Maryland Guitarist Ernie Carletti Lands Lead Spot With Iced Earth

Elkton, MD resident Ernie Carletti has garnered the position of lead guitarist for Iced Earth, an established American heavy metal band that is preparing for a forth-coming full-length album and subsequent world tour.

Gilbertsville, PA (PRWEB) July 4, 2006 -- Elkton, MD resident Ernie Carletti has garnered the position of lead guitarist for Iced Earth, an established American heavy metal band that is preparing for a forth-coming full-length album and subsequent world tour.

Mastering his craft beyond 19 years and teaching guitar lessons to 100 students weekly in excess of 16 years, Carletti is equally versed in styles such as Classical and Jazz but his first love is Heavy Metal “shredding”.

The central figure of Iced Earth is guitarist and songwriter Jon Schaffer who originally formed the band as Purgatory in 1984. Though the band has undergone numerous line-up changes since its inception, Schaffer has remained steadfast in his passion to thrash. Schaffer officially announced the addition of Carletti on the band’s message board on Friday June, 30.

“After auditioning some very good guitar players I've made a decision. The man who will be handling the majority of the guitar solos on the next record as well as touring with us on ‘The Wicked World Tour’ is an awesome player named Ernie Carletti,” said Schaffer. “He is a world class player and truly one of the best guitarists I've had the pleasure of meeting and hanging with. We're going to make a good team, I'm sure.”

For the past two years Carletti has focused his attention on advancing as a performer on the world stage. During a brief stint with Allentown area band Slikhelvetika, Carletti discovered Impact Artist Promotions and employed their vast array of artist marketing and promotional services. Here Carletti “amped it up” with a full-scale customized IAP artist identity package including website, live and studio photography, press kits, logo design, promotional prints, posters, fliers and more. This package proved to be the catalyst needed to expose his titanic talents to the world.

Shortly after, Carletti landed and advanced some key national endorsements the likes of Gibson Gear, Voodoo Amps, Voodoo Lab, Hot Picks USA, TurboTrem and Damage Control. But arguably the most significant proved to be with Bernie Rico Jr. Guitars.

According to Carletti, Jon Schaffer was introduced to Carletti’s skills through Bernie Rico Jr. Like his father who founded B.C. Rich Guitars, Rico Jr. is a highly respected and talented guitar luthier. Soon after meeting Carletti, Rico Jr. was crafting and distributing two Ernie Carletti signature model guitars (the “Dr. Jekyll” and the “Mr. Hyde”) and featuring Carletti in the Bernie Rico Jr. Guitars booth at the 2006 NAMM conference in Anaheim, CA.

After getting the call from Rico Jr., Schaffer hit erniecarletti.com to see and hear what Carletti was all about. Several lengthy phone calls followed and Carletti was on his way to Schaffer’s Indiana home to audition for the part.

“I had the pleasure of meeting Jon Schaffer two weeks ago,” said Carletti. “We get along great! Jon and his wife welcomed me into their home for the weekend and we had a blast! I am honored to be in Iced Earth and to share in the recording and world tour of the new record. I want to thank Jon for giving me the chance to play in Iced Earth, and to Bernie… for hooking the two of us up.”

Joining Schaffer and Carletti in Iced Earth will be Tim “Ripper” Owens (Judas Priest) on vocals and Bobby Jarzombek (Juggernaut, Riot) on drums. Schaffer is currently auditioning bassists to fill-out the line-up while wrapping-up writing for the new album.

Other past projects to which Carletti has contributed his talents include Mazkerade, Oversoul, Uforia, Scream Clan, Naughty Naughty and Blackball. Additional information on Ernie Carletti can be found by visiting erniecarletti.com or myspace.com/erniecarletti

Additional information on Iced Earth can be found by visiting icedearth.com

About Bernie Rico Jr:
Bernie Rico Jr. is the son of legendary luthier, Bernie Rico Sr., founder of B.C. RICH Guitars. Bernie has been personally trained by his father in the art and craft of building the world's finest hand-carved guitars and basses, and Bernie continues his timeless family tradition with his new line of custom designed instruments; each with an impeccable attention to design, detail, and maximum playability.

Each of Bernie's guitars is a handcrafted masterpiece, and is beyond anything imaginable in terms of beauty, craftsmanship, and sound. Bernie has personally built guitars for world renowned artists of every musical style, including heavy metal, rock, country, rap, blues, and Jazz. We invite you to join some of the world's most elite guitar players, and to become one of Bernie's personal clients. Additional information can be found by visiting ricojrguitars.com

About Impact Artist Promotions:
Impact Artist Promotions (IAP) combines decades of corporate marketing and web development experience with a passion for original music to provide customized impact marketing tools for emerging performing artists. Since its inception in 2003, IAP has formed strategic alliances with Philadelphia area industry heavy-hitters like Grape Street Philadelphia, Ivory Productions and Media Fusion Technologies to further expand its resources and contacts.

IAP’s products - which include website development, press kits, photography, and multiple print services - continually assist artists form Miami to Los Angeles and multiple stops in between. In addition to these services; IAP sponsors, promotes, markets and manages select artists; several of whom have gone on to achieve national and international recognition including signing major record deals. Additional information on IAP can be found by visiting artistpromo.com or calling [610] 473.7377.

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