Product Description

Iced Earth founder/composer/guitarist Jon Schaffer isn’t one of those metal musicians who only want to entertain their fans with their music. On the contrary, Schaffer uses his compositions to acquaint his fans with historic events and to kindle their interest in subjects that they probably wouldn’t have access to otherwise. He has proved to be an artist who is fascinated by history and looks beyond the boundaries of his genre, basing his songs on educational objectives. Iced Earth’s 2003 album, The Glorious Burden, was a milestone in terms of music and subject matter. Particularly the concert version of Gettysburg (1863) is a successful opener to a historic chapter that is directly linked to the contemporary US. The brand-new same-named double DVD is about to round off Schaffer’s ambitious project.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #42583 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-06-07
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 196 minutes

From the Actor
In three parts (The Devil To Pay, Hold At All Costs, High Water Mark), Iced Earth narrate the historic events that took place in that legendary location in Pennsylvania in July 1863, when the Confederate troops met the Union in the most blood-soaked battle ever on American soil. Iced Earth and their Gettysburg DVD chronicle this dramatic historic subject in language, images and sound more comprehensively than any other rock band before them. "I’ve visited the original battle sites several times and read a lot of books about the subject", says Schaffer. "But I’d never claim to be an expert on the battle of Gettysburg because I realise that one can study the battle for an entire lifetime and learn something new at every opportunity; which proves how very complex this whole thing really is." It’s precisely this complex attitude that Iced Earth explore on their current double DVD. An epic video in three chapters featuring the complete Gettysburg track is at the centre of disc one. The Iced Earth epic (in 5.1 metal mix, 5.1 orchestral mix and stereo sound, as well as the option of blending in the original lyrics of the track) is accompanied by atmospherically dense pictures, telling the story of that monumental battle. The ‘Battlefied Tour’ sequence shows Jon Schaffer at the battlefield with Ted Gajewski, one of the official Gettysburg tourist guides, who explains the different stages of the battle in front of the camera. The DVD also shows important paintings, arms and memorabilia. "Gettysburg was without doubt one of the turning points of the American Civil War. But was it the decisive one?" Schaffer asks, going beyond what most movie classics have told us. "My opinion is: the course of events couldn’t have been stopped, with or without this bloodbath."

About the Actor
Disc one is rounded off by a photo gallery, a 50-minute interview with Jon Schaffer and a tour of his shop, Spirit of ’76 Collectibles, which he recently opened in Columbus, Indiana, selling historic collectors’ pieces. Schaffer’s aim is to educate children and spark their interest in history with a great selection of art, miniatures, models and relics from the battlefields. He explains: "Contemporary politics don’t teach things the way they should, and this necessity doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. It’s shocking to see interviews by Jay Leno with students who don’t have a clue. That really worries me. I hope that it will be possible to reach these kids and to interest them in things that matter." Disc 2 includes additional video versions of the songs, ‘When The Eagle Cries’ and ‘The Reckoning (Don’t Tread On Me)’, featuring vocalist Tim "Ripper" Owens, plus a 50-minute interview with Schaffer talking about subjects like The Glorious Burden, Music & the Band and Gettysburg. To Schaffer, it’s the historical significance of the issue that makes this DVD so special. "It isn’t always easy for us to distinguish between reality and fiction. Gettysburg really did take place. You can visit the sites and get an overwhelming feeling that something very intense and very heavy has happened there. It changed my life during and after my first visit, and it’s that feeling that has resulted in this, my biggest and most passionate epic yet." It’s precisely this sentiment that the Gettysburg DVD relates so impressively.

Customer Reviews

Metal on a mission
Anyone who has heard Gettysburg knows that the music is excellent, and the lyrics are powerful. The video is incredible. With a combination of still and live shots, including both re-enactors and actual photographs from the Civil War, the powerful, terrible story of Gettysburg is told in all its grandeur and tragedy.

To make a modern reference for those who don't understand, more men died in three days on that blood-soaked battlefield than the US has lost in four years of war since 9-11. The Battle of Gettysburg was awful, and tragic and grand, and, ultimately, necessary for the preservation of our nation. For most metal bands, it would have been an act of foolish hubris to try to make this video about such a momentous event.

Iced Earth stepped up to the plate and knocked it out of the park.

The BEST tribute to the bloodiest and most tragic battle ever.
I've been a huge fan of Iced Earth ever since I recieve a copy of their "Days of Purgatory" cd for a christmas present a couple of years ago. I love to study history, espiecially the civil war, so naturally the "Glorius Burden" became my favorite album of all time, and the dvd only makes it better. Jon has a certain passion for history unlike anything I've ever seen nor heard before, and it shows in this music video for their thirty-two minute long epic: "Gettysburg: 1863". The pictures match the topic of each of the lyrics in the three songs, and is extremely accurate and to the point. Like a previous reviewer stated, the pictures do tend to get a little repetive, but thats the only problem in an otherwise flawless masterpiece. Also on the first disc, you'll find a tour of the Battlefield of Gettysburg with Jon and a licsenced battlefield guide, plus an interview with Jon about his history store: "Spirit of '76" On the second disc you'll find music videos for "The Reckoning" and the accoustic version of "When The Eagle Cries", plus an interview with the man himself, Jon Schaffer. All in all, this is an outstanding release and keep any hardcore fan tied over until I.E.'s next release.

I hope people realize that this is a educational docu.
and not a band dvd. Alot of people are gonna review this and say, " IF I WANTED TO LEARN ABOUT HISTROY THEN I WOULDVE PAID ATTENTION IN SCHOOL" kinda crap. This is def. a new idea brought forth. Its a video montage of civil war scenarios brought to life with the GETTYSBURG trilogy being played in the background. This is John Schaffers passion and I hope people get something from this DVD.