Has Stu departed the band? My comment reads that "a theme common to many of the departures" is that "Jon does not allow others to contribute". That's a true statement, as that is a theme common to many of the departures. That aside, I'm well aware that Matt has written lyrics for years. But that doesn't change the fact that Jon has made clear that Iced Earth is a dictatorship, not a democracy, and that his "my way or the highway" approach has been a factor in a number of departures.
Why did you fail mention that the now departed Matt has written lyrics for years in your original post? Do you really want me to go back and list all of the songwriting credits the other departed band members have made to the band over it's 30+ years? Sure, Jon has the majority of them, but in no way has he, "not allow(ed) others to contribute." That statement is simply false no matter how you try to skirt around it with your way for words. And given that you are a Schaffer hater as much as you are a Barlow fanboy, it really qualifies more as a lie.
And since when does one's own private, personal business has to be a run like a public democracy among it's employees? The band is Jon's business and as it's owner, he has the right to make executive personnel decisions that he believes are in his band's best interest. Everyone else in the band besides Jon are his employees. Why? He negotiates the record deals with the labels and signs the band member's paychecks.
And that's the way things work in the "real world" outside of the music business. That fans and critics like you fail to understand that bands are a business venture and not some warm happy family where Kumbaya is sung at the dinner table every night never fails to amaze me. All personal relationships over time are stressed to one degree or another. Band leaders dump members just like spouses dump each other (i.e. divorce) when their differences are irreconcilable. It's a risk you take when you enter into such partnerships.
That Jon wanted to start his own business, follow his own dreams, and walk down his own road is why America exists and is why it appeals to so many others outside of it's borders. Very similar thing with Glenn. He wanted to start his own festival, book the bands he liked and run the festival as he sees best fit. Crew have come and gone. Bands have committed and then de-committed.
If you want to invest your life's savings in starting your own business and then give people you hire off the street equal ownership and equal say in that business when they never invested financially in your business (remember, you're paying them, not vice-versa), then you are certainly free to do so. Given your highly democratic virtues, I'm sure you will be more than willing to compromise with your employees every there is a disagreement just to keep everyone happy - even if it's not in your best interest.
uke:
