Iced Earth is an American heavy metal band that combine influences from thrash metal, power metal, progressive metal, opera, speed metal and new wave. The central figure of Iced Earth is rhythm guitarist and songwriter Jon Schaffer. Schaffer originally founded the band under the name Purgatory, but he was forced to change the name due to another group already using the name. He would rename the band Iced Earth in tribute to a longtime friend who had died in a motorcycle accident. The group set out and recorded their first demo titled Enter the Realm, which sparked enough interest that they were signed by Century Media Records. In 1991 they recorded and released their first album titled Iced Earth. Since then, the band has gone through numerous lineup changes, with Jon Schaffer remaining the only permanent member. None of the original members remain besides Schaffer which is now handling nearly all of the songwriting and is leading the band. Barlow, the current (and most popular) Iced Earth vocalist, originally joined in 1994 but was inspired to become a law anforcement officer in 2003 due to the 9/11 attackings. After a absence of 4 years he returned in late 2007. MEMBERS:VocalsGene Adam (1985 ? 1991) John Greely (1991 ? 1992) Tim Ripper Owens (2003 ? 2007) Matthew Barlow (1994 ? 2003, 2007 ? present)GuitarJon Schaffer (1984 ? present) Bill Owen (1985 ? 1987) *Randall Shawver (1988 ? 1998) Larry Tarnowski (1998 ? 2003) Ralph Santolla (2003 ? 2004) Ernie Carletti (2006) *Tim Mills (2006 ? 2007) Troy Seele (2007 ? present)BassRichard Bateman (1985 ? 1986) *Dave Abell (1987 ? 1996) Keith Menser (1996) *James McDonough (1996 ? 2000, 2001 ? 2004) Steve DiGiorgio (2000 ? 2001) James "Bo" Wallace (2006 ? 2007) *Dennis Hayes (2007)Freddie Vidales (2008 ? present) DrumsGreg Seymour (1984 ? 1989) Mike McGill (1989 ? 1991) Richey Secchiari (1991 ? 1992) Rodney Beasley (1992 ? 1995) Mark Prator (1995 ? 1996, 1997 ? 1998) Richard Christy (2000 ? 2004) Bobby Jarzombek (2004 ? 2006) *Brent Smedley (1996 ? 1997, 1998 ? 1999, 2006 ? present)KeyboardsRick Risberg (1999) Howard Helm (1992-2007)* did not perform on an album.
Iced Earth?s music is often described as the style of Iron Maiden combined with 80?s thrash metal. The most distinctive element of the band?s sound is the stuttering right-hand gallop of rhythm guitarist Jon Schaffer, which sounds something like the ?eighth-note, two-sixteenth-notes? gallop made famous by Iron Maiden?s bass player/songwriter Steve Harris (in such songs as ?Run to the Hills?, ?The Trooper?, and ?Caught Somewhere in Time?), varied rhythmically. Overtop of this gallop are typically laid strong melodic hooks, sometimes doubled by two guitars playing in harmony. The vocals are often high-pitched, but express a full range, while the rhythm section uses thrash and power metal techniques such as double-bass-drumming to keep the speed and energy high. Iced Earth?s drummer is known for his frequent use of drags and flams on the bass drum.
Today, Jon is the only original member in the band, having changed multiple guitarists, drummers, and vocalists. The two most recognized vocalists of the band are Matt Barlow and Tim "ripper" Owens, the former vocalist of Judas Priest. Matt Barlow ended up marrying Jon's sister, making Matt the brother-in-law of Jon Schaffer.
Iced Earth lyrics tend to deal with theological issues such as punishment and sin, destiny, heaven and hell, the Antichrist and the apocalypse. Many of the band?s recent albums have been concept albums written around a theme, e.g. the antihero Spawn (The Dark Saga), horror movies (Horror Show), historical wars (The Glorious Burden) and the double concept about the anti-christ (Something Wicked).
Current Band Members:
Jon Schaffer ? Rhythm and Lead Guitars, Backing Vocals (1984-now)
Matt Barlow ? Lead and Backing Vocals (1994-2003, 2007-now)
Brent Smedley ? Drums (1996-1999, 2006-now)
Troy Seele ? Lead Guitar (2007-now)
Freddie Vidales ? Bass Guitar (2008-now)
Former Band Members:
Gene Adam - Vocals (1985-1991)
John Greely - Vocals (1991-1992)
Tim "Ripper" Owens - Vocals (2003-2007)
Bill Owens - Lead Guitar (1985-1987)
Randall Shawver - Lead Guitar (1988-1998)
Larry Tarnowski - Lead Guitar (1998-2003)
Ralph Santolla - Lead Guitar (2003-2004)
Richard Bateman - Bass (1985-1986)
Dave Abell - Bass (1987-1996)
Keith Menser - Bass (1996)
Steve DiGiorgio - Bass (2000-2001) (studio)
James MacDonough - Bass (1996-2000, 2001-2004)
Greg Seymour - Drums (1984-1989)
Mike McGill - Drums (1989-1991)
Rick Secchiari - Drums (1991-1992)
Rodney Beasley - Drums (1992-1995)
Mark Prator - Drums (1995, 1998) (studio)
Richard Christy - Drums (2000-2004)
CD/Single/BoxSet/E.P./Remastered
Enter The Realm - Demo (1988)
Iced Earth (1990)
Night Of The Stormrider (1992)
Burnt Offerings (1995)
The Dark Saga (1996)
Days Of Purgatory - Re-Recorded Compilation (1997)
Something Wicked This Way Comes (1998)
Alive In Athens - Live Album - 3 CD BoxSet (1999)
The Melancholy - E.P. (1999)
Horror Show (2001)
Dark Genesis - Remixed And Remastered 5 CD BoxSet (2002)
Iced Earth - Remixed And Remastered (2002)
Night Of The Stormrider - Remixed And Remastered (2002)
Burnt Offerings - Remixed And Remastered (2002)
Tribute To The Gods - Covers Collection (2002)
The Reckoning - The Glorious Burden Single/E.P. (2003)
The Glorious Burden (2004)
The Blessed And The Damned - Compilation (2004)
Overture Of The Wicked - Framing Armageddon Single/E.P. (2007)
Framing Armageddon - Something Wicked Pt.I (2007)
Slave To The Dark - The Century Media Years - 14 CD/DVD BoxSet (2008)
I Walk Among You - The Crucible Of Man - Something Wicked Pt.II Single/E.P. (2008)
The Crucible Of Man - Something Wicked Pt.II (2008)
DVD
Gettysburg - Audio DVD (2005)
Alive In Athens - Live DVD (2006)
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From Wikipedia:Iced Earth is an American heavy metal band from Tampa, Florida that combines influences from thrash metal, power metal, progressive metal, opera, speed metal and the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. Iced Earth has been known to have a volatile and often changing line-up. Founding member, songwriter, and rhythm guitarist Jon Schaffer is the only original member who has remained, handling nearly all of the songwriting and leading the band. Current vocalist Matt Barlow, and former lead guitarist Randall Shawver are the next longest-tenured members. They are the only people besides Schaffer to have spent a full decade in the band. Shawver, the first lead guitarist to record with the band, joined in 1988 and remained until 1998. Barlow joined in 1994 and remained until 2001, when he was inspired by the September 11, 2001 attacks in the U.S. to leave the band and become a law enforcement officer. However, he returned to the group in late 2007, making his live return at the 2008 Chicago Powerfest. In 1999 Jon Schaffer teamed up with Blind Guardian vocalist Hansi Kürsch to form a side project called Demons & Wizards, and have released two albums to date.