After the success of their second album Black Light / White Noise, Iron Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith and The Winery Dogs frontman Richie Kotzen are heading back on tour. The duo, known collectively as Smith/Kotzen, will perform across Europe in February and March 2026.
Black Light / White Noise, which topped the U.K.’s Official Rock & Metal chart, marked a major milestone for the pair. Their collaborative journey began with the self-titled 2021 debut Smith/Kotzen, which broke into the U.K. Top 20 and garnered attention across Europe and the Americas. Their live shows received enthusiastic reviews, building strong momentum that continued into their second release.
Reflecting on the reception to the album, Smith said: “We’ve been blown away by the reaction to Black Light / White Noise. We’re extremely proud of it, and to know that it’s been received so enthusiastically by fans old and new has been amazing. We can’t wait to hit the road next year with Julia [Lage, bass] and Bruno [Valverde, drums] of course, and start playing some of these songs live.”
Kotzen echoed the sentiment: “From the moment we finished the record, we knew we had something special on our hands. It’s been a joy for us both to play together in the studio and on stage, and to write some of the most exciting music we’ve ever done. Bringing it to bigger stages and even more people in the U.K. and Europe next year is going to be great. We’ll see you all down the front!”
Before announcing the tour, the duo received awards recognizing their chart-topping album. Black Light / White Noise was recorded at The House in Los Angeles, produced by Smith and Kotzen, and mixed by Jay Ruston. The album has been described as a “ten-track… masterclass in modern rock,” showcasing the artists’ wide-ranging talents as songwriters, musicians, and vocalists.
“We had a lot of fun making this,” Smith shared. “We’d be writing and I’d want something inspired by some of my old hard rock or blues go-to bands then it’d go into a more progressive feel, and then Richie has these strong soul influences so there’s a lot to dig into there too. Influences are what makes the musical world go round, they go through you and come out slightly differently.”
Kotzen added: “Smith/Kotzen is all about finding common ground. Maybe Adrian will tend to go heavy, and then I’ll lean more in the fusion or funk or soul side of things, but somewhere in the middle is our sound: that heavy blues rock vibe that we really connect on.”
Black Light / White Noise blends a wide spectrum of musical styles, from blues and hard rock to funk and soul, with nods to icons like Thin Lizzy, Jimi Hendrix, Prince, Cream, Free, and Deep Purple. The result is a cohesive, diverse collection that reflects Smith and Kotzen’s musical chemistry and depth.
The Black Light/White Noise 2026 tour dates are as follows:
Feb. 03 – La Riviera, Madrid, Spain
Feb. 04 – Apolo, Barcelona, Spain
Feb. 06 – Le Trianon, Paris, France
Feb. 07 – Zik-Zak, Ittre, Belgium
Feb. 09 – Rockhal Club, Esch-Sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
Feb. 10 – Philharmonie, Haarlem, Netherlands
Feb. 12 – Rock City, Nottingham, UK
Feb. 13 – O2 Ritz, Manchester, UK
Feb. 15 – SWG3 Galvanizers, Glasgow, UK
Feb. 17 – KK’s Steel Mill, Wolverhampton, UK
Feb. 18 – 1865, Southampton, UK
Feb. 20 – O2 Academy, Bristol, UK
Feb. 21 – O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London, UK
Feb. 23 – Carlswerk Victoria, Köln, Germany
Feb. 24 – Volkhaus, Zurich, Switzerland
Feb. 26 – Live Club, Milan, Italy
Feb. 27 – Backstage Werk, Munich, Germany
Mar. 01 – Lucerna Music Bar, Prague, Czech Republic
Mar. 02 – Progresja, Warsaw, Poland
Mar. 04 – Columbia Theater, Berlin, Germany
Mar. 05 – Gruenspan, Hamburg, Germany
Mar. 70 – Berns, Stockholm, Sweden
Mar. 08 – Pustervik, Gothenburg, Sweden
Tickets for all shows go on sale on Friday, June 27 here.
