Adrian Smith – who plays guitar for Iron Maiden, as well as sharing lead vocals and guitar duties in Smith/Kotzen – was recently intervivewed by Paul Salfen of AMFM Magazine. During their chat, which can be viewed below, Smith was asked, what kind of advice do you give to kids that want to play like you?
Adrian replied: “Well, I mean, play all you want. You can have fun, have a band. Whether you wanna do it with your life, that’s something different. You have to really dedicate yourself. And you could spend what some people would say are the best years of your life, from your late teens all through your 20s, trying to make it and not make it. Depending on how you class making it. If you class it as earning money, very few people do, unless you’re gonna be in a Top 40 band. And if you just wanna be a jobbing musician, you can learn to read music, you can do sessions. But being in a band, that is a tiny percentage of people in a successful band making money. Even bands now that have got hit records are struggling to make money, because nobody buys bloody records anymore. And the money is light. So it’s very, very difficult. But I suppose it’s a process, and the process just kind of makes or breaks the ones that stay with it. You almost have to have a sponsor as well, because it costs money to put a band out there. In the old days, a record company would sponsor a band and advance some money until they start making money. Difficult. But if you’re gonna do it, then nothing will stop you, I guess.”
Adrian Smith and Richie Kotzen released their new studio album, Black Light / White Noise, via BMG on splatter vinyl, black vinyl, digipak CD and DSPs to widespread global acclaim last month.
Recorded at The House, Los Angeles, California, produced by Richie and Adrian and mixed by Jay Ruston, Black Light / White Noise showcases Adrian and Richie’s prodigious talents as songwriters, musicians and vocalists. The ten-track album is a truly magnificent collection of songs that stands shoulder to shoulder with some of their finest work to date.
Atmospheric, ambitious, diverse and brilliant, it not only features stratospheric guitar solos and phenomenal rock vocals but soulful touches, intricate playing, beautiful songwriting and an assured poise and style that brings to mind a host of legendary bands and musicians (Thin Lizzy, Jimi Hendrix, Prince, Cream, Free, Deep Purple) yet is undeniably the work of Adrian Smith and Richie Kotzen in perfect harmony.
Deliciously varied, exquisitely composed and rounded out by a breadth of flavours that can only come with years of experience, Black Light / White Noise is undoubtedly going to be one of the most compelling rock albums of 2025.
Black Light / White Noise tracklisting:
“Muddy Water”
“White Noise”
“Black Light”
“Darkside”
“Life Unchained”
“Blindsided”
“Wraith”
“Heavy Weather”
“Outlaw”
“Beyond The Pale”
“Black Light” video:
“White Noise” video:
“Outlaw” lyric video:
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