Iron Maiden’s legendary “Three Amigos” guitar trio — Janick Gers, Dave Murray, and Adrian Smith — has been melting faces and redefining metal guitar work since 1999. This triple-guitar lineup remains one of the most iconic in heavy metal history, proving that more isn’t just louder — it can be better.
Janick Gers joined Iron Maiden in 1990 to replace Adrian Smith, who had temporarily left the band. Gers’ wild energy, unhinged stage presence, and raw guitar tone injected a fresh spark into Maiden’s evolving sound. Meanwhile, Dave Murray, the only guitarist to play on every Iron Maiden album, continued to anchor the band’s melodies with his signature fluid legato phrasing and warm tone. His long-running partnership with Smith, dating back to the band’s early years, gave Maiden’s music its classic twin-lead magic.
When Adrian Smith returned in 1999, Iron Maiden made a bold, unconventional move: they kept all three guitarists. Bassist Steve Harris called it a “mad idea,” but it turned out to be a stroke of genius. Smith himself once joked, “Imagine that with three Yngwies or three Ritchie Blackmores… it wouldn’t work.” But Maiden’s perfect blend of personalities and musical chemistry made it not just work — it soar.
Their secret lies in balance. Gers, Murray, and Smith split solos, weave harmonies, and trade licks seamlessly. Songs like “The Wicker Man” showed how three guitars could add layers and power without stepping on each other’s toes. On stage, their interplay is electric: Gers brings the showmanship, Smith the bluesy precision, and Murray the silky phrasing. Together, they form a guitar army that transformed Iron Maiden’s live sound — proving that three is not a crowd, but a force.
