In April 2008, after 5 years or so of working with Adrian Smith from Iron Maiden, I decided I would try and convince the band to capture our music with a recording. The band used to get together when Iron Maiden were not touring or recording. The rehearsals were usually a number of weeks before Adrian was due in the studio or rehearsals for a Maiden tour. Adrian used the band to get him in shape for tours and recording with Maiden! "Blow away some cobwebs," he used to say. There was often talk of recording something, possibly some original material. A couple of times Adrian did hand me a CD with some ideas to listen to. These were basic with some simple guitar tracks and a drum machine backing. A year later after the first recording session, Adrian approached Martin and me to potentially work on a couple of songs that he would then take to Iron Maiden record producer Kevin Shirley. At this time (2009), Kevin was looking for songs for Joe Bonamassa to record. He had apparently asked Adrian if he had any songs that would suit Bonamassa. With this in mind I suggested once again that I could organise the same theatre for us to perform and record. Subsequently, we recorded a final time in 2009. We did record a couple of Adrian's original songs but to my knowledge these songs have never surfaced.
So anyway here below we have three versions of the Albert King song "Born Under a Bad Sign". This was one of the songs that became a regular jamming song in the years from 2008. The first recorded version was the very first time we actually played this song as a band. I personally had never heard the song before. I think though this is the best recorded version of the three here. Take two from the 2008 session is more confident but seems to lack the character of take one and the other version from 2009 is perhaps a little rushed with regards to the tempo.
We continued playing together as three piece until 2014. I'm pleased now that Adrian has gone on to record and perform and release some music with his blues influences.