Friday, May 28, 2010
Creamtastic Richie Kotzen Wants to Educate Me [ROFLKOTZEN]
Posted by Adam Gold on Fri, May 28, 2010 at 3:19 PM
With the relentless proliferation of smart phones, social networks and email-literate communicators, the antiquated voice mail system is going the way of the rumble seat, and I’ve regrettably gotten increasingly negligent in tending to my office voice mail. Consequently, a message or two will slip through the cracks every now and again. That almost happened this morning as, when cleaning out the communicative cobwebs of my inbox, I stumbled upon a voice mail message from none other than niche rock guitarist Richie Kotzen, who was none too pleased by the recent blurb I wrote roasting him for the $99 “V.I.P.” meet and greet package he was hawking to fans before his Mercy Lounge appearance a few weeks back. The package did not include an option for a personal phone call from the Kotz, so I don’t know exactly what its worth is, but I managed to get one for free anyway.
Given the fact that I said this about him:
[Poison] unceremoniously sacked Kotzen after he shat where he eats by shacking up with drummer Rikki Rockett’s then-fiancé — allegedly … In 2010, he thinks his handshake has a market value of $99. LMFAO.
I’d have expected a bit more vitriol from the renowned — in some corners, at least — shredder. But he shows impressive restraint, even sounding a bit cheerful, when inviting me to his show to:
Educate [me] a little bit on what [I’m] writing about before [I] spin off and print a bunch of bullshit about [him].
While the incentives of his V.I.P. package — such as the opportunity to watch his soundcheck and walk away with a signed commemorative poster and V.I.P. backstage laminate — as well as mentioning his well-documented alleged affair with Rikki Rocket’s fiancé are not “bullshit,” but indeed accurately reported facts, his annoyance by my snark is as expected as it is understandable. In fact, he would’ve been beyond justified in showing the kind of over-the-phone seething anger as the guy who wished my fingers blown off for telling Scene readers where to acquire fireworks. But, he wasn’t. Bump the audio below.
As you can imagine, I didn’t manage to make it down to the Kotzen show, but I was able to “educate myself” on it thanks to our friends over at You Tell Concerts, who were on hand to cover the Kotz. You can do the same by peeping the clip above. After watching all 5:36 seconds of it, I stand by my statements.
Thanks for reading, Richie!
Comments (22)
Showing 1-22 of 22
All we need is one more good voicemail from a pissed-off reader, and we can release an EP!
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I skipped the show because I thought it was too expensive, but it looks like people really enjoyed it.
He may have been referring to you questioning his market value or your look-how-smart-I-am belittling of his career rather than your unkind reference to the drummer girlfriend thing when calling your writing "bullshit". Maybe he was just wound up over the idea that someone could make a living writing articles seemingly pulled fully formed from the bitchy, cliquish minds of junior high school children and still have the unblinking gall to question what he charges for a meet and greet.
Who knows?
Let me just break this down for the Moron who keeps talking about a 99 dollar VIP package as if its some kind of rip off.
First of all in the $99.00 Is the $20.00 ticket for the show (now we're at $79.00)
Followed by the $20.00 T shirt (now we are at $59.00)
Followed by the $15.00 cd (now we are at $44.00)
Followed by the Poster which normally sells for $15.00 (now we are at $29.00)
Also included in the deal is the commemorative laminate which for this particular scenario we will price at $5.00 (Which puts us at $24.00)
So what this really means is the EVIL Mr Kotzen is charging his fans LESS than Twenty Five Bucks to attend soundcheck, take a picture with him, get something signed and ask questions about speed picking. I don't know but this sounds like a pretty decent deal to me. What I don't understand is why this clown Adam is wasting his time writing about this Kotzen guy... Hey Adam, maybe if you would have practiced drums when you we're at Berkley rather than smoke cigarettes and eat cheese burgers all day you would not have ended up in Nashville as an overweight HACK journalist writing about musicians that most people have never heard of.... Maybe someone would be writing about YOU in a magazine... Now, not only did 'Mr. Kotzen' educate you, I did as well. Does that make sense? (from someone who actually bought the VIP package)
This review is exactly why I don't read the Nashville Scene. Richie Kotzen in widely regarded on one of the best guitar players on the planet. Who wouldn't pay $99.00 to see that? Richie was even tapped by jazz legend Stanley Clark in replacement of the guitartists guitarist Alan Holdsworth. He is a true musician in every sense of the word.
This was one of the best shows if not THE best show I have ever seen and I have been a professional musician for almost thirty years. Very few play with such passion or creativity as Richie does and his vocal talents speak for themselves. There were a few major names who came out the show as well to see Richie play because they are FANS!
Journalists like this in the music scene today lack objectivity. They only promote what they personally like instead of looking at the merits of the artist.
Mr. Gold you make me ashamed of the being in the Nashville music scene with reviews like this.
LOL The funny thing is that you didn't have the 'cojones' to go to the show and face him!!!! You're not that kind of professional journalist, don't you? Do you know that he is considered one of the best guitarist of the world? No, I think you don't :( He gave you the opportunity to know him, confront him, understand him and his music...and you missed it.
Honestly, I feel sorry for you.
Oh! And thanks for reading!
ahahha here's something to the reporter: Im from argentina, i payed the 99, that in Pesos (our currency) are aprox 390, and hell i think it was worth it. ACDC field ticket alone was 270, and u never get to meet them, attend the sound check, an original signed cd and t-shirt..... so educate your self little, and first of all, ask the people who went to the show, what they think about it.
Reporters should write with fundaments, well checked sources and with a sense of objectiveness. Unfortunately is not so easy to find that nowadays.
"Journalists like this in the music scene today lack objectivity. They only promote what they personally like instead of looking at the merits of the artist."
Right, David. Because Greil Marcus, Robert Christgau, Lester Bangs, Roger Ebert and all the other talented critics of the world are known to promote art they don't "personally like." If you're "objectively" looking for the "merits" of an artist without injecting any personal opinion, then you're grading them on things like technical proficiency. Yngwie Malmsteen might technically be one of the best guitarists in the world, but his music fucking sucks.
Also, as far as I can tell, the Scene typically "promotes" (as you put it) struggling local acts and touring bands all the time. Occasionally they bash bigger name artists like Nickelback or Buffett. I don't think Kotzen's going to go bankrupt because of the article. He obviously still did well. Lighten up.
$99 is some awfully expensive Blues Hammer.
Gold better watch his ass the next time he is in Guitar Center. Hell hath no fury like a guitar shop asshole's scorn.
Gold is envious because Mr. Kotzen is a man of serious accomplishment. Everybody knows that music criticism is the repository of the frustrated musician. Mr. Gold's "snark" sounds to me like wounded adolescence resurfacing. To anyone who is confused about what Adam Gold does, remember, it is not journalism, it is called editorializing. Tell me, is it worth what you charge to be mentioned in The Scene, Mr. Gold?
a few personal favorite moments here:
-"You're not that kind of professional journalist, don't you?"
-"Let me just break this down for the Moron who keeps talking about a 99 dollar VIP package as if its some kind of rip off."
-".. so educate your self little, and first of all, ask the people who went to the show, what they think about it. Reporters should write with fundaments, well checked sources and with a sense of objectiveness."
it's nice to know that these fine folks find your writing "juvenile" and "adolescent", adam. the irony gods are smiling on this thread.
"...as well as mentioning his well-documented alleged affair with Rikki Rocket’s fiancé are not “bullshit,” but indeed accurately reported facts..."
Mr. Gold, as a fellow professional journalist I will inform you that the above is NOT an "accurately reported fact." The woman Richie dated broke up with Rockett (please note the correct spelling of the name, fellow journalist) 6 months before she and Kotzen began dating. Further, a fiance is a man. She was his fiancee.
I won't delve into your ill-informed statement that an allegation is also a fact or the "accurately reported fact" bit--all facts are accurate. I WILL suggest you learn the fundamentals of journalism, basic copy editing and how to write and research your stories before you attempt to write another article. Your shtick is an attempt to write polarizing pieces to gain a reaction from your audience with the expectation they will continue to return to see what new and outrageous thing you have to say each week. At least try to do it well. Propagating misinformation is lazy, unprofessional and, given the state of journalism in this market, may just leave you looking for another job.
Forget Kotzen--consider THIS your education.
Dear Mr Gold, How on earth you call yourself a journalist is far beyond me.....and what a low shot, trying to speculate on Richie's personal life which actually has sod all to do with you, me or anyone who might have read your pathetic excuse for an article. It also has no bearing on how he plays guitar, sings or writes his music so therefore completely irrelevant to your 'article'.....not to mention VERY unprofessional!!
I am a British fan from Manchester, England. I saw Richie 4 times last year over here in the UK and I have never seen a guitarist play with as much passion, soul and skill as Richie ( and I have seen many guitarists play live) He's also a really nice, genuine guy too so not the 'rip off' merchant you are trying to portray in your (ahem) 'article'.
It's such a shame that you didn't have the manners, decency or respect to accept Richie's kind offer of seeing him live so you could see for yourself but hey ..... it's your loss!!!
Looking forward to seeing Richie here in the UK this month!!!
HEY ADAM, YOU SHOULD GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT BEFORE WRITING SUCH CRAP ABOUT RICHIE KOTZEN. I HAVE BEEN A HUGE FAN FOR MANY MANY YEARS. RICHIE IS THE MOST TALENTED GUITAR PLAYER, SINGER/SONGWRITER ON THE PLANET! SPEAKING OF THE VIP TICKET PRICES FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU RECEIVE FOR THAT PRICE, I HIGHLY DOUBT HE IS MAKING A KILLING, LET ALONE HE ALSO OFFERS REGULAR PRICED TICKETS WHICH I BELIEVE ARE ROUGHLY $10.00 OR SO. WHEN I SEE RICHIE ON THE WEST COAST, I AM GOING TO SEVERAL SHOWS AND THEY ARE ALL GONNA BE VIP TICKETS. BY THE WAY RICHIE KOTZEN FAN'S ARE THE MOST DEDICATED FANS I HAVE EVER SEEN AND MET.
it's down to the individual if they want the VIP package or not, personally i'd like to, but i've just bought TWO Fender Richie Kotzen guitars... because not only is the man a great singer, songwriter, producer & all round MUSICIAN but he has also put out two fantastically versatile electric guitars.
I look forward very much to seeing him live next week in London. I've been playing guitar for 20 years, and it was after seeing Richie K that i went home and thought, time to SING!
Richie Kotzen is great musician. Who is Adam Gold? Does he need skip up thrue this stuff?:)
Please help me understand what I am reading. So, the bit about the Kotzen/Rockett scufflle is too impertinent and irrelevant to be ... music news. It's entirely too stale for any gossip column; self respecting or otherwise. Where, Sir, is your expertise? Perhaps next week you might do this audience a favor and try your hand at restaurant review.
Are you kidding me right now? Take one look at the video posted here created by You Tell Concerts. Clearly the show was phenomenal. I paid the hundred bucks in DC, saw the show, and was completely blown away by musical talent, soulful vocals and rich all around sound. I couldn't get enough! So three days later, I got in my car, drove to Reading, PA and did it all over again. My only regret is not continuing to Pittsburgh that weekend. Was it worth it? Yes. Gold, I recommend you take Richie up on his offer and try again. You were way off the mark on this one.
Maybe you should spend your time and money reviewing and buying your handshakes from Justin Beaver. Why all the hating?! Maybe because this guy is talented and you and your sub par writing is not? I saw Richie at the MA. show, and although I didn't shell out the $99.00 to do the whole meet and greet, I might of. What makes your like of Justin Beaver more important than other's likes for someone else? Maybe because Justin Beaver and like artists have some major record company lawyer paying out to have his likeness plastered all over TV and Print ads? Maybe you just don't like the fact that Richie writes and performs his own songs? Maybe you are just a candy=ass who never made it as a musician yourself and as a result takes it out on guys with talent. Either way it's sad man. You are a little man, growing smaller as you spout out this kind of garbage. Hope you find solace in the fact that you still have someone willing to let you sling your rubbish on the web. Someone should honestly repeal your right to speak, type or anything else that confirms your ignorance.
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Justin BEAVER? That's hilarious! With a gag that good, you should repeat it at least two more times.
Kudos to Richie for telling your ass off in fashion that was actually a lot nicer than he should have been.
Richie is a musical savant and you're a schmuck.
Deal with it.
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