Janick Gers - time to hit the high road?

[spawn]

I think on Chemical Wedding Adrian deserves a lot of credit, he does do solos etc. on it, and unless im mistaken plays rhythm guitar as well, so he did contribute a lot to that record, though its certainly fair to say Roy Z would have contributed most.

The songs Adrian wrote/cowrote on BNW were the best ones on the album IMHO, Steves just went on a bit long, but I do think it will stand up in 10 years, simply because The Wickerman, Ghost Of The Navigator, The Fallen Angel and Dream Of Mirrors are as good as anything else Maiden have written

 

[Sydo]

Remember that Ghost Of Navigator and Dream Of Mirrors are Jannick songs..

 

[spawn]

Ahh but I like Janick, so its ok

 

[Blitzkrieg]

BNW definately wouldn't be the same without Adrian. I agree with the point Mark made, but also, Adrian co-wrote some of the best stuff on BNW, without him, these songs wouldn't have been as strong, or wouldn't even have existed.

The one thing I DO agree with is that with more members in the band to contribute to the writing, each member isn't getting enough space, but that doesn't mean kick a member out so another can have more space, it means their next effort should be a double-album.

 

[Southy]

I didnt even get half way thru the first page..this debate is very very boring..but quick reply is fuckin sweet

 

[maestro_al]

I definitely agree that Roy Z and Bruce had a lot to do with making Chemical Wedding magnificient, but you're forgetting the earlier efforts from Adrian...

THE PRISONER
GANGLAND
FLIGHT OF ICARUS
DIE WITH YOUR BOOTS ON
SUN AND STEEL
2 MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT
BACK IN THE VILLAGE (one of the most amazing riffs ever written)
WASTED YEARS
SEA OF MADNESS
STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND
MOONCHILD
CAN I PLAY WITH MADNESS
THE EVIL THAT MEN DO

Is it even worth discussing whether anything Janick Gers has written even comes close (par sun and steel perhaps)?

These songs are classic Maiden which made the band great - Maiden will always be remembered for songs like 2 minutes to Midnight, NOT Dream of Mirrors!!

Either way, it's all democratic - we can agree to disagree!

 

[spawn]

Originally posted by Blitzkrieg

The one thing I DO agree with is that with more members in the band to contribute to the writing, each member isn't getting enough space, but that doesn't mean kick a member out so another can have more space, it means their next effort should be a double-album.

That would be SO cool

 

[Southy]

Yep certainly would

 

[Goreripper]

Originally posted by maestro_al
Blitzkrieg: I understand that some people such as yourselves like The X Factor and Virtual XI better than, say, Piece of Mind or Number of the Beast, and that's cool.

I don't think anyone likes Virtual XI better than Piece of Mind or TNOTB

 

[Mountain Man]

Hey maestro_al, you are so right. I thought the exact same thing. Glad to hear that someone is thinking along the same lines

 

[Southy]

that makes 2 against how many??

 

[maestro_al]

Yeah I noticed when everyone was reminded of Adrian Smiths contributions to Iron Maiden (2 minutes, Icarus, Stranger etc) that it all fell a bit silent. oops! Aahh suddenly the penny drops.

There is just no comparison - anything post Seventh Son is just terrible - VERY bad production, poor song writing, Blaize Bailey didn't have the vocal range, and of course most of all, Janick's guitar playing is fucking atrocious. BNW turned out to be better but then I've explained why already.

But of course Janick Gers makes up for his crap musicianship because he "runs around on stage". That's a great way to add to the integrity of the music don't you think? So if that makes some of us in the minority (as Southy points out, '2 against how many?') then so be it. In fact, there are some IM purists who believe that the KILLERS line-up was the best IM period. Just because most of you like Janick Gers doesn't mean we all have to!

 

[phlogiston]

Originally posted by maestro_al
Yeah I noticed when everyone was reminded of Adrian Smiths contributions to Iron Maiden (2 minutes, Icarus, Stranger etc) that it all fell a bit silent. oops! Aahh suddenly the penny drops.

Actually I missed that post. Don't know why, musta just scrolled past it.

There is just no comparison - anything post Seventh Son is just terrible - VERY bad production, poor song writing, Blaize Bailey didn't have the vocal range, and of course most of all, Janick's guitar playing is fucking atrocious. BNW turned out to be better but then I've explained why already.

I think you'll find that production and writing was due to Steve, and Blaze's singing had very little to do with Janick. As for his guitar playing, I'll agree that is didn't really fit the group on NPFTD, but he's been better every album since.

But of course Janick Gers makes up for his crap musicianship because he "runs around on stage". That's a great way to add to the integrity of the music don't you think? So if that makes some of us in the minority (as Southy points out, '2 against how many?') then so be it. In fact, there are some IM purists who believe that the KILLERS line-up was the best IM period. Just because most of you like Janick Gers doesn't mean we all have to!

And that's the beauty about living in a free society We don't have to agree on everything.

 

[spawn]

Free societies stink, everyone should think like me!

 

[maestro_al]

You're right about the production being blamed on Steve Harris. If you listen to The Clansman or Sign of the Cross, you almost have to feel sorry for Blaize Bailey trying to hit those low notes in the intros. Even Barry White would struggle with those lines.

Not sure who came up with the vocal melodies but it sounds worse than japanese karaoke.

 

[Eddy]

I've kept out of this, but now I'm bored enough to reply...

Originally posted by maestro_al
There is just no comparison - anything post Seventh Son is just terrible - VERY bad production, poor song writing, Blaize Bailey didn't have the vocal range...

Specify.

Blaze has the range just like Bruce does (well, maybe not that[/] wide but anyway...) it's just that Blaze's range is at the lower octaves. An opera tenor voice may have the same, say three octave range as an opera bass voice has, but they still can't sing the same stuff. Maybe a bit exaggerated example but you get what I mean.

In fact, there are some IM purists who believe that the KILLERS line-up was the best IM period. Just because most of you like Janick Gers doesn't mean we all have to!

That's very true. And it can be turned around too. Just because some of you dislike Janick, that doesn't mean we all have to.

I actually know someone who prefers the DiAnno era Maiden....

 

[Eddy]

Originally posted by maestro_al
You're right about the production being blamed on Steve Harris. If you listen to The Clansman or Sign of the Cross, you almost have to feel sorry for Blaize Bailey trying to hit those low notes in the intros. Even Barry White would struggle with those lines.

Not to mention Bruce who doesn't have that strong lower register...

 

[Metal_Thailand]

I have to say that Janick is a pretty piss poor guitarist, his only saving grace is that he has all this energy to run around stage, it's a shame he does not put all that energy into actually learning how to play the guitar, let alone a solo!!

Lets face facts, Maiden WERE an awesome band and now they are just a bunch of middle aged guys with long hair. I saw Maiden just before BNW in Boston, and they were great. But I have to admit, Janick may have his good points but he is just a waste of space in the band.

Maiden should just pack it in, I am sick and tired of listening to the same old shit they made 20 years ago, their fan base is decreasing because their music is so old hat. Just listen to some of the new Power Metal stuff that is out there, it just puts Maiden to Shame.

For Steve Harris, he should stop recording albums in his basement and just get out and use a proper studio. I just hate the production value of the last few albums as they just sound arse.

The only person I have respect for is Bruce and Adrian (but Adrian can be a prick). Chemical Wedding is just an awesome album.

 

[Winmar]

You could always just decide not to listen to their CDs or go see em, man........

 

[Yella Terra]

I like Janick!........So Just bugger off!