ASAP (band)
Encyclopedia
ASAP was a progressive rock
band created by guitarist and vocalist Adrian Smith
of Iron Maiden
fame. ASAP released an album in 1989 titled Silver and Gold. A.S.A.P. stands for "Adrian Smith and Project."
formed the band shortly in 1989 when Iron Maiden was taking a year break after spending almost a year on the road for the Seventh Son of a Seventh Son album tour in 1988. The band had its origin in Urchin
, a band Smith fronted in the 1970s. Andy Barnett , Dave Colwell and Richard Young played with Smith in various incarnations of Urchin, which was disbanded in 1981 when Smith joined Iron Maiden. Further foundations for the band were laid out in late 1985 when Iron Maiden were taking a break after their massive world tour in support of their album Powerslave
. Bored with the lull in band's activity as they prepared to record a new album, Adrian Smith invited his friends Colwell and Barnett, as well as other musicians they knew to play a one-off gig at London
's Marquee Club
under the name of "The Entire Population of Hackney
". The band performed what would later be the title track from Silver and Gold, as well as 3 of the 4 B-sides to its singles at the show. Adrian Smith left Iron Maiden in 1990 during the writing of their album No Prayer for the Dying, due largely to creative differences.
When he formed A.S.A.P. in 1989, he invited his friends and former bandmates, as well as Zak Starkey
, son of legendary drummer Ringo Starr
. Originally, Smith wanted Nicko McBrain
to join in on drums but McBrain was getting married at the time. Their first and only album was a significant departure from the sound he helped create with Iron Maiden. It was heavy on synths and keyboards, treading closer to Pop
and AC
than epic Heavy Metal
. It also featured Smith in the role of lead singer, something most Iron Maiden fans were not accustomed to. His voice has a somewhat husky, working class feel to it, reminiscent of Bryan Adams
or even Bruce Springsteen
. The album was a commercial failure and the band soon evolved into another outfit called The Untouchables, which never released any records, though they did tour. By 1994, they were again evolved and Smith later formed Psycho Motel
which recorded two studio albums, State of Mind (1996) and Welcome to the World
(1997) and toured, before rejoining Dickinson
in 1997 and eventually Iron Maiden
in 1999.
Additional musicians:
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band created by guitarist and vocalist Adrian Smith
Adrian Smith
Adrian Frederick "H" Smith is an English musician and one of three guitarists in the heavy metal band, Iron Maiden. He is also one of the band's regular songwriters and, along with bassist Steve Harris, performs backing vocals on some songs.-Biography:While at school, Smith purchased his first...
of Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
fame. ASAP released an album in 1989 titled Silver and Gold. A.S.A.P. stands for "Adrian Smith and Project."
The band
Adrian SmithAdrian Smith
Adrian Frederick "H" Smith is an English musician and one of three guitarists in the heavy metal band, Iron Maiden. He is also one of the band's regular songwriters and, along with bassist Steve Harris, performs backing vocals on some songs.-Biography:While at school, Smith purchased his first...
formed the band shortly in 1989 when Iron Maiden was taking a year break after spending almost a year on the road for the Seventh Son of a Seventh Son album tour in 1988. The band had its origin in Urchin
Urchin
Urchin or urcheon is the Middle English term for "hedgehog". As such, it is applied to many things that take a similar form to a hedgehog:* Street children, homeless children who live on the street...
, a band Smith fronted in the 1970s. Andy Barnett , Dave Colwell and Richard Young played with Smith in various incarnations of Urchin, which was disbanded in 1981 when Smith joined Iron Maiden. Further foundations for the band were laid out in late 1985 when Iron Maiden were taking a break after their massive world tour in support of their album Powerslave
Powerslave (album)
Powerslave is the fifth studio album by the English heavy metal band Iron Maiden, released on 3 September 1984 on EMI in Europe and its sister label Capitol Records in the US ....
. Bored with the lull in band's activity as they prepared to record a new album, Adrian Smith invited his friends Colwell and Barnett, as well as other musicians they knew to play a one-off gig at London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's Marquee Club
Marquee Club
The Marquee was a music club first located at 165 Oxford Street, London, England when it opened in 1958 with a range of jazz and skiffle acts.It was also the location of the first ever live performance by The Rolling Stones on 12 July 1962....
under the name of "The Entire Population of Hackney
The Entire Population of Hackney
The Entire Population of Hackney is the name used for a project featuring members of Iron Maiden, FM and Urchin that played two concerts in 1985. It is also the name used for a bootleg recording of the first show...
". The band performed what would later be the title track from Silver and Gold, as well as 3 of the 4 B-sides to its singles at the show. Adrian Smith left Iron Maiden in 1990 during the writing of their album No Prayer for the Dying, due largely to creative differences.
When he formed A.S.A.P. in 1989, he invited his friends and former bandmates, as well as Zak Starkey
Zak Starkey
Zak Starkey is an English rock drummer. He is the son of Beatles drummer Ringo Starr and Starr's first wife Maureen Starkey Tigrett. He is also well known for his unofficial membership in the English rock band The Who, with whom he has performed and recorded since 1996. He is also the third...
, son of legendary drummer Ringo Starr
Ringo Starr
Richard Starkey, MBE better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in...
. Originally, Smith wanted Nicko McBrain
Nicko McBrain
Michael Henry "Nicko" McBrain is an English musician, best known as the drummer for Iron Maiden, which he joined in 1982, prior to which he had played for Streetwalkers, Pat Travers, and the French political band, Trust.-Biography:...
to join in on drums but McBrain was getting married at the time. Their first and only album was a significant departure from the sound he helped create with Iron Maiden. It was heavy on synths and keyboards, treading closer to Pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
and AC
Adult contemporary music
Adult contemporary music is a broad style of popular music that ranges from lush 1950s and 1960s vocal music to predominantly ballad-heavy music with varying degrees of rock influence, as well as a radio format that plays such music....
than epic Heavy Metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
. It also featured Smith in the role of lead singer, something most Iron Maiden fans were not accustomed to. His voice has a somewhat husky, working class feel to it, reminiscent of Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams, is a Canadian rock singer-songwriter, guitarist, bassist, producer, actor and photographer. Adams has won dozens of awards and nominations, including 20 Juno Awards among 56 nominations. He has also received 15 Grammy Award nominations including a win for Best Song Written...
or even Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
. The album was a commercial failure and the band soon evolved into another outfit called The Untouchables, which never released any records, though they did tour. By 1994, they were again evolved and Smith later formed Psycho Motel
Psycho Motel
Psycho Motel was a British hard rock band, formed by Iron Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith.-History:The band was formed in 1995 by Iron Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith after he left Maiden in 1990. Smith briefly experimented with a project called ASAP before seemingly retiring from the music industry...
which recorded two studio albums, State of Mind (1996) and Welcome to the World
Welcome to the World
Welcome to the World is the second and final Psycho Motel album. It has a less aggressive direction compared to their first album State of Mind. It features a different vocalist this time around, Andy Makin, who gives the album a sound more like Alice in Chains than before. It also features Scott...
(1997) and toured, before rejoining Dickinson
Bruce Dickinson
Paul Bruce Dickinson is an English singer, songwriter, airline pilot, fencer, broadcaster, author, screenwriter, actor and marketing director, best known as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden....
in 1997 and eventually Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
in 1999.
Track listing - Silver and Gold (album)
- "The Lion" (Barnett/Colwell/Smith/Young) - 3:54
- "Silver and Gold" (Barnett/Colwell/Smith/Young) - 4:50
- "Down the Wire" (Barnett/Colwell/Smith/Young) - 5:06
- "You Could Be a King" (Barnett/Colwell/Smith/Young) - 3:38
- "After the Storm" (Barnett/Colwell/Smith/Young) - 5:50
- "Misunderstood" (Barnett/Colwell/Smith/Young) - 4:25
- "Kid Gone Astray" (Barnett/Colwell/Smith/Young) - 4:24
- "Fallen Heroes" (Barnett/Colwell/Smith/Young) - 4:32
- "Wishing Your Life Away" (Barnett/Colwell/Smith/Young) - 4:05
- "Blood on the Ocean" (Barnett/Colwell/Smith/Young) - 6:01
Track listing - Silver and Gold (CD single)
- "Silver and Gold (12" Remix)" (Barnett/Colwell/Smith/Young) - 4:47
- "Blood Brothers (Alternative Version)" (Barnett/Colwell/Smith/Young) - 3:33
- "Fighting Man" (Smith) - 3:56
Track listing - Down the Wire (CD single)
- "Down the Wire (Long Distance Mix)" (Barnett/Colwell/Smith/Young)
- "When She's Gone" (Smith)
- "School Days" (Smith)
Lineup - Silver and Gold (1989)
- Adrian SmithAdrian SmithAdrian Frederick "H" Smith is an English musician and one of three guitarists in the heavy metal band, Iron Maiden. He is also one of the band's regular songwriters and, along with bassist Steve Harris, performs backing vocals on some songs.-Biography:While at school, Smith purchased his first...
- lead & rhythm guitars, acoustic guitar, lead vocals - Andy Barnett - lead & rhythm guitars, acoustic guitar, slide guitar, backing vocals
- Dave ColwellDave ColwellDave "Bucket" Colwell is a guitarist from the United Kingdom and has been a member of Bad Company, Samson, ASAP, The Eastenders, The Entire Population of Hackney, Angel Street and FM...
- rhythm & lead guitars, acoustic guitar, backing vocals - Richard Young - keyboards, sequence programming
- Robin Clayton - bass
- Zak StarkeyZak StarkeyZak Starkey is an English rock drummer. He is the son of Beatles drummer Ringo Starr and Starr's first wife Maureen Starkey Tigrett. He is also well known for his unofficial membership in the English rock band The Who, with whom he has performed and recorded since 1996. He is also the third...
- drums, percussion
Additional musicians:
- Stevie Lange - backing vocals on "After the Storm"