Janick Gers | |
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_(cropped).jpg) Gers at O2 Arena in 2018 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Janick Robert Gers (1957-01-27)27 January 1957 (age 68) Hartlepool, England |
| Genres | |
| Occupation | Guitarist |
| Years active | 1975–present |
Janick Robert Gers (/ˈjænɪkˈɡɜːrz/; born 27 January 1957) is an English musician who is best known as one of the three guitarists inheavy metal bandIron Maiden since 1990. He initially joined to replaceAdrian Smith, but remained in the band after Smith rejoined in 1999. Gers was previously a member ofGillan and co-founder of the bandWhite Spirit in 1975.
Gers began his career as the lead guitarist of thenew wave of British heavy metal bandWhite Spirit, appearing on their debut self-titled album in 1980, before leaving in 1981 to joinGillan, replacingBernie Torme in the group formed by then-formerDeep Purple vocalistIan Gillan.[1] Gers' first performance with Gillan was onTop of the Pops, and he would go on to record two albums with the band before Gillan disbanded the group at the end of 1982.
After Gillan disbanded, and before joiningGogmagog Gers undertook a Humanities degree so he could become aTeacher. However, Gers joined Gogmagog which included former Iron Maiden vocalistPaul Di'Anno and drummerClive Burr.[2] The project would ultimately come to nothing.[2] Gers would later co-write and perform on the track "View from the Hill" on formerMarillion vocalistFish's first solo album,Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors (1990).[3] Gers was asked to record the song "Bring Your Daughter... to the Slaughter" withIron Maiden vocalistBruce Dickinson for the soundtrack toA Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child (1989);[4] this project then expanded into Dickinson's first solo album,Tattooed Millionaire (1990).[4]
During the recording ofTattooed Millionaire, Gers was asked to join Iron Maiden in place ofAdrian Smith.[1] He has remained with the band ever since, even after Smith rejoined the band in 1999,[5] contributing to a total of ten studio albums.
Gers' playing style uses heavy distortion and is noted for having a very raw tone. He prefers alternate picking instead of playing legato using hammers and pull-offs. Gers' main influences areRitchie Blackmore,Jeff Beck andRory Gallagher.[6]
He is noted for his energetic stage presence,[7][8][9] which often involves dancing, prancing, and performing tricks with his guitar, such as throwing it into the air and catching it.[10]Gers is known for his dynamic on-stage performances, which have occasionally led to mishaps. In one instance, his guitar was catapulted off-stage during one of his antics after losing control of its neck.[11] On another occasion, he risked serious injury by losing his footing while strutting on stage, falling violently to the ground, which caused apparent concern from bandmate Adrian Smith.[12]He is also left-handed although he plays guitar right-handed; he can be seen signing autographs with his left hand in theRock in Rio DVD.
Along withDave Murray andAdrian Smith (also Iron Maiden guitarists), he shares fourth place onMetal Hammer's list of the greatest metal guitarists of all time.[13]
Gers graduated fromEnglish Martyrs School and Sixth Form College in the 1970s, and earned a college degree in sociology and English literature after leaving Gillan in the 1980s. He has two children with his wife Sandra, and lives inYarm, Teesside. His son Dylan also plays guitar and has released ambient post rock tracks as both a solo artist and with Noah Yorke, son ofRadiohead singerThom Yorke[14][15][16]
Gers hasPolish ancestry via his father, Bolesław,[17] who was an able seaman of thePolish Navy and served onORP Burza andORP Błyskawica on which he came to England duringWorld War 2, and later he joined theRoyal Navy.[18] Bolesław Gers remained in England after the war, married Janick's British mother Lois in 1956 and had 4 children of which Janick is the oldest.[19]
Gers has relatives in theBydgoszcz area[20] andSośno village inPoland and visited them regularly as a teenager from 1972 and until 1977.[21][22] Gers bought his first guitar during one of those visits, in a music store inZłotów close toPiła.[23] Gers met his Polish family again after 34 years at a 2011 concert in Warsaw.[21]
Gers is a fan ofHartlepool United and is a season-ticket holder in theNeale Cooper Stand atVictoria Park.
Gers had an uncredited part in the BBC dramaThe Paradise Club in 1990, appearing as the lead guitarist of a band called Fraud Squad.[24] He appeared in the 2010 fan-made Iron Maiden documentaryMaiden Heaven.
Gers is a long-time proponent of theFender Stratocaster. His guitars are typically black or white with rosewood fingerboards andSeymour Duncan JB Jr. and Hot Rails pick-ups.[10][25] His favourite guitar over the years has been a black Stratocaster, equipped with JB Jr. pick-ups,[25] which was given to him by Ian Gillan.[26] Gers uses four different Fender Stratocasters, as well as aGibson Chet Atkins semi-acoustic model for songs such as "Dance of Death".[27] Gers is currently endorsed by Sandberg Guitars, and he uses a California ST-S tobacco hc-aged and a California ST-S creme hc-aged model on stage.[28]
Like his bandmates,Dave Murray[29] andAdrian Smith,[30] Gers currently uses theMarshall JMP-1 preamp through a Marshall 9200 power amp.[31][32] Preferring not to use foot-switches while playing, Gers' roadie operates his MIDI Foot Controller offstage.[31] Favouring cables, Gers only uses a Shure UR4D wireless system when he throws his guitar around.[32] He usesErnie Ball Regular Slinky nickel-wound guitar strings.[26]
Main article:Iron Maiden discography
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...and has become friends with the band's guitarist, Janick Gers, who lives in Yarm, Teesside.
In the studio we see "Fraud squad" which are, Janick Gers on guitar, Andy Carr, bass and Dickie Flitzar on drums, i.e. the band that Bruce used on the 1990 solo tour.
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