In a new interview with Dawn Osborne of TotalRock, Richie Kotzen was asked about the status of SMITH/KOTZEN, his collaborative project with IRON MAIDEN guitarist Adrian Smith. He responded: “[There’s] quite a bit [going on]. Yes, we got together and we did some writing. And we’ve got a few surprises looming in the not-so-distant future.”
Earlier this month, Smith joined Kotzen on stage at the Islington Assembly Hall in London, England to perform THE YARDBIRDS classic “Shapes Of Things”. Fan-filmed video of Adrian‘s appearance can be seen below.
SMITH/KOTZEN released the “Better Days …And Nights” EP in September 2022 via BMG. The effort comprised five previously unreleased live tracks, plus for the first time ever on CD, the four studio tracks featured on their sold-out, limited-edition 12-inch vinyl EP, “Better Days”, released in conjunction with Record Store Day in November 2021.
The live songs were recorded during SMITH/KOTZEN‘s inaugural whistle-stop tour of the U.S. and U.K. at the start of 2022, which attracted unanimously rave reviews from fans and media alike, celebrating the duo’s debut on stage together with stellar back-up from Richie‘s wife, internationally acclaimed bass player Julia Lage (VIXEN),and drummer Bruno Valverde of ANGRA.
Japan’s metal bible Burrn! magazine reviewing the Whisky A Go Go show in Los Angeles pronounced it, “An amazing night….this rock n’ roll band is very different from any other…totally unique …and bringing you great songs!”. U.K.’s Classic Rock magazine said the show was a, “masterclass in guitar playing and performance”.
The original EP tracks were produced by Kotzen and Smith and mixed by Kevin Shirley. The live tracks were produced and mixed by Kotzen and Smith.
SMITH/KOTZEN‘s eponymous debut album was released globally through BMG in March 2021 to media and fan acclaim, charting No. 10 on Billboard‘s Top Album Sales chart in the U.S., Top 20 in the U.K. as well as in other major markets such as Germany, Japan and Canada.
Smith is best known as one of IRON MAIDEN‘s principal guitarists, having also enjoyed success as a solo artist. Kotzen is the frontman for THE WINERY DOGS as well as having been the guitarist for both MR. BIG and POISON during his long and acclaimed career, which has to date seen him release more than 20 solo albums. Both artists are also prolific songwriters.
