Rebel Extravaganza: The new album comes out on June 28th for the US. Is this a worldwide release date?

Jon Shaffer: Oh, you know, I think it's the same date for both the US and Europe. It makes more sense that way, because one part of the world isn't waiting months on something another part already has.

RX: How does Touched By The Crimson King differ from the debut, soundwise?

JS: I don't know that I'd say there's any difference at all, stylistically speaking. We've gotten more comfortable in writing - and we were very comfortable before - so this one gave us a chance to explore more dynamics. There's stuff on Touched By The Crimson King that's really heavy, but then there's some very melodic things going on as well. The first album had some magic moments and strong songs, don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to downplay the first album at all. My favourite Demons & Wizards song is on the first album. As a whole, though, this album is a more complete package. Hansi and I actually got to write three or four songs on the new one face to face, as opposed to doing it mostly through mail and online. Those songs we put together in person were really easy for us to knock out, and I know for me at least it's more comfortable to write that way than trading ideas through the mail. If our schedules permit, I'd love to be able to do the next one completely together.

RX: Some have said Demons And Wizards is more "basic" in songwriting style than either yours or Hansi's full-time bands. What's your response to this?

JS: Well, anything I do musically, I do it because it's fun for me to do. When it starts being all business, I'm out. And I would definitely disagree with the opinion that the Demons & Wizards albums are "basic" at all. The material Andre writes in Blind Guardian is very over the top, and the songs I do for Demons & Wizards would never work on an Iced Earth album. If Demons & Wizards just sounded the same as both the other bands we're in, why would we bother, you know? You know, I've found that most of the people who accuse a band of being "simplistic" or "basic" are really just frustrated musicians. I'd challenge anyone to try to play the songs we write as Demons & Wizards. It may not sound like it, because both Hansi and I have been doing this type of music (metal) for the better part of our lives, but that material is very difficult to just sit down and play. I mean, sure, some songs are more simple than others, but it's still a very technically sound album. I know that in Blind Guardian, a lot of times Hansi has to fight for vocal melodies just because there's always so much going on musically. When I write songs for Iced Earth, though, the vocals are normally the focal point. That depends on the track, of course, but more often than not, that's the case. Andre in Blind Guardian uses a lot of major keys, so their music tends to sound more…not "happy"…more positive. In Iced Earth, 90% of what you hear was written by me, and I tend to write in a more minor-dominated style, which gives the songs a darker tone. Some of my favourite songs of all time are just A, E, and G, you know? Those basic, simple songs are the ones that have lasted for 25-30 years, and they'll be around that long again, because that's what captures the heart of music. Back to the writing style, though, with Demons & Wizards, Hansi has more options with his voice than would work in Blind Guardian, and I have a chance to come up with melodies that stretch us both a little. For me, it's about two writers coming together to create something purely because we enjoy what comes out when we work together. Hansi is my full partner in this, and he's a partner that is capable in every way. For Iced Earth, I know that if something business-related needs to happen, it's my responsibility to take care of it. In Demons & Wizards, though, if something needs to be taken up with the record company, or the management, I can ask Hansi to handle that and know it's going to be taken care of just as capably as if I'd done it. We've certainly had our creative arguments, but never anything where we've been in danger of dissolving the friendship. It's just the nature of things when you have two people that are intensely passionate about what they're doing.

RX: It's been five years since we've had any new music from Demons & Wizards, but since the debut, people have been asking for more from you guys. What do you think kept the momentum going with the fans all these years, and keeps them hanging on, knowing it may be another five years before another album?

JS: Well, the biggest problem with Demons & Wizards has always been the scheduling. You've got to think that the two songwriters in the group each have full-time bands as well. These are both bands that tour internationally, that release albums consistently, and that have dedicated fan bases. We're just glad that people have been able and willing to wait. It'd been four and a half years, but near the end of 2004, a hole appeared in Blind Guardian's schedule, so we jumped on that chance and knocked this new one out. Hansi came over for eight days in November, and that's when we wrote those 3-4 songs face to face. We did a bit of layout work and preproduction then as well. That just goes to show how quickly and smoothly we can work together if given the time. I can honestly say that if you were able to take Hansi and I, move us away from our other responsibilities, and just give us an 8-track recorder or whatever, we could write an entire album in a month. With the fans, I think it has a lot to do with the loyalty thing, which we talked about before a little. The fans know that it's real, and not driven by money or pressure from any label. We do this because we enjoy it. The end. Our friendship existed for many years before we realized that there was a musical comraderie. We really couldn't as for a better fan base, considering this is only our second album, and the length of time it seems to take us to put a record out. Sure, I wish I had millions of fans for the bands I'm in, but I'd rather have a couple hundred thousand that are dedicated to supporting us than a million who are just going to buy a record and forget about the band if something doesn't come out next year.

RX: It's about the relationship you have with and responsibility to your fans.

JS: Right! Well, yes and no. The responsibility to the fans is important, sure, but the most important thing to me is artistic integrity. I don't have to worry about the fans being there as long as I'm true to me, and to my vision as a songwriter. If I'm true in my work and honest in my writing, the fans will see that and continue to support what we do, which in turn will drive me to better myself as a musician. It's a very symbiotic thing, and all those parts coming together is what makes a true success.

RX: You've got a really stellar lineup for Touched By The Crimson King, and you decided to use Jim Morris for the guitar solos again this time around. Was there a special reason for this, or do you just enjoy the break from having to be the "lead guitarist"?

JS: Well, I've had relations with the Morris brothers for about twenty years, and I started with Jim in a producer capacity beginning with The Dark Saga. Back before the first (Demons & Wizards) album, I'd approached Hansi about working with Jim for that one, so Hansi met him, and liked him. They hit it off well together, and so when it came time to do Touched By The Crimson King, it only seemed natural to have Jim back. He understands me and my music better than anyone I've met in the business side of the music world. The reason we had Jim do the solos on the two albums is that he comes from an entirely different background than either myself or Hansi in a musical sense. He's got about ten years on me, so he's influenced by the old school of guitar. He's into guys like Clapton, Hendrix, and David Gilmour, so he's coming from a different place than I would when I do solos, and it gives the songs a flavour. Jim's got style and passion for what he plays, and you don't get that with a lot of metal guitarists these days. Maybe he's not a "shredder", but that's fine. I'm not into shredding at all, unless you can shred with soul. A perfect example of what I'm talking about is Randy Rhodes.

RX: I couldn't agree more. He had so much emotion packed into every note that you sometimes didn't even notice all the technical things he was doing. His playing was brilliant, but still seemed effortless.

JS: Exactly! Diary Of A Madman is one of those perfect metal guitar albums that rarely comes along. To have those chops but still have soul in your playing…that's what it's about for me, and Jim has that.

RX: What's next for Demons & Wizards, and for you specifically?

JS: Well, we never want to do what people expect from us as Demons & Wizards. Hansi's in pre-production for the new Blind Guardian album, and I'm getting ready to start writing the next Iced Earth record. We both usually have more than our share of things to keep us busy, as I'm sure you can tell! Still, it's all in fun, and we have a drive for this music, and a passion for it...it's a lifestyle we've chosen.

RX: You've recently mentioned being determined to tour the US first (if there is to be a tour at all). That's not a statement that I expected, what with most of the power metal bands in America realizing they can make some easy cash by hopping over to Europe, where the scene is still massive.

JS: Well, honestly, I'd like the next Demons & Wizards album to be a live one, which means playing at least one show, of course. If and when we do get to Europe, I don't think it will be behind this record. Again, the scheduling is the only thing that ever really holds up the Demons & Wizards stuff, because the two other bands we're involved in have to be our priority right now. I'd love to do a show in New York City, and record that one for the live album, to give evidence that the metal fans in the US can be just as loud, and just as into the music as they are in Europe, or anywhere else in the world. Iced Earth did our live one in Athens, and Blind Guardian's was in Japan, so it would be great to show that the spirit of American metal is not only alive, but thriving, and with a supportive fan base. And I think if we're going to do one show, we might as well make a run of it, and do another seven or eight shows, hitting all the major markets. We both have, as I said before, very strong commitments to our other bands, contracts, and obligations to our bandmates, but if the Demons & Wizards thing really explodes, we're not at all going to ignore that opportunity.

www.demonsandwizards.com