Adrian Swift is a C**T! And if I had my way he wouldn’t even be in this fucking band!! Didn't even bloody even pay – B.Dugginson
Had you for a second there didn’t I or did I mmmm ponder, ponder anyway onto serious matters. What can I say about the marvellous Mr. Swift (Melvin), well I first met this fine figure of a man in May 2007 when I agreed for my sins to lend my voice to the now legendary bass meanderings of one Speed Harris & co who had convinced me that my splash proof knickers business venture would never take off. I’d sung for Hi-on before but was intrigued to hear that this was to be the birth of a new Hi-on as all but Speed had jumped ship.
I was informed that Swifty would pick me up en route to Luton where we would be doing our entertaining that evening. I was excited to meet my new band mates and greeted Mr. Swift at my front door with a welcoming smile and an outstretched hand. I looked him in the eye, “yes I was stood on an upturned orange box!” and knew instantly we would get on famously.
And so in that moment was born a new era of working with in my opinion one of the best guitarists I’ve ever met and a new friendship which for those who know me will know I value above anything.
Mr. Swift and I are travelling partners as we are both from Yorkshire so consequently spend hours in each others company on journeys far and wide bringing hopefully much Maiden pleasure to the general populous of many a land. It’s in these times that you learn a lot about each other and thankfully for me he finds my somewhat odd sense of humour entertaining, well he hasn’t hit me yet!. Swifty is a huge Adrian Smith fan and looks uncannily like the man himself in both physical appearance and general demeanour. Our Swifty is a very caring gentle soul who is passionate about his native Hull. He spent many years a trawler man and survived many brutal attacks by hungry seagulls and angry cod in order to pursue his ambition to become a full time musician. Indeed it was the harsh, cold conditions at sea that forged the incredibly talented guitarist we have in the band today.
What always impresses me most about Swifty is his attention to detail, things have to be right visually, sound wise and playing wise in order to really do justice to the part you’re performing. As a result of this I haven’t seen or heard anyone anywhere really capture the Adrian Smith bit as well as he has. Swifty is a very structured player and everything he plays really aches with emotion and a feel that can’t really be learnt or taught, you just have it and from a personal preference this is something I really enjoy about his playing. I was surprised to learn that as a child he actually started on the spoons on the dock side entertaining local tramps all for the price of his first guitar, such was the determination of the man to start learning all those Smithy parts.
As a singer it’s really important that you have people around you that you can rely on to hold up their end and deliver, and thankfully I have 4 of them but Swifty is definitely someone I’m proud to share a stage with and someone I’m proud to call a friend.
What I most enjoy is his sense of timekeeping and ability to not misplace or lose things. I always know that when Swifty says he’ll pick me up at a certain time I have a small window in which to complete any outstanding chores or have a cuppa, or indeed complete the half marathon I ran in aid of Cock Splash Weekly and more recently prior to our trip to the Netherlands the 10 day trek on foot through the mangrove swamps of the Amazon. If you want anything safekeeping then look no further than Adrian Swift, really anything keys, phones annoying elderly relatives anything, I guarantee they’ll be safer than they’ve ever been ha ha all joking aside I wouldn’t change a thing and look forward to many more, ”Goooooooooooooooooooooooooood” adventures with my mate Swifty.
ADRIAN SWIFT Fact file:
Date Of Birth:
I wasn't born...I am ETERNAL!
First Band:
The Band With No Name - misc rock/prog covers band.
Previous Bands:
Rock-a-doodle, The Mad Cow Band, the rest I'm trying hard to forget...
Favourite Band (other than Maiden):
Pink Floyd.
Favourite Maiden Album:
Depends on which way the wind is blowing. But you can't go wrong with Piece of Mind or Somewhere in Time or............
First Maiden Gig:
December 4th, 1988 - Sheffield City Hall. Seventh Tour of a Seventh Tour. I was right at the front on Dave Murray's side, and just narrowly missed out being on the back cover of the Infinite Dreams (live) single!
Favourite Maiden Song To Play Live:
Depends on which way................ I love playing 2 Minutes to Midnight. Rime is always awesome to play and Alexander the Great is becoming one of my favourites too.
Best Hi-on Maiden Gig Memory:
It happens at every gig! The moments just before hitting the stage, while 'Doctor, Doctor' and intro music is playing, standing in the wings with the anticipation and excitement growing, then running out and hitting the crowd with the first few bars. That feeling makes all the hours driving, humping gear, etc. worthwhile.
Worst Hi-on Maiden Gig Memory:
Probably the Y.M.C.A. incident. Not sure it qualifies as I can't remember it (and it's a complete fabric of lies) but if I could remember, it would probably be the worst. Maybe the Aberdare incident too, enjoyed the gig but the aftermath, well, there was just no need!
Favourite Venue:
Probably The Pitz@The Woughton (Wuffton) Centre in Milton Keynes, or JB's in Dudley. No, wait, Tavistock or maybe Hamburg Ballroom. Norwich (my first Hi-on gig) was pretty cool too. Er...............
Favourite Guitar Player Other Than Those In Maiden:
David Gilmour, 'nuff said :o)
Who Would Be In Your Dream Band:
David Gilmour - Guitars/Vocals
Adrian Smith - Guitar
Sarah McLachlan - Keyboard/Vocals
Guy Pratt - Bass Guitar
Ashwin Sood - Drums
Angelina Jolie - Dancing around looking sexy
Me - Anything as long as it's near Angelina Jolie ;o)
