Adrian Smith

Adrian Smith
Born	Adrian Frederick Smith 27 2, 1957
Birthplace	Hackney, London, England
Nationality	British
Occupation	Musician, songwriter, author
Known for	Guitarist and songwriter for Iron Maiden

Adrian Frederick Smith (born 27 February 1957) is an English musician, songwriter, and author, known principally as one of the three guitarists in the heavy metal band Iron Maiden, a position he has held for the majority of the group's existence. Smith first joined Iron Maiden in 1980 and contributed to a string of albums that established the band as one of the most commercially successful and enduring acts in heavy metal. After a departure in 1990, he returned to the band in 1999 and has remained a core member since. Beyond Iron Maiden, Smith has pursued a variety of musical side projects, including a collaborative project with guitarist and vocalist Richie Kotzen known as Smith/Kotzen, which has toured and recorded together. In addition to his musical career, Smith published a memoir and has been an outspoken commentator on topics affecting the music industry, including the use of artificial intelligence in music creation. His songwriting credits include several of Iron Maiden's most recognized songs, and his guitar work has been a defining element of the band's sound across multiple decades.

Early Life

Adrian Frederick Smith was born in 1957 in Hackney, in the East End of London, England. He grew up in the Clapton area of London during a period when the British music scene was undergoing significant transformation, with the rise of progressive rock, glam rock, and eventually punk rock and the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM). Smith developed an interest in music at a young age, drawn to the guitar as his primary instrument.

As a teenager, Smith became part of the burgeoning London rock and metal scene. He formed and joined several bands during his formative years, gaining experience as a performer and songwriter. It was during this period that he first became acquainted with other musicians who would go on to shape British heavy metal, including members of what would become Iron Maiden. Smith's early musical influences ranged across hard rock and blues-based guitar traditions, which would later inform his melodic yet technically proficient playing style within Iron Maiden.

Before joining Iron Maiden, Smith played in a band called Urchin, which operated within the same NWOBHM circuit as Iron Maiden and other bands of the late 1970s. Urchin achieved modest recognition within the London club scene and released recordings that demonstrated Smith's developing abilities as a guitarist and songwriter. The proximity of Urchin to Iron Maiden's orbit meant that Smith and Iron Maiden founder Steve Harris were aware of each other's work, laying the groundwork for Smith's eventual recruitment into the band.

Career

Iron Maiden: First Tenure (1980–1990)

Smith joined Iron Maiden in 1980, replacing guitarist Dennis Stratton. His arrival coincided with a period of rapid growth for the band, as Iron Maiden was transitioning from a club act in East London to an internationally recognized heavy metal group. Smith's first album with the band was Killers (1981), which showcased a more refined and aggressive guitar sound than the band's self-titled debut. The twin-guitar harmony approach that Smith and fellow guitarist Dave Murray developed became one of Iron Maiden's most distinctive musical signatures.

The band's commercial breakthrough came with the album The Number of the Beast (1982), which also marked the arrival of vocalist Bruce Dickinson. The combination of Dickinson's vocal range and the Smith-Murray guitar partnership proved extraordinarily productive. Smith contributed as both a performer and songwriter, co-writing numerous tracks that became central to Iron Maiden's concert repertoire and identity.

Throughout the 1980s, Smith was involved in the creation of a series of albums that are considered among the most significant in heavy metal history, including Piece of Mind (1983), Powerslave (1984), Somewhere in Time (1986), and Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (1988). Smith's songwriting contributions during this period included "Wasted Years" from Somewhere in Time and "Stranger in a Strange Land," both of which highlighted his melodic sensibility and his ability to craft guitar-driven compositions that balanced technical skill with accessibility. "Wasted Years" in particular has remained a live staple for the band and for Smith's own side projects, with the song continuing to feature prominently in performances decades after its initial release.

The late 1980s saw some creative tensions within Iron Maiden as the band explored more progressive and synthesizer-driven arrangements. Smith departed Iron Maiden in 1990, following the completion of the No Prayer for the Dying sessions, though the precise circumstances of his departure have been discussed from various perspectives over the years. He was replaced by Janick Gers.

Post-Iron Maiden Projects (1990–1999)

Following his departure from Iron Maiden, Smith pursued several musical ventures. He formed a band called ASAP (Adrian Smith and Project), which released the album Silver and Gold in 1989, shortly before his formal exit from Iron Maiden. The project showcased a different side of Smith's musical personality, incorporating a more melodic rock and AOR (album-oriented rock) sensibility that contrasted with Iron Maiden's heavier style.

During the 1990s, Smith also formed and played with a band called Psycho Motel, which released two albums: State of Mind (1996) and Welcome to the World (1997). These projects allowed Smith to explore songwriting and performance styles outside the framework of Iron Maiden's established sound. While neither ASAP nor Psycho Motel achieved the commercial success of Iron Maiden, they demonstrated Smith's versatility and his continued commitment to creating music.

Return to Iron Maiden (1999–Present)

In 1999, Smith rejoined Iron Maiden as part of a broader reunion that also saw the return of vocalist Bruce Dickinson. Rather than replacing Janick Gers, the band expanded to a three-guitar lineup featuring Smith, Gers, and Dave Murray—a configuration that has persisted since. The reunion was marked by the release of Brave New World (2000), which was received as a creative return to form for the band and featured significant songwriting contributions from Smith.

Subsequent albums with the reunited lineup have included Dance of Death (2003), A Matter of Life and Death (2006), The Final Frontier (2010), The Book of Souls (2015), and Senjutsu (2021). Smith has remained an active songwriter throughout this period, contributing to multiple tracks on each album. The three-guitar arrangement has allowed Iron Maiden to perform their extensive catalog with greater fidelity to studio recordings and has added layers of harmonic and melodic complexity to their live performances.

Iron Maiden's touring activity during this period has been extensive, with the band performing in stadiums and arenas worldwide, often utilizing their customized Boeing 747, "Ed Force One," piloted by Dickinson. Smith's role within the band has been consistent, serving as a guitarist, backing vocalist, and co-songwriter.

Smith/Kotzen

In addition to his work with Iron Maiden, Smith has pursued a collaborative project with American guitarist and vocalist Richie Kotzen, formerly of Poison and Mr. Big. The duo, performing and recording under the name Smith/Kotzen, released a self-titled debut album in 2021, followed by subsequent touring activity.

The Smith/Kotzen project has been notable for its blend of hard rock, blues, and melodic rock influences, drawing on both musicians' diverse backgrounds. The duo has performed live shows that incorporate original material alongside selections from their respective catalogs. At a London concert in February 2026, the duo performed the Iron Maiden classic "Wasted Years" with a notable guest appearance by Iron Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson, who joined them onstage for the performance. The "Wasted Years" performance has been described as a standout moment during Smith/Kotzen's live shows, with the Smith-penned anthem being a consistent highlight of their setlists.

Views on Artificial Intelligence in Music

In February 2026, Smith spoke publicly about the use of artificial intelligence in music creation during an interview with Argentina's UnDinamo - La Última Radio De Rock. Smith expressed criticism of the trend, stating that "people seem to be craving more reward with less effort," raising concerns about the implications of AI-generated music for artists and the creative process. His comments reflected broader ongoing debates within the music industry about the role of technology in creative production, intellectual property protections for musicians, and the value of human artistry in an increasingly automated cultural landscape.

Personal Life

Smith has been known as a private individual who has kept much of his personal life out of the public eye. He has resided in both England and the United States at various points during his career. Outside of music, Smith has been an avid fisherman, a hobby that has been well documented and which he has discussed in interviews over the years. His passion for fishing led to the publication of a memoir, Monsters of River and Rock: My Life as Iron Maiden's Compulsive Angler, which combined reflections on his musical career with accounts of his fishing adventures around the world. The book provided insight into Smith's life beyond the stage and was noted for its candid and humorous tone.

Smith has also been known for maintaining his physical fitness and has spoken about the importance of health and discipline in sustaining a career involving extensive touring and live performance over multiple decades.

Legacy

Adrian Smith's contribution to heavy metal music extends across more than four decades of active performance, recording, and songwriting. As a member of Iron Maiden, he has been part of a band that has sold over 100 million records worldwide and performed thousands of concerts across every inhabited continent. His guitar work, characterized by melodic phrasing, precise technique, and a distinctive tone, has been a defining element of the Iron Maiden sound, particularly in the context of the band's twin and triple-guitar harmonies.

Smith's songwriting has produced some of Iron Maiden's most enduring compositions. "Wasted Years," which he wrote in its entirety, remains one of the band's most frequently performed and recognizable songs, as evidenced by its continued presence in both Iron Maiden's setlists and Smith's own side project performances. His ability to craft songs that balance commercial appeal with musical complexity has been a consistent feature of his contributions to the band's catalog.

Beyond Iron Maiden, Smith's willingness to explore different musical territories through projects such as ASAP, Psycho Motel, and Smith/Kotzen has demonstrated a breadth of musical interest that extends beyond the confines of a single genre. His collaboration with Richie Kotzen, in particular, has shown his continued creative ambition well into the later stages of his career.

Smith's public commentary on issues such as artificial intelligence in music reflects his ongoing engagement with the evolving landscape of the music industry and his commitment to the value of human creativity in artistic endeavors.