Jon Schaffer

Jon Ryan Schaffer (born March 15, 1968 in Franklin, Indiana) is a heavy metal guitarist and songwriter. He is the founder of the heavy metal band Iced Earth.

At the age of 14 Jon got his first guitar and began writing music. At the age of 16 he moved out of his parents’ home and went to Tampa, Florida. In 1985 Schaffer founded the power/thrash metal band Purgatory, which quickly changed its name to become Iced Earth. He is now the only remaining member of the first line-up, and the only band member that can be heard on every album. He also is the band’s main songwriter, writing most songs completely on his own. Jon has suffered from neck injuries, some of which resulted in surgery, that still plague him today. In 2005 Jon became a father with the birth of his first daughter.

Schaffer has also recorded and toured with Demons & Wizards, his side project with Blind Guardian vocalist Hansi Kürsch.