RICHIE KOTZEN on possibility of singing in SOUNDGARDEN as CHRIS CORNELL's replacement: “never step in a great man's shoes”
08-11-2024
In a recent interview with Chris Akin Presents, guitarist, singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Richie Kotzen was once again asked if he would ever consider joining SOUNDGARDEN or AUDIOSLAVE if he was approached to step in as the replacement for those two bands’ late frontman Chris Cornell. He responded: “I don’t know, because I don’t think that’s something that would ever happen — I don’t. I think that my pedigree, regardless of what you think I sound like, my roots are so deep in soul and R&B, and that’s why I sing the way I sing. I look at myself as more of a soul singer that sings rock as opposed to a hard rock, grunge singer. I know people hear it the way they hear it, which is fine. And by the way, the comparison to Cornell, I take it as a compliment because, obviously, I view him as one of the greatest of all time. But they say, never step in a great man’s shoes.”
He continued: “I feel like I am my own thing. I’m not looking to join anybody else’s band. But the one thing that does strike me — I remember when (INXS singer) Michael Hutchence died, I saw a video of Terence Trent D’Arby with INXS, and they did a tribute, and it was really powerful. So, those kinds of things are really wonderful to participate in.
“I’ve sung with (AUDIOSLAVE guitarist) Tom Morello and THE WINERY DOGS — Mike (Portnoy) and Billy (Sheehan) — we performed, years ago, an AUDIOSLAVE song. And that’s out there on YouTube. So anybody that wants to hear that, actually, it’s there — you can hear me singing a Chris Cornell song. But to actually go out and join someone’s band — I don’t even know how to answer that because I don’t perceive that as something that would ever happen.”
Richie, who has been singing since the age of 17, has often been compared to Cornell due to his ability to deliver “full-throated roars one minute and croon with husky empathy the next.” (Stereoboard, 2013)
Nearly five years ago, Kotzen was asked in an interview with Izzy Presley of “Another FN Podcast” if he would accept an offer to play with SOUNDGARDEN if the band came to him with “the right number.” Kotzen responded: “It doesn’t have anything to do with numbers; it would not be a numbers game. I think that it would be an honor for anyone to have that opportunity. And again, it goes back to the sentence I said earlier: ‘Never step into a great man’s shoes.’ But I think that that phone call, whether it was me or anyone else, would be a complete honor, and I think someone would have to be a bit of a fool to say ‘no.'”
During the same chat, Kotzen acknowledged similarities between his voice and that of Cornell, but denied that he was ever directly inspired by the late SOUNDGARDEN and AUDIOSLAVE singer.
“Well, I think it is a compliment,” Richie said of the comparisons. “He’s one of the greatest rock singers of our generation, so it’s definitely a compliment. And I think people draw comparisons, because that’s what they do — they hear things that resonate that are familiar. Now, the comparison, I think, is coincidence. I think I’m a little too old and I’ve been doing it a little too long to say that his work was a direct influence on what I do. But I could say that we probably had similar influences. And I can say that I think he’s a fantastic and amazing artist. And it’s an honor to be compared to anyone that’s great.
“My biggest influence as a singer is Terence Trent D’Arby,” Kotzen explained. “And that is where that sound comes from. So the sound that caused the rock people to mention Chris, I got that sound, and I will admit I lifted it from Terence Trent D’Arby. So the rock people, many of them, aren’t gonna get that, ’cause they don’t listen to that kind of music. So they say Chris. If they did their research, they’d know that I listened to Terence, I listened to (David) Coverdale and Glenn Hughes and Ronnie Dio and Paul Rodgers. So, it’s a coincidence, but it is a very nice compliment. And being compared to someone that is that great is always a good thing.”
Richie Kotzen has released the official music video for his last single “Cheap Shots” last May. The clip was directed and choreographed by Emmy Award winner Jeff Wolfe and pulls no punches and delivers knockout hooks throughout. “Cheap Shots” is part of Richie‘s new full-length solo album, to be released later in the year.
Watch “Cheap Shots” below.
“The video was directed by my good friend Jeff Wolfe who had a visual concept after hearing the song,” explains Kotzen. “In addition to being a talented director, he is also an accomplished actor and stuntman, so he had the eye for bringing those boxing scenes together. Although the song isn’t about boxing per se, I thought it was a good visual to go along with the idea of someone constantly taking what we may call ‘cheap shots’ in order to bring you down.”
Watch the previously released lyric video for “Cheap Shots” below.
“I really never know how, when or where inspiration will strike for a song idea,” explains Kotzen. “I never try to force anything because I know ultimately at some point in time life will hand you a situation and for a guy like myself that is the perfect spark. I’m not someone that likes to outwardly go at it with someone if I feel I was wronged but I certainly use my creative outlet as a song writer to exercise that stuff out of me so I never find myself carrying around resentment or bad vibes. So if someone does you wrong, multiple times, then we’re done here. You’re your own worst enemy. I’ve tried to help and now I’m a target? Nope… No thanks… I’m off the bus. My attitude is ‘Get it out! Throw it in the trash where it belongs.’ Move on and forget ’em! That is really where the song is coming from.”
The single, which will be a part of a full-length album to be released later in the year, came together very quickly in March 2024 after a trip back to Kotzen‘s original hometown of Reading, Pennsylvania.
“It has been quite a while since I have released new solo music and I feel very fulfilled to have come to a place where I’ve got new music I believe in,” continues Kotzen. “Although I find myself writing all the time not always do I feel compelled to share the work. When the story for ‘Cheap Shots’ came to me, I knew I had the perfect lead track to follow up where I left off from my previous record.
“Of course I’m thrilled to be able to say I’ve got a new song for you but I’m equally overjoyed to announce the upcoming live dates. In fact, the timing is perfect as we embark on an extensive European tour in June which will end in the U.K. on July 13th at London’s Islington Assembly Hall. And these dates will most likely spill into a North American fall tour as well.”
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