Janick Gers

Janick Gers
Janick Gers in 2008
Background information
Born	27 January 1957 (1957-01-27) (age 54) Hartlepool, England
Genres	Heavy metal, hard rock
Occupations	Musician, songwriter,
Instruments	Guitar
Years active	1975 - present
Labels	EMI
Associated acts	White Spirit, Gillan, Gogmagog, Bruce Dickinson, Fish, Iron Maiden
Notable instruments
Fender Stratocaster

Janick Robert Gers (pronounced /ˈjænɪk ˈɡɛərz/) (born 27 January 1957, Hartlepool, England) is an English musician, best known for his work with Gillan and as one of three current guitarists in Iron Maiden and a songwriter for the band. Janick lives in Yarm, Teesside. His father, Bolesłav^[1] (known as Bob), was an officer of the Polish Navy.

Career

Gers was the lead guitarist of the band White Spirit before joining Gillan, a group formed by former Deep Purple vocalist Ian Gillan.^[2] 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. In March 1990, during the recording of the album, he was asked to join Iron Maiden in place of departing Adrian Smith.^[2] He has remained with the band ever since, even after Smith rejoined the band in 1999. Gers, along with Dave Murray are the only 2 guitarists to ever play with all 3 Iron Maiden vocalists, though Murray is the only one to do so as a member of Iron Maiden

Gers' playing style uses heavy distortion and is noted for having a very raw tone. He prefers staccato picking instead of playing legato using hammer-ons and pull-offs.

Gers is also left-handed although he plays guitar right-handed; as seen at the Rock In Rio DVD signing autographs.

Gers' main influences are Ritchie Blackmore, Jeff Beck and Irish blues guitarist Rory Gallagher. He is noted for his energetic stage presence. He occasionally does tricks with his guitar, such as spinning it around his body while playing, or throwing it into the air before catching it.

He has a daughter named Sian Gers who attends Conyers in Yarm.

According to the Flight 666 movie, Gers has a university degree in sociology, though it is unknown if this is because he ever planned on a lasting career in something other than music.

Musical equipment

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. His favourite guitar over the years has been a black Fender Stratocaster, equipped with JB Jr. pickups.^[3] Gers uses four different Fender Stratocasters and also a Gibson Chet Atkins semi-acoustic model for songs such as "Dance of Death". Like his bandmate Dave Murray, Gers currently uses the Marshall JMP-1 preamp through a Marshall 9200 (discontinued) poweramp. He uses Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Nickel-wound guitar strings. He does not use the B strings, however, so the strings go 10-10-17-26-36-46.

Discography

References

External links

• Iron Maiden's official website

Iron Maiden Bruce Dickinson · Steve Harris · Dave Murray · Adrian Smith · Janick Gers · Nicko McBrain Blaze Bayley · Clive Burr · Paul Di'Anno · Dennis Stratton · Doug Sampson (details) Studio albums Iron Maiden · Killers · The Number of the Beast · Piece of Mind · Powerslave · Somewhere in Time · Seventh Son of a Seventh Son · No Prayer for the Dying · Fear of the Dark · The X Factor · Virtual XI · Brave New World · Dance of Death · A Matter of Life and Death · The Final Frontier Live albums Live After Death · Maiden England · A Real Live One · A Real Dead One · A Real Live Dead One · Live at Donington · Rock in Rio · BBC Archives · Beast over Hammersmith · Death on the Road · Flight 666 Extended plays The Soundhouse Tapes · Live!! +one · Maiden Japan · No More Lies Compilations Best of the Beast · Ed Hunter · Edward the Great · Best of the 'B' Sides · The Essential Iron Maiden · Somewhere Back in Time Box sets The First Ten Years · Eddie's Head · Eddie's Archive Video albums Live at the Rainbow · Video Pieces · Behind the Iron Curtain · Live After Death · 12 Wasted Years · Maiden England · The First Ten Years · From There to Eternity · Donington Live 1992 · Raising Hell · Rock in Rio · Visions of the Beast · The Early Days · Death on the Road · Flight 666 Singles "Running Free" · "Sanctuary" · "Women in Uniform" · "Twilight Zone" · "Purgatory" · "Run to the Hills" · "The Number of the Beast" · "Flight of Icarus" · "The Trooper" · "2 Minutes to Midnight" · "Aces High" · "Wasted Years" · "Stranger in a Strange Land" · "Can I Play with Madness" · "The Evil That Men Do" · "The Clairvoyant" · "Infinite Dreams (live)" · "Holy Smoke" · "Bring Your Daughter... to the Slaughter" · "Be Quick or Be Dead" · "From Here to Eternity" · "Wasting Love" · "Fear of the Dark (live)" · "Hallowed Be Thy Name (live)" · "Man on the Edge" · "Lord of the Flies" · "Virus" · "The Angel and the Gambler" · "Futureal" · "The Wicker Man" · "Out of the Silent Planet" · "Wildest Dreams" · "Rainmaker" · "The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg" · "Different World" · "El Dorado" Tours Supporting "Metal for Muthas Tour" · "British Steel Tour" · "Unmasked Tour" · "World Wide Blitz Tour" · "Blackout Tour" · "Special Forces Tour" Headlining "Iron Maiden Tour" · "Killer World Tour" · "The Beast on the Road" · "World Piece Tour" · "World Slavery Tour" · "Somewhere on Tour" · "7th Tour of a 7th Tour" · "No Prayer on the Road" · "Fear of the Dark Tour" · "Real Live Tour" · "The X Factour" · "Virtual XI World Tour" · "The Ed Hunter Tour" · "Brave New World Tour" · "Give Me Ed... 'Til I'm Dead Tour"  · "Dance of Death World Tour" · "Eddie Rips Up the World Tour" · "A Matter of Life and Death Tour" · "Somewhere Back in Time World Tour" · "The Final Frontier World Tour" Related articles Members · Discography · Tours · Songs · Awards · Eddie · Tributes · Urchin · Kevin Shirley · Derek Riggs · Rod Smallwood · Martin Birch · Psycho Motel · Samson · Michael Kenney  · The Entire Population of Hackney · Charlotte the Harlot Book:Iron Maiden · Category:Iron Maiden · Portal:Iron Maiden