Richie Kotzen Forced To Cancel Shows Due To Hemorrhaged Vocal Chord | Guitar Interactive Magazine

Guitar virtuoso and singer/songwriter Richie Kotzen has issued astatement via his Official Website regarding the cancellation ofhis shows which were planned for later this month. In a letter tohis fans Richie wrote:

Dear Friends and Fans,

I regret to say that the shows planned for this April 2012 havebeen cancelled.

Since I came back from Europe I have been struggling with myvoice.   Last Saturday's gig in San Juan Cap was a vocaldisaster.

I thought it was fatigue from the brutal schedule in Europehowever the voice is getting worse and now I am having pain evenspeaking.

Today I went to my doctor  in Beverly Hills.   He isan ear, nose,  and throat specialist.

I was concerned I may have nodes.   16 years ago I hadnodes… twice… 2 separate surgeries.

Today he looked at me and it is very very bad news….  MyLeft vocal chord is hemorrhaged, bruised,  and bleeding.

The bottom line is I need to be on total voice rest for the next3 weeks.   This means no singing and limited talking.

I explained I had gigs next week and he told me I am the onlysinger he ever treated that wanted to talk about doing shows withthis condition.

He explained that by trying to sing in this condition I wouldlikely ruin my voice for good.

I am very sorry but I must cancel all shows for April includingApril 28th in Redondo.

The doctor assured me that if I rest and follow his advice myvoice will return back to normal within 3 weeks from now.

Those of you who purchased VIP tickets will be refunded throughpaypal.

Sorry for this bad news.

Best Wishes,

Richie Kotzen

At a very early age, Richie Kotzen began playing piano but bythe time he turned seven he'd been inspired by KISS to pick up theelectric guitar. Kotzen was first noticed as a teenager with alightning-fast guitar techniques. With his talents, he was able toplay alongside some of the best musicians around; includingrenowned jazz great Stanley Clarke and a three-year stint in theband MR. BIG. 

"I have been lucky in the sense that I have been able to playwith guys who I could learn from," explains Kotzen. "The biggestmusical lesson for me was playing in a band with Stanley Clarke andLenny White. Obviously, these guys are jazz musicians and I am not,but I learned so much from the time we recorded and touredtogether. My favorite rock bassist is Billy Sheehan, and we were inMR. BIG together for three years, which was awesome."

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