Adrian Smith And Richie Kotzen Take The Stage At The Grammy Museum (Video)

Smith/Kotzen, the dynamic collaboration between guitarists Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden) and Richie Kotzen, recently offered fans an intimate acoustic performance and an insightful look into their partnership. The event, hosted by Fozzy frontman Chris Jericho, took place at Los Angeles’s Grammy Museum on March 5, 2025, and featured performances of songs like “Glory Road,” “Solar Fire,” and “Scars.” Professionally filmed video of the session is available below. This appearance came ahead of their second album, Black Light/White Noise, released on April 4, 2025.

The pair also discussed the serendipitous origins of their musical union. Adrian Smith amusingly recounted that his wife first met Richie Kotzen “in a bar,” assuring it was “perfectly innocent.” After Smith rediscovered Kotzen‘s recent work and they became friends in L.A., casual jam sessions playing anything from Bad Company to Stevie Ray Vaughan became common. It was Smith’s wife who eventually suggested: “Why don’t you guys write together?” Smith noted that while the combination might seem “unusual,” it “works,” and their creative process is remarkably smooth: “We write very easily — the writing, it just flows.”

Delving into their musical DNA, both guitarists acknowledged a shared love for early ‘70s rock icons. Smith mentioned how bands like Deep Purple, Humble Pie, Free, and Bad Company made an “incredible impression” on him in his teens, stating, “That’s music I grew up with, and it stays in your blood.” Richie Kotzen echoed these influences, citing artists like Steve Winwood, Eric Clapton, and Paul Rodgers. He also pointed to his deep appreciation for jazz/fusion, having played with Stanley Clarke and being floored by George Benson, whom he calls “the greatest guitar player ever.” Humorously, Kotzen also revealed an early Iron Maiden fandom: “Every morning before school when I was little, ‘Woe to you…’ [the intro of ‘The Number Of The Beast’] would echo throughout the house.”

Kotzen also spoke about the dynamic of sharing lead guitar and vocal duties with another prominent guitarist, a departure from his extensive trio work. “It’s a nice departure… it’s nice to kind of lay back and support someone singing,” he explained, emphasizing that “everything is designed and built to support the singer.” He praised their collaborative approach: “We both listen to each other, [and] we respond as a conversation. It’s a creative conversation.” This, he contrasted, with some musicians who “just play all this shit that I learned.” While his trio work thrives on improvisation, Smith/Kotzen involves more “structure,” with the two working out parts together – “different animals,” as Kotzen put it, “not better or worse, just different.”

Adrian Smith offered a glimpse into their distinct recording process compared to his experiences with Iron Maiden. While Maiden records live in the studio, often without extensive rehearsals, with Smith/Kotzen, “we sit down, the two of us, in a room. There’s no producer – there’s nobody, just us. And we build the song from scratch… It’s great – you can go at your own pace.” He mentioned that for their latest album, Black Light/White Noise, they wrote songs in batches, taking breaks as needed.

Regarding their expectations when launching the side project, both artists emphasized their passion for the music itself over grand ambitions. Smith “didn’t really think beyond just doing it for the satisfaction,” but was so pleased with the results he felt, “You should go get this out there.” Similarly, Richie Kotzen focuses on the moment: “I do the music because I love making music, so that’s the only real thing I focus on.”

Smith/Kotzen‘s second album, Black Light/White Noise, released on April 4, 2025, via BMG, stands as a testament to this creatively fulfilling and organically formed partnership.