Adrian Frederick Smith (born 27 February 1957) is an English guitarist and singer best known as a member of heavy metal band Iron Maiden, for whom he also writes songs and performs backing vocals both live and in the studio.

Following a short-lived solo project called ASAP, he left Iron Maiden in 1990 and, after a year-long hiatus, formed the band The Untouchables which later became Psycho Motel.

[5] His early influences included Johnny Winter and Pat Travers, which he claims made him a "melodic player" rather than a "speed merchant or a shredder" as he "was inspired by blues rock rather than metal.

"[6] Leaving school after completing his O-levels, Smith formed the band Evil Ways, including Dave Murray on guitar, which was later renamed Urchin.

[8] Shortly afterwards, Murray rejoined Urchin on their next single, "She's a Roller", as he had been sacked from Iron Maiden after an argument with singer Dennis Wilcock, although he would be reinstated six months later.

Smith was also offered a place in Iron Maiden while they were in the process of signing with EMI in 1979, but turned them down to continue with his own band, a decision he later regretted as Urchin split up in 1980.

[9] Shortly after Urchin split, Smith encountered Steve Harris and Dave Murray on a street in his neighborhood, and the two asked him to reconsider joining Iron Maiden as the replacement for guitarist Dennis Stratton.

[10] This time Smith accepted the offer,[11] and debuted with the band on a West German TV show Rockpop in Concert in Munich on 8 November 1980,[a][12][13][14] before setting out on a UK tour and recording the Killers album, released in 1981.

[15] Smith's first song-writing contributions appeared on The Number of the Beast, co-penning "Gangland" and "The Prisoner", as well as the previously mentioned "22 Acacia Avenue",[16] after which he began co-writing many songs with singer Bruce Dickinson, on the following Piece of Mind album.

[17][18] Smith and Dave Murray combined playing dual lead guitars, creating what AllMusic calls "the most formidable twin-guitar attack in heavy metal, outside of Glenn Tipton and K. K.

[24] Unhappy with the direction the band were taking for their next release, No Prayer for the Dying,[25] and feeling that he could not help enough in the creative work,[26] Smith left Iron Maiden in 1990 during the album's pre-production stages,[27] and was replaced by Janick Gers.

[29] After leaving Maiden, Smith started a family with his Canadian wife, Nathalie, and also auditioned to replace Steve Clark in Def Leppard, a position which ultimately went to former Dio guitarist Vivian Campbell.

[6] Although Smith had previously been known to contribute shorter, more "commercial" tracks, since his return to the band he has penned many longer songs, beginning with "Paschendale" from Dance of Death.

[52] The book primarily details Smith's love of fishing, and relates anecdotes from his many decades of pursuing the hobby whilst touring and recording with Iron Maiden.