List of Iced Earth band members

File:IcedEarth2008.jpg

Iced Earth in 2008

Iced Earth is an American heavy metal band from Tampa, Florida. Formed in 1985 under the name Purgatory, the group originally consisted of vocalist Gene Adam, lead guitarist Bill Owen, rhythm guitarist Jon Schaffer, bassist Richard Bateman and drummer Greg Seymour. The band has been inactive since February 2021, when vocalist Stu Block, lead guitarist Jake Dreyer, bassist Luke Appleton and drummer Brent Smedley all left in response to band leader Schaffer's involvement in the 2021 United States Capitol Protest.

History

1985–1998

Jon Schaffer and Greg Seymour officially formed Iced Earth (originally known as Purgatory) on January 20, 1985. The first full lineup was completed shortly thereafter with the addition of Gene Adam, Bill Owen and Richard Bateman. The original incarnation released two demos in 1985 – Burning Oasis and Psychotic Dreams – before Bateman was replaced by Dave Abell in time for the recording of a third, Horror Show. In 1987, Owen made way for new lead guitarist Randall Shawver. The following year, Purgatory changed its name to Iced Earth. The first demo under the new moniker, Enter the Realm, was released in 1989. Seymour left shortly after its release due to tensions with Schaffer, and was replaced by Mike McGill. The band signed with Century Media Records and issued its self-titled full-length debut the following year.

File:JonSchaffer2010.2.jpg

By 1991, guitarist Jon Schaffer was the only original member of Iced Earth still a member of the band.

After touring in promotion of Iced Earth, the band saw further personnel changes in the spring of 1991 when Adam and McGill were replaced by John Greely and Rick Secchiari, respectively, for the production of Night of the Stormrider. After the album was released, Rodney Beasley took over on drums for subsequent live shows. The album was promoted on a short touring cycle running until the fall of 1992, when the group went on a hiatus for two years. In 1995 they returned with Burnt Offerings, which marked the debut of Beasley and new vocalist Matt Barlow. Mark "The Creeper" Prator took over from Beasley on a session basis for the recording of The Dark Saga.

Before The Dark Saga was released, long-term bassist Abell was replaced by Keith Menser. The new bassist featured in photography for the album, but was replaced shortly after its release by James MacDonough, who brought with him bandmate Brent Smedley as Iced Earth's new drummer. The new lineup released Days of Purgatory, a collection of reworked older tracks, in 1997. Just before the recording of Something Wicked This Way Comes in early 1998, Schaffer decided to relocate the band back to his home state of Indiana, which prompted lead guitarist Shawver to leave. The album featured Prator on drums, as Smedley was unavailable due to "personal reasons".

1998–2008

With new lead guitarist Larry Tarnowski in place of Shawver, Iced Earth toured throughout 1998 and early 1999, releasing their first live album Alive in Athens from the cycle. In the summer of 2000, Smedley was replaced by Richard Christy. For the recording of Horror Show, MacDonough was also replaced by Steve Di Giorgio, although by the time it was released in May 2001 the former had already returned after Di Giorgio reportedly pulled out of touring due to "prior commitments". Covers album Tribute to the Gods followed in 2002, before Tarnowski left in March 2003 to focus on his studies. He was replaced in June by Ralph Santolla, shortly after Barlow also announced his departure from the group. Tim "Ripper" Owens took over on vocals, following his departure from Judas Priest in July.

File:Tim -Ripper- Owens.jpg

After his departure from Judas Priest in 2003, Tim "Ripper" Owens took over as Iced Earth vocalist.

Following the release of Owens' and Santolla's Iced Earth debut The Glorious Burden, Christy left the band in May 2004 to work on The Howard Stern Show, with Bobby Jarzombek taking his place. In July, Santolla also left to join Sebastian Bach's solo band. The guitarist was not immediately replaced, and by September MacDonough had also left to join Megadeth. Iced Earth remained inactive for almost two years after the lineup changes, before it was announced at the end of June 2006 that the group had added Ernie Carletti as its new lead guitarist. By October, Carletti had been replaced by Tim Mills as the former was facing charges of rape, kidnapping and weapons possession, while former drummer Brent Smedley had returned in place of Jarzombek. On the last day of the year, Schaffer announced that James "Bo" Wallace was the band's new bassist.

Iced Earth recorded Overture of the Wicked in February 2007, with Schaffer performing bass after Wallace's departure due to "family health issues". The next month, Mills left the band to focus on his business Bare Knuckle Pickups. He was replaced in May by Troy Seele, who had performed some lead guitars on the recently completed album Framing Armageddon: Something Wicked Part 1. After a European tour to promote the album, it was announced in December 2007 that Owens was to be replaced by the returning Matt Barlow. At the same time, Owens' former Winter's Bane bandmate Hayes was also dismissed. He was replaced in March 2008 by Freddie Vidales.

Since 2008

After the release of 2008's The Crucible of Man: Something Wicked Part 2, Iced Earth continued touring intermittently for several years, before Matt Barlow announced his second departure from the band in March 2011. His replacement was announced as Into Eternity's Stu Block, who took over after a final run of shows with Barlow ending in August. The new vocalist debuted on a re-recorded version of "Dante's Inferno" and new album Dystopia, which were the last contributions of Vidales who was replaced by Luke Appleton in April 2012. In May 2013, Brent Smedley left for a second time to return home and take care of his family, with Raphael Saini taking his place.

Saini recorded the 2014 album Plagues of Babylon and performed a run of shows, before he was replaced by former Testament and Slayer drummer Jon Dette in November 2013. Dette continued touring with Iced Earth until April 2015, when Smedley was able to return to the band. During writing for a new album, Troy Seele left the group in August 2016 in order to focus on his family responsibilities. He was replaced the next month by Jake Dreyer, current band Witherfall with Joseph Michael (Sanctuary). Dreyer debuted on Incorruptible, which was released the following year. Iced Earth's lineup remained constant until January 2021, when band leader Jon Schaffer was put in federal custody after his involvement in the 2021 United States Capitol attack. The next month, Block, Dreyer and Appleton announced their departures from the band. By 2024, Smedley had also left the band.

Members

Current

Image	Name	Years active	Instruments	Release contributions
File:JonSchaffer2012.jpg	Jon Schaffer	1985–present	rhythm guitar backing and lead vocals keyboards mandolin studio bass (2007–2008)	all Iced Earth releases

Former

Image	Name	Years active	Instruments	Release contributions
	Gene Adam	1985–1991	lead vocals	all Iced Earth releases from Burning Oasis (1985) to Iced Earth (1990)
	Greg Seymour	1985–1989	drums	Burning Oasis (1985) Psychotic Dreams (1985) Horror Show (1986) Enter the Realm (1989)
	Bill Owen	1985–1987	lead guitar	Burning Oasis (1985) Psychotic Dreams (1985) Horror Show (1986)
	Richard Bateman	1985–1986 (died 2018)	bass	Burning Oasis (1985) Psychotic Dreams (1985)
	Dave Abell	1986–1996		all Iced Earth releases from Horror Show (1986) to The Dark Saga (1996)
	Randall Shawver	1987–1998	lead guitar	all Iced Earth releases from Enter the Realm (1989) to Days of Purgatory (1997)
	Mike McGill	1989–1991	drums	Iced Earth (1990)
	John Greely	1991–1993	lead vocals	Night of the Stormrider (1991)
	Rick Secchiari	1991	drums
	Rodney Beasley	1992–1995		Burnt Offerings (1995)
File:MattBarlow2010.jpg	Matt Barlow	1993–2003 2007–2011	lead vocals	all Iced Earth releases from Burnt Offerings (1995) to The Glorious Burden (2004) The Crucible of Man: Something Wicked Part 2 (2008) Festivals of the Wicked (2011) – two shows
	Mark Prator	1996 1998 (both session)	drums backing vocals	The Dark Saga (1996) Something Wicked This Way Comes (1998) The Glorious Burden (2004)
	Keith Menser	1996	bass	none
File:Iced Earth - 16.12.2012 - Rockfabrik, Ludwigsburg.jpg	Brent Smedley	1996–2000 2006–2013 2015–2021	drums percussion	Days of Purgatory (1997) Alive in Athens (1999) all Iced Earth releases from Overture of the Wicked (2007) to Live in Ancient Kourion (2013) Incorruptible (2017)
File:Megadeth live in Bucharest, June 15th, 2005 (20519482) (cropped).jpg	James MacDonough	1996–2000 2001–2004	bass	all Iced Earth releases from Days of Purgatory (1997) to The Glorious Burden (2004), except Horror Show (2001)
	Larry Tarnowski	1998–2003	lead guitar backing and occasional lead vocals	Something Wicked This Way Comes (1998) Alive in Athens (1999) Horror Show (2001) Tribute to the Gods (2002)
File:Sal, Leyla & Richard Christy (4902556102).jpg	Richard Christy	2000–2004	drums	Horror Show (2001) Tribute to the Gods (2002) The Glorious Burden (2004)
File:20140608 Gelsenkirchen RockHard 0924.jpg	Steve Di Giorgio	2000–2001	bass	Horror Show (2001)
File:Santolla.jpg	Ralph Santolla	2003–2004 (died 2018)	lead guitar	The Glorious Burden (2004) – four tracks only
File:Dio Disciples Ripper Owens (38005468).jpeg	Tim "Ripper" Owens	2003–2007	lead vocals	The Glorious Burden (2004) Overture of the Wicked (2007) Framing Armageddon: Something Wicked Part 1 (2007) Festivals of the Wicked (2011) – one show
File:2017 Fates Warning - Bobby Jarzombek - by 2eight - DSC8209.jpg	Bobby Jarzombek	2004–2006	drums	none
	Ernie Carletti	2006	lead guitar
	Tim Mills	2006–2007		Overture of the Wicked (2007) Framing Armageddon: Something Wicked Part 1 (2007) – one track only
	James "Bo" Wallace		bass	none
File:TroySeele2012.jpg	Troy Seele	2007–2016	lead guitar backing vocals	all Iced Earth releases from Framing Armageddon: Something Wicked Part 1 (2007) to Plagues of Babylon (2014)
File:FreddieVidales.jpg	Freddie Vidales	2008–2012	bass backing vocals	Festivals of the Wicked (2011) "Dante's Inferno 2011" (2011) Dystopia (2011)
File:Stu Block December 2012 (cropped).jpg	Stu Block	2011–2021	lead vocals	all Iced Earth releases from "Dante's Inferno 2011" (2011) to Incorruptible (2017)
File:20161202 Oberhausen Ruhrpott Metall Meeting Iced Earth 0114 Iced Earth.jpg	Luke Appleton	2012–2021	bass backing vocals	Live in Ancient Kourion (2013) Plagues of Babylon (2014) Incorruptible (2017)
File:Iced Earth - Rock Harz 2013 - 12-07-2013 (9358593318).jpg	Raphael Saini	2013	drums	Plagues of Babylon (2014)
File:W0848-Hellfest2013 Heaven JoeTurturo 67054.JPG	Jon Dette	2013–2015		none
File:Jake Dreyer.jpg	Jake Dreyer	2016–2021	lead guitar	Incorruptible (2017)

Timeline

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Lineups

Period	Members	Releases
Early 1985 – 1986 (as Purgatory)	Gene Adam – lead vocals Bill Owen – lead guitar Jon Schaffer – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Richard Bateman – bass Greg Seymour – drums	Burning Oasis (1985) Psychotic Dreams (1985)
1986–1987 (as Purgatory)	Gene Adam – lead vocals Bill Owen – lead guitar Jon Schaffer – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Dave Abell – bass Greg Seymour – drums	Horror Show (1986)
1987–1989 (as Purgatory until 1988)	Gene Adam – lead vocals Randall Shawver – lead guitar Jon Schaffer – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Dave Abell – bass Greg Seymour – drums	Enter the Realm (1989)
1989–1991	Gene Adam – lead vocals Randall Shawver – lead guitar Jon Schaffer – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Dave Abell – bass Mike McGill – drums	Iced Earth (1990)
Spring – late 1991	John Greely – lead vocals Randall Shawver – lead guitar Jon Schaffer – rhythm guitar, vocals Dave Abell – bass Rick Secchiari – drums	Night of the Stormrider (1991)
Spring – fall 1992	John Greely – lead vocals Randall Shawver – lead guitar Jon Schaffer – rhythm guitar, vocals Dave Abell – bass Rodney Beasley – drums	none
Band on hiatus fall 1992 – late 1994
Late 1994 – late 1995	Matt Barlow – lead vocals Randall Shawver – lead guitar Jon Schaffer – rhythm guitar, vocals Dave Abell – bass Rodney Beasley – drums	Burnt Offerings (1995)
Late 1995 – early 1996	Matt Barlow – lead vocals Randall Shawver – lead guitar Jon Schaffer – rhythm guitar, vocals Dave Abell – bass Mark Prator – drums, backing vocals (session)	The Dark Saga (1996)
Early – spring 1996	Matt Barlow – lead vocals Randall Shawver – lead guitar Jon Schaffer – rhythm guitar, vocals Keith Menser – bass	none
Spring 1996 – early 1998	Matt Barlow – lead vocals Randall Shawver – lead guitar Jon Schaffer – rhythm guitar, vocals James MacDonough – bass Brent Smedley – drums	Days of Purgatory (1997)
March 1998 (temporary recording lineup)	Matt Barlow – lead vocals Larry Tarnowski – lead guitar (session) Jon Schaffer – rhythm guitar, vocals James MacDonough – bass Mark Prator – drums (session)	Something Wicked This Way Comes (1998)
Spring 1998 – summer 2000	Matt Barlow – lead vocals Larry Tarnowski – lead guitar, backing vocals Jon Schaffer – rhythm guitar, vocals James MacDonough – bass Brent Smedley – drums	Alive in Athens (1999)
Summer – late 2000	Matt Barlow – lead vocals Larry Tarnowski – lead guitar, backing vocals Jon Schaffer – rhythm guitar, vocals James MacDonough – bass Richard Christy – drums	none
Late 2000 – spring 2001	Matt Barlow – lead vocals Larry Tarnowski – lead guitar, backing vocals Jon Schaffer – rhythm guitar, vocals Steve Di Giorgio – bass Richard Christy – drums	Horror Show (2001)
Spring 2001 – March 2003	Matt Barlow – lead vocals Larry Tarnowski – lead guitar, backing vocals Jon Schaffer – rhythm guitar, vocals James MacDonough – bass Richard Christy – drums	Tribute to the Gods (2001)
July 2003 – May 2004	Tim "Ripper" Owens – lead vocals Ralph Santolla – lead guitar Jon Schaffer – rhythm guitar, vocals James MacDonough – bass Richard Christy – drums	The Glorious Burden (2004)
May – July 2004	Tim "Ripper" Owens – lead vocals Ralph Santolla – lead guitar Jon Schaffer – rhythm guitar, vocals James MacDonough – bass Bobby Jarzombek – drums	none
July – September 2004	Tim "Ripper" Owens – lead vocals Jon Schaffer – guitar, vocals James MacDonough – bass Bobby Jarzombek – drums
Band on hiatus September 2004 – June 2006
June – October 2006	Tim "Ripper" Owens – lead vocals Ernie Carletti – lead guitar Jon Schaffer – rhythm guitar, vocals Bobby Jarzombek – drums	none
October – December 2006	Tim "Ripper" Owens – lead vocals Tim Mills – lead guitar Jon Schaffer – rhythm guitar, vocals Brent Smedley – drums
December 2006 – February 2007	Tim "Ripper" Owens – lead vocals Tim Mills – lead guitar Jon Schaffer – rhythm guitar, vocals James "Bo" Wallace – bass Brent Smedley – drums
February – March 2007	Tim "Ripper" Owens – lead vocals Tim Mills – lead guitar Jon Schaffer – guitar, bass, vocals Brent Smedley – drums	Overture of the Wicked (2007)
March – May 2007	Tim "Ripper" Owens – lead vocals Jon Schaffer – guitar, vocals Dennis Hayes – bass, backing vocals Brent Smedley – drums	Framing Armageddon (2007)
May – December 2007	Tim "Ripper" Owens – lead vocals Troy Seele – lead guitar, backing vocals Jon Schaffer – rhythm guitar, vocals Dennis Hayes – bass, backing vocals Brent Smedley – drums	Festivals of the Wicked (2011) – one show
December 2007 – March 2008	Matt Barlow – lead vocals Troy Seele – lead guitar, backing vocals Jon Schaffer – guitar, bass, vocals Brent Smedley – drums	The Crucible of Man (2008)
March 2008 – August 2011	Matt Barlow – lead vocals Troy Seele – lead guitar, backing vocals Jon Schaffer – rhythm guitar, vocals Freddie Vidales – bass, backing vocals Brent Smedley – drums	Festivals of the Wicked (2011) – two shows
August 2011 – April 2012	Stu Block – lead vocals Troy Seele – lead guitar, backing vocals Jon Schaffer – rhythm guitar, vocals Freddie Vidales – bass, backing vocals Brent Smedley – drums	"Dante's Inferno 2011" (2011) Dystopia (2011)
April 2012 – May 2013	Stu Block – lead vocals Troy Seele – lead guitar, backing vocals Jon Schaffer – rhythm guitar, vocals Luke Appleton – bass, backing vocals Brent Smedley – drums	Live in Ancient Kourion (2013)
May – November 2013	Stu Block – lead vocals Troy Seele – lead guitar, backing vocals Jon Schaffer – rhythm guitar, vocals Luke Appleton – bass, backing vocals Raphael Saini – drums	Plagues of Babylon (2014)
November 2013 – April 2015	Stu Block – lead vocals Troy Seele – lead guitar, backing vocals Jon Schaffer – rhythm guitar, vocals Luke Appleton – bass, backing vocals Jon Dette – drums	none
April 2015 – August 2016	Stu Block – lead vocals Troy Seele – lead guitar, backing vocals Jon Schaffer – rhythm guitar, vocals Luke Appleton – bass, backing vocals Brent Smedley – drums, percussion
September 2016 – February 2021	Stu Block – lead vocals Jake Dreyer – lead guitar Jon Schaffer – rhythm guitar, vocals Luke Appleton – bass, backing vocals Brent Smedley – drums, percussion	Incorruptible (2017)
Band inactive since February 2021

External links

• Iced Earth official website