Report: IRON MAIDEN Guitarist Janick Gers Remembers Old School
May 25, 2007, 17 years ago
Hartlepool Mail has issued the following report:
A music star has sent a commemorative plaque to his old school after it left a lasting impression during a recent visit.
Guitarist Janick Gers - who stars with IRON MAIDEN - is from Hartlepool and attended English Martyrs School before going on to success with the international hard-rock band.
He managed to squeeze in a visit to the school during a busy tour, and was pleased to find the music department had been extended with state-of-the-art technology and a new studio.
The school's head of music, Andrea Boyton, said: "The plaque arrived totally by surprise but we know Janick takes a really keen interest in how kids are getting into music.
"He is an inspiration to the music students as someone who has made it but still cares about where he came from and the grassroots of the industry. "In fact, many of the students can be seen wearing Iron Maiden T-shirts."The plaque is of the record Dance Of Death which is a track written by Janick. It will take pride of place in the new music studio alongside a signed Fender Strat guitar.
Janick left the student's with the message: "The most important thing about music is to have fun."
The school is now planning on using the new music facility for community courses as well as focusing more on the vocational side of the music industry.
