The Resume

(1985- )
Formed in Tampa, Florida
Band members include:
Jon Schaffer - Rhythm guitar/some vocals (1985- )
Tim 'Ripper' Owens - Lead vocals (2003- )
Matthew Barlow - Lead vocals (1992 - 2003)
John Greely - Lead Vocals - (1991 - 1992)
Gene Adams - Lead vocals (1985 - 1991)
James MacDonough - Bass (1996 - )
Dave Abell - Bass (1987 - 1996)
Ralph Santolla - Lead guitar (2003- )
Larry Tarnowski - Lead Guitar (1997 - 2003)
Randall Shawver - Lead guitar (1988 - 1997)
Richard Christy - Drums (2000- )
Brent Smedley - Drums (1996 - 1999)
Rodney Beasley - Drums (1992 - 1995)
Mike McGill - Drums (1989 - 1991)
Greg Seymour - Drums (1985 - 1989)
Recorded albums: 'Iced Earth (1990),' 'Night of the Stormrider (1992), 'Burnt Offerings (1995),' 'The Dark Saga(1996),' 'Days Of Purgatory (1997),' 'Something Wicked This Way Comes (1999),' 'Alive in Athens (live) (1999),' 'Horror Show (2001),' 'The Glorious Burden (2004)'
Recorded side-project album, 'Demons & Wizards (2000)' with Blind Guardian vocalist Hansi Kursch

Why they might be annoying:

They constantly change their lineup.
Many of them have tattoos.
They had to change their name from Purgatory because there was another band called Purgatory.
Matt's vocals can be thought of as over-the-top but still fit the music quite well.
Matthew Barlow quit the band in 2003 due to being deeply affected by the September 11th attacks and now is pursuing a career as an administrator for the Department of Homeland Security.
Tim Owens upset many fans when he joined Iced Earth, just as he did when he joined Judas Priest years earlier.
They didn't achieve much popularity until their ground breaking release 'The Dark Saga.'
Many fans call Iced Earths music 'thrash metal,' though most of their songs don't fit thrash metal very well.
Jon, who was also affected by the events of 9/11, almost broke up the band after Matt's departure.

Why they might not be annoying:

Jon changed his song writing style after the events of September 11th from dark fantasy to events in world history.
They can compete with the European power metal heavyweights like Stratovarius quite well.
Jon set up 2 weeks of studio recording time for the vocals on the Glorious Burden and Owens sang all the vocals perfectly in 5 days.
They are good friends with Blind Guardian.
Iced Earth boasts as being one of the few new metal bands that still play true metal.

Credit: Armus Aran

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• Freezing Names
• I am Religiously Ambiguous
• I Covered a Black Sabbath Song
• I Recorded a Concept Album
• Musicians You Should Fear
• One Man Bands
• Profiles 10251-10500 (Ranked: 10279)
• Redheads - Male
• Vocalists Who Look Pained When they Sing
• We Titled a Song After Our Band's Name
• Weather Names

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 23 Votes: 78.26% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 14 Votes: 92.86% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 11 Votes: 90.91% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 64 Votes: 51.56% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 7 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 14 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 17 Votes: 64.71% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 18 Votes: 77.78% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 17 Votes: 76.47% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 27 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 30 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2008, Out of 40 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
In 2007, Out of 64 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
In 2006, Out of 101 Votes: 70.30% Annoying
In 2005, Out of 250 Votes: 69.20% Annoying
In 2004, Out of 297 Votes: 57.58% Annoying