Progfreaks.com's interview with Savatage's Jon Oliva

30/08/2001

Symphonic metal. No, no, no, that's not Yes on steroids, it's something like Savatage. Actually, Savatage pretty much developed the metallic subgenre as a pioneer after going through a couple of styles in the past, the earliest one of them being power metal. And quite honestly, the band's latter efforts had proved to be quite ambitious, but at the same time had left behind that heaviness of earlier days, that is, until this year's Poets and Madmen came out. Not only that, however, but the band went through a major change after guitarist Al Pitrelli and vocalist Zachary Stevens left the band, forcing it to record the album as a four-piece and bring in Jack Frost and Damond Jiniya to fill in the respective empty slots. Now, what any reasonable fan of the band would ask is, how are the act's new recruits doing?

"They're doing really, really good," answers Jon Oliva, the band's leader, mastermind, and only remaining founding member. "Damond is singing great on the tour, and Jack works great with Chris [Ed.note: guitarist Chris Caffery]; they understand each other perfectly and the band is working on a good level."

So basically the live shows have been going great so far…
"Yeah," responds Oliva enthusiastically. "We just came back from Brazil, where we're really building up a fan base, and now we're going back to the US to play there. But the shows have been great, there's been a good response from the fans, and we've been moving the set list around to keep things interesting, so everything's working right."

Something that is definitely good to know for all American Savatage fans reading this. And for the European ones too, as the band is set to tour the Old Continent with Symphony X in support. Furthermore, with a career that spans twelve studio albums and roughly twenty years, people can be sure that they are going to see a band with more than plenty material and experience to deliver the goods. Despite an unending number of lineup changes, addiction problems, and the tragedy of losing virtuoso guitarist Criss Oliva in a car accident, Savatage is a band that has kept trudging forward defiantly, and has even spawned the side projects Doctor Butcher and Trans-Siberian Orchestra. So is it ever going to stop?

Not soon, according to Oliva. "Things right now are going great. We're making great music, the band is very strong, and we're constantly building up the Savatage fan base everywhere. If this is still working in ten years, I'm going to be doing this. There is a growing interest in Savatage out there and as long as we can do it we're going to be here."

So basically he's going to be doing this until he's eighty?
The singer laughs heartedly. "I don't know. Maybe not until I'm eighty. Ok, maybe until I'm eighty. Savatage is a big part of all of us, and we're not going to stop doing it until there's actually a reason for doing so."

Yet more good news for Savatage fans worldwide. So expect to keep hearing new Savatage music for the next forty years, because the band is showing no signs of slowing down. Especially with its latest release, Poets and Madmen, which keeps the conceptual nature of the band's latest albums but decidedly marks a return towards a heavier Savatage, for which Oliva's throaty vocals were decidedly on the mark. Moreover, long-time producer and contributor Paul O'Neill is still at the heart of the band's evolution, or is he?
"Paul actually had less to do with this album than with the other ones, and his influence was smaller this time around. The thing is, he was working really hard on the new Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and he didn't really have that much time left, although he still worked with us and everything. That's why the album was a lot heavier this time."

Chris Caffery also helped co-write nine of the album's tracks, didn't he?
"Yeah, Chris contributed a lot more on Poets and Madmen. He also does heavier riffs, so I guess that helped the way the album came out. You've got a song like "Morphine Child" though, where it's not only heavy, but it keeps that orchestrated thing that we've been doing on the last few albums. It's not as bombastic because Paul was less involved in the music this time, but it's still very Savatage and it's very heavy."

Caffery may have helped with the album's heaviness, but it was without a doubt O'Neill who once again set Savatage on a conceptual adventure regarding lyrics. Unlike many metal bands out there, however, Savatage does not have only one concept album, but a good number of them. Isn't it tempting to go out and play an entire concept album live after so long?

"Yeah, that's something that would be interesting to do. We'd really like to go out and play an entire conceptual album in front of the crowd, but the problem is…which one? (laughs) But now that you mention it, yeah, that's something we may do in the future."

And if the live experience of a Savatage conceptual album isn't absolutely riveting, drinks are on me. Unfortunately, however, here's where we had to make a hasty retreat and thank Jon for his time, as our sound recorder decided to suddenly go berserk on us and stop working. Definitely not a good thing, as our conversation with Savatage's mastermind was turning out to be rather interesting, but one can't win 'em all!

For more information, visit The Official Savatage Fan Website

back to top