Savatage

Savatage

Genres: heavy metal, Progressive metal, Power metal, metal, hard rock

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About Savatage

Savatage (/ˈsævətɑːʒ/) is an American heavy metal band formed in 1979 in Tarpon Springs, Florida by brothers Jon and Criss Oliva. The band initially performed under the name Avatar, but changed it shortly before the release of their debut album "Sirens" (1983) due to naming conflicts with other acts. The new name, Savatage, was created by combining elements of “savage” and “Avatar”. The early lineup included Steve “Doc” Wacholz on drums, who became a long-term member and was nicknamed “Doctor Hardware Killdrums” for his aggressive playing style. Early bassist Keith Collins joined in 1981, and the band built a local following in Florida before signing with Atlantic Records in the mid-1980s. Their early releases, "Sirens" (1983) and the EP "The Dungeons Are Calling" (1984), were issued on Par Records. After signing with Atlantic Records, they released "Power of the Night" (1985), produced by Max Norman. Although critically noticed, it did not meet commercial expectations. The follow-up "Fight for the Rock" (1986) was a label-driven attempt at a more commercial sound and included cover songs, which the band later disowned. During this period, they toured with acts including Metallica, Kiss, and Motörhead. Internal dissatisfaction and creative pressure led to tensions within the band, and bassist Keith Collins left, being replaced by Johnny Lee Middleton, who became a long-term member. After nearly disbanding, Savatage regrouped and released "Hall of the Mountain King" (1987), their first collaboration with producer and songwriter Paul O’Neill. The album marked a stylistic shift toward more symphonic and theatrical elements and is often cited as a turning point in their career. They toured extensively with bands such as Dio, Megadeth, Iron Maiden, Testament, and others, gaining broader recognition. O’Neill became a central creative figure and continued working with the band for the rest of their career. The band further developed a progressive and conceptual approach on "Gutter Ballet" (1990), influenced in part by Jon Oliva’s interest in musical theatre. This transition continued with "Streets: A Rock Opera" (1991), a concept album about a fallen rock star, which later became regarded as a key work in their catalogue despite modest initial sales. During this period, guitarist Chris Caffery briefly joined the live lineup, though he left after the tour. In 1993, Savatage released "Edge of Thorns", which became their most commercially successful album and featured their only charting single, "Edge of Thorns". Shortly after its release, guitarist Criss Oliva was killed in a car accident in October 1993. Despite his death, Jon Oliva chose to continue the band, stating that it was intended in part as a tribute to his brother. The following album, "Handful of Rain" (1994), was largely written by Jon Oliva and Paul O’Neill and is sometimes described as functioning close to a solo project with guest contributions, including vocals by Zak Stevens and guitar work by Alex Skolnick of Testament. The band then released "Dead Winter Dead" (1995), another concept album, which included the track "Christmas Eve Sarajevo 12/24", later associated with the formation of the side project Trans-Siberian Orchestra. This project, created by members of Savatage and O’Neill, achieved significant commercial success and became a major focus for the involved musicians. Savatage continued with "The Wake of Magellan" (1997), which dealt with themes such as morality, crime, and historical events. After this release, activity increasingly shifted toward Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and Savatage’s output slowed. The album "Poets and Madmen" (2001) marked the return of Jon Oliva as lead vocalist in the studio and was followed by a limited tour. Shortly afterward, the band went on hiatus in 2002. During the hiatus, members pursued various projects, including Jon Oliva’s Pain, Circle II Circle, and continued work with Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Steve Wacholz and other former members also formed or joined additional bands. Over time, Savatage material remained present in Trans-Siberian Orchestra performances, and several former members collaborated across projects. Reunion discussions occurred intermittently throughout the 2000s and 2010s. In 2015, Savatage performed a reunion show at Wacken Open Air, sharing the event with Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Although further activity was discussed, the band did not immediately resume full operations. In 2017, long-time producer Paul O’Neill died at the age of 61. From 2020 onward, several members confirmed that new material was being developed, with Jon Oliva, Chris Caffery, and Al Pitrelli exchanging ideas. In 2021, Oliva stated that enough material existed for multiple albums, though no formal release schedule was established. In 2023, Oliva confirmed plans for a new studio album under the working title "Curtain Call", intended to feature contributions from members associated with the “Dead Winter Dead” era lineup as well as former vocalist Zak Stevens and drummer Steve Wacholz. Work on the album progressed intermittently due to health issues affecting Oliva. Savatage returned to live performance in 2025, appearing at festivals in South America and Europe. Oliva did not perform at these shows due to health conditions, with other musicians covering his role. The band is scheduled to continue touring in 2026 on the “Prelude to Madness” tour, including festival appearances such as Wacken Open Air. A live album titled "Madness Reigns from the Gutter (1990)", recorded during the "Gutter Ballet" era, is also planned for release in 2026. Throughout its history, Savatage is regarded as having contributed to the development of progressive and symphonic heavy metal, particularly through its integration of theatrical and orchestral elements, and through its connection to later projects such as Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savatage Studio albums Sirens (1983) Power of the Night (1985) Fight for the Rock (1986) Hall of the Mountain King (1987) Gutter Ballet (1990) Streets: A Rock Opera (1991) Edge of Thorns (1993) Handful of Rain (1994) Dead Winter Dead (1995) The Wake of Magellan (1997) Poets and Madmen (2001) Curtain Call (2026)

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