Michel Byron (Toto) & Joe Vana (Mecca) -  in may Michael Kiske with his album http://www.prog-nose.org/nederlands/albums_2006/michael_kiske_kiske.htm - Joseph Williams (Chicago, Toto) was brought back in the attention in June 2006 with the album of Vertigo “2” – Followed by Kevin Chalfant & Van Mc Lain  http://www.prog-nose.org/nederlands/albums_2006/shooting_star_circles.htm & Richard Black (http://www.prog-nose.org/nederlands/albums_2006/shark_island_gathering.htm Shark Island – “Gathering Of The FaithFull) who both where released at the 7^th of July this year. Now it’s Richie Kotzen who is brought in the spotlights. He began his musical career by playing the piano and later on he also decided to play the guitar as well. At the age of seventeen, he had already travelled the world by playing in excess of five hundred gigs as opener for acts such as the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Greg Allman and the Smithereens. Also during that year Richie released his first record on Shrapnel Records. His kind of playing was noticed by of Bret Michaels (Poison) and Richie was asked to join the band at the age of twenty. Poison’s album "Native Tongue" (1993) became a worldwide platinum sale, with two top twenty singles which Kotzen wrote "Stand" and "Until You Suffer Some". Richie continued his solo career after a split with Poison, releasing albums in various musical genres, ranging from Rock to Soul and ultimately Fusion. Richie's cult status began to grow, especially in Japan where Kotzen released classic albums such as "Wave Of Emotion" and "What is". In 1999 he joined the fusion band Vertu with Stanley Clarke (bass), Lenny White, Rachel Z (Keyboards) and Karen Briggs (Violin). While performing with Vertu, Richie released two more solo albums, a blues album "Bi Polar Blues" and the more up to date sounding "Break It All Down”. That same year guitarist Paul Gilbert left Mr. Big. The remaining band members were under great pressure to find a suitable replacement to work on a new album. Sheehan, who had worked together with Kotzen on a previous album, asked Richie to fill the gap. The album "Get Over It" sold more than 175,000 copies in its first two weeks in Japan and was followed by a successful Asian wide tour. The follow up to this Mr. Big release was titled “Actual Size” which featured Richie’s song “Shine” and became number 1 on Japanese radio charts! The Mr. Big farewell Tour through Japan followed. After that Richie became a solo artist and started his relationship with Frontiers Records for a multi-album deal. He released “Change” (2003) - “Get Up” and now the brand new “Into The Black” where he reveals his love for the Blues tinged sound. On this album Kotzen proves himself in either a musical way as well as vocalist. His overwhelming talented voice is strong where it has to rock but also emotional in the more calming parts. “You Can’t Save Me”  & “Misunderstood” are two great songs to open the album. Also in the more calming songs “Fear” & “Doin’ What The Devil Says To Do” Ritchie knows how to convince the listener by his vocal talents. “Sacred Ground” and “Your lies” became personal favourites of me, but also “Livin’ In Bliss” is worth listening too. Last song “My Angel” is a real ballad like we’re used to from Kotzen and comparissions with “To Be With you” from Mr Big can be made. Into The Black” became a well balanced album whereby Ritchie wrote all the songs, performed all the instrumental parts and took care of the producing.

 

Musicians

Richie Kotzen: All

Native Tongue (Poison)
Mother Head’s Family Reunion
Inner Galactic Fusion Experience
Tilt (Kotzen/Howe)
Waves Of Emotion
Times Gonna Tell EP
Kotzen/Howe Project
Something To Say
What Is
Break It All Down
Bi Polar Blues
Vertu (Stanley Clarke)
Get Over It (Mr Big)
Depp Cuts (Mr Big)
Actual Size (Mr Big)
Slow
In Japan (M Big)
Change
Acoustic Cuts
Get Up
The Best Of Richie Kotzen
Nothing To Loose (Forty Duece)
Ai Senshi Z x R (Music from the animation series Gundam)
Into The Black

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Last updated: 17 december 2006 .
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