Smith/Kotzen

As 2020 comes to a close, we've been graced with another hard rock collaboration -- Adrian Smith and Richie Kotzen, two well-respected names in the guitar world, have released their debut single as Smith/Kotzen. Smith, one of the driving forces behind Iron Maiden's unique sound, concedes the compositional spotlight to Kotzen, who performed with Poison and Mr. Big (though after both bands had faded out of the spotlight) before joining the supergroup The Winery Dogs in 2012.

The single, "Taking My Chances," mainly sounds like the more electric guitar-driven output of Hagar-era Van Halen or some of Mr. Big's more overlooked songs (remember that "To Be With You" was an anomaly in their catalog!) with both Smith and Kotzen showcasing their chops throughout -- you'll hear little licks scattered throughout the verses and choruses, and a neat trade-off solo showcasing all sorts of techniques. Don't come into this expecting much Iron Maiden influence, though perhaps we'll see its inclusion in their later tracks. 




*inKmp #UnchangedMelodies


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