Inspired by the ear bleeding thunder and hard thrashing glory of early classic
metal acts such as Iron Maiden and Black Sabbath, Iced Earth have become
longstanding cult heroes of America's hard rock scene since coming together in
Florida in 1985.
Front man Jon Schaffer originally fell in love with music after going to a Kiss
gig with his dad at 11-years-old, and started out playing in bands as a way of
rebelling against the strict regime of his Lutheran school teachers in Indiana.
At 16 he fled to Tampa Bay after the death of his best friend and he found work
as a roofer, b...