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:
Vocals
Gene Adam (1985 – 1991)
John Greely (1991 – 1992)
Tim Ripper Owens (2003 – 2007)
Matthew Barlow (1994 – 2003, 2007 – present)
Guitar
Jon 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)
Bass
Richard 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)
Drums
Greg 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)
Keyboards
Rick Risberg (1999)
Howard Helm (1992-2007)
* did not perform on an album.
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:
Vocals
Gene Adam (1985 – 1991)
John Greely (1991 – 1992)
Tim Ripper Owens (2003 – 2007)
Matthew Barlow (1994 – 2003, 2007 – present)
Guitar
Jon 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)
Bass
Richard 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)
Drums
Greg 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)
Keyboards
Rick Risberg (1999)
Howard Helm (1992-2007)
* did not perform on an album.
Later on I found out that Jon Shaffer IS Iced Earth, as the rest of the band members all have been submitted to change.
After five years of listening to the Iced Earth albums, oppertunity presented, Iced Earth was playing in the Netherlands. Allthough my friend who recommended me Iced Earth didn't want to go because of the Matthew Barlow - "Ripper" Owens exchange, I still went. And shame on him, because "The Ripper" is every bit as good as Barlow and even though their latest album wasn't the best Iced Earth album, "The Ripper" is a worthy successor! Looking forward to some new and harder material!