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In a recent interview with Made In Metal, IRON MAIDEN guitarist Adrian Smith discussed his musical partnership with the band’s vocalist, Bruce Dickinson. Adrian shared (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “When Bruce initially joined IRON MAIDEN in ’82, we’d rehearse and then everyone would head home. I was not married at that time, nor was Bruce. However, Bruce and I would grab a beer or play pool afterward, as I was helping him acclimate to the band. I’ve always been a songwriter, so I’d play him riffs, and we began writing songs together. That’s the essence of our musical relationship. He frequently asks, ‘Oh, what do you have?’ when a record is in the works. I might have riffs, melodies, or even a song title. Writing with him is a pleasure; he quickly contributes ideas, and our songwriting sessions are very efficient. He’s an incredible singer with a fantastic range. When I’m alone working on ideas, I can envision him singing over my music, too.”
Adrian continued: “In the ’90s, while I was focusing on my solo projects, he approached me about joining his solo band. I really enjoyed the songs he was crafting with guitarist Roy Z—particularly from ‘Chemical Wedding’, his debut solo album; I adore those tracks. So, I committed to Bruce during the ’90s, and those years were fantastic for me. I learned a tremendous amount from Roy. Overall, Bruce and I have a great bond and create some truly excellent music together.”
Smith has previously discussed his collaborative work with Dickinson on the singer’s solo albums, “Accident Of Birth” and “The Chemical Wedding”, from the late ’90s, in an interview after SMITH/KOTZEN‘s acoustic show at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles this past March. “That was a memorable time,” Smith reminisced. “I had a project called PSYCHO MOTEL and released a couple of good albums, [but] the grunge movement made everything challenging. We faced numerous hurdles trying to organize a tour. Then, Bruce called me and said, ‘You need to hear the music I’ve been working on with Roy Z in L.A.’ He came over and played me ‘Accident Of Birth’. I was amazed; it was superb. He asked me to get involved, and since my project was on hold, I quickly found myself heading to L.A.”
Smith also explained that Roy Z introduced him to drop-D tuning, where the guitar’s low E string is tuned down a whole step for a heavier tone. “Roy was the expert on drop-D [tuning],” Smith noted. “I learned many songs without understanding that tuning, so I tuned my guitar all the way down to D. It sounded like a banjo. He corrected me, saying, ‘No, no, no. Let me show you how to do it.’ I truly learned a lot from Roy; he’s a guitar teacher and a virtuoso. What I love about collaborating with various artists is the opportunity to learn and grow. Those were fun times, and I’m proud of those albums and the big tours we undertook. It was genuinely enjoyable.”
Smith reflected on his songwriting collaborations with Dickinson in IRON MAIDEN. “I believe I was the first in MAIDEN to acquire a multi-track recorder in the ’80s—a little four-track device,” he recounted. “I began creating demos on it. When Bruce first joined, we bonded since we lacked regular partners. I should clarify; after rehearsals, we’d head to the pub to play pool. This is when our songwriting began, as others would go home, and we’d stay back to create. That’s how it all originated. I had the demo of ‘2 Minutes To Midnight’ on a cassette. I’ve always avoided writing lyrics unless absolutely necessary, which is a hassle. However, Bruce has books of lyrics on hand, so when I present something musically, he quickly contributes. Occasionally, I might develop a melody or a title, like ‘Speed Of Light’ or ‘Writing On The Wall’, which can spark his inspiration. It’s a collaborative process.”
SMITH/KOTZEN‘s second album, “Black Light/White Noise”, was released via BMG on April 4. The album, mixed by Jay Ruston (ANTHRAX, STEEL PANTHER), features Smith collaborating with Richie Kotzen (THE WINERY DOGS), sharing both guitar and vocal duties.
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