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. He initially joined to replace Adrian Smith, but remained in the band even after Smith rejoined. 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. Gers first performance with Gillan was on Top of the Pops, and Gers would go on to record two albums with the band before Ian Gillan disbanded the group at the end of 1982. After Gillan disbanded, Gers undertook a Humanities degree before joining Gogmagog, which included former Iron Maiden vocalist Paul Di'Anno and drummer Clive Burr. The project would ultimately come to nothing. Gers would later contribute, and perform on, the track "View from the Hill" on former Marillion vocalist Fish's first solo album, Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors, released in 1990. In 1989 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 -- this project then expanded into Dickinson's first solo album, Tattooed Millionaire. During the recording of Tattooed Millionare, 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.