DeVille was fired and replaced by Pennsylvanian guitarist Richie Kotzen.

Kotzen was promptly fired, and replaced by Blues Saraceno in November 1993, who completed the world tour with the band including the famous " HOLLYWOOD ROCK " concerts in Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo, Brazil, where they played to over 165, 000 people.

He left the band in 1997 to pursue a solo career, and was replaced by Richie Kotzen.

DeVille was fired and replaced by Pennsylvanian guitarist Richie Kotzen.

At a young age, Richie Kotzen was taken by music and first began playing piano at the age of five.

In late-1993, Rikki Rockett, the drummer of Poison, discovered that Kotzen was having a relationship with Rockett's ex-fiancee, Deanna Eve.

Kotzen was dismissed due to this incident.

In mid-2006 Kotzen was the opening act in Japan for The Rolling Stones on their Bigger Bang tour.

Shrapnel Records was the first label to bring renowned guitarists to world attention such as Yngwie Malmsteen ( Steeler ), Marty Friedman, Jason Becker, Paul Gilbert, Racer X, Tony MacAlpine, Vinnie Moore, Greg Howe, Richie Kotzen, John5 and many others.

Upon regrouping to record a fifth studio album, Paul Gilbert announced his decision to leave the band and new guitarist, Richie Kotzen was added to the lineup.

A near Mr. Big " one-off " reunion took place on May 13, 2008, in Los Angeles at the House Of Blues when Paul Gilbert was joined onstage by Pat Torpey, Richie Kotzen and Billy Sheehan for renditions of Humble Pie's ' 30 Days In The Hole ' and original Mr. Big composition ' Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy '.

It was their second and last studio album to feature guitarist Richie Kotzen.

Asked to quit, DeVille left Poison and was replaced by guitarist Richie Kotzen.

In 1994, Saraceno joined the band Poison as lead guitarist and songwriter after Richie Kotzen was fired.

In late-1993, Rockett discovered that the then guitarist Richie Kotzen of Poison was having a relationship with Rockett's fiancee at the time, Deanna Eve.

Kotzen was fired due to this incident.

The next day, Richie Kotzen was announced to have replaced Sykes.

Kotzen maintained the band's success, performing on the Mr. Big record Get Over It, which sold more than 175, 000 copies in its first two weeks in Japan, eventually reaching platinum status.

A player noted for his advanced knowledge of the fretboard and unique playing, Holdsworth is cited as an influence by such renowned rock and instrumental guitarists as Eddie Van Halen, Joe Satriani, Greg Howe, Shawn Lane, Richie Kotzen, John Petrucci and Alex Lifeson.

Currently, there are two Richie Kotzen signature models, made by Fender Japan – a Stratocaster ( STR-145RK ) and a Telecaster ( TLR-155RK ).

The Shrapnel Records label and a growing worldwide interest in virtuoso " neoclassical-fusion " guitar playing helped launch the careers of dozens of other technically adept guitarists such as David T. Chastain, Vinnie Moore, Tony MacAlpine, Paul Gilbert, Bruce Bouillet, Joey Tafolla, Jason Becker, Michelle Meldrum and Nicole Couch ( Phantom Blue ), Greg Howe, Richie Kotzen and the aforementioned Marty Friedman.

It is composed entirely of Western artists such as Sebastian Bach, Richie Kotzen, Mike Vescera and George Lynch.

He has recorded with artists such as Jon Anderson, Laura Branigan, Coverdale-Page, Melissa Manchester, Magnum, Mötley Crüe, Steve Lukather, Richard Marx, Rick Springfield, Richie Kotzen, Starship, REO Speedwagon, Whitesnake, Yes and many others.

In 2004, he toured with Richie Kotzen as drummer for his UK club tour ; he also played with Billy Sheehan in Johnny Hiland's first self-titled album, Johnny Hiland.

It is their first studio album to feature guitarist Richie Kotzen.

Following the disbanding of Mr. Big, Kotzen released the solo album Change, in 2003.

* Change ( Richie Kotzen album )

The band toured in support of the album, but tensions mounted between Kotzen and the rest of the band.

In 1991, Kotzen made his big break when he joined the rock band Poison at age 21, co-writing and performing on the album Native Tongue.

* Tilt ( Greg Howe and Richie Kotzen album )

* Slow ( Richie Kotzen album )

Reading is the birthplace of graphic artist Jim Steranko, poet Wallace Stevens, Guitar Virtuoso Richie Kotzen and George Baer Hiester.

During this time he collaborated twice with fellow guitarist Richie Kotzen for the albums Tilt and Project in 1995 and 1997, respectively.

Other notable ( recording / touring ) project involvements are: ( 1979 ) Jeff Beck, ( 1979 ) Ron Wood's New Barbarians, ( 1981, 1983, 1990 ) Clarke / Duke Project with George Duke, ( 1984 ) with Miroslav Vitouš, ( 1989 ) Animal Logic with Stewart Copeland, ( 1993 – 94 ), A group with Larry Carlton, Billy Cobham, Najee & Deron Johnson, ( 1995 ) The Rite of Strings with Jean-Luc Ponty and Al Di Meola and ( 1999 ) Vertu ’ with Lenny White and Richie Kotzen.

Rodgers has been cited as a significant influence on a number of notable rock singers, including David Coverdale, John Waite, Steve Overland, Lou Gramm, Jimi Jamison, Eric Martin, Steve Walsh, Joe Lynn Turner, Paul Young, Robin McAuley, Jimmy Barnes, Richie Kotzen and Joe Bonamassa.

He is the cousin of singer and guitarist Richie Kotzen.

The effort, simply called Vertú, featured such artists as Karen Briggs on violin, Richie Kotzen on guitar.

Richie Kotzen ( born February 3, 1970 in Reading, Pennsylvania ) is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter.

In 1999 Kotzen replaced Paul Gilbert as guitarist in the mainstream rock band Mr. Big.

Kotzen also contributed guitars to Mr. Big's subsequent release Actual Size.

The record included the Kotzen song Shine, which debuted at number one on Japanese radio charts.