Iron Maiden’s Adrian Smith delivers a stark reality check for aspiring musicians, saying most bands no longer make a living from their art.

Adrian Smith, legendary guitarist of Iron Maiden and one half of the rock duo Smith/Kotzen, has issued a sobering warning for aspiring musicians: making a living in a band is now a near-impossible dream for all but a tiny few.

Speaking to AMFM Magazine, the 67-year-old rocker—born in Hackney, East London—offered brutally honest advice to younger generations eyeing careers in music. “You can have fun, have a band, play all you want,” Smith said. “But if you want to do it with your life, that’s something different.”

Smith, who joined Iron Maiden in 1980 and has co-written many of their most iconic tracks, painted a bleak picture of the industry he helped define. “You could spend what some would say are the best years of your life trying to make it and not make it,” he explained. “Even bands now that have hit records are struggling to make money—because nobody buys bloody records anymore.”

The decline of physical and digital album sales, combined with streaming’s minuscule payouts, has gutted revenue for even established acts. According to Smith, unless a band breaks into the mainstream Top 40 or has backing from a label, the odds of earning a living are vanishingly small. “Being in a band that’s successful and making money is a tiny percentage,” he said bluntly.

Smith, who also sings and plays guitar in Smith/Kotzen with Richie Kotzen of The Winery Dogs, recently released a second album with the group titled Black Light/White Noise. Mixed by Jay Ruston, the record dropped on 4 April via BMG, offering fans more of the bluesy hard rock that has become the duo’s signature.

Despite his decades-long success—including Iron Maiden’s staggering 100 million album sales and their history of globe-trotting stadium tours—Smith remains grounded in the realities of today’s business. “In the old days, a record company would sponsor a band,” he recalled. “Now, you almost need a sponsor just to get out there.”

But while the industry may seem unforgiving, Smith believes true passion still cuts through. “If you’re gonna do it, then nothing will stop you,” he added, acknowledging the dedication required. “But it’s a process—and the process makes or breaks the ones that stay.”

Away from the spotlight, Smith is known for his offstage hobbies. An avid tennis player and a dedicated fisherman, he balances life on the road with these quieter pastimes.

Iron Maiden is about to embark on its Run For Your Lives world tour, kicking off 27 May in Budapest. It marks the band’s first tour with new drummer Simon Dawson, formerly of Steve Harris’s British Lion project. Dawson replaces the band’s longtime drummer Nicko McBrain, who performed his final show in São Paulo, Brazil five months ago before officially announcing his retirement in December 2024.

McBrain, now 72, remains closely involved with Iron Maiden, promising to contribute to upcoming projects despite stepping away from live performances.

As the band readies itself for another round of thunderous shows and global acclaim, Smith’s words serve as a poignant reminder of the harsh truths behind the music industry’s glamour. For those willing to sacrifice and persist, the rewards may still come—but they are far from guaranteed