ICED EARTH's SCHAFFER Explains Guitarist's Departure

January 25, 2004

ICED EARTH mainman Jon Schaffer recently spoke to Guitar World magazine about the departure of guitarist Larry Tarnowski prior to the recording of the group's latest CD, "The Glorious Burden".

According to Schaffer, Tarnowski, an ICED EARTH member for five years, left before the recording sessions after expressing frustration over his limited role. "He may have played two minutes on ICED EARTH records, so I understood," Schaffer said. "I told him he should probably concentrate on school and getting a career."

When it was suggested that he could have asked if the guitarist would like to play more parts in the studio, Schaffer was incredulous. "Well, then it would not be ICED EARTH, would it? Yeah, I could have let Larry play more to make him happy, but that's not the way I heard things. You can let people write stuff to be nice to them, but you can also ruin your career. Some people are not songwriters and some are. If they are, why don't they start their own fucking band, have the vision and make it happen?"

In related news, ICED EARTH singer Tom Owens' (ex-JUDAS PRIEST) interview with Thrashin' Alan of the Dallas radio station KNON 89.3 FM, taped on January 16 and aired on January 22, can now be downloaded in three parts via the station's web site. Download the 21-minute interview here.

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