’90s Rocker Announces Return to Music 57 Years After Beginning Career

More than five decades after he first began his musical journey, ’90s metal mainstay Jon Schaffer is officially returning to the spotlight.

Schaffer, best known as the founder and longtime guitarist of Iced Earth, is mounting a comeback through his politically oriented side project, Sons of Liberty. The release, titled Thought Crimes (Volumes 1 & 2), is described as a reimagined collection of material from the project’s earlier works, the Brush-fires of the Mind LP (2009) and the Spirit of the Times EP (2011). The set features newly remixed tracks and updated live drums from Mark Prator, and is scheduled to arrive July 4 via The Circle Music.

Schaffer addressed the project’s return in a lengthy statement. “Sons of Liberty was always meant to be more than music; it was a wake-up call and an attempt to start brushfires of freedom in the minds of those with ears to hear,” he said. “Those who know me, know that I am not here to please everyone; not with my music, nor with my ideals and principles… My wish with the first SOL album in 2009 was to inspire the people to inform themselves.”

Jon Schaffer with Iced Earth (Photo by Annamaria DiSanto/WireImage)

He added that future Sons of Liberty material may focus on solutions rather than critique. “In the future it is my intention to write a new chapter of Sons music focusing on what I believe to be the solution. Until then, as a great friend and mentor says… Don’t aggress. Be an excellent human. Live and let live. Peace.”

Schaffer’s return to music follows a turbulent chapter in his life. He was arrested in 2021 in connection with the January 6 breach of the U.S. Capitol and faced multiple charges, including violent entry and disrupting government business. He later cooperated with authorities and, in October 2024, received three years of probation and a $2,200 fine. In 2025, he was pardoned by President Donald J. Trump.

Now, with Thought Crimes (Volumes 1 & 2) set for release, Schaffer is reentering the music world, a space he first stepped into 57 years ago, with a project that remains closely tied to his personal and political convictions.

This story was originally published by Parade on Mar 2, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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