![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.intoeternity.ca\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/stublockiced.jpg\" "\\"Stu")
<\/a>Stu Block \u00a9 Cortney Roth<\/p><\/div>\n
In the wake of vocalist Matt Barlow\u2019s retirement, dozens of demos and resumes flooded Iced Earth\u2019s management team. But one name kept popping up \u2013 Into Eternity vocalist Stu Block, who has been named the new lead singer for Iced Earth.<\/p>\n
According to Schaffer, Robert Kampf, CEO of Century Media, early on suggested Block, whose band Into Eternity was previously on the CM label. That reminded Schaffer of one night in September, 2008, when Into Eternity opened for Iced Earth.<\/p>\n
\u201cIced Earth was backstage waiting to go on,\u201d said Schaffer. \u201cWe heard one of Stu\u2019s incredible wails. I remember turning to Matt and saying, \u2018Damn, that dude has serious range.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
So while Iced Earth\u2019s management team sifted through the growing number of prospective vocalists, Schaffer got in touch with Block.<\/p>\n
After several phone conversations with the then-prospective Iced Earth vocalist, Schaffer asked his manager to e-mail Block several key Iced Earth songs, with the vocals stripped. Block went into his studio and recorded himself singing, then sent the files back to the team.<\/p>\n
The result landed Block an intense two days at Schaffer\u2019s studio where the two musicians hit it off.<\/p>\n
\u201cI felt a lot of chemistry between us, we knocked out a couple of great original pieces of music in no time\u201d said Schaffer. \u201cHe\u2019s very good at coming up with catchy melodies, and will help with lyrical duties as well. There\u2019s no doubt Stu has an amazing vocal range and a lot of energy, but he also has the touring experience, which is a big plus for our plans of performing in all corners of the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
In addition, Schaffer said Block has what Iced Earth needs in a front man: \u201cstage presence that includes high energy, passion, and focused rage.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cStu is charismatic and understands the depth and varying emotions in Iced Earth\u2019s music,\u201d said Schaffer. \u201cSo he will embody not only the emotion of our songs, but he will be able to perform them in a dynamic way. I believe fans are in for some incredible records and live shows in the coming years.\u201d<\/p>\n
New Iced Earth vocalist Stu Block concurs: \u201cIced Earth fans are wonderful, wonderful people,\u201d he said. \u201cThe music is so passionate. So they\u2019re passionate, and very loyal to the band. I am, too. I\u2019m a huge fan of Iced Earth myself. So I share that same passion, and I will show it on stage. I think the fans are really going to dig it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Block continues: \u201cIt\u2019s a huge honor to be doing this, to be part of this team,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s a dream come true, for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n
Schaffer is totally stoked. \u201cThis is a new beginning,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s game-on time. Iced Earth is going to record and tour like it never has before. The band is really amped-up and ready to hit the ground running in November.\u201d<\/p>\n
And to prove it, Iced Earth has released the European leg of a world tour that will take the band to countries it has never previously played. All told, the 2011-2012 Iced Earth world tour will be the largest the band has undertaken since its inception.<\/p>\n
NOTE: Retired Iced Earth vocalist Matt Barlow will perform with the band on all summer festival dates. New vocalist Stu Block will take over from there, starting with the European leg of Iced Earth\u2019s world tour.<\/p>\n
\u00bb read more and see the tour dates on the official Iced Earth website<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Hey guys… Stu Block here!<\/p>\n
Well, as the world now knows, I will be fronting the mighty Iced Earth!!<\/p>\n
Some of you have asked about Into Eternity. I’m happy to report that I will be fulfilling all of the 2011 gigs for that great band. So no worries to loyal fans out there.<\/p>\n
I have […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-271","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","category-uncategorized","odd"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.intoeternity.net\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.intoeternity.net\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.intoeternity.net\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.intoeternity.net\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.intoeternity.net\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=271"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.intoeternity.net\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":480,"href":"https:\/\/www.intoeternity.net\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271\/revisions\/480"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.intoeternity.net\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=271"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.intoeternity.net\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=271"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.intoeternity.net\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=271"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}