Adrian Smith has explained how his side project is pushing his guitar playing in new directions, saying the experience has given him more freedom to improvise compared to his work with Iron Maiden. He shared these thoughts in an interview posted on Guitar World Magazine Instagram page.
Smith was asked about the differences between playing in Iron Maiden and his collaboration with Richie Kotzen. In Maiden, the guitarist’s solos follow a strict format that mirrors the studio recordings, while his side project allows for a very different approach.
“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.”
Smith went on to describe how Kotzen’s style has changed his approach to playing. “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.”
The guitarist revealed just how different his performances have become. “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’s comments came while discussing his work in the side project with Kotzen. The collaboration has shown him new possibilities as a musician and player.
The Smith/Kotzen project began in 2020 and was officially announced in December of that year. Smith and Kotzen, who is known for his work in Poison and Mr. Big, produced their self-titled debut album in March 2021. Their second studio album, “Black Light / White Noise,” came out on April 4, 2025, and became a U.K. No. 1 hit on the Official Rock & Metal chart.
The band has toured Europe in 2026 in support of the second album. Julia Lage, Kotzen’s wife, plays bass for the project, while Bruno Valverde handles drums. The European tour began on February 3, 2026, at La Riviera in Madrid, Spain.
Smith’s experience with the project reflects a different musical approach than what Iron Maiden demands from him. Where Iron Maiden requires solos that stick closely to their recorded versions, the Smith/Kotzen collaboration gives Smith room to explore improvisation night after night. This freedom has allowed him to build confidence in branching out as a guitarist and to meet the improvisational challenge that Kotzen’s playing style brings to each performance.
