Janick Gers
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| Janick Gers | |
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 Janick Gers live in Barcelona
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| Background information | |
| Born | January 27, 1957 Hartlepool, England |
| Genre(s) | Heavy metal, Progressive rock |
| Occupation(s) | Guitarist, Songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar |
| Years active | 1980 - present |
| Label(s) | EMI |
| Associated acts | Iron Maiden, White Spirit, Gillan, Gogmagog, Fish, Bruce Dickinson |
| Notable instrument(s) | |
| Fender Stratocaster | |
Janick Robert Gers (pronounced YA-nik Gerz) (born January 27, 1957 in Hartlepool, England) is one of three current guitarists in the British band Iron Maiden and a songwriter for the band. His father, Bolesław, was an officer of the Polish Navy.
Gers was the lead guitarist of the band White Spirit before joining Gillan, a group formed by former Deep Purple vocalist Ian Gillan. After Gillan disbanded, he joined Gogmagog which included former Iron Maiden vocalist Paul Di'Anno and drummer Clive Burr. Gers also performed with other artists including former Marillion vocalist Fish. In 1990, he played guitar on the first solo album of Iron Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson, Tattooed Millionaire. During the recording of the album he was asked to join Iron Maiden in place of departing Adrian Smith. He has remained with the band ever since, even after Smith rejoined the band in 1999.
He is also left handed as seen at the "Rock In Rio" DVD signing autographs, although he plays guitar right handed.
Gers' main influences are Ritchie Blackmore, Jeff Beck and Irish blues guitarist Rory Gallagher. He is noted for his energetic stage presence, as evidenced on the Rock in Rio DVD. He can often be seen bouncing up and down and occasionally does tricks with his guitar, such as spinning it around his body while playing, or throwing it into the air, catching it. In recent years, it is a standard feature of Iron Maiden live shows, that Eddie (the 10 foot mascot who lumbers around the stage during at least one song per set) heads towards Janick and starts mock-attacking him. Janick generally responds by swinging or stabbing his guitar at Eddie, as seen on the Rock in Rio DVD during "The Evil that Men do".
Gers is a long time proponent of the Fender Stratocaster. His Stratocasters are typically black or white with rosewood fingerboards. He uses Seymour Duncan JB Jr.(currently) or Hot Rails (early 1990s) pickups. Janick's favourite guitar over the years has been a black Fender Stratocaster, equipped with JB Jr. pickups. This guitar was apparently a gift from Ian Gillan. Janick uses 4 Fender Stratocasters and also a Gibson Chet Atkins semi-acoustic model for songs such as "Dance of Death". Gers, like his bandmates Dave Murray and Adrian Smith, currently uses the Marshall JMP-1 preamp through a Marshall 9200 (discontinued) poweramp. Janick uses Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Nickel-wound guitar strings.
Contents |
[edit] Discography
[edit] Iron Maiden
- No Prayer for the Dying (1990)
- Fear of the Dark (1992)
- A Real Live One (Live, 1993)
- A Real Dead One (Live, 1993)
- Live at Donington '92 (Live, 1993)
- The X Factor (1995)
- Virtual XI (1998)
- Brave New World (2000)
- Rock in Rio (Live, 2002)
- Dance of Death (2003)
- Death on the Road (Live, 2005)
- A Matter of Life and Death (2006)
[edit] White Spirit
- White Spirit (1980)
[edit] Gillan
- Double Trouble (1981)
- Magic (1982)
