Metal, Hardcore, Indie, Rock
Iced Earth guitarist Jon Schaffer has renewed his criticism of former singer Stu Block over the vocalist’s public response to the January 6, 2021 attack on the United States Capitol.
Speaking to The Gallery, Schaffer claimed that Block initially appeared to support the events before changing his public position after receiving criticism. He also spoke about a possible comeback of the Demons & Wizards project.
Hansi’s one of my dearest friends in the world. I love Hansi, and I know he loves me, and we’re gonna be friends as long as we’re on this planet, and probably after. So I would do anything, if Hansi wants to do something someday. I would work with him in a heartbeat. But he’s got a different set of pressures that he’s gotta deal with. And so I don’t know that there’s any chance to revive Demons & Wizards on his side. Maybe someday. But we’re still friends and we talk. But right now, that’s not even on the table.
During the aforementioned discussion, Schaffer was inquired about the recent online statement made by former Iced Earth frontman Stu Block, which was directed towards Schaffer. This inquiry followed Schaffer’s characterization of Block’s reactions to Jon’s participation in the U.S. Capitol riot as a “total poser move.”
Schaffer gained notoriety after being photographed among the individuals who unlawfully entered the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Initially, Block appeared to endorse or respond positively to the events through a social media post, but after encountering significant backlash, he subsequently retracted the post and issued a public denunciation of the incident, thereby implicitly dissociating himself from Schaffer, who faced subsequent arrest.
I didn’t call [Stu] a poser. I said it was a ‘poser move’ to put up something supporting [the events at the U.S. Capitol] and then, apparently… I didn’t know all this was going on [at the time]. I found out about it later. People sent me screenshots of exactly what went down, that he was all in support of it, and then he got heat from the people that didn’t like what was going on, and then he changed his whole tune. That’s not exactly being true. It’s pressure — it’s weakness under pressure.
Schaffer doesn’t hold grudges, though.
I never had a problem with Hansi, because Hansi and I spoke several times before I turned myself in, and I knew he was gonna have to do that. On the other hand, it’s the way that it was handled, and the fact that Hansi and I, we’re friends, and I didn’t feel like what the guys [in Iced Earth] did was something a friend would do, especially after I got out and I heard all of the stuff that went down. But whatever. I forgive them, and I’m sorry that they had to go through all that too. They really didn’t have to. It’s a choice. Actually, [former Iced Earth singer] Matt Barlow [who is married to Jon’s sister] handled it better than anybody. He just didn’t engage, didn’t acknowledge it. But you see who people’s, who their characters are, and this is a gift, actually, coming out of it, just seeing who is really on your side. So that’s a good thing. Shakes it out, man.
