Janick's role in post-reunion Maiden

[Edington]

When you have to drop the rhythm playing to play the harmonies live, the bottom of the song falls out during that part. You put up with it in a two-guitar band because conveying the harmony is more important in that section, but once you have a three-guitar band that compromise is no longer necessary. But instead of fixing that issue when given the opportunity, they just perpetuate it. Seems incredibly silly to me.

I suppose they think the extra harmony is more important than the typical power chording. Both are viable options.

The three-part harmony after the solo sounds just fine to me without a rhythm track under it.

 

[Vaenyr]

Janick's role in post-reunion Maiden: Beeing arguably the best (co-)song writer responsible for modern classics like Dance of Death and The Book of Souls.

 

[naranja]

Yes, but in a live setting instead of having one person play rhythm while the other two play the harmonies, they often add an extra octave harmony and still leave the rhythm playing out. I mean, WTF?

When you have to drop the rhythm playing to play the harmonies live, the bottom of the song falls out during that part. You put up with it in a two-guitar band because conveying the harmony is more important in that section, but once you have a three-guitar band that compromise is no longer necessary. But instead of fixing that issue when given the opportunity, they just perpetuate it. Seems incredibly silly to me.

I presume that's partly why Harry started doing this a lot, though he really started doing it when they were still a two guitar band in the 90s.

From the early 90's-

"I've found over the last few albums I've been playing more bass chords than ever, to get the weight. Like when the guitars break out into a harmony-guitar section, it leaves things open, so to get the weight I tend to play a lot of bass chords, usually barre chords, like strumming downstrokes, playing the four strings."

https://reverb.com/uk/news/interview-iron-maidens-steve-harris

 

[Jer]

The three-part harmony after the solo sounds just fine to me without a rhythm track under it.

Probably because the studio version doesn’t have a rhythm track there either in that particular case, so nothing is missing.

I’m not suggesting adding stuff that was wasn’t there in the first place, just not losing parts that no longer need to be lost.

 

[Blood On The World´s Hand]

Who decided that he should stay in the band? Bruce or Steve?

Both obviously wanted him to stay. Also, to add salt to the wounds of haters, Janick offered to step down but Adrian refused to return if he did. Let that sink in posers. In all honesty, it would have been a massive d*ck move to say "Yeah thanks for carrying the band for the last nine years but you´re out cos were gonna do this nostalgy trip to the 80s". Obviously, gentleman and professional as he is, Janick himself wouldn`t have had any problem with it.

 

[Black Abyss Babe]

I think I have read another account of this where Jan offered to leave for the returning Adrian

Nicko mentioned this in an interview in the January 2019 issue of Classic Rock (issue number 257). I can't find it online but here is the full quote:

I've got to be honest with you, when I was first told, I was sitting in a sake bar in Roppongi, Japan, with Rod and Janick. And Rod turned round and told me that Adrian was coming back with Bruce and asked what did I think about it. I said: "I don't think that's a good idea." Janick said: "We're traditionally a two-guitar band. Three guitars? I don't get that, I'll step down." Rod said: "You're not going anywhere, mate." Then I looked at Rod and I said: "By the way, are you going to cut your commission down?" And he said: "What the fuck do you mean, cut me bloody commission down?" I said: "Well there's six of us in the band to be paid now." He just looked at me: "Fucking typical drummer!"

 

[naranja]

Nicko mentioned this in an interview in the January 2019 issue of Classic Rock (issue number 257). I can't find it online but here is the full quote:

Interesting, that must have been in November 1998 with less than ten gigs left of the Virtual XI world tour and Blaze oblivious.

 

[Jer]

to add salt to the wounds of haters

Let that sink in posers.

Classy.

Different people have different opinions.

 

[Lost in a lost world]

Personally, I don’t think Maiden lost anything by keeping Janick and retained an additional songwriting and creative asset.

Plus, who else is going to fend off the giant Eddie onstage?

 

[Wogmidget]

I wonder if his greatest contribution to Maiden isn't so much musical as interpersonal. He strikes me as someone that's very good at getting on with people, and that probably comes in handy when Bruce and Steve have a dust-up.

 

[Yax]

I wonder if his greatest contribution to Maiden isn't so much musical as interpersonal. He strikes me as someone that's very good at getting on with people, and that probably comes in handy when Bruce and Steve have a dust-up.

That’s an incredibly dismissive thing to say about the guy with loads of songwriting credits.

 

[Vaenyr]

That’s an incredibly dismissive thing to say about the guy with loads of songwriting credits.

I don't think Wogmidget was trying to downplay Janick's songwriting contributions. I read it as highlighting Janick's personality. He does come across as a super chill and fun guy after all.

All in all there were only up-sides to keeping him and I'm glad that he stayed with Maiden.

 

[BludBrutha]

Someone’s gotta play the vocal melody on the guitar throughout the verses on all those songs.

 

[Brigantium]

I genuinely think they like his stage antics too. Dave and Adrian are very pedestrian on stage. He's a personality and part of the band's identity now.

 

[Kalata]

He is a much better, productive and consistent songwriter than Dave though. No, Maiden don’t need three guitarists, but having three guitarists enables more options both live and in the studio. Besides, his style contrasts Dave and H well - aggressive and chaotic.

This, but I would say Maiden need 3 guitars for their style since the Reunion. Janick is a brilliant and perfect addition to the band in every aspect! The band only have benefits.

Name me another metal band with three guitarists.

It's not about that, it's about if 3 guitars fit the band and the material.

I’m not suggesting adding stuff that was wasn’t there in the first place, just not losing parts that no longer need to be lost.

Janick joked that Steve's bass playing is like a rhythm guitar.

 

[Vaenyr]

This, but I would say Maiden need 3 guitars for their style since the Reunion. Janick is a brilliant and perfect addition to the band in every aspect! The band only have benefits.

Not only since the reunion, a lot of classic material on Powerslave and Somewhere in Time for example uses more than two guitars.

 

[LooseCannon]

I love that we're still re-iterating Janick's place in the band he's been in for 35 of its 50 years.

 

[Helmuth Von Moltke]

He is a much better, productive and consistent songwriter than Dave though. No, Maiden don’t need three guitarists, but having three guitarists enables more options both live and in the studio. Besides, his style contrasts Dave and H well - aggressive and chaotic.

yes, plus three guitarists in the band shares the work load. Which also extends their longevity, since Dave and H don't have the same energy as Bruce and Steve to just keep working all the time, let alone run around in stage. Into their 50s and 60s, keeping the energiser bunny that is Janick in the band has been a genius move.

 

[Yax]

I don't think Wogmidget was trying to downplay Janick's songwriting contributions. I read it as highlighting Janick's personality.

I did not, especially since all his posts in this thread are basically "why is Janick in the band?"

 

[dickinson1978]

Dance Of Death, The Talisman, Ghost Of The Navigator, The Book Of Souls are 4 songs which rate in my top 20 Maiden songs overall and wouldn't happen without Jan. They have his stamp all over them.He is an amazing long songs writer (not sure about his short ones but hey... it's just me). Also he got a lot better guitarist in since 2009 and has tied Dave as my second favourite guitarist (H is untouchable).

And stratego isnt it a janick coop song?