Iced Earth founding guitarist Jon Schaffer has revealed that he recently picked up the guitar again after years away from the instrument. He signaled a potential creative comeback in an interview shared on The Rageaholic.
Schaffer spoke openly about the organic nature of his return to music. He noted that he is not rushing the process and is allowing creativity to develop on its own terms.
“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,” he said.
He went on to address the pressure he has been receiving from others to commit to a timeline. He made clear that his return will happen entirely on his own schedule.
“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,” Schaffer continued. “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.”
Schaffer also hinted at what fans might expect first. He pointed toward his side project as the likely starting point for new material.
“So there’s definitely gonna be more Sons Of Liberty [Jon’s side project] stuff. That’s 100%. That’s maybe even what’s first. I don’t really know. We’ll see,” he added.
The announcement marks a significant moment for Schaffer. His absence from music has been tied to one of the most turbulent chapters in heavy metal history. His return to the guitar comes after years of legal and personal upheaval that effectively put his musical career on hold.
Schaffer was among the participants in the January 6, 2021 U.S. Capitol riot and was subsequently arrested and charged with multiple federal offenses. He became one of the first defendants in the Capitol breach cases to enter a guilty plea, cooperating with federal authorities in exchange for a reduced sentence. He pleaded guilty to two counts, including obstruction of an official proceeding and entering a restricted building with a dangerous weapon. In 2022, he was sentenced to time served and three years of probation, allowing him to avoid additional prison time.
Following his release, Schaffer largely stepped away from public life and music. Iced Earth, the band he founded in 1985 in Indianapolis, Indiana, continued without him. The remaining members moved forward under a restructured lineup. The band had already been navigating internal changes prior to the Capitol events, making Schaffer’s prolonged absence a defining period of uncertainty for the group’s future.
Sons of Liberty, the project Schaffer now says will likely be the first vehicle for new music, is a politically charged side band he launched in 2010. The project has released one studio album, Brush-Fires of the Mind (2010), which blended heavy metal with libertarian and patriot-themed lyrical content. Its return would mark the first new music under the Schaffer name since before his legal troubles began.
No official release dates or tour plans have been announced at this time.
