A S a P [Adrian Smith and Project] - Silver and Gold

Just prior to his departure from Iron Maiden in 1990, guitarist Adrian Smith embarked upon a brief, and ultimately unsuccessful career as a solo artist, performing under the moniker "Adrian Smith and Project" (A.S.a.P)



Released to execrable reviews in October of 1989 (attributable, no doubt to the decidedly more "mainstream" approach taken by Smith on the record, and the bewildered Iron Maiden fanbase anticipating more standard metal fare) Silver And Gold transpired to be A.S.a.P's solitary release before disbanding, January 1990.



Due to his subsequent withdrawal from Iron Maiden shortly afterwards, and the poor critical reception and negligible sales of Silver And Gold, it would be some years before Adrian Smith would resurface in the world of music (other than a brief appearance in 1992 at the Donnington festival alongside his old bandmates from Iron Maiden, for a performance of "Running Free".)



Although it suffered from a dated production even at its time of release, Silver And Gold has become something of a cult item in more recent times, with first pressings of the album selling for considerable sums at auctions.