Smith/Kotzen - "Taking My Chances" (video & behind the scenes)

You know me, I know you
You got a plan yea
What else is new?
You got your money
High intellect
But just remember
That you can’t buy respect

They say that I’m just
Another burnout
And I’m wasted time
Keep barking orders
Scream and shout
I’m gonna let you know

I’m taking my chances
I can’t go no further down
I live in the mansion
Of the lost and found
I wanna feel alive
Why can’t I... just burn
This whole thing down
I’m taking my chances
All for I, all for I

I’ve been high, I’ve been low
Got every reason
To let you go
You got degrees
I’ve got the streets
Ain’t no body
Who can rescue me

They want my back
Against the wall
But I’m leaving dust
I don’t believe in them at all

I’m taking my chances
I can’t go no further down
I live in the mansion
Of the lost and found
I wanna feel alive
Why can’t I... just burn
This whole thing down
I’m taking my chances
All for I, all for I

Ο Adrian Smith δεν νομίζω ότι χρειάζεται πως ιδιαίτερες συστάσεις. Εκ των κιθαριστών των Iron Maiden από τις πρώτες ημέρες τους μέχρι και σήμερα (με εξαίρεση την δεκαετία του ενενήντα).

Από την άλλη και ο Richie Kotzen έχει μία μακρά πορεία στον "χώρο" με συμμετοχές σε μπάντες όπως οι Mr. Big, οι Poison, οι The Winery Dogs κλπ. Οι δυο τους ένωσαν πέρυσι τις δυνάμεις τους στο συγκρότημα - project που φέρει ως όνομα τα επώνυμά τους (Smith / Kotzen). Και κάπως έτσι κυκλοφόρησε το (ομώνυμο) ντεμπούτο τους τον περασμένο Μάρτιο.

Οι δύο μουσικοί έχουν αναλάβει σχεδόν τα πάντα. Μπάσο, κιθάρα, σύνθεση, παραγωγή. Ο Richie Kotzen επίσης παίζει τύμπανα σε πέντε τραγούδια. Σε άλλα τρία ("You Don’t Know Me", "I Wanna Stay" "'Til Tomorrow") τον αντικαθιστά ο Tal Bergman, ενώ στο "Solar Fire" απολαμβάνουμε τον (drummer των Iron Maiden - όχι πως χρειαζόταν η διευκρίνηση) Nicko McBrain...

Δελτίο τύπου: «Recorded on the Turks & Caicos Islands in February 2020, produced by Richie and Adrian and mixed by Kevin “Caveman” Shirley, this nine track opus is a consummate collaboration between these two highly respected musicians who co-wrote all the songs and also share lead vocals and trade off on guitar and bass duties throughout the record.

Exploding with powerful melodies & harmonies, the album embodies the spirited attitude of 70’s classic rock with a melting-pot of influences ranging from blues, hard rock, traditional R&B and more, blending the pair’s backgrounds and life experiences to result in a thoroughly contemporary sound.

The record features special guest performances by Adrian’s fellow Iron Maiden bandmate Nicko McBrain on drums for the track Solar Fire, and Richie’s longstanding friend and touring partner Tal Bergman on drums for You Don’t Know Me, I Wanna Stay and ‘Til Tomorrow, with Richie picking up the sticks on the other five songs.

Adrian Smith comments, “Richie and I started working together a couple of years ago. We’d been jamming as we’d been friends for a few years before that. We both share a love for classic rock and bluesy rock so we decided to get together and start writing some songs and it went from there. Pretty much everything on the album is handled between Richie and myself including the production. We had developed a really strong idea of how we wanted it to sound and I’m very pleased with how it turned out. There’s a lot of cool songs on there that we are really happy with.”

Richie Kotzen adds “We had a very fluid process in writing. Sometimes Adrian would send me a riff and I would immediately hear some kind of melody or a vocal idea. And sometimes it was the other way round so it was a kind of circular motion. We’d get together whenever we could and throw some ideas around and it just evolved, which was great because there was no pressure and nothing other than just a natural course and I think the record really speaks for that.”»

Band: Smith / Kotzen
Formed in: 2020
Genre: Hard Rock, Blues Rock
Years active: 2020-present

1st video: "Taking My Chances"
2nd video: Behind the scenes
Album: "Smith / Kotzen"
Type: Full length
Release date: March 26th, 2021
Format: CD, Vinyl

Track listing:
1. Taking My Chances
2. Running
3. Scars
4. Some People
5. Glory Road
6. Solar Fire
7. You Don’t Know Me
8. I Wanna Stay
9. ‘Til Tomorrow