Jon Schaffer

Infobox Musical artist
Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
Name = Jon Schaffer
Birth_name = Jon Ryan Schaffer

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Background = solo_singer
Img_capt = Jon Schaffer
Born = Birth date and age|1968|3|15|mf=y
Franklin, Indiana
Died =
Instrument = Guitar, Bass, Vocals, Keyboards, Mandolin
Genre = Heavy metal
Power metal
Thrash metal
Associated_acts = Iced Earth
Demons & Wizards
Label = SPV
Century Media
Steamhammer
Years_active = 1985 - present
URL =
Notable_instruments =

Jon Ryan Schaffer (born March 15, 1968 in Franklin, Indiana) is a heavy metal guitarist and songwriter. He is the founder and only remaining original member of the heavy metal band Iced Earth.

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, and the band's main songwriter. Jon has suffered from neck injuries, some of which resulted in surgery, that still plague him today. In 2005 Jon and his wife, Wendi, became parents with the birth of their first daughter.

He is also brother-in-law of Iced Earth singer Matt Barlow, as Matt is married to Jon's sister.

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

Schaffer also sings lead on the Iced Earth songs "Stormrider" from "Night of the Stormrider", on "God of Thunder", a cover of the Kiss song, on "Tribute to the Gods" and "A Gift or a Curse?" from "The Crucible of Man". Live, he also sings back-up vocals, most notably on "Desert Rain" where sings the verses along with Barlow in a call-and-answer style.

Influences

Jon Schaffer's primary musical influences were Kiss, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Alice Cooper 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, 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".

Gibson guitars have long been Schaffer's instruments of choice and in September 2007 he signed an official endorsement deal with them. See the announcement posted on the official Iced Earth website [http://www.icedearth.com/news/090607.htm here] .

Other works

Aside from performing music, Jon Schaffer owns a historical collectibles store called "Spirit of '76 Collectibles", located in Columbus, Indiana. 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..

External links

* [http://www.spirit-of-76.com/ Spirit of '76 Collectibles]
* [http://www.espudd.com/articles/music/icedinter.php?cat=mus eSpudd interview with Jon Schaffer]
* [http://www.rockeyez.com/interviews/int-icedearth.html Rock Eyez interview with Jon Schaffer, May 2005]