The SMITH/KOTZEN "Black Light / White Noise" European headline tour is entering its final stretch, bringing to a close a run that has exceeded all expectations in terms of both critical reception and fan enthusiasm. The duo of IRON MAIDEN's Adrian Smith and multi-instrumentalist Richie Kotzen — formerly of POISON and MR. BIG — launched the run on February 3 in Madrid, where they performed IRON MAIDEN's "Wasted Years" on opening night to a rapturous reception that set the tone for the entire tour.
The tour supports their second collaborative album "Black Light / White Noise," which hit No. 1 on the UK Official Rock & Metal chart upon release in late 2025. The record builds on the foundation laid by their 2021 self-titled debut, showcasing a more confident and adventurous partnership that draws from Smith's NWOBHM heritage and Kotzen's funk, blues, and progressive rock influences. The live setting has allowed the duo to stretch out these compositions, with extended improvisational passages and guitar interplay that highlight both musicians' formidable technical abilities.
Smith, who has been one of IRON MAIDEN's twin guitar pillars since rejoining the band in 1999, has embraced the SMITH/KOTZEN project as an outlet for a different side of his musicality. While IRON MAIDEN's music demands precision and adherence to arrangement, the smaller-scale SMITH/KOTZEN shows allow for spontaneity and a more intimate connection with audiences. Kotzen's virtuosic playing — which spans shredding guitar solos, soulful clean passages, and powerful lead vocals — provides an ideal foil for Smith's more understated approach.
Remaining dates include shows in Germany, Netherlands, and a final night in London. Smith is expected to rejoin IRON MAIDEN for "Run For Your Lives" tour rehearsals immediately following the tour's conclusion, with the band's North American dates beginning in the fall.