IRON MAIDEN’s ADRIAN SMITH On His Musical Relationship With BRUCE DICKINSON: ‘He Is Really Easy To Write’ Songs With…

IRON MAIDEN’s ADRIAN SMITH On His Musical Relationship With BRUCE DICKINSON: ‘He Is Really Easy To Write’ Songs With…

 

In the realm of heavy metal, few partnerships have proven as powerful and enduring as that of Adrian Smith and Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden. Over the decades, their musical synergy has helped craft some of the most iconic and memorable tracks in metal history. From the thundering riffs of “2 Minutes to Midnight” to the epic narratives of “The Wicker Man,” the creative chemistry between guitarist Smith and vocalist Dickinson has been nothing short of electric.

In a recent interview, Adrian Smith opened up about his long-standing collaboration with Dickinson, calling him “really easy to write songs with.” The guitarist, who has been a key songwriter for Iron Maiden since the early 1980s, praised Dickinson’s ability to bring ideas to life and his openness in the creative process.

“Bruce and I, we just click musically,” Smith said. “He’s full of energy and ideas, and when we get together, it just flows. He’s really easy to write with because he’s not precious about ideas. We bounce off each other, and that dynamic helps us come up with strong material quickly.”

Smith and Dickinson’s creative partnership began to take shape during the writing sessions for Piece of Mind (1983), but it truly flourished with Powerslave (1984) and Somewhere in Time (1986). Their writing collaboration contributed to the band’s evolving sound, which combined heavy riffs, melodic progressions, and conceptual storytelling.

“Some songs come together in a few hours,” Smith continued. “With Bruce, there’s this mutual respect. I’ll have a riff or a melody, and he’ll immediately get the vibe and start singing over it. Then we’ll develop the structure together. It’s very organic.”

Their dynamic was most recently showcased in The Writing on the Wall, the lead single from Iron Maiden’s 2021 album Senjutsu. The track was co-written by Smith and Dickinson and marked a return to the narrative style they both excel at. The song’s apocalyptic themes and layered composition were praised by critics and fans alike, reinforcing the enduring strength of their creative bond.

Outside of Iron Maiden, the duo collaborated on the 1990s side project Bruce Dickinson’s solo albums, particularly Accident of Birth (1997) and The Chemical Wedding (1998). These albums received critical acclaim and highlighted Smith’s ability to explore new musical territories alongside Dickinson.

“It’s not just about writing riffs or lyrics,” Smith added. “It’s about trust. We know how each other thinks musically. That makes it easy to take risks and try new things.”

As Iron Maiden continues to tour and work on new material, fans can expect more from the Smith-Dickinson songwriting team. Their shared vision and deep musical understanding continue to be a cornerstone of Iron Maiden’s legacy.

“After all these years, we still enjoy it,” Smith concluded. “There’s always something new to say, and with Bruce, it’s always an exciting journey.”