Iron Maiden RULES, except...

[Aceman]

for that idiot Janik.

I've been watching the Flight 666 clips & vids on VH1, and he just stanks up the stage every chance he gets with moves that even CC DeVille wouldn't touch! Does he have the "Big Rock Guitar Cool Move Desk Calendar" or something, where he gets a new cheeseball acrobatic tip everyday? I was amazed to see Yngwie do a lot of those moves and more - but then Yngwie is an amazing player - at the same time. He's like the spare guitar tire in that band. I'm sure the dude can play - but really, if all you have to do is spin the guitar around, put your leg up on stuff, and do neck slides, do you really need to be there? It's not like he was ever on those tunes anyway.

Can somebody please explain his relationship with that band and his continued presence?

[HighGain]

Because he can play his ass off, that's why. I haven't seen all of the Flight 666 vid yet, but he burns the frets off on the Rock in Rio DVD. The performance of Dream of Mirrors from that vid just blows me away. He does pose, but I never thought it was all that bad.

I always wondered why they kept him when Adrian came back, but I'm good with it now. I like the 3 guitar thing, but I was always a fan of that. Skynyrd, the Outlaws, Molly Hatchet. I guess Maiden is the metal version. It's good to see them that powerful and with that much energy. I hope they last forever.

[ex-250]

I always wondered why they kept him when Adrian came back

woulda been kind of a dick move. "well yes youve been our friend and bandmate for 10 years now, but the guy before you wants to come back, so **** off"

[lpmarshall]

My buddy at work is a HUGE Iron Maiden fan. The mere mention of Janick's name sends him into a tailspin. I didn't understand until I watched Rock In Rio, and all I really see him doing is all sorts of useless posturing.

[HighGain]

woulda been kind of a dick move. "well yes youve been our friend and bandmate for 10 years now, but the guy before you wants to come back, so **** off"

Agreed.

[Rainmaker]

Agreed also.

I think he's great fun to watch on stage, though I gotta say it's a real shame to see him not stick to Adrian's solos on tracks like Hallowed, Heaven Can Wait, Revelations, etc.

I'd be curious to know what Maiden think of all the flack he gets?

[rashayritto]

i like Janik and think he does bring something to the table. after listening to Maiden with 3 guitars something just feels missing when i listen to maiden with 2. I have some guitar magazine laying around where the three guitarists sit down and discuss the dynamic and it sounded pretty convincing. i honestly dont understand why he gets so much hate. the dude can play...maybe its harder to justify 3 guitars on the older maiden stuff written with 2 in mind. the latest album is really darn good so something is deffinitely working

[super rad stuff]

he's there because of all the triple harmony stuff, and the rhythm guitar whenever there's a dual harmony

[Petrovsk Mizinski]

Because he can play his ass off, that's why. .

You're kidding hopefully.
Janick is one of the sloppiest guitarists I've ever seen.

[sosomething]

I don't mind old Janik. It's still Maiden. They just work with three guitarists.

[grumptruck]

Yeah the stage moves were a little much... The ratio of moves to wrinkles was off the charts.

[dr. ad]

he's there because of all the triple harmony stuff, and the rhythm guitar whenever there's a dual harmony

I don't mind old Janik. It's still Maiden. They just work with three guitarists.

i agree with you guys.
saw them on the last tour and it seems to give them more freedom to play the back catalogue live, as there's often a few guitars in the mix.
i couldn't help but notice that dave and adrian hung on one side of the stage and janick got ignored by them on the other

if anyone missed a note, i couldn't hear it.
of course, i was about a kilometre away... talk about stadium rock

[HighGain]

You're kidding hopefully.
Janick is one of the sloppiest guitarists I've ever seen.

No, I'm not kidding, and I haven't noticed any "sloppiness". Hell, go watch "The Song Remains the Same" if you want sloppy, or better yet, catch Van Halen on their next tour.

I have no problem with Janick Gers or his contribution to Iron Maiden. And I consider myself a purist. I didn't like it at first, but as someone else suggested, he allows Murray and Smith a little more freedom to do their thing. The new Iron Maiden sounds terrific, imo.

[ricc]

I don't mind him aside from
1) the moves - awful
2) not sticking to the original solos. I have always thought that the solos - particularly Adrian's were compositions in their own right: well thought out and beautifully executed. It's a shame to not play them.

[theodie]

They rule except, when Judas Priest is in the same sentence.

[subanots]

lol /\

go see them live. gers is the man. yah he is too fast for maidens style, but he did help write some of their best music.... fear of the dark anyone? hello?

listen to the intro to judas be my guide, tell me that isnt haunting.

he is a dork on stage and he has fun. so what.

i can totally understand why someone wouldnt like him, when they see the way he acts in a video, also when they hear him totally botch one of adrians solos from a live performance.

i warmed up to him.

i even went from despising blaze to actually liking most of the songs that he did with maiden.

give him a chance.

[GoDrex]

The guy is over the top for sure - but the other two guys always just stand there - so it balances out. :P

[Aceman]

Ok - I agree that to just dump him would have been un-cool to say the least. so let's say he is staying.

#1 I have listened to live after death a bajillion times. NOTHING sounded missing. It rocked.
#2 Could someone get him to not be such a poser/juggler? Just a little review of the film, with some feedback?
#3 I don't disagree that Maiden COULD use three guitars - but then, let's really do it like we mean it. Do some really amazing triple harmonies, poly rhythms, etc....three section leads. Play adrians, daves, then add one more!

[HighGain]

Kinda ironic, don't you think, that a couple of KISS fans are discussing another guy of huge musical talent being a POSER?

A great point was made by Drex...although I think Dave and Adrian are beyond cool and talented, they don't exactly move much, and they never have. Gers is entertaining, or trying to.

I guess this discussion reminds me of going to shows and there was always a contingent of guys who stood back by the control boards and critiqued every freaking note, light, move, and costume. I was "that guy" for a while, until I realized if I was better, I'd be up on stage...getting hammered by all the know-it-alls back around the boards.

It's kinda ridiculous to dis Janik Gers if you consider who the guys were that picked him and wanted him to stay. Sucking would not have been conducive to being in Iron Maiden to start with.

[idsnowdog]

A lot of people equate Janick with a decline in the quality of Iron Maiden's work. To be fair that decline had started when Adrian was in the band and continued after his return. His presence is coincidental. There were still plenty of great songs between 7th Son and Brave New World, there just weren't as many per album. IMO A Matter of Life and Death was where the Iron Maiden name was finally rehabilitated.