Gene Adam

First Iced Earth singer (1985-1991). Schaffer moved to Tampa in 1984 from his native Indiana. Because most of the ex-members of his previous band The Rose didn't want to move, he quickly assembled a band named Purgatory to continue playing their music, recruiting Adam as vocalist. Initially, the group played a kind of gothic thrash, with some songs inspired by glam metal. Several demo tapes, as well as live bootlegs with many unreleased songs are available. When Randall Shawver joined in 1987, the band was refashioned into a dark prog-thrash band with NWOBHM elements, and changed their name to Iced Earth. Adam continued with the band for some further demos and for their first album and its tour. However, Jon Schaffer had tired of Adam's vocal style (not feeling it worked with the style of music anymore) and he was replaced by John Greely before the recording of Night Of The Stormrider (but after some songs had been previewed live with Adam on vocals). Adam retired from music to raise a family, but in the early 2000s, appeared with ex-Iced Earth members as Unearthed, and recorded a demo of two songs. However, he left to pursue religion. Adam still sings, but plays acoustic Christian music far removed from his Iced Earth past (which can be seen on his Youtube channel). He has remained a fan of the band since leaving however, and is proud of their successes.