Iron Maiden Guitarist Adrian Smith Talks New Doc, ‘Burning Ambition,’ And Band’s 50th Anniversary

BusinessHollywood & EntertainmentIron Maiden Guitarist Adrian Smith Talks New Doc, ‘Burning Ambition,’ And Band’s 50th AnniversaryByDerek Scancarelli,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I am a music journalist from New York City, living in Nashville.Follow AuthorApr 27, 2026, 02:30pm EDTAdrian Smith and Steve Harris of Iron Maiden perform at London Stadium on June 28, 2025 (Photo by Jo Hale)RedfernsBy the tail end of the 1980s, Adrian Smith was burned out. The Iron Maiden guitarist had just completed a seemingly endless loop worldwide travel, live performances, and recording. He was exhausted and losing his fire. In 1990, he decided to leave the pioneering New Wave of British Heavy Metal band and start a new chapter in his personal life.“I used to take things very much to heart," 69-year-old Smith says. “Everyone was plowing ahead […] you’re so busy at the time, you don’t really appreciate what's going on.”It may have been hard for Smith to see, but the band’s labor in the ‘80s would ultimately pay off for decades to come. From 1982-1988, Iron Maiden released a barrage of quintessential heavy metal albums, laying the foundation for the lifelong career in music Iron Maiden would provide. The group’s relentless treks across the globe built a dedicated international fanbase which continues to show up in droves in 2026. While most of the musicians are at the cusp of 70, metalheads of all ages still fill the stadiums and arenas in which they play.Fans of Iron Maiden view the band performing at Co-op Live on June 22, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Shirlaine Forrest)WireImageIron Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson and mascot Eddie at Co-op Live on June 22, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Shirlaine Forrest)WireImageNine years after Smith’s exit from Iron Maiden, both he and the band’s estranged singer, Bruce Dickinson, rejoined the group, ushering in a re-energized Iron Maiden charging into the new mill...