Adrian Smith
1957– · British heavy metal guitarist and songwriter, known for Iron Maiden
Adrian Smith (Hackney, London, 27 February 1957) is a British guitarist, vocalist and songwriter, best known for his role in Iron Maiden, one of the most influential heavy metal bands. As a guitarist and songwriter he is one of the band's key figures, and his partnership with Dave Murray is widely regarded as one of the most celebrated in the genre.
Smith grew up in Clapton and Camden, in London. He became interested in rock at fifteen, when he bought Deep Purple's Machine Head. At school he befriended Dave Murray, who inspired him to take up the guitar. After leaving school he formed Evil Ways, later renamed Urchin, which he led until it broke up in 1980. With Urchin he released the single "Black Leather Fantasy" on DJM Records in 1977 and began writing his own material, including "22 Acacia Avenue", which later appeared on The Number of the Beast.
He joined Iron Maiden in November 1980, replacing Dennis Stratton, after an audition. His first recording with the band was the album Killers (1981). On The Number of the Beast (1982) he co-wrote "Gangland", "The Prisoner" and "22 Acacia Avenue", and with Bruce Dickinson he composed three songs for Piece of Mind. Smith and Murray developed a twin-guitar style that critics count among the most formidable in heavy metal. Smith also wrote hits such as "2 Minutes to Midnight", "Wasted Years" and "The Evil That Men Do".
In 1989 he formed ASAP and released Silver and Gold, a commercial failure. After disagreements with Steve Harris over the band's direction, he left Iron Maiden in 1990. He then founded Psycho Motel, whose sound drew on the American band King's X, and recorded State of Mind (1996) and Welcome to the World (1997). In 1997 he joined Bruce Dickinson's band and took part in Accident of Birth and The Chemical Wedding.
In 1999 he returned to Iron Maiden alongside Dickinson, and since then the band has recorded Brave New World, Dance of Death, A Matter of Life and Death, The Final Frontier, The Book of Souls and Senjutsu. In this period he began writing longer and more complex pieces, such as "Paschendale". In 2011 he formed Primal Rock Rebellion with Mikee Goodman, and in 2021 he released Smith/Kotzen with Richie Kotzen.
His style is marked by restraint, elegance and melody, closer to blues than to speed. Smith is regarded as a reference for melodic guitar playing within heavy metal, and his work with Iron Maiden remains one of the most influential in the genre.