Another lead singer shafted!

[finalfight]

Oh for f@cks sake! This just in from the official Iced Earth website (remember when reading that Tim 'Ripper' Owens is the guy that replaced Rob Halford in Judas Priest before getting shunted out upon Halford's return). This sucks.

Matt is Back!

Hello Dear Friends!

Once again the winds of change are upon us, and this time I can say that I am very happy about the result.

While out on the European tour I had several in depth discussions with many loyal Iced Earth fans. A common theme of these discussions was how much Matt is missed. I agreed with the fans that things were not the same and that it was a very special period in Iced Earth’s history.

When I heard several months ago that Matt was going to be doing a project in music again, I was thinking about contacting him and seeing what his intentions were. I didn’t act on this because I was so focused on the writing of the new epic, and frankly, it just didn’t seem realistic.

Well, after getting out on the road and speaking with many of you directly, I decided to call Matt and see how he was doing and if he was interested in working together again. I am proud to say that he is coming back to Iced Earth and we will be getting back to work in the studio very soon.

Matt will be singing on Part 2 of the Something Wicked concept CD and we will be looking forward to getting out on tour and delivering a series of Iced Earth shows that will rival any in the history of the band. And there will be a proper DVD filmed from this period, something we’ve all been waiting for.

I want you all to know that it was you who made this a reality. I have missed Matt’s presence onstage and in my personal life in a big way over the past few years, so I appreciate your honesty in our discussions. It did help me realize the decision to move forward with pursuing this. The fans have spoken and we have delivered!

You true fans know that I’m a straight shooter, I say what I mean and mean what I say. And though I value your opinions greatly, you must believe that this is a decision that comes completely from the heart and is not motivated by anything other than what feels the best for Iced Earth. This is the way that things have always been dealt with, for better or for worse, but always honestly and from the heart.

Tim Owens is a great and talented singer and I wish the best for him and his future on a personal and professional level.

There will be more news soon as to further developments and plans. This will push back the release of Part 2 a bit. Not because we couldn’t be ready to record in time, but because of a new addition to Matt’s family in early 2008!

I am very happy to announce that Iced Earth is truly BACK!

Have a great holiday season. We’ll be in touch very soon with more details.
Jon Schaffer

[journeyrock]

Oh for f@cks sake! This just in from the official Iced Earth website (remember when reading that Tim 'Ripper' Owens is the guy that replaced Rob Halford in Judas Priest before getting shunted out upon Halford's return). This sucks.

Matt is Back!

Hello Dear Friends!

Once again the winds of change are upon us, and this time I can say that I am very happy about the result.

While out on the European tour I had several in depth discussions with many loyal Iced Earth fans. A common theme of these discussions was how much Matt is missed. I agreed with the fans that things were not the same and that it was a very special period in Iced Earth’s history.

When I heard several months ago that Matt was going to be doing a project in music again, I was thinking about contacting him and seeing what his intentions were. I didn’t act on this because I was so focused on the writing of the new epic, and frankly, it just didn’t seem realistic.

Well, after getting out on the road and speaking with many of you directly, I decided to call Matt and see how he was doing and if he was interested in working together again. I am proud to say that he is coming back to Iced Earth and we will be getting back to work in the studio very soon.

Matt will be singing on Part 2 of the Something Wicked concept CD and we will be looking forward to getting out on tour and delivering a series of Iced Earth shows that will rival any in the history of the band. And there will be a proper DVD filmed from this period, something we’ve all been waiting for.

I want you all to know that it was you who made this a reality. I have missed Matt’s presence onstage and in my personal life in a big way over the past few years, so I appreciate your honesty in our discussions. It did help me realize the decision to move forward with pursuing this. The fans have spoken and we have delivered!
You true fans know that I’m a straight shooter, I say what I mean and mean what I say. And though I value your opinions greatly, you must believe that this is a decision that comes completely from the heart and is not motivated by anything other than what feels the best for Iced Earth. This is the way that things have always been dealt with, for better or for worse, but always honestly and from the heart.

Tim Owens is a great and talented singer and I wish the best for him and his future on a personal and professional level.

There will be more news soon as to further developments and plans. This will push back the release of Part 2 a bit. Not because we couldn’t be ready to record in time, but because of a new addition to Matt’s family in early 2008!

I am very happy to announce that Iced Earth is truly BACK!

Have a great holiday season. We’ll be in touch very soon with more details.
Jon Schaffer

Gee, what a concept. Someone should take note.

[finalfight]

The worst thing about this shiz is that the band whilst enjoying minor success before Owens inclusion became a much bigger success afterward releasing their two best selling albums and enjoying critical and commercial acclaim.

Schaffer never asked my opinion as a fan as I would have told him straight up to keep on riding the money train with the far superior singer. Douche!

Imagine though speaking to fans about giving Owens the bird whilst on tour, this is as bad as JSS hearing on the grapevine that he was fired at least in that case the decision was made by the artists/management and not some spotty douche bag Euroteens with a hard on for a singer who's best days are far behind him.

F@ck, this all sounds horribly familiar!

[jrnyman28]

Jon doesn't care who is singing...these are HIS albums completely.

[finalfight]

Jon doesn't care who is singing...these are HIS albums completely.

True that but he did state upon Tim being hired that that was exactly the voice he heard in his head when writing his songs. Also the latest album - Framing Armeggedon is in two parts. Part two is now to be sung by Barlow throwing the whole project off balance.

I will remain a fan but am pissed to say the least.

[Wally_Hatchet]

Ripper needs to do a kick-ass solo album.
He'll be alright - he has more name-recognition than Iced Earth anyways.
Never heard of that Matt guy.

[conversationpc]

Sounds like Jon Schaffer is being much more diplomatic about this than Journey was with the JSS situation. The music that Iced Earth has done with Owens in the band has been good but I've never been a big fan of his vocals. Barlow is a much better fit for Iced Earth, in my opinion.

[Voyager]

WTF is Iced Earth? Anything like Iced Tea?

[finalfight]

Ripper needs to do a kick-ass solo album.
He'll be alright - he has more name-recognition than Iced Earth anyways.
Never heard of that Matt guy.

He did this year. His own band is called Beyond Fear and the self titled album was very well reviewed.

[finalfight]

Sounds like Jon Schaffer is being much more diplomatic about this than Journey was with the JSS situation. The music that Iced Earth has done with Owens in the band has been good but I've never been a big fan of his vocals. Barlow is a much better fit for Iced Earth, in my opinion.

The Glorious Burden album, the first to feature Tim Owens on vocals was originally recorded with Matt Barlow but Schaffer felt it was lack lustre as Barlow's heart was not really in the project. Owens learnt and recorded the songs over a three week period for what was initially going to be a one off project. As a result of Owen's inclusion the release of the final product outsold every Iced Earth album to date and was critically applauded.

The most recent record, Framing Armeggdon (Part 1) looks set to eclipse the success of The Glorious Burden and has given the band the highest chart positions and best reviews of their career. Framing Armeggdon in my opinion features Owens best vocal work and I honestly don't think Barlow can touch it. The next album might well prove to be a disapointment as the conclusion of the story if Barlow can't match Owens work.

To me it seems that after Schaffer brought in Owens the band achieved greater success than ever before both commericially and artistically bringing in a much larger fanbase in the process. Schaffer then decides to pander to the band's older fans by bringing back Barlow (who left on a whim before to become a police officer post 9/11 and since joined another band - Pyramyze). Iced Earth had nowhere near the same level of success with Barlow and are now looking to ride the current wave by playing the old switch-a-roo on the unsuspecting new fans.
As for this decision being brought on after discussion by so called loyal fans - are the many new fans any less loyal? I guess we will find out soon. My guess is the new album won't sell/chart anywhere near as well regardless of reviews.

Perhaps Schaffer will take notice when his bottom line is hit?

[conversationpc]

Perhaps Schaffer will take notice when his bottom line is hit?

Schaffer is one of the few guys in the music business that doesn't seem to care as much about his bottom line as he does about the music. He could've gone the way of Metallica and Megadeth and changed the sound of Iced Earth to "modernize" the sound but he stayed true to heavy metal music and soldiered on instead.

[finalfight]

Perhaps Schaffer will take notice when his bottom line is hit?

Schaffer is one of the few guys in the music business that doesn't seem to care as much about his bottom line as he does about the music. He could've gone the way of Metallica and Megadeth and changed the sound of Iced Earth to "modernize" the sound but he stayed true to heavy metal music and soldiered on instead.

I must say the guy is a genius when it comes to writing. It just seems odd to ditch his lead singer in the middle of what is sure to be his masterwork possibly disjointing the whole project in the process. Especially as he couldn't wait to see the back of Barlow before as his heart wasn't in the work. If he cares about his work that much then what gives?

Oh and Iced Earth would love to be as big as Metallica or Iron Maiden for example. Schaffer has said as much in recent interviews. I believe it frustrates him that he is not. Given the quality of recent work they were well on the way to achieving a much greater success...Oh well

[finalfight]

Updated news from Schaffer as posted on Blabbermouth.net

ICED EARTH Mainman: I Would Rather End It Than To Carry On Without MATT BARLOW - Dec. 14, 2007

ICED EARTH mainman/guitarist Jon Schaffer has released the following statement regarding the departure of singer Tim "Ripper" Owens and the return of Matt Barlow:

"It will be sometime before I'm going to be doing press due to the holidays and the fact that I'm still deep in the final writing process of ['Something Wicked' album] Part 2. I'm aware that the news of Matt coming back into to the band has taken many people by surprise so I'll try to explain the situation a little better.

"I do love Tim's voice and it is the kind of voice I hear when I write, and he's a really cool person. And I do not want an unnecessary war of words started because certain journalists like to create controversy to sell their magazines. I love Tim as a person, a friend and a musician, and I do not have negative feelings towards him at all. We would all appreciate it if the trash pedlars would respect the situation and keep their venomous speculations to themselves. An unlikely request I'm sure, but it would be nice. On the other side, Matt and I are brothers and there was a very deep and spiritual connection that came through in the music that we created and performed together over the years.

"ICED EARTH has always been about passion and honesty in the music — I'm talking about real, raw emotion. That's what has always made the relationship between the band and the fans a very special thing and it is the thing that made the chemistry that Matt and I had together so special.

"When we split before, our relationship had suffered from various things, but mostly it came down to not communicating like we should have, which led to things being blown out of proportion. All of that is behind us and we have grown and matured and will have an even more fulfilling relationship because of what we've experienced and learned from the past.

"ICED EARTH activities will be more limited now because Matt will still be carrying on his career as a law enforcement officer. I would rather we do it this way and have the shows that happen be very special events than to carry on and feel like what's happening isn't genuine. This is NOT a cut on Tim. It's just that ICED EARTH really began to blossom after Matt joined the band and for years we worked our asses off together, on stage and off. Those years of work and commitment defined what ICED EARTH truly is, and frankly I would rather end it than to carry on without Matt involved. All of this has been coming to a head for a while, and the talks with the fans in Europe helped cement what I already knew needed to happen.

"I wish only the best for Tim, this is not a standard bullshit statement, it's the truth. A guy with so much talent and personality only deserves the best in life and that's what I wish for him completely."

[conversationpc]

"I wish only the best for Tim, this is not a standard bullshit statement, it's the truth. A guy with so much talent and personality only deserves the best in life and that's what I wish for him completely."

Unlike most in the music business, Schaffer is a straight shooter and I actually believe this statement from him.

[finalfight]

"I wish only the best for Tim, this is not a standard bullshit statement, it's the truth. A guy with so much talent and personality only deserves the best in life and that's what I wish for him completely."

Unlike most in the music business, Schaffer is a straight shooter and I actually believe this statement from him.

Straight shooter my ass. Less than 48hrs before being unceremoniously fired Owens was given interviews heavily promoting Iced Earth and stating that he was due in the studio next month to record vocals for their forthcoming album. Owens was subsequently fired by Jon Schaffer via email at the same time a press release was issued about Matt Barlow's return. Schaffer didn't give Owens any warning nor the respect of a direct conversation.

Whilst he may believe in his own motives the way it was handled by Schaffer was sh!tty and very similar to the way the situation with JSS was mishandled by Journey. The only difference is that Journey seem to want to grow their audience and push for continued success whilst Schaffer is looking to wind things back a little. I mean seriously, WTF!?!

There is definate bad blood here as Owens has now removed all mention of his involvement in Iced Earth from his website and MySpace pages pending his own announcement.

And for the record Tim Owens absolutely smokes Matt Barlow as a vocalist on any given day and twice on Sundays!