Jim Maiden from Rock Overdose had the chance to speak with the legendary ex-guitar player and composer of Iced Earth,Randall Shawver and discuss many important things about the past,the present and the future of this great musician and of Iced Earth too.
Such an honor Mr.Randy . . .
Rock Overdose.gr:Hello from Greece Randy and welcome to Rock Overdose! I'm Jim and i am delighted to be able to have this interview with you.
How are you Randy and what are you dealing with,that period of time?
Randy Shawver:Hi Jim. I am also happy to speak with you.I am doing well.I worked for Microsoft and Dell, and am now working at gfi software as a security analyst.
Rock Overdose.gr: How is Randy's life after his reign in Iced Earth?What a fan of you have to know about your hobbies and interests?
Randy Shawver:I always play guitar as a hobby.I like to go to the beach ,swimming ,sailing, etc.I played with a vocalist named Tank after leaving Iced Earth in a band called Yuhrott.You can download the songs here:http://archive.org/details/iuma-yuhrott
After Yuhrott I realized I needed a break from music to get neck surgery.This was completed in 2003.This is when I started computer security work and have been doing it ever since.I really have no desire to play music professionally at the moment.
Rock Overdose.gr: Randy,let's go back to the past.You were part of Iced Earth since their beginning with Enter The Realm demo.
Can you please give us some information about the vibe in the band and your emotions back when you started?
Randy Shawver: The vibe in the beginning was great.We hung out a lot and partied, wrote music , and rehearsed.I considered myself a band member at the time.Me and Jon wrote about 35 songs, then decided to break up the songs into about 15 of the best songs we could compose.5 of these were on the demo.Some of the others made it onto the first record.
Rock Overdose.gr: Then we have the legendary first album in 1991,the first European tour with Blind Guardian and after a short period of time you released Night Of The Stormrider in 1992.Can you recall some things from this era that you would like to share with us?
Did you had set any target as a band and what was the chemistry in the band back in these days?
Randy Shawver: The chemistry was good but there was never a feeling that anybody was of permanent value to the band.Thus began the open door policy and members changing on every record.There was never a band feeling like Iron Maiden or Judas Priest members would have shared.
Rock Overdose.gr: What was the feedback of these albums and how much the first two albums helped the band to reach further audiences,specially with the replacement of Gene Adam with John Greely?Could you also compare these two albums?
Randy Shawver: The first record was fun to make and I really like the musicianship on that record.The production was horrible since we had a small budget.NOTS was better in that the music was complex like the first record but had a better production.We had a great time touring with Blind Guardian after those two records.
Rock Overdose.gr: Three years after Night Of The Stormrider,Iced Earth came back with the bands most atmospheric,darkest and according to many fans their best album!This was Burnt Offerings and for one more time we have changes in the drums and vocals with Rodney Beasley and Matthew Barlow replacing their former mates.
Would you like Randy,to describe the vibe in the band these days,the difficulties that Iced Earth had to overcome and in which way the new members helped the band?
Randy Shawver: New members had become expected by this record as nobody except Jon was making any real money.We were angry at waiting three years for Century Media to renegotiate our contract and it came out in the music. I know Jon hates this record but I think it is the most intense , emotionally charged record Iced Earth has ever released.You can feel the anger and rage on this record.
Rock Overdose.gr: In 1996,one year after the Burnt Offerings album,the band came back immediately with The Dark Saga album which was the band's official breakthrough,the album that reached it's name to the edge of the world! Unfortunately,this was your last album with Iced Earth.
Could you please Randy share with the fans your recalls/memories from these days?
Randy Shawver:I realized when we did this record that I was finished with Iced Earth. The music took a far too simplistic approach which is not good when you are trying to contribute songwriting.My style has always been darker and more technical than what this album offered.The band went from guitar oriented music to Vocal oriented music. And I hated the ballads.
Rock Overdose.gr: During the Dark Saga tour you visited Greece for the first time,do you remeber anything from these shows in Thessaloniki and Athens?What was your experience during your time in Greece?
Randy Shawver: I love Greece.We had a blast there going to the parthenon and other places. After the last show I stayed behind with the fans and we drank Ouzo outside.The band sent someone back to find me though later.
Rock Overdose.gr: Randy you know that i have great respect for you and i don't wat to make you feel uncomfortable,so i will also take-No-as an answer for the next question.Could you say just a few words about the reason that you didn't carried on with Iced Earth?Did you ever thought in the past,the future of this band without yourself until the Dark Saga album?
Randy Shawver: I did not lose my passion for music as Jon has stated in interviews. I lost my passion for working just as hard as anyone else in the band and recieving less recognition and money for my efforts.I could likely say the same for Matt.You get tired of working for next to nothing after so many years and need to find something that will pay off after putting in years of hard work and dedication.I actually thought about leaving before Burnt Offerings but I was still under contract to Century Media. I would have rather made three records in that three year period instead of waiting to renegotiate our contract.But Jon wasnt making much money at the time so he wanted to hold out. It would be funny to see his bandmates hold out on tour for more money now.It sucks when the shoe is on the other foot.
Rock Overdose.gr: Some people are confused with the line-up that the Dark Saga album was recorded.In the back cover of the album we see a picture with you,Jon,Matthew,Keith Menser as a bass player and no drummer at all but actually...it was little different.Can you explain the situation?Which was the real line up that recorded this masterpiece and where is the photoshooting place that we see in the back cover?
Randy Shawver: We shot the photos at a phosphate mine where my father once worked.Keith did not play on the record but was hired for the tour.He did not have much time to prepare. So when we realized he was not ready we hired James as he already knew the material. I believe Mark Prater played drums.I do not remember who played bass.
Rock Overdose.gr: Randy i listen to Iced Earth since 1995 and i consider you an integral part of the legend of this band.I recognize you as a great composer too.
Randy Shawver: Thank you. I appreciate that.Although Jon would state that he played everything but leads on the records , he actually played the rythym guitars and a few simple leads. I played the acoustic parts that I wrote that he could not learn, along with all the leads, and the guitar harmonies as Jon could not play harmonies.He also had a hard time learning some of my riffs.It is better for one guitarist to play the heavy rythyms ,especially when stacking tracks but he likes to underestimate the contributions of others.You can hear the difference between new and old Iced Earth.Whats missing is my contributions.
Rock Overdose.gr:Except from Jon,you were the most active member of the band and you wrote with him only great music and many of the bands best and timeless songs!You were like the right hand of Jon and no other guitar player that took your place couldn't replace you with success.No other guitarist that came after you,contributed so much to this band,they were all great guitar players but just...players!In the songwiting process they offered almost nothing!
Randy Shawver:Thank you for the compliment. It is great to hear from someone who actually acknowledges those contributions.
Rock Overdose.gr: This is not only my opinion but most of the fans opinion also,fans who do not just listen to this band but those who are interested and hungry for everything that has to do with the planet that is called Iced Earth!
So the question Randy is...will we hear music news from you in the future?
Randy Shawver:At the moment I doubt it.I write music all the time and have literally hundreds of songs ranging from Metal to classical pieces.I may eventually get back into music.It usually takes 10 years to get the itch again and I stopped playing seriously around 2003 so who knows.
Rock Overdose.gr: Awesome news Randy!Back in 2002,we saw Dark Genesis box set including the first three albums of Iced Earth plus the Enter The Realm demo,plus a cd with covers.
As far as you know,who is responsible for the idea of replacing the original album covers with the new comic ones?Many fans reacted badly when they saw these covers and in my opinion these covers have to be considered at least ridiculous!
Specially the Burnt Offerings cover that replaced Gustave Dore's masterpiece art images of the Divine Comedy is at least a blasphemy!You just can't compare the original art images with the new ones!
What is your opinion about these covers?
Randy Shawver: I think when something is released and people get used to it , changes should be minimal.But it was likely an attempt to use up another record option with the record company.When I buy Iron Maiden number of the Beast I want to see the original artwork and hear the original musicians not other people playing cover tunes or new artwork.
Rock Overdose.gr: Are you in touch with the old and the new members of Iced Earth and with whom?
Randy Shawver: I have spoken with Greely , Dave Abell and a few others.I spoke with Blind Guardian in Orlando a few years back.Everybody has moved on to different areas of the country.I moved to Texas for 5 years but am now back in Florida.
Rock Overdose.gr: Randy i don't have anything else to ask you.For me it was really an honor and this interview couldn't have happened without you.I wish you all the best for you and your family and may all your dreams come true!The end is yours,send a message to the Greek fans and close this interview as you like.
Randy Shawver: It is an honor to speak with you and to tell the Greek fans that I love you all and appreciate your support in the past.We may visit Greece soon.I would be happy to meet the fans who I have met there in the past.
Thank you ,
Randall Shawver
Iced Earth Greece fb fan page here
Randall Shawver's fb fan page here
For Rock Overdose,
Dimitris"Maiden"Bakoulas
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