Two Sides Of The Coin With ADRIAN SMITH From SMITH/KOTZEN

Interview by Kris Peters
When Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden) and Richie Kotzen (The Winery Dogs)
first joined forces for their debut self-titled album in 2021 it
was as though the music Gods had finally listened to our prayers.
Here were two of possibly the greatest guitarists of the modern era
in their preferred genres, forming a sonically unlikely union that
most feared would be a one-time merging of passions that dissipated
once both parties overcame yet another musical challenge to emerge
triumphant.
Blending both guitarists' loves of music, that first release was a
smouldering mix of hard rock, blues, groove and R & B with
splashings of metal and attitude where it mattered. The fact that
both Kotzen and Smith shared guitar, bass, vocals, composing and
production duties on the album added to the allure of their music,
each contributing different sides of their musical psyche while
experimenting with sides that were either dormant or previously
non-existent.
It was that good.
But, as is their right, Smith and Kotzen played their cards close
to their chest over the ensuing years, neither fully committed or
non-committal to a second helping. As the years ticked over it
seemed less likely that we would hear another record from
Smith/Kotzen before the announcement came late last year that round
two was certainly on the cards and that the friends and celebrated
musicians had each found time in their busy schedules to start on
the next whirlwind of expectation that a new album inevitably
brings.
Thus Black Light/White Noise was introduced to the world, and after
being teased with two singles that bear the names of each
individual component of the album title, we are fast approaching
the finish line when album number two is set free in the world on
April 4. Black Light/White Noise is a truly magnificent collection
of songs that stands shoulder to shoulder with some of Smith and
Kotzen's finest work to date. Atmospheric, ambitious, diverse and
brilliant, it not only features stratospheric guitar solos and
phenomenal rock vocals but soulful touches, intricate playing,
beautiful songwriting and an assured poise and style that brings to
mind a host of legendary bands and musicians (Thin Lizzy, Jimi
Hendrix, Prince, Cream, Free, Deep Purple) yet is undeniably the
work of Adrian Smith and Richie Kotzen in perfect harmony.
With the release date rapidly approaching, HEAVY jumped at the
chance to spend some time with Adrian Smith, after we had the
pleasure of speaking with Kotzen the first time around. We get
straight to the point, reiterating claims from most who have heard
the new album, who say it is quite possibly the best slab of music
either of them has done individually or together. Then follow up by
asking if they are right.
"Well…" he measured. "You write the songs the best you can, and you
play them the best you can. I think… I think this is a more
consistent album than the first one. It's probably a little more
up-tempo. Obviously over time, Richie and I developed our writing
relationship. Our playing relationship, I think, has gone from
strength to strength."
Black Light/White Noise ticks all of the boxes you would expect and
more. There's guitar solos, funk, groove, blues, hard rock and more
guitar solos but the overriding thing HEAVY took out of our listen
was that it sounds like Smith and Kotzen genuinely had fun and
enjoyed the process.
"I play music because I wanna do it, anyway," Smith replied. "But
yeah, it's fun. Richie and I are friends and have been for the best
part of ten years. I live part time in America. I'm over there
usually around Christmas, and we met up one year - I had a party at
my house - and we started jamming Bad Company and Stevie Ray
Vaughan and all that blues and someone said you guys should write
together so that's what we ended up doing. And we did it because it
was fun and we thought we had something to say as well. I take a
lot of inspiration from 70s music. I grew up and that music had a
massive effect on me when I was a kid - it changed my life - so I
take that as my basic inspiration. Then you try and take that to
another level. You try and use it as an ingredient and write songs
that stand up on their own."
In the full interview, Adrian discusses the singles released and
how they represent the overall album, their extra emphasis on
collaboration this time around and how it impacted the finished
result, the album title and how it combines two album tracks to
create a mental image, the creative process and how they harnessed
their individual talents into a cohesive unit, his favourite tracks
on the album, taking Smith/Kotzen into a live setting and
more.

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