Richie Kotzen has unveiled “Big Money Club”, his third solo single of 2026, along with an official lyric video. The track follows “Catch A Star”, released in May, and “Ivory Queen”, which arrived in August.
Rather than pointing at one real person, the song sketches a figure Kotzen kept crossing paths with after moving to Los Angeles: the well-connected guy who seems to be at every exclusive party, restaurant and backstage area, yet whose actual line of work remains a mystery. Kotzen was struck by the shifting explanations for where his money came from, and by the fact that nobody ever seemed to question them.
“There was always a story about where the money came from. Family money, some huge publishing deal, tech money, some business connection. But the story had a way of changing depending on who was telling it.”
Richie Kotzen
The song deliberately leaves the question open. Whether the character inherited his place, earned it or simply invented himself is never resolved, and for Kotzen that ambiguity is the point.
“I didn’t want to explain who he is because I don’t know who he is. That’s really the whole point. He’s the kid from the Big Money Club.”
Richie Kotzen
A Cleaner, Groove-Driven Sound
Musically, “Big Money Club” trades heavy guitar rock for a clean, groove-based feel, blending classic rock and pop rock with the Philly soul influences that marked Kotzen’s earliest musical years.
About Richie Kotzen
Signed to Shrapnel Records as a teenage guitar prodigy in 1988, Kotzen has since released more than 20 solo albums across a wide range of styles. His work with Poison and Mr. Big brought him international recognition, and in 2012 he co-founded The Winery Dogs with Mike Portnoy and Billy Sheehan. He also records and tours as Smith/Kotzen alongside Iron Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith. Revisit our review of his album Nomad and his earlier single “Insomnia”.
