Janick Gers

English:
Janick Robert Gers (pronounced YA-nik Gerz) (born January 27, 1957 in Hartlepool, England) is one of
three current guitarists in the British band Iron Maiden and a songwriter for the band. His father, Bolesław, was an officer of the Polish Navy. Gers was the lead guitarist of the band White Spirit before joining Gillan, a group formed by former Deep Purple vocalist Ian Gillan. 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. During the recording of the album he was asked to join Iron Maiden in place of departing Adrian Smith. He has remained with the band ever since, even after Smith rejoined the band in 1999.

Gers' playing style uses heavy distortion and is noted for having a very "RAW" tone. He prefers stacatto picking to avoid using hammers 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 can often be seen bouncing up and down and occasionally does tricks with his guitar, such as spinning it around his body while playing, or throwing it into the air, catching it. 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. Gers uses four different Fender Stratocasters and also a Gibson Chet Atkins semi-acoustic model for songs such as "Dance of Death". Like his bandmates Dave Murray and Adrian Smith, Gers currently uses the Marshall JMP-1 preamp through a Marshall 9200 (discontinued) poweramp. He uses Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Nickel-wound guitar strings.

Polski:
Janick Robert Gers (urodzony 27 stycznia 1957 w Hartlepool w Wielkiej Brytanii), brytyjski muzyk rockowy, mający polskie korzenie (jego ojciec był oficerem polskiej marynarki która ewakuowała się do Brytanii po kampanii wrześniowej).

Od najmłodszych lat interesowało go: pływanie, piłka nożna i muzyka. Grywał na gitarze w zespole White Spirit i Gogmagog, w zespole Iana Gillana, współpracował z Fishem z Marillion i z Brucem Dickinsonem, aż w końcu, w roku 1990, trafił do grupy heavymetalowej: Iron Maiden, gdzie zastąpił Adriana Smitha. Wniósł do zespołu nową jakość nie tylko tym jak zachowywał się na scenie (zwariowany taniec, podrzucanie gitary), ale także swoją grą. Jego styl znacznie różni się od stylu Smitha co słychać w muzyce Maiden. Jego gra jest bardzo żywiołowa. Dźwięki zawsze gra trochę wcześniej niż cały zespół. Janick używa gitar Fender Stratocaster. Janick Gers jest leworęczny.
Discography:

Iron Maiden

* No Prayer for the Dying (1990)
* Fear of the Dark (1992)
* A Real Live One (Live, 1993)
* A Real Dead One (Live, 1993)
* Live at Donington '92 (Live, 1993)
* The X Factor (1995)
* Virtual XI (1998)
* Brave New World (2000)
* Rock in Rio (Live, 2002)
* Dance of Death (2003)
* Death on the Road (Live, 2005)
* A Matter of Life and Death (2006)
White Spirit

* White Spirit (1980)

Gillan

* Double Trouble (1981)
* Magic (1982)

Gogmagog

* I Will Be There EP (1985)

Fish

* Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors (1990)

Bruce Dickinson

* Tattooed Millionaire (1990)