Jon Schaffer, the founding guitarist of Iced Earth, has revealed that he recently picked up the guitar for the first time in several years.
In a new interview with Daniel Harris, a YouTube streamer known as “The Rageaholic“, Schaffer was asked if his upcoming creative output would be influenced by his relationship with Jesus Christ.
Schaffer responded (as transcribed by Blabbermouth): “I just started [playing] a week ago today. I mean, it’s literally the first time I’ve picked up a guitar in years… I’m just gonna let it flow very naturally. But the story of Christ’s life is heavy, dude. I mean, that’s one part of it. There’s plenty of heavy stuff to draw inspiration from. But I’m not gonna make any decisions about anything. I’m just gonna let it flow. I wasn’t even planning to start playing guitar. It just happened. And I was waiting for that.”
Despite facing outside pressure to lay out a concrete timeline for his comeback, the guitarist insisted he is operating entirely on his own schedule, while confirming that his solo side project, Sons of Liberty, will likely see new material first.
“I can feel the creative energy starting to swell, and I know myself well enough to know it’s starting. But I’m not forcing it, I’m not pushing it, I’m not on a schedule, I don’t have tour dates planned. There’s plenty of people that are gently trying to pressure me, but it’s not gonna work, because it’s gonna happen on my time. That’s it — period, end of story. And it’s gonna be whatever flows, man. That’s it. So there’s definitely gonna be more Sons of Liberty stuff. That’s 100%. That’s maybe even what’s first. I don’t really know. We’ll see,” Schaffer continued.
When asked whether he intends to release his future material as a traditional full-length album or opt for standalone digital singles, Schaffer admitted it is too early to make a definitive choice, noting that a return to Iced Earth requires a much larger obligation.
Schaffer explained: “It’s way too early, man. I don’t know. I’m not even gonna commit that I’m doing another Iced Earth album. I don’t know. And I already have some… I’ve had some songs, ideas that I’ve wanted to… Another extremely heavy experience that I had when we were at Philip The Great‘s tomb up north of Thessaloniki in Greece. One of the most powerful experiences I ever had was there. It was unreal. So something’s gonna happen there, I can guarantee it. I just don’t know when. But I’m too early in this to even… I’m gonna let the music tell me which direction that I’m gonna go. But I guarantee there’s gonna be more Sons stuff. I mean, that’s for sure. But Iced Earth is more of a commitment.”
Schaffer also spoke candidly about his aversion to the modern music industry and the financial realities of touring, stating that any future live appearances will look vastly different from his past heavy touring cycles.
“I don’t wanna get back on the hamster wheel in terms of it’s not gonna look like it did before. There’s no doubt. I’m not going out on the road for six or eight months and becoming a traveling T-shirt salesman, because the music industry just sucks balls, man. And it’s gotten nothing but worse through the years. And I still have friends that are veterans that have been in this game a long time, and the struggles that they’re having with the cost of nightliners and everything, it’s just, like, really difficult for these guys. And these guys are mid-level bands too, but veterans that have been doing it a long time, and it’s tough. So I don’t wanna get back into that rat race. But I have a plan. I have a concept of a plan. But when? What is it gonna look like, sound like? What are the songs…? I just know of a few topics that I’ve had big experiences and that feeling of, like… My spirit is saying, ‘I’ve gotta do something about this.’ And that’s all I know right now. I haven’t even played guitar in years until last Thursday,” he added.
Finally, addressing the concept of creative blocks and working under strict deadlines, Schaffer expressed relief at no longer being tied to typical record label demands.
“I mean, you can, but it’s not gonna lead [to] the best result. There’s been times where I’ve been pushed because you have a block on the calendar: ‘Now it’s time to write and record a record.’ And sometimes you’re slugging through things when maybe you shouldn’t be. But that’s the machine. That’s what I’m talking about. I don’t need to do that. There are other ways. I think I’m smart enough to figure out a way to make this profitable and to make it work and to not be in that hamster wheel, typical label bulls**t that I’ve been dealing with forever,” Schaffer concluded.
Schaffer‘s return to music comes after years of intense legal and professional fallout stemming from his highly publicized involvement in the January 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol.
Following his arrest and ties to the Oath Keepers militia, Schaffer‘s music career collapsed. Iced Earth vocalist Stu Block and bassist Luke Appleton publicly resigned, while Hansi Kürsch exited their long-running collaborative project, Demons & Wizards. Additionally, Century Media dropped his bands from their roster.
After cooperating with authorities, Schaffer was sentenced in October 2024 to three years of probation, 120 hours of community service, and ordered to pay restitution. He was ultimately pardoned by U.S. President Donald Trump in 2025. During an interview last October, Schaffer claimed the legal ordeal was “the biggest gift” of his life because it led him to Christianity.
During a recent appearance on the “Brutally Delicious” podcast, Schaffer opened up about his creative mindset, his refusal to participate in the traditional music industry cycle, and his strict stance against artificial intelligence.
“There will be new music. There’s no doubt [about it]. But it’s gonna happen on my timeline. Because as much as I hear, and I know the fans, especially the Iced Earth fans, want new music, I’m not interested in new music; I want great music. And anything else outside of being truly inspired is not interesting to me. Going out and putting the band back together just for the purposes of trying to feel relevant or to make money, that’s the easy way. That’s a checkers move. I’m not interested in it. It’s gotta be because I really love it, not because the machine relies on it. And I was in that,” Schaffer said at the time..
Reflecting on his decades in the business, he criticized the relentless demands of the modern album-tour cycle, noting how it often strips the passion away from the art.
“I think we did great records. I’m proud of my career. But when you’re in that sort of the hamster wheel of new album, tour, that cycle that goes on constantly, you get off of the original point. It becomes a business. It becomes this thing where you sometimes have to go through the motions, even if you don’t feel like it, because there’s commitments. And things changed a lot in the music business. I mean, I was in it for decades. I saw a lot of things change. And it got to be to where the albums were like a side note for the band to go out and tour and sell merch. And I just refuse to do that. I’m not gonna be chasing Federal Reserve notes over like my integrity as an artist, and that’s where it’s at. That’s just where I’m at. It’s a no-go zone until the inspiration is there. Things are starting to happen, so I can feel that. But it may take a while. But I’m not playing checkers with this s**t.”
He doubled down on his refusal to treat his future projects as a cash grab, emphasizing the need for genuine inspiration.
“I get it. I understand how this works. And anything that I do going forward, regardless of what project it is or what band it is, it’s gotta be because there is a real true inspiration and enjoyment from doing it, not to chase money, because then you’re off the point,” he added.
The guitarist then passionately addressed the topic of artistic creation, aggressively dismissing the idea of ever using AI technology in his work.
“For me, I’ve always been one that I don’t really care what people think about my art. My preference is that they would like it — that’s the preference — but if you start worrying about what other people think, you’ve already lost the plot. That’s not what art is, man. It is a very personal, very spiritual thing. And all this crap with A.I. is… There is zero chance — zero chance — that that will ever be used in Iced Earth or anything that I’m involved with. It’s disgusting. You’re talking about a gift given by God, the universe, whatever you wanna call it, that art is a real thing. Whatever it is, whether it’s poetry, whether it’s actual art, painting, drawing, music, whatever, and just because the bored hive mind has the technology to be able to create this kind of stuff, I don’t want any part of that, man. I’m not gonna get sucked into that crap. It’s completely anti-human as far as I’m concerned. So that that’s off the table.”
While he kept the specific details of his upcoming musical endeavors under wraps, he assured listeners that the turmoil of recent years will heavily influence the material.
“So anyway, I’ve got plans, and I’m moving towards putting those things in process, but I’m not gonna say really more than that. Just stay tuned. It’s gonna take a while. It will be worth it, trust me. The best stuff that I’ve ever written has come through the heaviest things that I’ve ever experienced, and obviously the last five years have been intense. But that’s gonna lead to something really special. But I’m gonna trust my gut, my instincts, let my spirit guide me and just go. And then we’ll see when that happens. But when it happens, it’s gonna be epic,” Schaffer concluded.
