RICHIE KOTZEN: European Tour Dates Announced

July 9, 2008

Guitarist Richie Kotzen (ex-POISON, MR. BIG) has scheduled the following dates:

Jul. 13 - Tivoli Rock - Tivoli (Italy)
Jul. 16 - Afraka - Afragola (Italy)
Jul. 17 - Blanko Cafe - Corsico (Italy)
Jul. 18 - Rockville - Castellarano/RE (Italy)
Jul. 19 - Festa birra - Misinto (Italy)
Jul. 22 - Bluesiana - Velden (Austria)
Jul. 24 - Stadio Pallacorda - Roma (Italy)
Jul. 26 - Festival - Ficulle (Italy)
Jul. 29 - Cuprablufestival - Cupra Mar. (Italy) acoustic
Jul. 31 - Art Cafè - Taranto (Italy)
Aug. 01 - Biker fest - Cercemaggiore (Italy)
Aug. 02 - Colfeliceblues - Colfelice (Italy)
Aug. 04 - Cuprablufestival - Cupra Mar. (Italy)
Aug. 05 - Piazza - San Paolo Belsito (Italy)
Aug. 09 - VDP Music - Monopoli (Italy) acoustic
Aug. 11 - Bluesiana - Velden (Austria) acoustic
Aug. 13 - Village - Habach (Germany) acoustic
Aug. 14 - Festival - Poggio Murella (Italy) acoustic
Aug. 15 - Festival - Lillehammer (Norway) acoustic

"Live In Sao Paulo", Richie Kotzen's first-ever live album, was released in Europe on July 4 via Frontiers Records. With much prompting from fans, Kotzen chose for the purpose a stellar performance from his South American tour in 2007.

According to a press release, "Live In Sao Paulo" is an absorbing collective blend of Kotzen's songs throughout the years. His live performance reflects the guitar style's that has defined his career as a virtuoso. Kotzen reveals to fans live his true diversity with the rhythmic labors of "A Love Divine" to the poignant ballad "Remember". The performance continually travels between moments of classic-rock song "Shapes Of Things" to the uplifting original "Stand".

Check out audio samples at this location.

Kotzen is influenced from such bands as BAD COMPANY, FREE, early VAN HALEN and CREAM. They are the inspiration for his songs, but having deep Philly roots Kotzen tends to combine rock with the Motown influences he heard as a kid.

"Much influence for my songs comes from the likes of the SPINNERS, O-JAYS, and CURTIS MAYFIELD," explains Kotzen. "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".

Kotzen 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 favourite rock bassist is Billy Sheehan and we were in MR. BIG together for three years which was awesome."

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