20 Facts About Janick Gers

Janick Robert Gers is an English musician who is best known as one of the three guitarists in heavy metal band Iron Maiden since 1990.

Janick Gers initially joined to replace Adrian Smith, but remained in the band after Smith rejoined in 1999.

Janick 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.

Janick Gers has remained with the band ever since, even after Smith rejoined the band in 1999, contributing to a total of ten studio albums.

Janick Gers' playing style uses heavy distortion and is noted for having a very raw tone.

Janick Gers prefers alternate picking instead of playing legato using hammers and pull-offs.

Janick Gers 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.

Janick Gers is known for his dynamic on-stage performances, which have occasionally led to mishaps.

Janick Gers is left-handed although he plays guitar right-handed; he can be seen signing autographs with his left hand in the Rock in Rio DVD.

Janick 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.

Janick Gers has two children with his wife Sandra, and lives in Yarm, Teesside.

Janick Gers has relatives in the Bydgoszcz area and Sosno village in Poland and visited them regularly as a teenager from 1972 and until 1977.

Janick Gers met his Polish family again after 34 years at a 2011 concert in Warsaw.

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

Janick 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.

Janick Gers appeared in the 2010 fan-made Iron Maiden documentary Maiden Heaven.

Janick Gers's guitars are typically black or white with rosewood fingerboards and Seymour Duncan JB Jr.

Janick Gers uses four different Fender Stratocasters, as well as a Gibson Chet Atkins semi-acoustic model for songs such as "Dance of Death".

Janick 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.

Janick Gers uses Ernie Ball Regular Slinky nickel-wound guitar strings.