RICHIE KOTZEN Releases New Single 'Big Money Club'

Acclaimed guitarist/vocalist Richie Kotzen has released a new solo song, "Big Money Club". The official music video for the track can be seen below.

Kotzen describes "Big Money Club" as a character study inspired by a particular kind of person he began noticing after moving to Los Angeles.

"It isn't about one specific person," Kotzen says. "It's this character I kept encountering over the years. Everybody knows him, everybody likes him, he's at the private party, the expensive restaurant, backstage, behind the velvet rope — but nobody really knows what he does."

What interested Kotzen was less the character's apparent wealth than the mystery surrounding it — and the unquestioned access that seemed to accompany him.

"There was always a story about where the money came from," Kotzen explains. "Family money, some huge publishing deal, tech money, some business connection. But the story had a way of changing depending on who was telling it. The funny thing was, nobody really questioned it. Somehow every door opened and everybody just accepted that he belonged there."

That ambiguity became central to the song. "Big Money Club" never reveals whether its central character inherited his position, earned it, fabricated it, or simply became so embedded in the scene that the distinction stopped mattering.

"That was the interesting part to me. Everybody seems to know this guy, but nobody actually knows him. You hear all these stories and eventually the mythology becomes more interesting than whatever the truth might be."

Musically, "Big Money Club" moves away from heavy guitar rock toward a clean, groove-driven sound drawing from classic rock, pop rock and the Philly soul music that formed part of Kotzen's early musical vocabulary.

"I didn't want to explain who he is because I don't know who he is. That's really the whole point. He's the kid from the Big Money Club."

"Big Money Club" is Kotzen's third single of 2026, having previously released "Catch A Star" in May and "Ivory Queen" in August.

Kotzen has always been on a clear, laser-focused mission as an artist. While he is rightfully acknowledged worldwide for being a stellar guitar player, an emotive singer, and, frankly, a balls-out dynamic live performer to boot, Kotzen is quite aware he must maintain an ever-vigilant eye on ensuring one particularly important creative arrow in his artistic quiver continues to be properly nurtured — and that is his songwriting. Throughout his career, Kotzen has released over 20 solo albums, showcasing his versatility across genres. His collaborations with bands like POISON and MR. BIG brought him international recognition. In 2012, he co-founded the supergroup THE WINERY DOGS, releasing acclaimed albums that blend hard rock with blues influences.

Kotzen has performed on some of the biggest stages in the world since he first signed a deal with Shrapnel Records in 1988 as a guitar prodigy. He began releasing records both as a solo artist and in the aforementioned bands. Now known also as a prolific songwriter and one half of acclaimed duo SMITH/KOTZEN with IRON MAIDEN's Adrian Smith, Richie's ever-growing back catalog ensures that his fans around the world are constantly treated to his prodigious talent both recorded and live.