Richie Kotzen Talks Solo Future as The Winery Dogs Take a Break
Guitar player Richie Kotzen has confirmed that his band The Winery Dogs will stop for now. The American talked about his new solo work and the band’s break. He said, “I was of mind to just keep going” with The Winery Dogs after their album III and many shows.
The reason for the Winery Dogs’ hiatus is drummer Mike Portnoy’s return to his old band, Dream Theater. Kotzen supports this, saying, “the people are more important” than the band. So, The Winery Dogs will stop for now.
Solo music
Kotzen will now focus on making solo music. He found good ideas in his recordings and is working on them. He released a single, Cheap Shots, and will tour in Europe and North America. He said, “You’re dealt your cards and you play your hand. And so here we are.”
Mike Portnoy
Mike Portnoy said he can’t be in all his bands after joining Dream Theater again. He thinks The Winery Dogs might continue later. They just made a live Blu-ray. He still has other music plans but will focus on Dream Theater for a while.
The Winery Dogs’ III came out in February 2023. They toured extensively, ending in Mexico. They also played in the U.S. and Europe. Their last album, Hot Streak, did well in the charts.