Janick Gers

Janick Robert Gers (; 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.

Early life Janick Gers was born on January 27, 1957 he is of Polish ancestry via his father, Bolesław, 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. 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.

He grew up in Hartlepool and 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.

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. 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); this project then expanded into Dickinson's first solo album, Tattooed Millionaire (1990).

During the recording of Tattooed Millionaire, Gers was asked to join Iron Maiden in place of Adrian Smith. He has remained with the band ever since, even after Smith rejoined the band in 1999, contributing to a total of ten studio albums. In 2026 Gers and Iron Maiden were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

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.

He is noted for his energetic stage presence, which often involves dancing, prancing, and performing tricks with his guitar, such as throwing it into the air and catching it. 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. 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. While Gers plays guitar right-handed, he is naturally left-handed and can be seen signing autographs with his left hand in Iron Maiden's 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.

Personal life 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.

Gers has relatives in the Bydgoszcz area and Sośno village in Poland and visited them regularly as a teenager from 1972 and until 1977. Gers bought his first guitar during one of those visits, in a music store in Złotów close to Piła. Gers met his Polish family again after 34 years at a 2011 concert in Warsaw. 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. which was given to him by Ian Gillan. 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.

Like his bandmates, Dave Murray and Adrian Smith, Gers currently uses the Marshall JMP-1 preamp through a Marshall 9200 power amp. Preferring not to use foot-switches while playing, Gers' roadie operates his MIDI Foot Controller offstage.

Discography

Iron MaidenNo Prayer for the Dying (1990)Fear of the Dark (1992)The X Factor (1995)Virtual XI (1998)Brave New World (2000)Dance of Death (2003)A Matter of Life and Death (2006)The Final Frontier (2010)The Book of Souls (2015)Senjutsu (2021)

White SpiritWhite Spirit (1980)

GillanDouble Trouble (1981)Magic (1982)

GogmagogI Will Be There (EP) (1985)

FishVigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors (1990)

Bruce DickinsonTattooed Millionaire (1990)

Ian GillanGillan's Inn'' (2006)

Gers (right) performing with Dave Murray (center) and Adrian Smith (left) in Costa Rica.