Jon Schaffer

For the philosopher, see Jonathan Schaffer. For the computer scientist, see Jonathan Schaeffer.

Jon Schaffer
Jon Schaffer in 2010.
Background information
Birth name	Jon Ryan Schaffer
Born	March 15, 1968 (1968-03-15) Franklin, Indiana
Genres	Heavy metal, power metal, thrash metal
Instruments	Guitar, bass, vocals, keyboards, mandolin, drum machine
Years active	1984–present
Labels	SPV, Century Media, Steamhammer
Associated acts	Iced Earth, Demons and Wizards, Sons of Liberty
Notable instruments
Gibson Les Paul Other Gibson Guitars

Jon Schaffer (born March 15, 1968 in Franklin, Indiana) is an American heavy metal musician. He is best known as the guitarist and last original member of the Florida-based heavy metal band Iced Earth, which he formed in 1984 under the name "Purgatory". He also sings in his side project Sons of Liberty and plays guitar for Demons and Wizards, his collaboration with Blind Guardian frontman Hansi Kürsch.

Biography

At the age of 14 Jon got his first guitar and began writing music. At the age of 16 he dropped out of Northrop High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana and moved out of his parents' home to Tampa, Florida, in order to start up a band and play music. In 1985 Schaffer founded the power/thrash metal band Purgatory, which quickly changed its name to become Iced Earth. He is now the only remaining member of the first line-up.

Schaffer has also recorded and toured with Demons and Wizards, his side project with Blind Guardian vocalist Hansi Kürsch.

Jon Schaffer performing in 2008

Schaffer also sings lead on the Iced Earth songs "Stormrider" from Night of the Stormrider and on "God of Thunder", a cover of the Kiss song, on Tribute to the Gods. He also shares lead vocals with Matt Barlow on "A Gift or a Curse?" from The Crucible of Man and "Winter Nights" from Days of Purgatory, and on "Desert Rain" from Night of the Stormrider with John Greely in a call-and-answer style. In various other songs, he has been known for being given brief sections to sing unaccompanied, easily distinguishable with his low growls. However, he nonetheless has served as the band's main live backing vocalist for the band's entire career, doing all backing parts from his original growls to the melodic opera sections of songs.

In December 2009, Schaffer released his politically themed solo project Sons Of Liberty's album Brush-fires of the Mind, in which Schaffer sings lead in addition to playing all guitars. Not to be confused with the Philadelphia, PA based patriotic punk band Sons Of Liberty which was formed in 2001, released 2 full length albums and 3 EPs and still exists to this day. The Philadelphia S.O.L.'s 2nd LP / CD "Join Or Die" (Dim Records, 2007) features the Benjamin Franklin drawn rattlesnake picture and they were the first to use that artwork with the Sons Of Liberty name. There has been talk of a lawsuit pending on behalf of the Philadelphia S.O.L.

Personal life

He is brother-in-law of former Iced Earth singer Matt Barlow, as Matt is married to Jon's stepsister. In 2005 Jon and his wife, Wendi, became parents with the birth of their first daughter. He has suffered from neck injuries, some of which resulted in surgery, that still plague him today.

Influences

Jon Schaffer's primary musical influences were Iron Maiden, Kiss, Judas Priest, Metallica, Blue Öyster Cult, Alice Cooper, Black Sabbath, and AC/DC. His non-musical hobbies include motorcycles and Schaffer is also an avid American Civil War enthusiast, with particular interest in the Battle of Gettysburg, which inspired his longest song to date, the 32 minute opus, "Gettysburg (1863)" from the 2004 Iced Earth album, The Glorious Burden, a concept album about various historical topics. Lyrically, Jon is inspired by fantasy, science fiction and horror stories (his Something Wicked Saga is a series of two and a half science-fiction concept albums), and is known to be an avid collector of Star Wars merchandise.

His favorite album is Iron Maiden's The Number of the Beast, and Iced Earth covered two songs from the album on their cover album Tribute to the Gods.

In September 2007 he signed an official endorsement deal with Gibson Guitars. See the announcement posted on the official Iced Earth website here .

Equipment

Guitars

• Gibson Les Pauls (Has several different ones, such as Customs, Standards, and Goldtops)
• Gibson Korina Explorer (With Gadsden flag and "Liberty or Death" graphics)
• Gibson SG and V (sparingly used)
• Epiphone Les Paul Standard Baritone (used on songs from Framing Armageddon and Crucible of Man)
• BC Rich guitars (Used in the 90's)

Amplifiers

• Larry Jon Schaffer signature Preamp
• Larry Dino939
• Marshall JCM900 (power amp for Larry preamp)
• Marshall 1960B 4x12 Cabinets
  • In the studio:
• Engl Powerball
• Soldano SLO 100

Misc

• WCR Icebuckers, Godwills, Crossroad, and American Steele pickups
• Lindy Fralin True 60 pickups (Only used in the Explorer)
• Bareknuckle Riff Raff, Black Dog, Rebel Yell, and Holy Diver pickups (No longer used)
• Gibson PAF pickups (used in Les Pauls that originally had them installed)
• RS Guitar Works potentiometers (in all guitars)
• EMG pickups (Only used in his BC Rich guitars)
• D'Addario EJ22 strings
• Clayton 1mm picks

Other works

Aside from performing music, Jon Schaffer owns a historical collectibles store called "Spirit of '76 Collectibles", formerly located in Columbus, Indiana. The showroom is now closed in favor of online sales only. Jon has also stated that he started a comic featuring his character, Set Abominae, who is featured in some of Iced Earth's albums, including Something Wicked This Way Comes, Dark Genesis, Horror Show, Tribute to the Gods, and Alive in Athens. On September 11, 2007, Iced Earth released the first part of a double concept album based on the Set Abominae character and story, entitled Framing Armageddon (Something Wicked Part 1), which was followed by The Crucible of Man (Something Wicked Part 2) in September 2008.

In December 2009, Schaffer presented his solo-project "Sons of Liberty" by releasing the online available album Brush-fires of the Mind.

Discography

With Iced Earth

Main article: Iced Earth discography

• 1991: Iced Earth
• 1992: Night of the Stormrider
• 1995: Burnt Offerings
• 1996: The Dark Saga
• 1998: Something Wicked This Way Comes
• 2001: Horror Show
• 2004: The Glorious Burden
• 2007: Framing Armageddon: Something Wicked Part 1
• 2008: The Crucible of Man: Something Wicked Part 2
• 2011: Dystopia

With Demons and Wizards

• 2000: Demons and Wizards
• 2005: Touched by the Crimson King

With Sons of Liberty

• 2009: Brush-fires of the Mind
• 2011: Spirit of the Times EP

External links

• Jon Schaffer, Iced Earth's official site
• Rock Eyez interview with Jon Schaffer, May 2005
• Detailed interview with Jon Schaffer on FaceCulture, 2008