Who Plays What In Iron Maiden - A Quick Guide

[@fredericadda]

Absolutely love Adrian's melodic style. His solos always surprise me.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Agreed! It's amazing how he always manages to throw in something new and fresh!

[@fredericadda]

@@LicksOfTheBeast I heard that contrarily to Dave and Janick, Adrian prepares his solos beforehand.

[@mylovesongs2429]

On the Future Past Tour, as Nico pointed out in a video, Adrian does a little bit different to his Alexander the Great solo. It is still a great solo, 37 years after i first heard the studio version!

[@dermilfschreck]

I really love all three maiden guitarrists but i like Daves Style the most

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Dave has an incredible fluidity and smoothness. I always love watching him play those legato phrases with such intensity!

[@Pewtooyou]

Ditto!!!

[@realchevas]

Daves plays skill higher in band, sorry Adrian, but Adrian more musician then others, his solo its something, so melodic

[@LordPrutsikas]

@@LicksOfTheBeast Dave is also the hardest to cover because he can really shred if he wants to.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

@@LordPrutsikas I think it depends on your natural playing style. For me Janick is the hardest to cover because he plays in such an unorthodox fashion and sometimes quite fast but with weird phrasing. And his tone is very difficult to emulate.

[@newpix7555]

As a long term Iron maiden fan, you totally nailed it. I find Adrian to be the most bluesy of all three

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Thanks so much! I'm a huge fan of Adrian's bluesy vibe. There's a ton of that on the new Smith Kotzen album!

[@andrewvatavu2155]

Yes - very well pointed out. Dave is faithful to the natural minor whereas Adrian has the typical "rockstar" vibe solo because of the bluesy licks. Also very nice to notice how they change between who solos with a key change which adds a lot of impact to the song.

[@rtdlz]

As a long term Iron Maiden fan too and a guitar player myself, he totally nailed it. Very well impersonated each guitarist. Especially finding the tone and feel of Adrian is quite hard. I've spent years chasing it and still I can't always get it just right.

[@rayjay1441]

Wow I've just learnt one hell of a lot 👍

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

I appreciate that very, very much. Thank you! 🙏

[@LocoDirewolf]

All three are great, but I've always been drawn to Dave's playing the most. His playing is buttery smooth. Adrian seems to like to build tension and let it release, and Janick is like a mad scientist, just throwing everything together.

[@scottdavidson7719]

Despite being a life long maiden fan I never realized how much influence Murray had on my soloing but it makes so much sense now, thank you Nikko

[@rohantiwari7801]

Dave is my favourite of all time. His style just hypnotizes me.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

His playing really does have a hypnotic quality to it!

[@punisher0087]

All 3 guitarist's is god's!!! But i think most fast is dave More melodic is adrian And more skillful ,crazy, performance at lives and mix of dave and Adrian styles , and my favourite of all time Janick Gers!!!

[@tarnishedchosenundead]

I think that Janick is very underrated. His solo in Parchment is amazing, just pure fire.

[@Tigerloco70]

Yes off course , he was not there in the 80s , so you will put him , besides the other 2 😂😂

[@michaelharrisson1683]

He's garbage

[@stormtrooperon2wheelz622]

All 3 of them are my favourites

[@Frip36]

that's cheating

[@benisukeala2401]

I love em all but Janick is my favorite ❤

[@jean-pierrestraub7530]

LOL !!!

[@IwanTimmermans]

Ok, and now the truth…?

[@TerryTinsel]

Most excellent video, exactly what I was looking for!

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

That's awesome! Wow we shot this one some time ago, didn't we? Crazy how time flies 😅 Glad you enjoyed it!!

[@bongo_baggins]

I've always considered Dave to be a little spacey, and very much a noodler when playing live. Adrian has a very distinct attack, very prickly, almost in the neighborhood of Angus Young. Janick is a bit of a wild card, but to my ears, he's very much a melody maker; his shredding is very fiery and "metal", but his most standout work has to be his anthemic melodies. What I love most is That they're all masters (nearly inventors) of that unmistakable English, almost gothic tonality, but they are all blues men at heart. Their layering of all three guitars in their later work is pretty damn subtle, I'm still hearing something new almost everytime, and I've been obsessed with em for half my life now haha

[@neutronstar7803]

Janick a "melody maker" ?: best joke of the year.

[@scottycunningham1413]

Yeah Dave definitely has lots of Trower in his playing. Hence the spaciness

[@johnnypickering7688]

@@neutronstar7803 Listen to Dance of Death, Blood Brothers and The Talisman (for a start- there are lots more)

[@robbaldwin2402]

I don't have a favourite, I'm just grateful three musicians like them are all playing in the same band.

[@PolarisCastillo]

Adrian is the best of the three, in my opinion. His solos sound the more well thought out. Sharp, structured, melodic riffs divided in sections but seemingly connected all at the same time. It's an awe to hear his time slots on any given Maiden track.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

You're spot-on about the solos being divided in sections but connected! His approach has always been very methodical in that way. 🙂

[@PolarisCastillo]

@@LicksOfTheBeast yes! I love that he doesn't just shred throughout his solos, which is always great, but his style is so methodical. It's admirable.

[@r.v.g.1679]

Adrian has the most distinct sound tan Dave and jannick

[@martymartin2894]

@@r.v.g.1679 i don't agree no way. U can spot a janick solo straight away.

[@r.v.g.1679]

@@martymartin2894 listen to Rock in Rio live and you can hear 3 different sounds better yet watch the full concert.

[@praveerk8652]

Adrian solos are very bluesy and kind of in your face. Dave solos are very technical yet melodic. Janick solos are anthemic and define the overall sound of Maiden. I just love the combinations!!

[@mitchcoull6290]

I'm pretty sure you have all their names around the wrong way. Dave is the one with bluesy in your face solos, Adrian's are extremely structured, technical and melodic and Janick.... He's just shit. Plays fast shit that doesn't sound good at all and is 1000000% not the defining overall sound of Maiden. Not sure if this is a troll or you haven't heard their iconic stuff from the 80s.

[@demodick]

@@mitchcoull6290 i struggled wit Janick for years. Adrian is my all time favorite player ever. Some of it was because he "replaced" Adrian but some of it was because I think he is just a "messy" version of Dave. I have however learned to appreciate what he has done with the band. Co wrote The Book of Souls Dance of Death Dream of Mirrors Ghost of the Navigator Man on the Edge The Mercenary Montségur Just to name a few. The rest of the band likes him so I will keep him. Just please stop letting him play any of Adrian's old solos. Please!

[@Rowlph8888]

@@mitchcoull6290 Yeah sure, Adrian is also my favourite, but the riffs and melodies in "book Of souls" , "Blood Bros", "ghost of the navigator", are shit are they? Jog on, you couldn't Even dream of creatin one item of the body of work Janick has produced. If Adrian and Bruce had stayed, maiden, would have inevitably become stale. Janicks fresh ideas along with Adrian and Bruce's development and progression, from a hiatus have ensured maidens longevity. Janick was fundamental to this

[@mitchcoull6290]

@@Rowlph8888 it's not that I couldn't dream of creating what he had created, I WOULDN'T have dreamt lol I think his playing is stale as fuck. If you don't like my opinion, then you need to jog on haha

[@alejandromarinetti8622]

I think Adrian is the most technical by far

[@alessandrofaoro1644]

And this is why our favourite Maiden cover/lessons youtuber can play all 3 guitarist in a perfect way

[@ligamentpull1]

Some great examples of each of Dave and Adrian's unique styles are their solo trade-offs to these following tracks: 1-Powerslave 2-Revelations 3- The Trooper 4-Flight of Icarus 5- Two Midnights to Midnight 6-Wrathchild 7-Number of the Beast 8- Caught Somewhere in Time 9- Alexander the Great 10- Aces High

[@alessandromariani99]

Killers and Seventh Son of a Seventh Son titletracks too...

[@SomewhereInTheMaidenverse]

I’ve always been more drawn to Dave’s playing, but I love all 3 of their styles!

[@richardrondon8843]

Cool video thanx, my favorite is Dave but analyzing Janick like this makes people apraciate it more, thank you

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

That's awesome! So glad to read this 😃

[@Frip36]

Ahh, just what I was looking for. Great explanations for non guitar players especially

[@dmitryostrovsky3786]

Very informative analysis👍🏻 I’m again convinced that I almost always correctly identified each of the three! Thanks so much 🎩

[@sydneyhalliwell2513]

Dave, most consistent flow Adrian, most creative “in the box” player Janick, chaotic yet beautiful

[@neutronstar7803]

Janick: chaotic yet chaotic..

[@jean-pierrestraub7530]

Janick, chaotic, 'period' 😄

[@Dougs-Ear-Hole-Entertainment]

Oh yea, its Dave for me. You really do him justice with your covering him I notice. All have awesome styles and that for me is why I love this band. Great job as usual.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Thanks so much! Cheers 🤜🤛

[@nikorontzocos9072]

Thank you , well explained! Niko.

[@sephrothguy]

I'm a drummer and I always loved Adrian's solos and sound the best

[@PETERODZZ]

It's amazing that these 3 guys have been playing for more than 10 years together now.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

More than 20 at this point! Where does the time go??? 🤷‍♂️😄

[@thebeastsworldcovercollab1880]

That was very illustrative, the examples are perfect. Thanks for doing this video! It'll serve as a guide... have a nice day!

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Very glad to hear it! Thank you!

[@C64_Mat]

Just got to the end of the video, and realised I was mesmerized all the way through. Like you, I've been a Maiden fan for decades, and I can tell in an instant who's playing which parts. It's unmistakable to me, as clear as (for example) which kid is shouting "Mom! Dad!" But this is a great video, and unlike some KZbinrs out there, it's accurate and spot on. You can tell that you've listened to each guitarist and understood how they play and how they've developed over time, rather than just listened to a few songs and read a few articles about their setup. Awesome work, and great skills too!

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Hey man my apologies for replying to this very kind comment almost a week later! I'm a bit behind but really it's HUGELY appreciated!!! Thank you!

[@simmme]

Spot on explanations and imitations! I would be able to tell in seconds who you were imitating even without you telling!

[@robertbarnes8327]

Wow, you're ability to identify, classify, and even reproduce the subtleties of three distinct legendary guitarists makes all your videos compulsory viewing for those of us who appreciate the energy and brilliance of this great band. Your playing is also amazing; coming from your deep understanding of the musical intricacies, and no doubt many, many hours of dedicated listening and practice. Love your videos, man! Slowly getting through them.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Thanks so much man!!

[@666nkk]

Oh wow, what an amazing video! I have zero ear for music and no knowledge of music at all, yet those guys are my number one hobby and have been for the last 19 years and you're the first person who expressed the differences between the Three Amigos so clearly!

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Thank you very much!! I think you have a pretty good ear for music if you made these great players your hobby 😁 Glad I could help shed a little light on their playing! Cheers 🤘

[@brucedickinson12]

Love adrian . He made a big impact on bruce Dickinsons 2 classic solo albums accident of birth and chemical wedding.

[@antonyledsom5171]

You, my good man, are a musical genius. I have loved Iron Maiden for over 30 years but as life takes over, it is easy to forget how good they are. Finding your channel has reminded me just how fantastic so much of their music is. Thank you and keep up the great work.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

That's a bit too kind for me but thank you! I am always happy to hear that my videos could either bring back some memories or help with a fresh take on Maiden's music. Cheers 🤘

[@dylan28387]

You are amazing brother. I love Iron Maiden, & what you are doing. I hear Dave Murray when I was a kid. I had to learn guitar at that point. I think my right hand “pick hand” has suffered for it……..haha. He may be the king of legato! Keep giving us the great info.

[@diegoferreyra9004]

Definitely a great video! Dave is my favorite style, no doubt!

[@StuHolland]

I've just discovered your channel after searching to see who played the last solo on Writing on the Wall. Love your stuff, very informative!

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Thank you 🙏 Glad you found me!!

[@MatteoAn93]

This video is incredibly interesting!

[@theknowledgeabletravellers6015]

Brendan Fraser's Guitar review. Just kidding. On a serious note it is Dave, followed by Adrian. That does not mean Adrian is bad. I love Paschindale and Weekend Warrior. Man hatsoff to you for this wonderful video. BTW Janick is very underrated.

[@ianfurqueron5850]

Cool analysis. I really like Janick's solos from the Dance of Death record, which is when I got back into Maiden after a long absence. One thing about his tone that you really notice in live recordings is how he will use a Ritchie Blackmore technique of switching between the bridge and neck pickup often. If there's one thing about Janick that is frustrating, it's how he rarely plays solos live that sound much like the records, which is something that Adrian seems to do - probably because Adrian is known for working out his solos more than Dave or Janick. It is interesting how all three use similar gear - modified Strats into Marshalls - yet with some practice it is usually pretty easy to tell who is playing what. Although I'll admit I sometimes mix up Dave and Janick during a first listen to a song.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Janick will often keep some of the ideas or main licks from his album solos but he rarely plays the same exact solo twice. He just prefers leaving room for spontaneity and improvisation. 🤷🏻

[@lionelreynolds9476]

Great video and you gave a really good breakdown of the differences. I think Adrian's solos are the most carefully constructed, and as you explain his pacing is more nuanced. He tends to stick with the pentatonic. Dave's style is probably the most important in defining the unique Maiden sound, and he uses a lot of harmonic minor and Dorian. As for Janick, he's Richie Blackmore on helium!

[@broony77]

Enjoying your videos, like the variety of lessons, play throughs and then stuff like this. Looking forward to watching more in the future. Thanks for you hard work!

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Thank you for the great feedback! I'm trying to do the kind of things I would have liked when I was starting out as well as things I would like to see now for things I am just starting to get into. I'm glad you're enjoying this so far because it will definitely get a whole lot better with time ☺️ Thanks again!!

[@zoltanbendeguzszabo153]

Adrian is the most creative and influental for me, his solos are always the best in Iron Maiden!

[@martinedwards6262]

Cheeky little smirk after your example of Dave’s pace. Excellent video. You’re a talented guy. 👍

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Hahaha thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed the video. 😃

[@smokesletsgo2374]

I'm not a guitar expert, or even a guitar novice, but I always know when Dave is soloing. It's that distinct "Maiden sound" that you don't hear from any other band

[@EricCPOP]

Definitely you are the master of Iron Maiden! You were spot on.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Too kind! Thank you 🙇‍♂️🙇‍♂️🙏🙏

[@petrpecenkaml.9755]

Man it's impossible to tell who I like more! All of them have great solos it's actually incredible what these guys can do. AtM my favourite for each one of them are: Dave: Powerslave solo Adrian: Dance of Death solo Janick: Hallowed be Thy Name solo

[@neutronstar7803]

janick's live solo? the one which sounds like an old modem Internet connection ?? this guy wouldn't be able to play just one tasty/melodic lick to save his life...

[@JessieJames0317]

Dave was always my favorite guitarist and I always thought he was the better guitarist. Then, I joined an Iron Maiden tribute and was forced to play Adrian’s parts. I learned to not only appreciate Adrian’s playing but I now love his solos and his sense of melody is so authentic. I love his stuff on The Chemical Wedding.

[@augmentedhat16]

Are you still in the tribute band? I’m jealous!

[@FatemeKhodayari]

It's always great to look more into the music than just playing covers. Great informative video. Thank you. :) My absolute favourite is Adrian. Those phrasings and vibrato, let alone his tone and all those pulls and pushes in the pace. Dave also has a very pleasant to hear style and Janick is crazy and great in his own way.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Hey! Nice to see you here 😊 I have a preference for Adrian's style as well and like you, I also appreciate Dave and Janick's styles very much. It's great to have so much variety on their albums!

[@cyborklikesmusic8196]

Thank you for breaking all of this down. It was very helpful!

[@poireauer6517]

Very interesting Thanks ! 😃

[@csnymoodiesfan]

Thanks! Since I’m a guitarist, so I often try to figure out who’s playing what parts. I use the Songsterr App which gives me the different parts, but have to switch back and forth from each guitarist before I can put it all together.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

When I first started i was using tab books and watching a lot of live videos (mainly live after death and maiden England because that is really all we had available at the time)... The tabs were not always correct but all tools help and eventually your ears just start getting used to their different sounds with time and practice... With these videos I am trying to provide what I wished I had at the time 🙂

[@Tony_Kam]

But if you're a lifelong fan like myself, you can clearly tell even when you're listening to a song for the first time hahaha! Cool video my friend, keep it up!

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

...and yet I saw many lifelong fans convinced that the solo to That Girl was played by Adrian. 😁 Sometimes the styles intersect a bit - which is normal after playing together for so many years!

[@Tony_Kam]

@@LicksOfTheBeast what the hell ?! It screams Dave lol 😂😂

[@mikelecabezaguerrero]

Yep same here

[@Kylora2112]

@@LicksOfTheBeast I always thought That Girl was H doing his best "Dave" solo :)

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

@@Kylora2112 It would be a scary good impression if it were the case! 😅

[@rocknrollguitarcovers5654]

You get it man! Very cool analysis! Top content!

[@skygazer8711]

My mind knows that Adrian is the most well-rounded guitarist in the band, he's super melodic with an impeccable sense of rhythm, and many of his solos almost sound like a song within the actual song. I utterly enjoy all aspects of his work. Yet for some reason my heart is drawn to Janick's ferocity and untamedness. I don't even mind that he improvises so many of his solos live as he always seems to be having the time of his life. He basically plays what he wants, but he puts so much energy into it that it becomes hypnotic, and it also gives Iron Maiden a certain rougher edge. He also has some excellent slower, more melodic solos, like in Wasting Love or When the Wild Wind Blows. (5:32 sounds sort of like his solo in The Assassin? ;)) Great video, well done!

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Janick does bring an element of danger, rawness and excitement to the band and I love that about him! I find it keeps Iron Maiden rock n roll despite their more progressive leanings. Also a great songwriter and from the few minutes I spent with him, seems like a genuinely good dude too 🙂

[@skygazer8711]

@@LicksOfTheBeast Wow, lucky you! It's one of my biggest dreams to meet him :)

[@erivanrocha6551]

Adrian, definitely :)

[@dominusblandus]

good stuff. you really put this in good words and examples

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Thank you so much!

[@MikeSingSing]

Great video. When you mentioned Adrian's "slur" I remembered an interview with Bruce saying something along the lines of: "it's as if the notes are stumbling over each other and people pay attention because they wanna hear if it will work" Congrats on how your channel has grown man!

[@suetruett3812]

this so interesting to me, besides the fact I'd always wondered how they divided up solos etc. you explained it very well, thanks ..i like all 3 guitarists but each has their own style, And it sets them apart so easily..

[@parkesy82]

I love these videos, Nico, awesome stuff! 😃🤘🏼🤘🏼

[@simonnash5502]

Excellent lesson , love maiden 🎸

[@johnosullivan7467]

This is an awesome video! I’ve always been able to tell the difference between the guys, but I’ve never had the musical turn of phrase to be able to explain it because I’m not a musician. I enjoy your videos because I’m learning more about music terminology and song structure and it’s giving me an even deeper appreciation for Maiden! Keep up the great work.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

That's absolutely amazing to hear. Thank you and I'm glad you're enjoying the channel 🙂

[@KirylMaushuk]

Quite an interesting description of the players. Being a Maiden fan myself for years, I am still not always sure whose solo I'm hearing when hearing totally new songs. I noticed some of those features myself (in phrasing, in particular), but just knowing this doesn't always unmistakably help in figuring out who played the solo I'm hearing now. For me, for quite a long time Dave was the most interesting of them because his fluent style (like many here noticed, "hypnotic") has a very seamless flow and is always very melodic. Though later, as I progressed as a guitarist myself, I started to get an impression that, though containing very many notes and flowing constantly, his solos sometimes seem to flow around one whole-solo-long note, and those individual notes are just a confetti which he throws on the audience in a random order (especially when he improvises instead of playing the album versions). And in recent years, I began to really appreciate Adrian's approach, he is the most laconic and his notes always hit the right spot. Janick is very good in playing melodic licks which are not part of solos. His playing technique is very good, his phrases are decent, no abrupt endings, or unnecessary vibratos, just melody pieces that he plays very well. And also, he can play iconic singing solos if he wants to. (Blood Brothers). But the thing is, most of the times he doesn't want to. :) And his solos sometimes are not even confetti but rather a bunch of metal shavings that barely fit in the scale.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Funny thing about Janick's playing....I've often heard people say his solos don't fit any scale. Truth is, they actually do. Like Adrian, he typically uses the blues scale and the natural minor scale. Sometimes he will just play with the minor hexatonic scale or throw in some licks based on the Dorian mode (also something Adrian does), and occasionally, like in Fear is the Key or Parchment, he will use the harmonic minor scale. Of course, he sometimes throws in a few chromatics here and there to add colour or keep things interesting (and perhaps sometimes they're happy accidents) but yeah, most of the time, he's clearly playing within a scale..

[@HeavY808]

Love these kind of videos. Keep it up!

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Glad to hear it because I plan on making a whole lot more of 'em! 😁Thanks! 🤘

[@CC-qb9sm]

Wow! I have to say it’s a total joy to delve into your back catalog of videos and this one is pure gold! I decided to watch one more before heading to bed and was glad I picked this one. I think all three guitar players really contribute a lot but the one that speaks to me the most frequently is Adrian. His songwriting, playing, and occasionally singing are top notch. Starting with number of the beast, Adrian’s compositions started having a positive impact on songs the band recorded. For Guitar playing of course the positive impact started with killers. While I can’t imagine iron maiden without Dave (I especially love his slow melodic solos like his first solo in the title track on Powerslave but his fast solos like the title track on Number of the beast are fantastic too) it is Adrian’s playing that I best identify with. I think a great example that clearly shows the three styles in the solos section is the track El Dorado on The Final Frontier album and that is also a great example of why I like Adrian the best. Another Ace video Nico! Thanks!

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Glad you enjoyed it! I feel much the same way about Adrian but I have big love for all three 😊

[@CC-qb9sm]

@@LicksOfTheBeast - Nice! It all started early on, look at 22 Acacia Ave.! Love the guitar work in that one (and of course the co-writing credits)

[@Pincer88]

As a non player and a huge Maiden fan I really enjoy watching this. It gives so much more depth to listening to Maiden. Thanks. By the way, Amith to me is a bit more of a bluesy and rythm guitar player, but that's just an impression.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

This video was mainly intended to give a bit more insight and a general idea of the three individual playing styles to non guitar players so I was really very happy to read your feedback! Thank you!

[@l.thegirl2581]

Jeezesss, whoever you are playing, dude, YOU shred! Totally enjoyed this video

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Thanks so much! I think it's time I made an updated version of this 😊

[@zachariebarriault3876]

Did anybody else catch the little bit from Afraid to Shoot Strangers in the pacing section for Janick

[@anwarvip5366]

Adrian Smith is the one to got me to maiden still have alot of respect to his playing

[@ghoulfather]

For me Adrian is always the easiest to recognize. Great video! Really helpful :)

[@paulwells6131]

Great video Nico, their differing styles is what I love ab out Maiden, well explained as usual. No More Lies is great to demo this. Adrian is my favourite for his articulation!

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Man, you're absolutely right... No More Lies is a perfect demo of all three!

[@UltraPvnk]

My fav is all 3 of them none above the other and all essential to the Maiden Identity.

[@benstephenson8993]

What do you think of Dave’s solo on Caught Somewhere in Time? Sort of an uncharacteristic out of control, yet perfectly executed piece in my opinion.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

I'm a big fan of EVERYTHING on that album! In that solo Dave strikes a perfect balance between wild and structured phrasing... Great stuff!

[@benstephenson8993]

@@LicksOfTheBeast yes! And then Adrian comes in and kinda smoothens it out to bring it back to the final verse

[@neilrobinson7615]

What a great video, you've earned a well deserved sub! For me, probably Adrian first and Dave a very close second. Jannick is a great player, and is not far behind.

[@willman100]

Great playing and demonstration of their styles. I prefer Adrian's the most. I also love Dave's. Don't care for Janick's that much. Its too all over the place. He is an awesome player, but being an early Maiden fan, I prefer Adrian's and Dave's the most. Thanks for the videos. Keep them coming. Losfer words would be cool..

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

So glad you enjoyed it. 😃 Cheers brother!

[@charleswilson4526]

Love Maiden. Definitely a top 10 band for me

[@UrbanSkyProject]

I love them all for different reasons but Adrian always comes out on top. His solo on Caught somewhere in time is just sublime. Jannick is alot of fun, he solos for the fun of it but not for the song, which is probably why people cannot warm to him live.

[@siddharthdeshmukh8118]

Loved your channel buddy! Looking forward to your videos... Up The Irons from India! \m/

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Thanks brother! 🤘

[@thesadmorales]

Nice video! Now I dare you to tell who plays what in a song that hasn't been played live, aka Deja Vu 😂 (except Dave's intro solo lol)

[@enriquesoto6534]

Adrian, of course! Big influence! His singing as well! Oddly enough, while the tandem Adrian/Dave is stunning, I have found other solo pairings to be amazing: Janick/Adrian and Dave/Janick, are bewildering!

[@fbomb7184]

I was expected a breakdown of who did which solos/riffs, but what I got was even better. Though I’m still going to comb thru KZbin for a video to tell me who does what, make sure I’m hearing things right.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Cool! Glad to know this was a helpful video. I think I might revisit the topic in the not too distant future 🙂

[@HarryThomsen]

As a long term Iron maiden fan (and a long term guitarist :-) you totally nailed it

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Hey thanks man! 🙂

[@Fabian28]

Dave Murray . Great style that makes you pick the guitar and start playing

[@vikusen1857]

No one can touch Dave. He's so underated in the world of guitarists.

[@rodrigoneuman958]

Great video! Very immersive!

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Thank you so much!

[@josemena9699]

A different and interesting video!

[@Kylora2112]

How I tell who plays what: Palm-muted scale runs: H Neck pickup tone: Dave "Well that accented note came out of nowhere": Janick Heavy use of legato: Dave "That could be harmonized into a typical Maiden lick": H Chaos: Janick I've spent most of the weekend figuring out who's playing which leads and solos on Senjutsu, and I think I have it all like 98% down :)

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

I literally LOLed at "Well that accented note came out of nowhere" 😂

[@Frip36]

Funny comment.

[@jamiealder-martin9994]

Adrian - thought out and technical Dave - triplets and trills also usually sounds warm due to use of neck pickup Janice - fast stressed usually everywhere

[@tristramcoffin926]

An element to this central to Iron Maiden at large that could(should) comprise another video is narrative. All three have their own way at prescribing narrative to the song

[@TheGoodSon89]

Very detailed video, thanks man!

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Thank YOU!!

[@Crossfire44]

100% on point! thumbs up!

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

1000 thanks!! 🤜🤛

[@thefenian32]

Always leaned towards Dave as my favorite of the three, but Adrian is less virtuoso and more dirty in his playing which is phenomenal. Janick is a a beast all on his own. He seems to borrow from both while staying uniquely himself. When I saw them in ‘91 after Adrian had left and Janick was the number two, I felt a little cheated because the on-stage chemistry was not the same. However, Janick kept them going with some great work and when they kept him after Adrian came back, it was a genius move. Just saw them in Tampa last week, another amazing show.

[@ninaholicova3984]

I love to rewind the parts where the solos are.I think the solo is a jewellery in song.

[@dannops]

Love the "Women in Uniform" album art:)

[@cybermanne]

I can never decide if I like Adrian's or Dave's parts better in the songs. They are both totally epic sounding imo. Jannick I have never gotten to really like. But I also don't listen as much to Maiden's "new stuff" (lol) from the 90s and onward.

[@gabriellemontet4325]

Thank you for making this video! I usually can recognize Dave and Adrian, but I often confuse Janick with Dave and/or not sure when Janick is playing. This was very useful and I’ll try to keep it in mind to try and recognize him better 😊 As to my personal favourite, it’s probably Dave as I really love bluesy, atmospheric solos, but it really depends on the song as other times Adrian’s playing really has an edge to it and he steals the show 🤘🏼

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Thank you for watching! I'm glad to hear this was useful and informative and I'm happy to say that this is only the first of many. I have a lot of cool things planned for future videos where we'll look at each one more in depth. 😃 Dave's atmospheric and vibey solos are absolutely beautiful!

[@Tigerloco70]

Thats why i like better kk and glenn ✌🏻🤘🏻

[@vacm1806]

Dave defines Maiden’s sound, along with Steve’s galloping lines… Can’t imagine Maiden without Dave… His technic is impeccable, and his sound is pristine…but Adrian’s a creative force… His solos are somehow more expressive and emotional, he experiments with alternative tunings and his sense of harmony is amazing… Love when he plays the low harmonies in live versions… And Janick… He’s a better songwriter and performer than guitar player…

[@rizzamran2775]

Absolutely agreed 200%

[@chipsunday5563]

Adrian is my favourite to listen to, Janick is my favourite to watch and Dave is my favourite to play

[@jakobhansson1341]

Adrian has written by far in my opinion the best Maiden solo. Stranger in a strange land

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

That one has to be on most fans' top 5!

[@DownMemoryLaneParis]

And still does... The writing on the wall solo is a masterpiece of emotional guitar playing ... Not sure who wrote it by one of my top five maiden solos is coming home. Amazingly emotional

[@ioannisdenton]

@@DownMemoryLaneParis This. Writing on the wall is SO AMAZING

[@Rowlph8888]

@@ioannisdenton Writing on the wall is okay, but for a balls to the wall, Metalesque solo, or a beautiful melody its inferior to many of Adrian's own solos I think, e.g. Strangerr in a strange land, sea of madness, the prisoner, somewhere in time, the Wicker, Passchhendaele,The book of souls cand even the most beautiful delicate melody in Alexander the great,a are better. I guess this showss how versatile he is,playing bluesy, jazzy, Hard Rock, heavy-metal and even power metal arrangements.

[@jerseytiger1980]

Interesting topic. When it was just two guitars it was easy to pick out who was playing. But with all three it’s been more difficult.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

What can be confusing is that Jan sometimes ventures into Dave's territory a little but once you have a good understanding of their respective styles it does get easier. That's for solos... For rhythm parts, it takes a bit more attention to the band's arrangements to get used to who typically plays which parts (i.e. high/low harmony, ringing chords, melody with the vocals, a certain type of chord etc).

[@josipdinjes5445]

My vote goes to Janick. 🎸🤘

[@neutronstar7803]

don't stay like that.... great hearing aids are available now. You can buy them over the counter without a prescription.

[@jean-pierrestraub7530]

LOL !!

[@ViderIsMe]

​@@jean-pierrestraub7530what's so funny?

[@jean-pierrestraub7530]

Gers sucks​@@ViderIsMe

[@ViderIsMe]

@@jean-pierrestraub7530 lol