Adrian Smith English rock musician, guitarist Date of Birth: 27.02.1957 Country: Great Britain

1. Biography of Adrian Smith
2. Early Life and Musical Beginnings
3. Urchin and Joining Iron Maiden
4. Side Projects and Return to Iron Maiden
5. Personal Life and Hobbies

Biography of Adrian Smith

Adrian Frederick 'H' Smith, born in 1957 in Hackney, east London, England, is an English rock musician and guitarist, best known as a member of the legendary band 'Iron Maiden'.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Adrian Smith grew up in Clapton, London, as the eldest of three children in a family with an artistic background. His father was a graphic designer, which influenced Adrian's interest in art and music. At the age of 15, Adrian bought the album 'Machine Head' by 'Deep Purple', which had a profound impact on his life. Inspired by the album, he dropped out of school and formed a rock band called 'Stone Free' with his friend Dave Murray. Initially starting as a vocalist, Adrian later dedicated himself to mastering the guitar, practicing for hours daily.

Urchin and Joining Iron Maiden

Adrian Smith later formed his own band called 'Urchin', which signed a contract with 'DJM' and had their own equipment, musical material, and even a tour bus. Despite their accomplishments, the band disbanded by the end of the 1980s after performing numerous concerts and releasing a couple of singles. Adrian had been invited to join 'Iron Maiden' in the late 1970s but declined, hoping to achieve success with 'Urchin'. After the breakup of his band, Adrian decided to give 'Iron Maiden' a try and performed with them for the first time at the Rainbow Theatre in London in late 1980. His name appeared on the album 'Killers' in 1981, which introduced his melodic and softer playing style to the band's sound. The following year, 'Iron Maiden' released the highly acclaimed album 'The Number of the Beast', on which Adrian's composition '22 Acacia Avenue' stood out.

Side Projects and Return to Iron Maiden

While being a member of 'Iron Maiden', Adrian Smith also worked on side projects. In 1989, he recorded an album called 'Silver and Gold' with the band 'A.S.A.P.', which unfortunately didn't achieve commercial success. In 1996 and 1997, he released two albums with 'Psycho Motel'. However, after the 'A.S.A.P.' project, Adrian was dismissed from 'Iron Maiden'. He later collaborated with Bruce Dickinson and rejoined 'Iron Maiden' in 1999. Throughout his career, Adrian Smith contributed to 10 'Iron Maiden' albums, including 'The Final Frontier' in 2010.

Personal Life and Hobbies

Adrian Smith has been married to Nathalie Dufresne-Smith, a Canadian, for over 20 years, and they have three children named Dylan, Natasha, and Brittany. Apart from his musical pursuits, Adrian has been a lifelong fan of the football team 'Manchester United' and enjoys fishing and playing tennis. He predominantly plays 'Jackson' guitars, although he has played various instruments throughout his long career in the rock scene.