Richie Kotzen has long been celebrated as one of rock’s most versatile guitarists. From his early days lighting up glam-metal stages with Poison to more intricate solo work that veers into blues, soul, jazz, and progressive rock, Kotzen’s style defies easy categorization. His technical prowess and emotive playing have earned him critical acclaim and a fiercely loyal fan base. But in the early 2000s, Kotzen almost took a sharp turn into darker, industrial territory — nearly joining none other than Nine Inch Nails.

In a recent interview with *Hot Metal*, Kotzen opened up about a little-known chapter in his career — one that nearly saw him becoming part of Trent Reznor’s iconic, genre-defining band. The opportunity came during a transitional period for Nine Inch Nails, when longtime guitarist Robin Finck had temporarily joined Guns N’ Roses. Reznor, in need of a replacement, began scouting talent. Through a connection with Jeordie White — a.k.a. Twiggy Ramirez, then the bassist for Nine Inch Nails and formerly of Marilyn Manson — Kotzen got his foot in the door.

“The closest band that I ever came to joining was Nine Inch Nails – and nobody knows that,” Kotzen revealed. “I was friendly with the bass player from Marilyn Manson, Jeordie

White, who was playing in Nine Inch Nails. He said to me, ‘Listen, you’ve got to come down – we’re having a hard time finding a guitar player.’”

Kotzen agreed, traveled to meet the band, and auditioned. It didn’t take long for him to leave a serious impression. According to Kotzen, Reznor was effusive in his praise. “Trent told me, ‘You’re by far the best guy that we’ve tried, love to have you in the band,’” he recalled. “‘I’m going to have my manager reach out to you!’”

For Kotzen, it seemed like a done deal. “I left that day thinking, ‘Wow, OK, I’m going to join another band!’” he said.

But the phone call never came.

As weeks went by, the silence became deafening. Eventually, Kotzen ran into White and asked what had happened. That’s when he learned the real reason behind the sudden change of heart — and it had nothing to do with his playing.

“Jeordie said, ‘Basically, he [Reznor] said he didn’t want to open up *Rolling Stone* magazine and see: ‘Nine Inch Nails gets former Poison guitar player Richie Kotzen,’” he explained.

Despite being the top choice musically, Kotzen’s past with Poison — a band often associated with the glam-metal era’s excesses and mainstream image — clashed with Reznor’s carefully curated aesthetic. Nine Inch Nails had built its identity on dark, gritty, anti-commercial themes, and Reznor reportedly feared the optics of aligning the band with someone who had played in one of the most recognizable hair-metal acts of the late ’80s and early ’90s.

Rather than harbor resentment, Kotzen expressed a surprising amount of understanding. “Aesthetically, when you think about the fan base and then you think about how people would read into something, I kinda could see that,” he said. “I jokingly said, ‘Hey, I’ll do it under an alias!’”

Though the gig didn’t pan out, Kotzen holds no ill will toward Reznor or the band. In fact, he remains an admirer. “I think [Reznor] is a genius,” Kotzen said. “I would have loved to have worked with him.”

Kotzen also made it clear that while his background has sometimes boxed him out of certain opportunities, he doesn’t regret the path he took. “That wasn’t the first time that [being in Poison] stopped me going in one direction or the other,” he said. “[But] I have no regrets. I think we made a really great record.”

It’s an intriguing “what could have been” moment for both Kotzen and Nine Inch Nails. Imagining his soulful, virtuosic playing layered over the raw industrial soundscapes of NIN raises fascinating questions about how the band’s dynamic might have evolved. But Kotzen’s career trajectory didn’t suffer — in fact, it’s flourished. He’s continued to push musical boundaries, releasing dozens of solo albums and collaborating with artists like Mike Portnoy and Billy Sheehan in The Winery Dogs.

In a way, the story is emblematic of Kotzen’s entire ethos — a musician who follows his muse, regardless of genre labels or public perception. Even when doors close, Kotzen doesn’t seem bitter. He just keeps playing. And maybe that’s why he’s remained one of rock’s most respected — if underrated — figures for more than three decades.