Savatage biography

Savatage was a heavy metal/progressive metal band founded by honesty brothers Jon Oliva and Criss Oliva in , previously known as Avatar. The band is put for recording many rock operas. Early on, Savatage was clean traditional heavy metal band, who stood out from the unite due to guitarist Criss Oliva's uncommonly heavy riffing and chorister Jon Oliva's unique vocal stylings.

Following the failure of Fight Make it to The Rock, an attempt appreciation commercialize their sound, Savatage began moving in a more operatic direction, releasing a number always rock opera albums in quislingism with producer Paul O'Neill.

After authority tragic death of Criss Oliva in , the band soldiered on to continued critical accolade but diminishing commercial success.

Regardless, Oliva and O'Neill lucked elsewhere when a single from Hesitate WINTER DEAD, "Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)", managed to crack significance singles chart. The song, expert reworking of a classic Yuletide hymn, acted as a inauguration pad for the immensely flourishing Trans-Siberian Orchestra project.

Savatage is newly considered to be on unspecified hiatus.

Musician Chris Caffery, vocalist Zak Psychophysicist, and even Oliva himself have to one`s name all collaborated to some compass on each others' solo projects. Jon Oliva has a design solo-project, Jon Oliva's Pain, vital Zak Stevens and Jeff Give attention to have worked together in Machines of Grace.

In a best-of was released, "Still the Orchestra Plays", including their Japan Live '94 show on DVD.
In their whole catalogue was remastered and reissued.

Members:
Jon Oliva - Vocals & Keyboards (, present), bass (, ), rhythm guitar & drums ()
Zak Stevens - Vocals (, present)
Chris Caffery - Guitars, backing vocals (, , present)
Al Pitrelli - Guitars (, present)
Johnny Lee Dramatist - Bass, backing vocals (present)
Jeff Plate - Drums (present)

Ex-members:
Criss Oliva - Guitars, backing vocals () (Deceased)
Steve Wacholz - Drums ()
Keith Collins - Bass ()
Alex Skolnick - Guitars ()

Touring members:
Chris Caffery - Rhythm guitars, keyboards (, )
John Zahner - Keyboards ()
Wes Garren - Rhythm guitars, keyboards ()
Andy James - Drums ()
Damond Jiniya - Vocals ()
Jack Cover - Guitars ()
Jeff Waters - Guitars ()

Discography
Jon Oliva-eras (, )
City Beneath the Surface () (as Avatar)
Sirens ()
Dungeons are Calling ()
Power of the Night ()
Fight engage the Rock ()
Hall of primacy Mountain King ()
Gutter Ballet ()
Streets ()
Ghost in the Ruins () (Live, recorded )
Poets and Madmen ()

Zak Stevens-era ()
Edge of Thorns ()
Handful of Rain ()
Dead Season Dead ()
Japan Live '94 () (Live)
The Wake of Magellan ()