Jon Schaffer, founder and guitarist of Iced Earth, not too long ago sat down with Marc J. Victor and Andy Marcantel of Attorneys On Retainer to debate his involvement within the January 6, 2021 riot on the U.S. Capitol and to provide a testimonial for the Attorneys For Freedom legislation agency.
Schaffer defined that his political activism stemmed from his deep respect for America’s founding ideas, one thing he mentioned was influenced by his father and years of examine. He described himself as “pro-freedom” reasonably than tied to both political facet, including that he rejects the label of extremist and believes the nation has drifted too removed from its roots.
“I don’t wish to get into the left-right a part of this, ’trigger that’s not the place my ardour is,” Jon defined. “It’s professional freedom. And I need our nation and the world to get again to that, and that’s what I’ve tried to specific. And lots of people have put me in a field of being a right-wing extremist and this sort of stuff. And I don’t take into account freedom to be excessive.”
He additionally talked in regards to the aftermath of his arrest, recalling how tough his time in custody was. Throughout his detention listening to in 2021, his lawyer mentioned Schaffer had endured threats and even assaults from different inmates. Schaffer shared that due to the eye round his case, he was moved into solitary confinement.
He described the expertise as extra intense than anything in his life, even in comparison with the struggles of leaving residence younger and beginning a heavy steel band. Regardless of the hardship, he mentioned it grew to become a interval of self-reflection that modified his life in constructive methods, serving to him see who actually supported him.
Schaffer famous the challenges he confronted inside, together with being denied entry to each the library and the legislation library, and ready weeks earlier than receiving a Bible. Nonetheless, he seen the ordeal as a blessing that pressured him to step again from the “hamster wheel” of the music enterprise and mirror on his life.
Wanting again on his profession, Schaffer mentioned his actual ardour was at all times songwriting. He admitted he was by no means within the “rock star life-style,” media consideration, or the ego-driven facet of the music business. For him, the best reward got here from the songwriting course of itself and bringing his artistic concepts to life.
He admitted the wonderful alternatives music had given him; touring the world, assembly individuals, and experiencing totally different cultures but in addition admitted that with out the spark to jot down songs, he has no need to return to the enterprise facet of the business. For him, songwriting was the one motive he endured the challenges of his profession.
“It was intense. I imply, it was positively intense. I used to be normally inhabitants for a pair days, however as a result of I used to be everywhere in the information, they moved me into solitary.
“I’ve been by way of a whole lot of intense issues in my life, lived hardcore, being a young person splitting from residence, beginning a heavy steel band and doing what you’ve gotta do to make that occur was intense. However dude, nothing in comparison with J6,” Schaffer continued. “So it was a crucible. And I’m grateful for it. I really feel blessed in so some ways since you discover out who actually loves you, who’re the parasites, who’re those that actually love you. And I’m blessed, man, ’trigger there have been lots of people that stood beside me, even when they didn’t publicly. And I get that, however that doesn’t matter… It was a blessing, your entire factor was, as a result of it acquired me… I stepped off the hamster wheel of the music enterprise and was in a position to have a look at my life and mirror, and for that, as brutal because it was, that point of self-reflection, which is all you are able to do… I imply, it took in all probability three weeks for me to have the ability to get a Bible. We weren’t allowed to go to the library. They denied us entry to the legislation library. There was actually nothing. And it’s been an unimaginable journey, and it’s life-changing in the entire good methods. And that’s what I can say about it.”