“SOMETIMES YOU MIGHT SEE GUITARISTS HIDING AWAY BEHIND THEIR AMPS, WAITING FOR THE OTHERS TO TAKE UP THE GAUNTLET AND LEARN THESE SUPER-COMPLICATED PARTS!”
They are in one of the biggest bands in the world, but when Adrian Smith and Janick Gers talk about guitars, there’s not a trace of arrogance. Quite the opposite. Speaking to TG from their homes - Adrian in Buckinghamshire, Janick in the North East - they’re in buoyant mood about the new Iron Maiden album Senjutsu, the 17th studio set of the band’s storied career, and the sixth to feature the three-guitar line-up of Adrian, Janick and Dave Murray. But before they get into the fine detail of Senjutsu (the title loosely meaning ‘the art of war’ in Japanese), they both offer sound advice for less experienced players.
Janick has a tip for those on a modest budget, having played an Epiphone Les Paul Custom, instead of his usual Strats, when Maiden performed the song on their last tour. “I wanted to do that because if you’re a kid watching Iron Maiden, I don’t want you thinking you’ve got to spend three grand to sound good,” he says. “So many guitar players think expensive guitars sound better, but the reality is people rarely can tell the difference. Decent guitars are out there and
