Adrian Smith & Richie Kotzen: Smith/Kotzen CD

Adrian Smith & Richie Kotzen: Smith/Kotzen

 Recorded in February 2020 in the Turks and Caicos Islands, produced by Richie and Adrian and mixed by Kevin "Caveman" Shirley, the nine-track opus is a consummate collaboration between these two highly respected musicians, who co-wrote all the songs and share lead vocals, guitar and bass work on the album. Exploding with powerful melodies and harmonies, the album embodies the spiritual attitude of seventies classic rock with a melting pot of influences between blues, hard rock, traditional R&B and more, blending the duo's backgrounds and life experiences into a thoroughly contemporary sound.

The album features special guest performances from Adrian's fellow Iron Maiden member Nicko McBrain on drums on the track "Solar Fire", and Richie's longtime friend and tour partner Tal Bergman on "You Don't Know Me", "I Wanna Stay" and "'Til Tomorrow", while Richie picks up the drumsticks for the other five songs.

Adrian Smith comments: "Richie and I started working together a few years ago. We had already been jamming together after becoming friends a few years earlier. We both share a love for classic rock and bluesy rock, so we decided to get together and write a few songs, which is how the whole thing started. Actually everything on the album was done by Richie and I, including the production. We developed a really strong idea of what we wanted it to sound like and we're really happy with how it turned out. There are a lot of cool songs on it that we're very happy with."

Richie Kotzen adds: "We had a very fluid writing process. Sometimes Adrian would send me a riff and I would immediately hear some kind of melody or vocal idea. And sometimes it was the other way around, so it was kind of a cycle. We would get together whenever we could and throw ideas around and that's how it evolved. Which was great because there was no pressure and nothing but a natural progression and I think the album reflects that."

Tracklist:
I Taking My Chances
II Running
III Scars
IV Some People
V Glory Road
VI Solar Fire
VII You Don't Know Me
VIII I Wanna Stay
IX 'Til Tomorrow

Label: BMG
Released: 2020/2021