The gods are gods because they don´t think about themselves. They are not intended to, and are not fully aware of the effect they have on those strangers with whom they share little moments of light and energy, as if an ethereal melody could throw away all the stars to never come back. This is why the guitarist, singer and songwriter Richie Kotzen often seems distant, lonely, lost. Kotzen doesn´t know that when the concert comes to its end, all those musicians who have come to hear his live music are willing to go home, to review once again  licks that the U.S. manages as if the guitar were an extension of his own body. Kotzen is, without doubt and without reference to his amazing talent, motivation in its purest form. I was able to talk to him just before his first concert in Spain, and in just 15 minutes of interview it became clear that behind the virtuous we all know and admire, there is a man of flesh and blood (as he stated) that is still afraid of the dark, who would have liked to work with Jason Bonham (Led Zeppelin), or that would say `Hotel California ' if I had to choose a song to listen again and again until the end of time.

Kotzen came to our country thanks to the excellent work of Etin Productions, and as an occasion of the promotional tour for his latest `24 Hours', edited by his own recording studio in Los Angeles, as usual. Kotzen does exactly the music he wants to do, and it is shown by both the enormous quantity and quality of solo albums production that he makes or by its various collaborations, and in the warmth and personality of the direct that he offers. And all this was evident at the Sala Caracol in Madrid and Barcelona Salamandra Sala on 1 and 2 December, as an ending after two months touring European geography with bassist Dylan Wilson, and drummer Mike Bennett in his usual trio format. These were two concerts that reflected not only the guitar skills and mastery of his voice, but also the effect already mentioned before that manages to keep the audience in a continuous state of hypnotism, staring his every move and turns of the voice and barely being able to chant their songs or applaud at the end of the issues. None of those who attended those two nights to one of his concerts went home disappointed. Could only criticized his absence after to sign autographs but who said it had to do?. According declared exclusively MNTV, Richie Kotzen's songs are not usually autobiographical, but most of them are based on perceptions, " The songs I write are perceptions that do not always have to be literal. For me is like writing a script about vampires without vampire, for example, sometimes I write about a situation that I imagine in my head and other on a real situation that I've lived ... But most of the time I´m dealing with issues of relationships between people , conversations between them. I do not write about philosophy, spacecraft or ghosts, I write about things that happen here on earth between people. I like lyrics that tell human stories. "



Furthermore, Kotzen has a clear priority in life, when he says "I do not believe in God, in heaven or in hell. When I think of death I think about my daughter August, and that I'd like to spend more time with her. " However, you can not overlook the fact that the music is not only his job but also his passion: "For me, music is what I've been doing all my life since I was 7. The part I enjoy the most is the creative process, writing a song and getting an idea about it, formulate it in my head, go to the studio, record it and then listen in the stereo the originally idea that I had in my head. I enjoy it more than any other aspect, rather than playing live or recording an album, and for me is something that I have to think about, it just happens. "Part of this creative process has been inspired, in his later years, by the book `Creativity' from the philosopher Osho, who recommends Kotzen himself while he recalls the dark side of his lifestyle as a musician "is a double-edged sword, because sometimes you have huge amounts of free time and it's terrible because you bore easily. You can work for two months without a break, and then have four months off that many people would like, but I think for me is the balance between my art, my work, and then some. "

And if I had to choose Kotzen ... elect a musician Stevie Wonder, a dream ... would be something pleasant, like just sitting on the beach, or a wish ... I wish people had peace and harmony. Kotzen smiles when asked "What surprised you do in this life?" And answered laughing: "An alien, a space creature. You may not have to wait long as they meet the prophecy of the Mayans on 21 December and can see how my dream comes true. "

It is well known the involvement Richie Kotzen in Poison, Mr Big, his collaborations with Greg Howe or Forty Deuce or the news that currently brings head to his followers, thit is, the new supergroup that formed with Mike Portnoy and Billy Sheehan. But this musician has extensive experience alone, with a proposal that is intimate and personal in each of the notes, with that mixture of rock, blues and funk that defined all subjects offered in the two concerts he gave in our country without neglecting some songs from his new album as some traditional ones. Highlight perhaps the perfect `Doing what the devil says to do 'in one of his best albums to date,' Into the Black ', and without doubt the star theme Kotzen  offered in both concerts and made tears will jump out more than one: the song `Remember '. In between, he could not miss his usual repertoire with 'Shine', a theme echoed in the audience, the dark 'Fear' with which seems intent Kotzen exempt their fault, or the catchy 'Go faster' ended with both concerts. His technique is impeccable. Its tranquility and mastery on stage, admirable. His influence, indisputable. His art, unparalleled.

Undoubtedly, this is one of the best musicians on the international scene today in every way. In Kotzen we trust.