On February 21, Bruce Dickinson took the stage at O2 Shepherds Bush Empire in London to perform “Wasted Years” with the duo Smith/Kotzen. This collaboration features Iron Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith and Richie Kotzen, the frontman of The Winery Dogs. Smith wrote “Wasted Years” in 1986 for Iron Maiden’s album, Somewhere In Time. In a past interview, he shared how the song came to be. While experimenting with a four-track recorder, he accidentally played the riff for bassist Steve Harris. Smith thought Harris might not like it because it sounded too commercial, but Harris loved it and insisted they include it in their music.
The touring group includes Julia Lage on bass and Bruno Valverde on drums. Lage has an impressive background, having played with the Brazilian rock band Barra de Saia, which was nominated for a Latin GRAMMY. She is also part of Vixen and has jammed with notable musicians like Pat Travers and Nuno Bettencourt.
Smith/Kotzen released their debut album in March 2021, which reached No. 10 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart and made the Top 20 in the U.K., Germany, Japan, and Canada. Their second album, Black Light / White Noise, is set to drop in April 2025 through BMG.
Bruce Dickinson joined Iron Maiden in 1981, replacing Paul Di’Anno. The band’s iconic album, The Number of the Beast, has sold nearly 20 million copies worldwide.
Iron Maiden will be touring this year, with shows in Athens on May 23, Sofia on May 26, and Bucharest on May 28. They will continue through June with concerts in Hannover, Amsterdam, Milan, and Paris, wrapping up the tour in September with stops in Toronto, Montreal, Boston, and Los Angeles.
