Iced Earth guitarist Jon Schaffer was among those photographed during the riot at the Capitol on Jan. 6, and his bandmates have now made statements about his involvement indicating that they do not approve of the riot or acts of violence.
Both Luke Appleton and Stu Block posted a group statement on their Instagram accounts (see below) that reads:
We want to thank those of you who have provided support in the past few days. Some of you are concerned about our silence, which we understand. We needed some time to properly process the information and figure out some facts before making a statement.
We absolutely do NOT endorse or support riots or acts of violence involving the rioters at the US Capitol building on January 6. We hope that all those involved will be brought to court that day to be investigated and accountable for their actions.
With heartbreak, we send our love and compassion to everyone who has felt pain from the events of January 6. We are deeply saddened and our hearts go out to the families of the lives lost that day. There really are no good words to comfort. Just know that we are with you in your shock, grief and pain. Much love to all of you.
Stu, Luke, Jake, Brent
Earlier this week, Block was pushed for a comment about Schaffer’s involvement and initially offered, “I live in Canada and don’t really get into political stuff or share my opinion. [sic]. I have chosen to spread love and not comment or allow any hatred on me [social media]. I hope so [sic] understand, ”he added.
In addition, Blind Guardian, a band that Hansi Kürsch counts among its ranks, also made a statement. Kürsch is a bandmate of Schaffer in the band Demons & Wizards. Posted on the Blind Guardian website, the statement reads:
We are deeply shocked and our thoughts are with the relatives of the deceased. We expressly dissociate ourselves from any form of violence, regardless of whether it is used against institutions or persons. The incidents are thoroughly investigated and those responsible are brought to justice. We ask for your understanding that given the hourly news situation, we will not make any further comments at this time.
Not long after Schaffer’s photo surfaced among the footage of the Capitol riot, a photo revealed that the musician was a “ person of interest in unrest-related crimes ” in a photo shared by the MPDC (Metropolitan Police Department of the District or Columbia).
A day later, Schaffer’s name appeared in the “Most Wanted” section of the FBI website. Schaffer’s image lies in the ‘Seeking Information’ sub-category, not to be confused with the FBI’s famous Top 10 Most Wanted list.