Tournament of Iron Maiden Solos: 2nd poll (qualification stage)

Which solo do you like the most? (pick your favourite)

  • 01. Seventh Son of a Seventh Son, 1st solo (see 1st link)

    Votes: 3 60.0%

  • 02. Seventh Son of a Seventh Son, 2nd solo (see 2nd link)

    Votes: 1 20.0%

  • 03. Mother Russia (see 3rd link)

    Votes: 1 20.0%

  • 04. The Educated Fool (see 4th link)

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    5
  • Poll closed .
So is this a preamble to your actual Janick top 10, or are these in your top 10? o_O

I don't know if this is what you're saying Forostar, but there was loads of great Janick (& Dave) stuff from the nineties that I was dying discuss. However, in the end, particularly for Dave, quite a lot just couldn't make it. There is indeed some great stuff from Janick on NPftD.
 
The songs in bold are just outside of top 10.
CriedWhenBrucieLeft said:
Top 10 Janick Gers Lead Guitar Parts:

1. Hallowed Be Thy Name (LIVE: Rock In Rio '01)
Janick's improvisation on HBTN is totally different to Adrian's original; also running the lead on quite a bit beyond where it ended on the album, with these lovely high descending runs. He's been having a bash at it for quite a while now, but I think on the RiR version he nails the timing to perfection. Dave's lead, then Janick's; add to this the quality of all the playing generally (& the mix) --the whole thing is immense!
Click to expand...
Well, this is interesting. Several people were not happy with Janick "butchering" Adrian's solo.
Never liked this solo that much but it's good to see some opposition to that sort of a statement.
 
I'm sure most will disagree with my placement of this at #1 --I'm not even sure of it myself! That aside, if this has been a studio lead, I'd have rated it very highly. I've always thought it was miles better than Adrian's original, which I think is fairly mediocre.

I think Janick is in the unfortunate position of being the only guitarist (really) to have "to do" someone elses leads. I mean, we don't have Dave or Adrian doing Janick's leads. I know some of us would love to hear, say, Adrian doing one of Janick's; it would be full of lovely phrases, probably be smoother, & have some nice tremolo work --but it wouldn't be anything like Janick's original.

So, in summary, in this instance I always thought this was a great example of Janick not butchering one of Adrian's leads --& in actual fact really doing something different (a given) and better.
 
Cheers! I had a hard time selecting my favourite 10. I thought I'd pay tribute to the ones that didn't make it (and I also wanted to win some time, because I haven't decided on the order of my top 10 yet).
CriedWhenBrucieLeft said:
I'm sure most will disagree with my placement of this at #1 --I'm not even sure of it myself! That aside, if this has been a studio lead, I'd have rated it very highly. I've always thought it was miles better than Adrian's original, which I think is fairly mediocre.

I think Janick is in the unfortunate position of being the only guitarist (really) to have "to do" someone elses leads. I mean, we don't have Dave or Adrian doing Janick's leads. I know some of us would love to hear, say, Adrian doing one of Janick's; it would be full of lovely phrases, probably be smoother, & have some nice tremolo work --but it wouldn't be anything like Janick's original.

So, in summary, in this instance I always thought this was a great example of Janick not butchering one of Adrian's leads --& in actual fact really doing something different (a given) and better.
Click to expand...

I am not the biggest fan of Adrian's solo on Hallowed either. You make a good point of Janick doing someone else's leads (and the sometimes negative consequences which others don't have to deal with), but don't forget that Adrian did some Dennis Stratton leads as well. Janick also did Stratton stuff.
 
Indeed, but it's small fry compared to how many Janick had (/has) to do. And, I think, difficult because of the kind of live player Janick is --he was never going to try & stick too close to Adrian (or anyone else's) original(s). I always find Janick's Wasted Years version, on the HBTN (1993) single, pretty comical. It's sort of the same (he sticks quite close), but far too fast (frantic), with all of Adrian's nice slow/gliding notes all clipped & choppy. Typical Janick.
 
I find myself liking Janick's HBTN BECAUSE of the more frantic sound that he gives it. Of course, I love Adrian and I think the original solo is great, but I think I like Janick's playing of it better than H's when he's on, although sometimes he does not play it so well.

I've been meaning to work on this list for a while, I think I'll get started now, probably I'll listen through each album and note the solos and rank them, then listen to some of the top ones later. At some point in the future, I will have a list.
 
Janick Gers – part 2 (part 1 -> here; part 3 -> here)

10. The Legacy
For a long time, I was considering Run Silent Run Deep for the no. 10 spot, but in the end I still went for this one. We have to wait 6 minutes before it starts. Just when I get the feeling that the song begins to sack in a bit, Janick pumps new life into it.

It's especially the first half that does it (the second I find less impressive and it even ends messy): straight from the start Janick climbs higher and higher in a cool pattern. The uneven lenghts of the notes are trademark Janick.
You don't know when he places them, nor is it easy to predict which direction he takes, which makes it the more exciting. At the same time he manages to deliver a memorable melody. Particular personal highlight: the high, pierced tone @ 6:07 in this clip
09. Blood on the World's Hands
A short solo, but I love the bright echoing sound of it. The solo itself is dramatic, screaming for attention, fitting both the lyrics and Blaze's best performance with Iron Maiden.


08. The Fugitive
The most ridiculed Maiden song since a certain bloke made a comparison with the holy Starblind. And an easy target because it's on Fear of the Dark, an album not many people have affinity with for a variety of reasons.
I maintain to say that this an underrated track. People tend to overlook it. By doing that, they also might overlook the guitar solos. Especially Janick's because it's one of the most unique ones he ever did. I think lots of people might not even know it's him when they hear it (especially the first half). The reason is that it's a stuctured, obviously well prepared and executed solo, played largely with consistent timing. He does a cool figure that matches the interesting chord changes. The second half starts more aggressive (and very fast) and the ending is strong.


07. Lord of the Flies
Another dramatic solo, now with lengthy notes. Like in Blood on the World's Hands, Janick manages to capture the drama of the song and the dark atmosphere of the album, this time in a more memorable way.


06. Fear of the Dark
I reckon this is not really the most complicated solo Janick ever did but every quarter is fascinating. He picks the right notes and increases the tension before Dave takes over.
 
The Flash said:
It really isn't tough to guess who plays which solo since all three guys stick to their respective styles all the time. If it's an impassioned, fired up solo that feels like its notes are picked one by one with lots of bends and maybe tappings, it's Adrian. If it's a moving, flowing, nice solo that feels like its consisted of notes sticked together with legato technique, it's Dave. If it's a messy, fast, furious, chaotic and somewhat sloppy (by intention) solo, it's Janick.
Click to expand...
I like your descriptons of Adrian and Dave. But I find Janick's a bit too black and white. It applies to lots of his fast solos but he also did quite some melodic and less chaotic ones.
The Flash said:
I like Adrian's style the most since it showcases the ultimate feeling behind guitar soloing, passion.
Click to expand...
I'd say he's the most melodic and perhaps also the most creative one. But when it comes to passion, I'd give that title to Janick's because it fits his playing style.
The Flash said:
5. 2 A.M. (3:25 - 3:49)

Can't believe how somebody would pass up on that solo. A nice little solo between one of the best (and underrated) guitar harmonies in Maiden history.
Click to expand...
That is not a harmony since both guitarists play the same notes.
The Flash said:
My favorite Dennis Stratton solo would be the one on Strange World, an amazing solo, one of the best of the band's history, actually. His solos on Transylvania and Phantom of the Opera are also cool.
Click to expand...
Agreed. I think I actually like his solos more than the ones by Dave (at least on Strange World and Transylvania).
 
CriedWhenBrucieLeft said:
Great analysis The Flash! Although, let's keep it simple --Adrian's AtG solo is one solo, with breaks; not really three... :)
Click to expand...
More simple? On the contrary. Like this we make it more complicated and arbitrary than necessary.
These are clearly three different pieces. So, if possible: Flash (and all others concerned), would you select one solo?
Makes it easier for the total stats at the end. Thanks! :)
 
Ariana said:
His solos are totally lacking in diversity. You've heard one, you've heard all.
Click to expand...
You really think so? His opening solo on Strange World sounds very different than his other solos and it's played with lots of feel. Also I find the build-up in Transylvania quite cool, as his ending in Phantom's. Yes, he also did less solos on the debut album, but I have no trouble with acknowledging different aspects and selecting the best one(s).
 
Forostar said:
You really think so? His opening solo on Strange World sounds very different than his other solos and it's played with lots of feel. Also I find the build-up in Transylvania quite cool, as his ending in Phantom's. Yes, he also did less solos on the debut album, but I have no trouble with acknowledging different aspects and selecting the best one(s).
Click to expand...

His solos in Phantom and Remember Tomorrow sound very similar to me. So do Transylvania and Sanctuary - the feeling's the same, the development is similar. Strange World may be different because the song is much slower and there is no other song similar to it on the record. If there was, its solo would have been like the one in Strange World, I bet.
 
I find Sanctuary's way less memorable.

edit:
Coming back to Strange World, I wish there was chance to hear more slow solos by him. His other work outside Maiden might give more insight.
 
Forostar, sorry, we can't have this bollocks! :p

Adrian's AtG lead is one big lead. Wolf Marshall's transcription for the Hal Leonard songbook should make this plainly evident to you, if you had it. The first small break (drum & bass fill) is actually filled by a tremolo bar dive by Adrian, which if you're playing it yourself is pretty cool to sound for slightly longer; there is literally no break between your bar work & getting your hand up the 13th fret for the next note & run. So, these are not seperate leads --& I for one ain't stating what section of a lead I prefer!
 
I agree. Adrian's lead on ATG is just a long one. I prefer to analyze it by seperating it into three main parts because the lead is long and has changes of feel. No way I'm counting it as three solos.
 
Which lead? The one with the 15/8 breaks? What is the timestamp?
 
The interlude (AtG: 04:01) with the unusually loose timing (for Adrian, anyway) has, in my opinion, too many repeating, non-improvised elements to be called (in a Maiden context) a lead/solo proper. I appreciate that (the one I guess you're referring to Mosh) has been discussed before in the context of "solos", but I don't I regard it as such. I think it's a fill or interlude. Anyway, we're not talking about that one --we're talking about Adrian's main lead/solo (--later, just before Dave's).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top