Lee Kiernan plays guitar in the UK post-punk band IDLES, alongside fellow guitarist Mark Bowen12. He is one of the band's two guitarists, and his approach to effects is built around experimentation: he and Bowen push each pedal to its extremes first to learn what it can do, then work backward toward a usable sound1. His relationship with EarthQuaker Devices goes back to his first pedal endorsement and led to his own signature pedal, the Gary34.
The EarthQuaker Devices Gary signature pedal
The Gary is a collaboration between EarthQuaker Devices and Kiernan, evolving the discontinued Gray Channel's dual DOD250-style overdrive/fuzz into a compact enclosure with a new second channel54. It began more simply: Kiernan asked EarthQuaker whether they would build him just one section of the Gray Channel, the Green channel, because the little clipping switch on his pedal kept getting knocked out of position on stage3. What started as a simpler replacement pedal took on a life of its own when Kiernan and the EarthQuaker team decided to develop it into a completely new pedal2.
The Gray Channel that the Gary evolved from is discontinued. Kiernan's own Gray Channel was a mainstay on his board and a big part of his main drive tone, and the Gary now fills that role4.
On the Gray Channel, Kiernan kept the clipping switch permanently in the middle position, which removes all the diodes from the circuit and produces a full-bodied, cutting opamp distortion with plenty of volume on tap4.
| Gray Channel | Gary | |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit | Dual DOD250-style overdrive/fuzz5 | Evolved dual-channel overdrive/fuzz with a new second channel52 |
| Channels | Two, with a clipping switch Kiernan found easy to knock on stage3 | Two, each with its own on/off footswitch7 |
| Switching | Clipping switch per channel3 | Silent relay-based Flexi-Switch technology, so you can switch between or blend the effects at will7 |
| Controls | Clipping switch plus controls per channel3 | A duo of controls for each of the two circuits7 |
| Status | Discontinued4 | Current4 |
EarthQuaker's audio samples for the pedal were recorded with guitar by Kiernan himself, using a Fender Player II Mustang through a Marshall JCM 800 4211 2x12 and a Peavey Deuce 2x124.
Guitar World's reviewer, Chris Gill, called it "great two-in-one value in a compact box that won't hog space on your pedalboard"7.
"Gary offers great two-in-one value in a compact box that won't hog space on your pedalboard."
His pedalboards
For his writing setup, Kiernan uses two Pedaltrain Novo 24 pedalboards, populated with overdrives, fuzz and reverb complemented by some gnarly off-menu choices1. Everyday staples share patch cables with more unusual effects1:
- Electro-Harmonix Holy Grail reverb1
- Drolo Twin Peaks tremolo1
- Moog Minifooger ring modulator1
- EarthQuaker Devices Data Corrupter, a pedal Kiernan confesses to bamboozlement with, yet it always stays on his board1
The Data Corrupter is used twice and recorded on the album Joy As An Act Of Resistance1.
With IDLES, his board features a BOSS PS-6, DM-2W and TU-3S, with the DM-2W Delay handling his delay sounds6. An Xotic EP Booster is his always-on pedal, used in conjunction with the Gary3. EarthQuaker's Organizer, which the company sent him when his endorsement began, is one of his favorite pedals and ended up in everything, a simple EQ pedal he describes as one of the most versatile to have on a board3.
Reverb before the drives
Most reverb advice says to place the pedal at the end of the signal chain or in the amp's effects loop, so the reverb does not become distorted8. Kiernan does the opposite. He puts reverb early and sends it into the drives, an idea he took from Alan Duggan of Girl Band, because it pushes his sound in a different direction1.
"Something that Bowen and I do a lot is just go into a pedal, extreme first, find out what it can do, and then see if we can make a sound out of it."
On compressors
Kiernan does not use a compressor and does not like them. On JHS Pedals' show in 2022, where he played a pink Reverb exclusive SG, he put his view plainly9:
"i don't own a compressor every time i've ever plugged in a compressor i've been like all right yeah that made something slightly louder thank you i could do that with a boost pedal better"
His position is that compressors should be left to the people in studios with the big racks, and that you do not need one on your board9.
Where to see his rig
- EarthQuaker Devices filmed Kiernan touring his writing pedalboard for their Bored to Death YouTube series in 2021, in IDLES' Bristol studio51
- JHS Pedals' show in 2022, where he played a pink SG that is a Reverb exclusive with a giant hawk knocked out of it9
- Premier Guitar's IDLES rig rundown, covering his 2024 board, which added the Gary he developed with EarthQuaker Devices3
Questions
What guitarist plays in IDLES besides Mark Bowen?
Lee Kiernan plays guitar in IDLES alongside Mark Bowen. He is the band's other guitarist, and with Bowen he is known for his pedalboard curation, favoring experimentation and unusual effects alongside everyday staples. He also developed a signature pedal with EarthQuaker Devices, the Gary.
Does Lee Kiernan use a compressor?
No. On JHS Pedals' show he said he does not own a compressor and does not like them, arguing that anything a compressor makes slightly louder could be done better with a boost pedal. His view is that compressors belong in studios with big racks, not on a pedalboard.
Why does Lee Kiernan put reverb before his drive pedals?
He sends reverb into his drives, placing it early in the chain rather than at the end, because it pushes his sound in a different direction. He credits the idea to Alan Duggan of Girl Band. It is the opposite of the usual advice, which places reverb last so it does not get distorted.
What setting does Lee Kiernan use on the Gary?
On the Gray Channel, the pedal the Gary replaced, he kept the clipping switch permanently in the middle position, which removes all the diodes from the circuit and produces a full-bodied, cutting opamp distortion with plenty of volume. The Gary, and the Gray Channel before it, is a big part of his main drive tone.
What pedalboard does Lee Kiernan use?
His writing setup uses two Pedaltrain Novo 24 pedalboards, populated with overdrives, fuzz and reverb plus some unusual choices. With IDLES his board includes BOSS PS-6, DM-2W and TU-3S pedals, with the DM-2W Delay handling his delay duties.
Where can I see Lee Kiernan's rig rundown?
EarthQuaker Devices filmed him touring his pedalboard for their Bored to Death YouTube series in 2021, and MusicRadar reported on it. Premier Guitar has also filmed an IDLES rig rundown covering his 2024 board, and he appeared on JHS Pedals' show in 2022.
Sources (9)
- Watch Lee Kiernan of IDLES give EarthQuaker Devices a guided tour of his pedalboard, MusicRadar, 2021-03-26
- Earthquaker Devices Gary Modulated Fuzz + Overdrive, Delicious Audio, 2024-11-14
- IDLES' & EarthQuaker Devices New Gary Pedal is a Modulation Fuzz & Overdrive from Gray Channel, Premier Guitar, 2024-11-14
- Gary Automatic Pulse Width Modulation Fuzz and Dynamic Natural Overdrive, EarthQuaker Devices
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-11-14
- Behind the Board: Gavin Maxwell with Mogwai and IDLES, BOSS (articles.boss.info), 2025-03-19
- EarthQuaker Devices Gary review, Guitar World, 2025-03-31
- The Best Reverb Pedals for Electric Guitar: From Budget to High-End, www.gearnews.com, 2026-06-08
- The Boss VB-2 VS Behringer Ultra Vibrato (With IDLES' Lee Kiernan), JHS Pedals (YouTube), 2022-09-02