“Trent Reznor told me, ‘You’re by far the best guy that we’ve tried. I would love to have you in the band’”: Richie Kotzen came close to joining Nine Inch Nails – but one detail stopped him getting the gig

Richie Kotzen and Trent Reznor.

Former Poison and Mr. Big guitarist Richie Kotzen has revealed he nearly joined Nine Inch Nails after blowing Trent Reznor away during a surprise audition.

In a story that feels like an alternative reality fever dream, the guitarist – who is currently on the promo trail for his second album with Iron Maiden riff-slinger Adrian Smith – could have taken a rather different career path in the early 2000s.