Janick Gers

Template:Short description Template:EngvarB Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox musical artist

Janick Robert Gers (Template:IPAc-en; born 27 January 1957) is an English musician who is best known as one of the three guitarists in heavy metal band Iron Maiden since 1990. He initially joined to replace Adrian Smith, but remained in the band after Smith rejoined in 1999. Gers was previously a member of Gillan and co-founder of the band White Spirit in 1975.

Career

Gers began his career as the lead guitarist of the new wave of British heavy metal band White Spirit, appearing on their debut self-titled album in 1980, before leaving in 1981 to join Gillan, replacing Bernie Torme in the group formed by then-former Deep Purple vocalist Ian Gillan.<ref name="NME Rock 'N' Roll Years"/> Gers' first performance with Gillan was on Top 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 joining Gogmagog Gers undertook a Humanities degree so he could become a Teacher. However, Gers joined Gogmagog which included former Iron Maiden vocalist Paul Di'Anno and drummer Clive Burr.Template:Sfn The project would ultimately come to nothing.Template:Sfn Gers would later co-write and perform on the track "View from the Hill" on former Marillion vocalist Fish's first solo album, Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors (1990).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Gers was asked to record the song "Bring Your Daughter... to the Slaughter" with Iron Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson for the soundtrack to A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child (1989);Template:Sfn this project then expanded into Dickinson's first solo album, Tattooed Millionaire (1990).Template:Sfn

During the recording of Tattooed Millionaire, Gers was asked to join Iron Maiden in place of Adrian Smith.<ref name="NME Rock 'N' Roll Years">Template:Cite book</ref> He has remained with the band ever since, even after Smith rejoined the band in 1999,Template:Sfn contributing to a total of ten studio albums.

Influences, musical style and performance style

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 are Ritchie Blackmore, Jeff Beck and Rory Gallagher.Template:Sfn

He is noted for his energetic stage presence,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> which often involves dancing, prancing, and performing tricks with his guitar, such as throwing it into the air and catching it.<ref name= "Main Fender Strat">Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>name="Guitar Incident"Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He is also left-handed although he plays guitar right-handed; he can be seen signing autographs with his left hand in the Rock in Rio DVD.

Along with Dave Murray and Adrian Smith (also Iron Maiden guitarists), he shares fourth place on Metal Hammer's list of the greatest metal guitarists of all time.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Personal life

Gers graduated from English 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 in Yarm, Teesside. His son Dylan also plays guitar and has released ambient post rock tracks as both a solo artist and with Noah Yorke, son of Radiohead singer Thom Yorke<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Gers has Polish ancestry via his father, Bolesław,<ref>Tees Valley Birth Marriage & Death indexes.</ref> who was an able seaman of the Polish Navy and served on ORP Burza and ORP Błyskawica on which he came to England during World War 2, and later he joined the Royal Navy.Template:Sfn 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Gers has relatives in the Bydgoszcz area<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Sośno village in Poland and visited them regularly as a teenager from 1972 and until 1977.<ref name="wyborcza">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Gers bought his first guitar during one of those visits, in a music store in Złotów close to Piła.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Gers met his Polish family again after 34 years at a 2011 concert in Warsaw.<ref name="wyborcza" />

Gers is a fan of Hartlepool United and is a season-ticket holder in the Neale Cooper Stand at Victoria Park.

Gers had an uncredited part in the BBC drama The Paradise Club in 1990, appearing as the lead guitarist of a band called Fraud Squad.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He appeared in the 2010 fan-made Iron Maiden documentary Maiden Heaven.

Musical equipment

Gers is a long-time proponent of the Fender Stratocaster. His guitars are typically black or white with rosewood fingerboards and Seymour Duncan JB Jr. and Hot Rails pick-ups.<ref name= "Main Fender Strat"/><ref name= "black strat"/> His favourite guitar over the years has been a black Stratocaster, equipped with JB Jr. pick-ups,<ref name= "black strat">Template:Cite web</ref> which was given to him by Ian Gillan.<ref name="deathontheroaddvd"/> Gers uses four different Fender Stratocasters, as well as a Gibson Chet Atkins semi-acoustic model for songs such as "Dance of Death".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref name=Sandberg >Template:Cite web</ref>

Like his bandmates, Dave Murray<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Adrian Smith,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Gers currently uses the Marshall JMP-1 preamp through a Marshall 9200 power amp.<ref name= "MIDI">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name= "rack">Template:Cite web</ref> Preferring not to use foot-switches while playing, Gers' roadie operates his MIDI Foot Controller offstage.<ref name= "MIDI"/> Favouring cables, Gers only uses a Shure UR4D wireless system when he throws his guitar around.<ref name= "rack"/> He uses Ernie Ball Regular Slinky nickel-wound guitar strings.<ref name="deathontheroaddvd">Template:Cite video</ref>