Schaeffer probably overreacted to the situation, no doubt. However, I think the interviewer showed his lack of interest musically in Iced Earth by crutching off a bunch of political questions in a metal magazine interview. He should not have been doing the interview, someone else should have, such as Mark Gromen, but whatever.
Myself personally, as an interviewer, would have focused moreso on the sub-standard riffing, lack of memorable songs, and the overt vocal problem he chose, replacing the impassioned Matt Barlow with a high-end screamer with no soul, Ripper Owens.
But then again, I don't work for BWBK.
Oh, and I used to have a couple of friends who were two years older than me who did not like Metallica's "And Justice For All" album when it came out. They said it was nothing in comparison to their first three albums. Years later, when the black album came out, they then revised their opinions and said that the black album made "Justice" outstanding in their eyes.
That particular line of thinking fits me completely in reference to "Horror Show" - "The Glorious Burden". Enlightenment.
You wish you were there. Early 1999, J.J. Kelley's, south suburban Chicago.
Ion Vein, Nevermore, Iced Earth. Five stinking dollars to get in for everyone. Bargain basement show of the century. Period.