From Hackney to the World

​On 27 February 1957 in Hackney, London, England, Adrian Frederik Smith was born, son to a painter and decorator from Homerton. Adrian is the youngest of three siblings, having him an older brother named Patrick and a sister, Kathleen. As the youngest of the family, Adrian says he had a "happy, typical and somewhat boring raising, I believe." (Excerpt from the book Run to the Hills). As every kid he loved soccer and even played in the main team of the school, but all this ended when he entered the world of music and never wanted to leave. At age of 14 he got a microphone from his parents for his birthday and that made him want to be a singer. He and Dave would cover some bands, Adrian on vocals and Dave on guitars, alias, it was Dave the reason why Adrian wanted to play the guitar. Dave sold an old guitar that he had, an old copy made at Woodworth, to Adrian and so he was learning to play the guitar and gave up being a singer. From there he was discovering and shaping his playing style. He dropped school at the age of 16 because he said he would not need it because he would be a rock star. Of course, it was not easy at first, he worked on some jobs, but it did not last long because he got tired of it all. Until they set up their first band and invited Dave Murray, the band was called Stone Free; later changed to Evil Ways. The first song Adrian composed was Countdown which years later would come to be called 22 Acacia Avenue, but the lyrics are totally different from when it was composed by Adrian when he was 18 years old. Evil Ways changed the name to Urchin when they signed a contract with a record label, the band played 100 shows and released two ep ' s. Dave left the band and went to Iron Maiden. Time after Adrian was invited to play in the Maiden, but this declined the proposal because it wanted to continue with your band. Little did he know that Urchin unfortunately wouldn't last long and in March 1980 Urchin is over. After the end of the band Smith joined the band Broadway Brats together with your friend of Urchin, Andy Barnett where he didn't stay long since the band broke up shortly after. (evilways credits-urchin) Adrian found himself aimlessly until you receive more of a proposal to touch the Maiden, as Dennis Stratton left the band and they needed a guitarist. Adrian didn't think twice and accepted the invitation. He auditioned and joined the band and from there his life would change for the better. After so much effort, so many attempts he finally got what he wanted so much. Such A sentence dictates the age of 16 years “I don't need it, because I will be a rock-star” would finally come to fruition. The kid from Hackney would know the world and be a rock-star! In 1980 at age of 23 Adrian enters to the Iron Maiden and one of the first things he did was participate in a Tv program in Germany. When he returned to England and went to the studio to record the band's second album and first as a member of the Iron Maiden is one of the first songs that Adrian has worked with Maiden was ‘Killers’, and ' Purgatory’ . His first show with the Band was at Brunel University, in Uxbridge, on the day 21 of November of 1980, “The place gave account of 2000 people and it was packed. I had never played for so many people before. And fans of the Maiden were not similar to none of them that I had crossed in my life. They were crazy, many of them. Crazy and passionate, and if you were not true they ended up with you in a second, you know? At that first show I remember that I was very nervous just before we go play. So I thought I'd go out there and I mix a little with the people, give a ‘hi’, to relieve a little. And I remember that a guy came up to me and said, ‘You're the new guitarist?’, I said yes, that it was, and he said to me, ‘you better be good!’ I thought: ‘Shit! Where I did I get in?” Adrian(excerpt taken from the book Run To The Hills)! With Maiden he lived the golden years recorded six albums and has made several compositions that are forever! But unfortunately came to an end. His last show with the Band was December 12, 1988 at Hammersmith Odeon. In January 1990 Adrian leaves the band for reasons that even today we do not know if they are actually right. He is dedicated to his solo career, at the time had released an album called Silver and Gold of your project A. S. A. P (Adrian Smith and Project), and soon after formed the The Untouchables which later came to be called Psycho Motel where they released two albums.The second album had the participation of Dave Murray. Adrian also participated in the solo album of Michael Kiske(ex-Helloween). Smith also joined his former team - mate of Iron Maiden, Bruce Dickinson was also in a solo career. Bruce participated in two albums Accidenth Of Birth and Chemical Wedding. In 1999, the news that every fan of Maiden at the time wanted to hear was realised! Bruce and Adrian returned to Iron Maiden and since its around the band recorded 5 albums, the last released in 2015. And 7 dvd's being the last released in 2012. The boy from Hackney who dreamed of playing in a band, work on something you love, and make success saw his dream begin to be realized at 23 years of age and today is known worldwide for his work inside and outside of the Maiden. The boy who was influenced by Michael Schenker, Ritchie Blackmore, and among so many other guitarists, but today it is he who influences many young people to follow their path. The aim of such phrase said years ago “don't need it, I will be a rock-star”

#Hackney #World #27February