Psycho Motel
Encyclopedia
Psycho Motel was a British hard rock
band, formed by Iron Maiden
guitarist Adrian Smith
.
guitarist Adrian Smith
after he left Maiden in 1990. Smith briefly experimented with a project called ASAP
(Adrian Smith and Project) before seemingly retiring from the music industry altogether in 1990. However, it was a chance meeting with Jamie Stewart
, formerly bass guitarist with The Cult
and Carl Dufresne that finally persuaded Smith back into the spotlight.
Quote from Adrian Smith, as quoted from the State of Mind cover.
However, Stewart soon quit the project and was replaced by bassist Gary Leideman. In 1993, The Untouchables (featuring Smith on vocals, Carl Dufresne, Gary Leideman and Fabio DelRio). Dufresne and DelRio soon left the band and Smith decided to extend the line-up by bringing in singer Solli, a Norwegian who had been working with Thin Lizzy
guitarist Scott Gorham in 21 Guns. A demo impressed enough for the band to land a recording deal. They changed their name to Psycho Motel and debuted with the album State of Mind in 1996, followed a year later by the second release, Welcome to the World
.
As far as Smith was concerned, the two records were distinct from each other:
Quote from Adrian Smith, as quoted from the Welcome to the World album cover.
After the release of Welcome To The World, Smith went to help on two albums and two tours with Bruce Dickinson
. After this, both they both re-joined Iron Maiden in 1999, and Psycho Motel split up. When asked if he would consider re-forming the band in 2001, he said that they had "no plans at the moment" but they would "possibly do some stuff next year". This has yet to happen with his continued success with Iron Maiden.
In 2006, both albums were re-released, Welcome to the World was released with two bonus tracks, "Wait" and "Just Like A Woman".
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
band, formed by 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...
guitarist 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...
.
History
The band was formed in 1995 by Iron MaidenIron 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...
guitarist 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...
after he left Maiden in 1990. Smith briefly experimented with a project called ASAP
ASAP (band)
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...
(Adrian Smith and Project) before seemingly retiring from the music industry altogether in 1990. However, it was a chance meeting with Jamie Stewart
Jamie Stewart (The Cult)
Jamie Stewart was bassist of the 1980s British post-punk/hard rock group The Cult. He played bass guitar and keyboards on each of The Cult's first four albums and rhythm guitar on tour in 1987.After leaving The Cult, Stewart worked as a record producer in Canada...
, formerly bass guitarist with The Cult
The Cult
The Cult are a British rock band that was formed in 1983. They gained a dedicated following in Britain in the mid 1980s as a post-punk band with singles such as "She Sells Sanctuary", before breaking mainstream in the United States in the late 1980s as a hard rock band with singles such as "Love...
and Carl Dufresne that finally persuaded Smith back into the spotlight.
Quote from Adrian Smith, as quoted from the State of Mind cover.
However, Stewart soon quit the project and was replaced by bassist Gary Leideman. In 1993, The Untouchables (featuring Smith on vocals, Carl Dufresne, Gary Leideman and Fabio DelRio). Dufresne and DelRio soon left the band and Smith decided to extend the line-up by bringing in singer Solli, a Norwegian who had been working with Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy are an Irish hard rock band formed in Dublin in 1969. Two of the founding members, drummer Brian Downey and bass guitarist/vocalist Phil Lynott met while still in school. Lynott assumed the role of frontman and led them throughout their recording career of thirteen studio albums...
guitarist Scott Gorham in 21 Guns. A demo impressed enough for the band to land a recording deal. They changed their name to Psycho Motel and debuted with the album State of Mind in 1996, followed a year later by the second release, 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...
.
As far as Smith was concerned, the two records were distinct from each other:
Quote from Adrian Smith, as quoted from the Welcome to the World album cover.
After the release of Welcome To The World, Smith went to help on two albums and two tours with Bruce 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....
. After this, both they both re-joined Iron Maiden in 1999, and Psycho Motel split up. When asked if he would consider re-forming the band in 2001, he said that they had "no plans at the moment" but they would "possibly do some stuff next year". This has yet to happen with his continued success with Iron Maiden.
In 2006, both albums were re-released, Welcome to the World was released with two bonus tracks, "Wait" and "Just Like A Woman".
Last line-up
- Andy Makin - Vocals
- 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...
- Guitars, backing vocals - Gary Leideman - Bass
- Mike SturgisMike SturgisMike Sturgis is an American drummer, having played for the band 21 Guns and later with Iron Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith in Psycho Motel, where he played on both State of Mind and Welcome to the World albums...
- Drums
Former members
- (Hans Olav) Solli - Vocals (State of Mind)
- Jamie Stewart - Bass in The Untouchables
- Carl Dufresne- Guitars, Keys, vocals in The Untouchables
- Bob Richards - Drums in The Untouchables
Studio albums
- State of Mind (1996)
- Welcome to the WorldWelcome to the WorldWelcome 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)