Iced Earth Guitarist Jon Schaffer Believed To Be Involved In US Capitol Riots

7 January 2021 | 1:25 pm | Staff Writer

Schaffer is yet to comment.

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It is believed that Iced Earth guitarist Jon Schaffer is among rioters at the US Capitol Building today. 

Speculation started earlier today that Schaffer - who has been open about his support of outgoing US President Donald Trump and has previously been seen wearing Confederate Flag paraphernalia - was involved in the riots when a photo circulated online of a man with a similar appearance to Schaffer. 

According to Blabbermouth, it's believed that Schaffer has since been identified by a German newspaper. 

"Schaffer identified himself to the German daily newspaper Die Welt, which posted a picture of the guitarist in the crowd at a demonstration supporting President Donald Trump and protesting the election results," read the story. 

"Die Welt journalist Carolina Drüten erroneously spelled Schaffer's name as 'John Schaper' but did correctly note that he traveled from his home state of Indiana to Washington, DC to attend the event."

It's reported that Schaffer told the outlet that, "They will go down. They're messing with the wrong people, believe me" and "If someone uses violence against us, we will react accordingly. We don't want that, but we are ready" when asked if he expected there to be rioting that day. 

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Schaffer is yet to comment. 

The DJ playing at the Trump MAGA rally has also drawn attention for their song choices today, with Uproxx pointing out some unusual 'pump up' song choices like Celine Dion's My Heart Will Go On, Elton John's Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding and Linkin Park's In The End, while Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani chose to walk on stage to the Village People's Macho Man

Other songs heard throughout the riots include The Beatles' All You Need Is Love and Pink Floyd's Brain Damage

More to come.