Adrian Smith says his side project with Richie Kotzen has given him a chance to break free from the strict rules of Iron Maiden and explore a more improvisational approach to playing guitar. Smith discussed the contrast between the two projects on Guitar World Magazine Instagram page.
In Iron Maiden, Smith’s solos follow a set formula and must stay close to the recorded versions. He explained how audience expectations and the band’s catalogue shape his approach to playing in the group.
“I’ve been playing in Iron Maiden for such a long time, and the solos are part of the song and the solos are almost without exception 16 bars and that’s it,” Smith said. “You know, there’s no extended solos. Most of the solos I play with Maiden are the same as on the record. Partly because maybe that’s what people want to hear, especially stuff like Trooper or old stuff.”
With his side project, Smith said the experience is very different. Kotzen’s style has pushed him to take more risks and try new things on stage.
“But with SK, I mean, and the way Richie plays, which is much more improvisational, it’s encouraged me to be a little bit more trying to keep up with this guy, you know. So, and it’s nice and I’m getting into that a bit, and I’m getting a little bit more confident about branching out. And I think I’ve only got three solos in the whole set that I play the same every night. The rest is off the top of my head. And it’s a bit of a challenge every night, so that’s nice.”
Smith made these comments as part of a discussion about his work with Kotzen and the creative freedom the side project allows him as a musician.
Smith and Kotzen released their self-titled debut album in March 2021, recorded in Turks and Caicos in February 2020. Each of the nine tracks was co-written by Smith and Kotzen, with the pair trading off vocals and guitar and bass responsibilities. Iron Maiden’s Nicko McBrain and Kotzen’s longtime collaborator Tal Bergman played drums on the album, which features melodic hard rock with a bluesy undercurrent.
The duo released their second album, Black Light / White Noise, on March 7, 2025, recorded in Los Angeles in 2024. The album topped the U.K.’s Official Rock & Metal chart. Smith and Kotzen toured Europe in February and March 2026 in support of the album, following their first European tour in 2022 with live members Julia Lage and Bruno Valverde.
The improvisational approach that Smith describes is central to the Smith/Kotzen project’s live performances. Unlike his structured role in Iron Maiden, where solos must match the recorded versions and typically run for exactly 16 bars, Smith uses the stage time with Kotzen to develop spontaneous interpretations. This freedom reflects the core difference between the two musical contexts and explains Smith’s enthusiasm for the creative challenge the side project presents.
