Guitarist Janick Gers was involved in a serious accident on Saturday night July 8 while Iron Maiden were playing their show in Mannheim which resulted in him being taken straight to hospital.

The accident happened just after the band returned onstage for their encores .Halfway through the first song during his guitar solo Janick lost his footing at the front of the stage and fell more than 10 feet into the photographers pit and onto the concrete floor of the venue.

He was knocked unconscious and received a gash across his forehead which required 6 stitches and also sprained his back and had severe bruising in a number of places. Fears that he may have suffered much more serious injury were not realised after Janick was taken immediately by ambulance to the local hospital for x-rays and treatment.

Janick has now been released and has returned back to London following medical advice from the hospital and that he must take a full week off for recovery. Unfortunately this has meant that the band have had to cancel their shows in Essen (yesterday) and the shows in Sophia and Athens.

Says Steve Harris, “We are always very disappointed when we are forced to cancel shows in this way but we are also relieved that Janick is recovering as it was a serious fall. We were all very concerned for him when he was taken away in the ambulance. Right now all we can say is sorry to our fans in Germany, Bulgaria and Greece but I’m sure they can understand the reason and will also wish Janick a quick recovery.”

The European tour will resume at the Vilar De Mouros Festival in Portugal this Sunday, July 16.