Metal-Roos: Firstly, how was the European leg of the tour?
It was great man! It was great playing headlining shows again and doing a long set for the fans; it was really positive we all had a really good time. Just happy now to have a few days off and spend with our families. Then we are coming for you Australians.
Metal-Roos: So what was it like touring with our Australian brothers Elm Street?
Oh they are great guys and working hard every night; ripping it up – just doing what they do. I’m a big horror fan and I was really interested in the whole Elm Street thing. So when I first saw them on the bill I checked out their stuff and I’m really digging it. I love their influences. Looking forward to sharing the stage with them again.
Metal-Roos: So they are representing Australia well then?
They sure are. They are doing you guys proud, man, they are very good.
Metal-Roos: Stu I really love how well you have fitted in with Iced Earth, after hearing Dystopia. It’s clear that Iced Earth have found a really good front man. This being your second album with Iced Earth how much has changed for you since you started with them?
Touring with that kind of vocal is a lot more comfortable performing now. There is a bond between us – especially between me and Jon Schaffer… I consider him one of my best friends now. We were excited when we wrote Plagues of Babylon together. We are very proud of it and excited to tour the world and ROCK OUT!!
Metal-Roos: Was your writing approach different with Plagues of Babylon than it was with the previous album Dystopia?
No, not really. Jon and I wrote some skeleton stuff and some songs in Uruguay – doing our thing. There were some really cool inspirations… I think there is always something a little different besides the obvious – like the subject matter, lyrics and the artwork and things like that. Jon and I have this really awesome chemistry together so basically writing the album with many inspirations as possible. Not many things did change.
Metal-Roos: What can you tell us about Jon Schaffer’s writing approach?
He is a great songwriter first and foremost. He has tons of riffs – he’s got more riffs than I have ever seen. So, he has got lots of things to go from and he is like anybody – working on a skeleton then building and once he thinks, he has something that could be a verse or a bridge or a chorus, he gives it to me and sees what inspiration I get from it. I come up with some cadences and what we call gibberish lyrics and stupid stuff. We then have a look what happens and see if it speaks to us emotionally. On this album, I think he had a dark theme in mind – for me that’s what screams on this album.
Metal-Roos: Definitely with a Zombie Plague in the Something Wicked Saga?
Definitely
Metal-Roos: What was it like singing with Hansi Kürsch (Blind Guardian) on Among the Living Dead?
It was great. It’s always an honour – I looked up to him for many many years. It’s an honour to be able to share the stage with him and also for him to be in the studio, helping us out with the choir and some vocal parts on Among the Living Dead. So, it was a huge honour and much respect to Hansi.
Metal-Roos: What about with Russell Allen (Symphony X) and Michael Poulsen (Volbeat) on the classic cover Highwayman?
Well, Highwayman is a great song and it was a great project. It is something that Jon had wanted to do as a cover for a long time. The four of us spent a lot of time together. I’ve known Russell since before 2008 and he is a great guy. I’ve always looked up to him as a vocalist – he is just a phenomenal frontman. We had a tour with Iced Earth and Symphony X together which was a great time with a huge bond there. Jon and Michael are really good friends and now I can call Michael a good friend of mine as well. Jon wanted Michael to sing on the album and Michael was so gracious – he did it and it was the four of us. Jon did an amazing job on his vocals which sounded like a true pirate (laughs). So, I think we all had a own fingerprint on that song. It’s a real spirited song and it was one of my favourites on the album.
Metal-Roos: Funnily enough my next question was: what is your favourite track on Plagues of Babylon?
Well you see there isn’t just one. I have a few Cthulhu, Highwayman, If I Could See You, The Culling and, of course, Among the Living Dead because I got to sing with Hansi.
Metal-Roos: One of my top favourites is Peacemaker…
Peacemaker is also a great song but I LOVE THEM ALL MAN THEY ARE ALL MY FAVOURITES (laughs)
Metal-Roos: Just going back when you spoke about how you’re finding it more comfortable to sing the way you do now – I have listened to a little bit of your old band Into Eternity and obviously your vocals are different with Iced Earth. Was it really difficult for you to make that transition?
It’s freaky, man, I can do some weird shit with my voice and I think that’s one of the things that has kept me going. I have new stuff I can do with my voice but, yeah, there is always a little bit of a tough transitional period. It’s singing a lot and doing it that first little bit, like on the Dystopia tour where we did like 11 shows in a row… and I remember even after 8, I was feeling fatigued. Now we did 6 shows in a row and it’s like a baseball glove: I’ve worked it in and now it’s really maturing. I feel, though, a lot of singers out there, who are may be reading this interview, can contest to this. It’s that, as you get older and you do take care of your voice and you keep trying to advance yourself as a singer, your voice changes and you start doing some cool stuff with your voice as it matures. It’s like a wine as it gets older, different flavours start coming out and I’m a huge believer of that.
Metal-Roos: Obviously you guys did your Dystopia tour here – which I sadly missed – what were you expecting from an Australian crowd?
Well, we were expecting craziness, man, and it’s what we got. I remember having a great time there. There was a lot of energy – it always happens when we play at a place for the first time. There is that electricity… that spark that happens and it’s really cool. We are expecting that to happen again. It’s a really good setlist and we are gonna give our heart and soul out there – like we do all the time -ready to rock n roll.
Metal-Roos: Australians always hear how international bands love Australia. Is there anything different to an Australian crowd compared to Europe or US crowd?
I think the funny thing is that all Iced Earth fans around the world have the same sort of passion. I think they are comparable to Iron Maiden fans – they just love Heavy Metal. And I think if you’re into Iced Earth and you come to an Iced Earth show, you’re a lover of Heavy Metal – so you just get the same reaction like horns in the air, singing to our songs and having a good time.
Metal-Roos: Besides AC/DC what would be your favourite Australian rock/metal act?
Oh wow, it’s hard to choose without AC/DC in the list. I don’t think I listen to many Australian acts besides AC/DC.
Metal-Roos: Is Jon going to keep continuing with the Something Wicked Saga?
I don’t know. He might because it can weave into any points of human history and come back. There is always a question mark and it’s an open ended book – you just never know when.
Metal-Roos: Thanks for your time Stu and I look forward to seeing you next weekend!
Thanks man see you soon.
Interview Date: 2014-03-05
Interviewer: Brent Logan
