Metal, Hardcore, Indie, Rock
Jon Schaffer, the founding guitarist of Iced Earth, whose band essentially disbanded after he was arrested for his role in the January 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol, was asked in a recent interview by Daniel Harris, a YouTube streamer known as The Rageaholic, if his new music will be influenced in any way by his relationship with Jesus Christ, as per Blabbermouth.
I just started [playing] a week ago today. I mean, it’s literally the first time I’ve picked up a guitar in years… I’m just gonna let it flow very naturally. But the story of Christ’s life is heavy, dude. I mean, that’s one part of it. There’s plenty of heavy stuff to draw inspiration from. But I’m not gonna make any decisions about anything. I’m just gonna let it flow. I wasn’t even planning to start playing guitar. It just happened. And I was waiting for that.
I can feel the creative energy starting to swell, and I know myself well enough to know it’s starting. But I’m not forcing it, I’m not pushing it, I’m not on a schedule, I don’t have tour dates planned. There’s plenty of people that are gently trying to pressure me, but it’s not gonna work, because it’s gonna happen on my time. That’s it — period, end of story. And it’s gonna be whatever flows, man. That’s it. So there’s definitely gonna be more Sons Of Liberty stuff. That’s 100%. That’s maybe even what’s first. I don’t really know. We’ll see.
When asked if he thought his new music will be released as a full-length album or if he would “keep things simple” by using the “standalone-song” technique, Schaffer responded as follows.
It’s way too early, man. I don’t know. I’m not even gonna commit that I’m doing another Iced Earth album. I don’t know. And I already have some… I’ve had some songs, ideas that I’ve wanted to… Another extremely heavy experience that I had when we were at Philip The Great’s tomb up north of Thessaloniki in Greece. One of the most powerful experiences I ever had was there. It was unreal. So something’s gonna happen there, I can guarantee it. I just don’t know when. But I’m too early in this to even… I’m gonna let the music tell me which direction that I’m gonna go. But I guarantee there’s gonna be more Sons stuff. I mean, that’s for sure. But Iced Earth is more of a commitment.
I don’t wanna get back on the hamster wheel in terms of it’s not gonna look like it did before. There’s no doubt. I’m not going out on the road for six or eight months and becoming a traveling T-shirt salesman, because the music industry just sucks balls, man. And it’s gotten nothing but worse through the years. And I still have friends that are veterans that have been in this game a long time, and the struggles that they’re having with the cost of nightliners and everything, it’s just, like, really difficult for these guys. And these guys are mid-level bands too, but veterans that have been doing it a long time, and it’s tough. So I don’t wanna get back into that rat race. But I have a plan. I have a concept of a plan. But when? What is it gonna look like, sound like? What are the songs…? I just know of a few topics that I’ve had big experiences and that feeling of, like… My spirit is saying, ‘I’ve gotta do something about this.’ And that’s all I know right now., I haven’t even played guitar in years until last Thursday.
Schaffer clarified after Harris pointed out that “you can’t force” creativity.
I mean, you can, but it’s not gonna lead [to] the best result. There’s been times where I’ve been pushed because you have a block on the calendar: ‘Now it’s time to write and record a record.’ And sometimes you’re slugging through things when maybe you shouldn’t be. But that’s the machine. That’s what I’m talking about. I don’t need to do that. There are other ways. I think I’m smart enough to figure out a way to make this profitable and to make it work and to not be in that hamster wheel, typical label bullshit that I’ve been dealing with forever.
