Discovered recently that Electric Wizard were kinda dicks back in the day. “At the time, we were pretty bad people. I got arrested for arson of a car, outside a police station. Tim [Bagshaw] went to nick a crucifix off a church roof so we could use it onstage…”
R. L. Burnside killed a man “possibly at a craps game.”
Varg of Mayhem Burzum burned a couple churches and killed a bandmate.
I could list other examples, but would like to hear from other people and other music genres.
Iced Earth guitarist was one of the first ones in the door on January 6th. The band pretty much said they disagree with his actions,but not his intent.
Guitarist from Manowar in trouble for being a pedo.
Years ago, Zazz Blammymatazz had a song about getting head from a 14 year old.
They said nothing about agreeing with his intent. They condemned his actions and left it at that.
It’s also hard to say “the band” as Schaeffer is iced earth. He has been the only constant member and to my understanding owns the rights to their iconography and etc.
Yeah. This is the one that came to my mind.
Dude straight up ended his career. His band members left, label dropped him and his colabs said they wouldn’t work with him anymore.
Turns out he was a lieutenant in the oath keepers and the FBI grabbed him. Last I heard he made a plea deal and got put into the witness protection program.
He is the band and it can’t exist without him. Even if he could continue, he’d have to rebuild it from the ground up.
It’s a shame, I really Loved Demons and Wizards, the iced earth / blind guardian colab group.
… Based on some song lyrics I feel I should have seen this coming when looking back though.
Iced Earth was one of my favorite growing up, but I don’t think it hit as hard because I had discovered so much better USPM in recent years. IE had kind of stagnated after Barlow left the first time.
I’ve only ever known Jon Schaffer to be an arsehole.
Years ago I was freelancing for a German heavy metal fanzine. That zine was attached to a record label, and for a few years ran a festival in its own name. The one year, Iced Earth and Nevermore, who were touring together at the time, were slated to be the headliners. Iced Earth were touring the Dark Saga album, and Nevermore had just released the In Memory EP, so must have been around '96.
I remember having a pleasant conversation with then Nevermore guitarist Pat O’Brien, who was happily browsing the label’s CD stand - dude was big into Death Metal. I remember Jim Sheppard accidentally burning my hand with a cigarette and apologising for it. But what most stuck with me was Schaffer sending out his tour manager to order us to remove all CDs that weren’t of bands playing at the festival. Original quote from the tour manager: “Jon ist schon tierisch sauer” - Jon’s really pissed off.
Through the years Schaffer revealed more and more of his personality, culminating in him joining the Capitol invasion. I can’t even get myself to listen to my favourite Iced Earth album (“Something Wicked”) any more.
I agree, really turned me off to the band, although I will throw on Demons and Wizards from time to time.
K-K-cocaine is one hell of a drug.