Adrian Smith

Adrian Smith (born Adrian Frederik Smith, 27 February 1957, Hackney, East London, England) is an English guitarist and one of three guitarists/songwriters in the British band Iron Maiden. He also performs backing vocals on some songs, along with Steve Harris. While at school, Adrian befriended Dave Murray and formed his first band Urchin as lead singer and lead guitarist. Adrian had bought his first guitar from Murray, a Woolworths' Top 20, for f... more

Adrian Smith (born Adrian Frederik Smith, 27 February 1957, Hackney, East London, England) is an English guitarist and one of three guitarists/songwriters in the British band Iron Maiden. He also performs backing vocals on some songs, along with Steve Harris. While at school, Adrian befriended Dave Murray and formed his first band Urchin as lead singer and lead guitarist. Adrian had bought his first guitar from Murray, a Woolworths' Top 20, for five quid (later he painted it silver and sold it again for 12 quid, as he states in the Early Days DVD). Murray left Urchin to join Iron Maiden, the new band of another local musician, Steve Harris. Smith continued to front Urchin, with limited success, until joining Maiden in late 1980 for the Killers album (released in 1981), replacing Dennis Stratton. Smith first wrote songs for Maiden on the 1982 album The Number of the Beast, and was the band's secondary songwriter from then on (often in co-operation with Bruce Dickinson). Smith and Dave... less