In a recent candid interview with Spain’s Metal DJ Phoenix, Jon Schaffer, the founding guitarist of the influential metal band ICED EARTH, addressed the possibility of reuniting with former vocalist Matt Barlow. The band’s effective dissolution followed Schaffer’s arrest and subsequent legal proceedings related to his involvement in the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. Schaffer, speaking about a potential musical future, emphasized that any revival of ICED EARTH, or collaborative work with Barlow, would be contingent on the creation of new, genuinely inspired material. He expressed a distinct disinterest in merely revisiting past glories or performing older albums, framing the prospect of such a reunion as a "cage" he is unwilling to re-enter without a compelling artistic purpose.
"I think anything’s possible," Schaffer stated when asked about a potential reunion with Barlow. "I just don’t know, because the music has to be there. I’m not interested in going out and playing old ICED EARTH records. I’m not saying that if we put the band back together that we won’t. That’s not what I’m saying. But to do that, it doesn’t feel right. There’s gotta be new music that’s truly inspired. Because I hate the music business. I always have. So to get back into that… I created the cage for myself. ICED EARTH is like a cage. It’s a machine. And I don’t wanna get back to the way things were before. So the only way that I would be interested in doing that is if the music is really speaking to me."
Schaffer elaborated on the ease with which a reunion could be orchestrated financially, contrasting it with his current artistic priorities. "It would be pretty easy to put the band back together and to go out and make money and start doing the whole thing over again. That’s, like, probably 30 minutes of phone calls, and it’s on. But I’m not in that space right now. I don’t wanna do that. So it may come, and it probably will at some point, but it’s gotta be determined on the music. That’s it. Because just putting the band back together to go out and play this record or that record – I can’t think of anything that’s less interesting to me to do. It would feel a little bit cheap to do that. So there’s gotta be truly inspired music. If that comes, then everything’s on the table."
A Shift in Artistic Philosophy
The conversation with Metal DJ Phoenix, as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET, revealed a significant evolution in Schaffer’s perspective on his career and the music industry. He directly addressed fan expectations regarding anniversary tours or retrospectives, such as a potential celebration of the 30th anniversary of "The Dark Saga." "No. Not right now, no. I have no interest in that right now. There’s been plenty of offers, believe me, but that’s just not something I’m interested in doing, unless there’s new music," he asserted.
Schaffer’s disdain for the music business was palpable. "I did my time in the music business – I did decades of time in it – and, frankly, I think it sucks. I hate it," he explained. "So, the music has to be there because then there’s a purpose. But just to go out and live in the past and sell t-shirts, it’s just not something that’s interesting for me at this moment in time."
Focus on SONS OF LIBERTY and Future Creative Direction
Currently, Schaffer’s creative energies are primarily directed towards his side project, SONS OF LIBERTY. He indicated that while some ICED EARTH-related musical ideas exist, their development into full songs remains uncertain and dependent on inspiration. "I’m only going with my instincts and what my spirit is telling me to do, and what I’m inspired by. And right now that’s [Jon’s side project] SONS OF LIBERTY, and we’ll see when I really start assembling and doing production work, like pre-production work… There are some ICED EARTH parts that I’ve already come up with, but whether I’m gonna work on developing those songs in a year or two, or not at all, I don’t know yet. I’m focused on the SONS stuff right now. And I know the fans want it. They’re just gonna have to wait, because I’m not gonna be pressured by anybody. Not by the fans, not by former members, not by management people or labels or whatever. It’s not gonna happen. This is gonna be organic, it’s gonna be real, it’s gonna be inspired, because that’s worth it. It’ll be worth the wait. I mean, I know how this works."
Schaffer recently released "Sons Of Liberty – Thought Crimes (Volumes 1 & 2)," a compilation featuring his earlier "Brush-fires Of The Mind" LP (2009) and "Spirit Of The Times" EP (2011), enhanced with newly recorded drums by Mark Prator and a fresh mix by Jim Morris. This project appears to have served as a catalyst for his current creative drive. He explicitly stated that financial incentives are not his primary motivation, particularly in the eight years since ICED EARTH last performed live.
"This is not about money for me. It never has been," he stated. "I mean, of course I need money, you need money, everybody does because we have to live and we have bills to pay, but I’m not gonna – at the expense of sacrificing my personal integrity, there is no money that can do that. So it’s gotta be inspired. If I wouldn’t have [gotten] Mark Prator to play drums and do the remix on the SONS OF LIBERTY album, I might not be doing any music stuff right now. So that started it. Now I’m going through this process because it’s what I need to do."
A Deepening Bond with Matt Barlow
Returning to the prospect of working with Matt Barlow, Schaffer expressed a strong sense of future collaboration, though the exact form remains undefined. "I feel certain that Matt and I are gonna do something together eventually, whether it’s ICED EARTH or whether we do another SCHAFFER/BARLOW PROJECT, or whether we do both, or whether we do something completely different. I mean, he’s my bro, man – [he] has been forever – and we have a great thing together. But he also understands that I need to be really inspired. I gotta have my heart in it. If it’s gonna be great, my heart’s gotta be in it. I gotta really be in. And I know that I’m not right now, so why would I do it? It would only be to chase dollars at that point. The heart and soul have to be there if you wanna have the best music, and the music is gonna outlive me. So it’s important that – I just gotta trust my instinct on this."
This sentiment underscores the profound personal and professional connection Schaffer shares with Barlow, hinting at a creative synergy that transcends specific band names or projects. The emphasis on shared inspiration and genuine artistic fulfillment suggests a mature approach to their potential future endeavors.
Spiritual Influence and Redefining "Heavy"
Schaffer also touched upon the influence of his newfound Christian faith on his future music. He acknowledged that the creative process is unfolding organically and that specific themes might emerge naturally. "I don’t know the answer to that. This is all just starting. This is the thing with creative – with the art, with following your heart and your soul, it’s just gonna happen. And it could be the kind of thing that… I mean, I do know some specific historical things that I will be writing about, but I don’t know. There’s no limitations."
He further elaborated on how his faith might impact his music, suggesting a deeper, more profound sense of "heaviness" beyond conventional metal tropes. "Being a Christian is actually pretty heavy," Schaffer explained. "You’re talking about having a level of understanding about the spiritual war. There isn’t really much heavier than that. So, I think the influence in that, it could be pretty strong, but it won’t lack any heaviness, let’s put it that way. So I have no concerns about that. And maybe I define heavy a little bit differently than some people do. I think heavy is, how does it move you emotionally? It’s not just detuned guitars and [guttural vocals]. To me, that doesn’t define heavy. It defines how does the music move an individual. Does it bring you to tears? Does it make you wanna shake your fists and, like, whatever? But whatever the reaction is, if it moves you in a really powerful way, that’s heavy to me. I mean, I know acoustic songs that are very heavy and very moving and very powerful."
This redefinition of "heavy" suggests a more nuanced approach to songwriting, prioritizing emotional resonance and impactful expression over genre conventions. It hints at a willingness to explore a broader spectrum of musicality, driven by genuine feeling rather than adherence to established metal aesthetics.
Artistic Integrity and Legacy
Schaffer reiterated his commitment to artistic integrity above all else, emphasizing that he will only pursue projects that genuinely inspire him. He is unwilling to compromise his artistic vision under pressure, whether from fans, former bandmates, management, or record labels. "I’m too early in this," he admitted. "And I think whatever it is that comes, it’s gonna have to be great or I’m just not gonna do it. There’s other things that I can do. So that’s the stage that I’m at right now, is starting, and I’ll be doing this for many months now, and preparing everything, and making sure that it’s feeling good to me. Because at the end of the day, I have to satisfy myself as an artist. My preference is that people would enjoy it. If they don’t, that’s okay too. I have no control over that. The only thing I have control over really is making the decisions that are gonna make me sit at ease with my legacy and with my work. And at this point in my life, it’s really important that anything that I do or am involved with going forward is something that I can really be comfortable with. I mean, I am really pretty comfortable with almost all of my catalog. When you have a career that long – and this is the machine that I’m talking about – sometimes through the years there’s been albums that I don’t think are as great. Some people feel differently. Some people love them. And some of that – I believe that you can work incredibly well under pressure if you’re inspired. If you’re not feeling super inspired because maybe you’re burned out, but you’ve already got a tour booked on one side of the thing, and you’ve got a deadline, and you’ve got to get the record done… I mean, there’s been times… Or you’ve got really heavy personal situations going on in your life, but you’ve got to push through because the deadline. I’m not willing to compromise on that anymore. It’s just not an option. I don’t have anybody breathing down my neck about it, and they’re not going to, because I’m not gonna tolerate it. It has to be inspired, man. It has to be inspired, and if it’s not inspired, and if it’s not inspiring me, and I’m not getting the goosebumps, and I’m not really believing it, then I’m just not gonna do it. I’d rather leave it where it is. Because if [2017’s] ‘Incorruptible’ was the last ICED EARTH album ever, it’s a great album. That one, I really enjoy that record. I think there’s maybe a couple spots that are a little bit filler, but most of it’s really strong, and I would be okay with that. So it’s gotta be inspired. It’s gotta be fire – really, really hot."
This perspective suggests a desire to ensure his future artistic output aligns with his personal values and artistic fulfillment, prioritizing quality and genuine passion over commercial pressures or past successes.
Legal Aftermath and Professional Repercussions
The interview took place against the backdrop of significant legal and professional challenges for Jon Schaffer. In October 2024, he received a sentence of three years of probation and 120 hours of community service for his role in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. The sentence also included a $1,000 restitution payment and a $200 financial assessment. Schaffer was among a large number of individuals accused of riot-related offenses who were later pardoned by then-U.S. President Donald Trump.
The fallout from Schaffer’s involvement in the Capitol riot had immediate and severe repercussions for his musical career. His ICED EARTH bandmates publicly distanced themselves from his actions. Vocalist Stu Block and bassist Luke Appleton subsequently announced their resignations via social media statements. Furthermore, Hansi Kürsch, the frontman of Blind Guardian and Schaffer’s long-time collaborator in the project DEMONS & WIZARDS, also departed the duo. The allegations also appeared to strain Schaffer’s relationship with his long-standing record label, Century Media, which had released albums for both ICED EARTH and DEMONS & WIZARDS. By mid-January 2021, neither band was listed on Century Media’s artist roster.
A Transformative Experience and Spiritual Rebirth
In April 2025, Schaffer described his legal troubles and professional setbacks stemming from the Capitol riot as "the biggest gift" of his life, attributing it significantly to its role in leading him to Jesus Christ. This profound personal transformation appears to be a driving force behind his current artistic and philosophical outlook. The emphasis on his faith and its potential influence on his music suggests a new chapter of introspection and artistic exploration, where spirituality and creative expression are deeply intertwined.
Schaffer’s journey through legal challenges, professional isolation, and personal spiritual awakening has evidently reshaped his priorities. His current stance on the potential revival of ICED EARTH, or any collaborative musical venture, reflects a desire for authentic artistic expression, driven by inspiration and integrity, rather than by the demands of the music industry or the allure of past successes. The future of his music, whether under the ICED EARTH banner, with SONS OF LIBERTY, or in new collaborations, will undoubtedly be shaped by this evolving artistic philosophy.
