Adrian Smith

[neilli]

I especially like when they 1-2 punch you with Dave providing a gentle lyrical build up before H brings the pain like they do in Stranger in a Strange Land.

Stranger in a Strange Land is all Adrian

[darrellm]

+1 that's my favorite most musical IM record

+2...my favourite too, plus I got to see Maiden live for the first time on that our...awesome!

And the tour book had a photo of Adrian with his black Charvel Strathead:




...that got me into Charvels, only took another 22 years for me to get my own Strathead

SiT was life changing for me, one of those defining moments - wore it out on vinyl, finally got it on CD a few years ago and haven't stopped playing it. A true classic.

[Soap]

Wow, take me back in time.
I recall when "Killers" came out I was blown away then and still to this day out of all the Maiden albums I prefer to hear it. Something about it just grabbed me.
Production was good, one of the first metal band to implement good bass riffs, composition, strong drums... just an all time favorite to me.

Also, its when Adrian came aboard and it showed big time.
The first album lacked in the composition department, production sucked too.
Second album (Killers) like a completely different band.
They are better when Adrian is with them.

[shreddermon]

I've always been more drawn to Adrian's playing than Dave's. I guess I've always been a strong fan of melody - even in solos - and Adrian seems to weave much more melodic content into his riffs than Dave does. I also prefer his playing style, which isn't quite as "sloppy" as Dave's. I know Dave's not really a "sloppy" player, per se, but that's the only way I can think of to describe it. Adrian's syle is more structured, if you will. AS is definitely one of the first guitarists I really started to admire, when I first started playing guitar many moons ago.

BTW, the first show I ever saw was Priest and Maiden! A kick@ss way to start out a long streak of concert-going.

[VitaminG]

Stranger in a Strange Land is all Adrian

yea? Well there you go. That's what I get for relying on my memory. Gonna have to drag that album out for a listen now

[OnlineStageGear]

I love when they do dual solo's and Adrian just comes in with the one right note to pick up where Dave left off.

Every time we do a Maiden tune in a two guitar player band, we have to flip for who gets to do the Adrian solo's. Damn, I lost again. Oh well, the Dave's solos are still cool. Wish my fingers were that fast though.....

Matt

[surfreak]

I also like Adrian better, because in a word he's got taste, and he is a great "solo writer". His solos are always harmonically interesting and somehow less predictable, he definitely does not just play the same blues licks at all.

This said, it all works so well because of the interplay with Dave. Dave's solos are lyrical, Kossoff-style phrasing and vibrato, and very predictable, more like an instrumental break than a true solo, then when he's done Adrian picks up with the fireworks.

And Janick, well, I first heard him live when he used to play in the Gillan band, circa 1982: the "highlight" of his 10 min. solo spot was him throwing a white strat on the floor and playing with his feet.

[Endrik]

out of them 3, Adrian would feel the most comfortable playing in different musical situations... that dude is a great musician not just a heavy metal guitarist... great feel, tone and vibrato... very tasty.... Dave has some good ideas and Janick is entertaining during live shows but when I listen to the latest albums... Adrian is the one who's spot on all the time... Dave and Janick are so often out of pitch it makes me think that they hired Kirk Hammett