Guitarist RICHIE KOTZEN Issues New Solo Album 'Into The Black'

November 21, 2006

Guitarist Richie Kotzen (POISON, MR. BIG) has just released his 14th solo album, "Into the Black".

"With the exception of my last album, 'Get Up', a lot of my records have been a bit all over the map style-wise and on this CD I wanted to sort of pull it all together," states Kotzen. "I wanted to make a CD that really defined who I am as a solo artist and I think I finally did it on this one."

"Into the Black" is an absorbing collective blend of Kotzen's musical influences and diversity. He decided to write more rock-based music with R&B undertones than metal. "Growing up outside Philadelphia and listening to those old soul stations I ended up with that sound being a heavy influence in my writing even though the core of what I do is rock," explains Kotzen.

The guitar virtuoso burst onto the heavy metal scene as a teenager with a lightning-fast guitar techniques. With his talents Kotzen has played with some of the best musicians; securing such major collaboration with the band MR. BIG and renowned jazz great Stanley Clarke as well as his own solo projects. "I have been lucky in the sense that I have been able to play with guys who I could learn from. The biggest musical lesson for me was playing in a band with Stanley Clarke and Lenny White. Obviously these guys are jazz musicians and I am not, but I learned so much from the time we recorded and toured together. My favorite rock bassist is Billy Sheehan and we were in MR. BIG together for three years which was awesome."

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