Biography
Two veteran hard rock guitarists, Adrian Smith of Iron Maiden and Richie Kotzen—formerly of Mr. Big, Poison, and the Winery Dogs, as well as a prolific solo artist—teamed up for the project Smith/Kotzen. Their collaboration yields carefully shaped, melodic hard rock laced with blues influences, diverging from the heavier metal leanings associated with their past work. The pair issued their first album, the self-titled Smith/Kotzen, in 2021.
Smith and Kotzen first connected while residing in the same Los Angeles neighborhood, where Kotzen’s deep admiration for Iron Maiden quickly strengthened their bond. Regular jamming sessions followed, prompting Smith’s wife to propose that they compose material together. Songs accumulated rapidly until the pair possessed sufficient tracks for a full album. In February 2020 they traveled to the Turks and Caicos Islands near the Bahamas to record with producer Kevin Shirley. Both musicians handled guitar, bass, and vocals; Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain and Kotzen’s longtime associate Tal Bergman supplied the drum parts, while Kotzen added percussion to several tracks. Under the name Smith/Kotzen, the duo unveiled the resulting self-titled album in March 2021.
Smith and Kotzen first connected while residing in the same Los Angeles neighborhood, where Kotzen’s deep admiration for Iron Maiden quickly strengthened their bond. Regular jamming sessions followed, prompting Smith’s wife to propose that they compose material together. Songs accumulated rapidly until the pair possessed sufficient tracks for a full album. In February 2020 they traveled to the Turks and Caicos Islands near the Bahamas to record with producer Kevin Shirley. Both musicians handled guitar, bass, and vocals; Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain and Kotzen’s longtime associate Tal Bergman supplied the drum parts, while Kotzen added percussion to several tracks. Under the name Smith/Kotzen, the duo unveiled the resulting self-titled album in March 2021.