SAVATAGE Reunites After Decade-Long Hiatus, Performs Emotional Set at Monsters Of Rock in brazil
TAMPA, Fla.— After a decade away from the stage, the Florida-born heavy metal band SAVATAGE delivered a powerful performance Saturday at the monsters Of Rock festival in São Paulo, Brazil. The show, held at Allianz Parque, also featured iconic rock acts SCORPIONS, JUDAS PRIEST, EUROPE, OPETH, QUEENSRŸCHE, and STRATOVARIUS.
The reunited SAVATAGE lineup includes johnny Lee Middleton on bass, Chris Caffery and Al Pitrelli on guitar, Jeff Plate on drums, and Zak Stevens on lead vocals.
Notably absent from the reunion was founding vocalist and keyboardist Jon Oliva, who is facing significant health challenges. In 2023, Oliva suffered a T7 vertebra fracture in three places, leaving him reliant on a wheelchair. he has also been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and Ménière’s disease.
Despite Oliva’s physical absence, the band paid tribute to their founding member, including a video performance of “Believe” with Oliva on piano, singing the first chorus before the band joined in.
the band’s setlist blended classic hits with rarities, some not played live in decades:
- The Ocean (performed for first time since 1998)
- Welcome (performed for first time since 1998)
- Jesus Saves
- The Wake Of Magellan (performed for first time since 2002)
- Dead Winter Dead
- handful Of Rain (performed for first time since 2002)
- Chance
- Gutter Ballet
- Edge of Thorns
- Believe (sung and played by Jon Oliva on piano, video on screen; band came in after first chorus)
- Sirens (performed for first time since 2003)
- Hall Of The Mountain King
Oliva, in an interview earlier this year, emphasized the severity of his condition: “I can’t even sing right now because of the pain,” he admitted. “I can’t stand for too long, and I need time for my vertebra to heal naturally.” He also addressed the possibility of surgery, stating, “They wanted to put metal in my body. But people I spoke to told me not to do it, that I would regret it. So, I chose to let it heal naturally.”
The reunion has been fueled by the unwavering support of SAVATAGE’s fanbase. “Well, I think the catalyst has just been the fanbase. The fanbase never gave up on us. They’ve been beating the drum for this reunion for years,” said drummer Jeff Plate in a January interview.
Plate emphasized that SAVATAGE never officially disbanded. “The band never broke up,” he clarified. “We haven’t done a proper tour in over 20 years,but we never officially broke up. Obviously, we all work together in TSO [TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA]. We’ve played a lot of this SAVATAGE music in the TSO shows…So the music has been out there.And the fanbase has been clamoring for this for the longest time.”
oliva’s health struggles, however, nearly derailed the reunion. “Jon has obviously run into a number of health problems, which are serious, and I’m sure everybody’s read about them. But in Jon’s wisdom, he’s, like, ‘You know what?’ The ball kind of started rolling again. He’s not going to stop it this time,” Plate said. “Jon’s gonna be involved in everything that we’re doing from here forward. He can’t go out and do these tours right now, and he’s gonna work himself back into it. We’ve got our fingers crossed.”
Guitarist Chris Caffery echoed this sentiment.”The plan was, after we did wacken [Open Air festival in 2015], to start playing. But [TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA founder] Paul [O’Neill] passed, and then we had to get over that. Then COVID came. And then Jon wanted to get started, then his injuries came…And we need to do this now. It’s, like, if you blink your eyes, 10 more years will go by.”
Caffery added, “We wanna take the advantage now of getting us together and celebrating what Jon and Paul and Criss [Oliva, late SAVATAGE guitarist] and all of us have done with SAVATAGE’s music and give the fans that had a chance to see it a chance to see us again and the ones that never saw us a chance to see it.”
Plate noted that despite the hiatus, the band members have remained active. “we’re all here,” Plate continued.”We’re all playing probably as well or better than we’ve ever played. It’s not like we’ve been sitting around for 20 years doing nothing and decided to reunite. Chris and I, Johnny and Al, we’ve been doing these TSO tours every year, plus a number of things in the off season. So there’s a lot of factors to this.”
Zak Stevens, who originally joined SAVATAGE in 1992 replacing Jon Oliva on vocals, sang on four albums before departing in 2000. Both Oliva and Stevens participated in SAVATAGE’s 2015 Wacken Open Air performance, their onyl stage appearance until now since their hiatus in 2002.
SAVATAGE’s last album, “Poets and Madmen,” was released in 2001.
Though, Jon Oliva’s personal life has faced challenges. In September 2021, oliva was arrested in Florida for driving under the influence and posession of cocaine, a felony charge. He was reportedly arrested again in July 2023 on another cocaine possession charge.Oliva announced in 2016 that he had suffered a stroke, which he said “was not as serious as it could have been, but it did leave me with some physical recovery challenges frequently enough associated with strokes.” Despite these health issues,Oliva said he didn’t regret his past. “I lived the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle since I was 18. It’s all I knew and I enjoyed the ride very much. But there comes a time in everyone’s life where you have to step back and make some life-changing decisions… which I have.”
Following SAVATAGE’s Wacken reunion in 2015, Oliva claimed he felt healthier than he had in two decades, attributing it to lifestyle changes. He explained, “It’s my voice that’s freaking me out, because, even when I was in my late 20s, early 30s, doing songs like ’24 Hours Ago’ were always really hard to do…But, after doing that, getting my act together and stuff, singing ’24 Hours Ago’, it’s actually easy now.”
beyond SAVATAGE,Oliva co-created TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA with Paul O’Neill. Oliva has remained involved in TSO despite O’Neill’s death in 2017 from an accidental drug overdose.
SAVATAGE’s history is also marked by tragedy.Jon’s brother Criss, a founding member, was killed in 1993 by a drunk driver with a history of DUIs.
While some fans may question the legitimacy of a SAVATAGE reunion without Jon oliva performing live on stage, the band’s members have emphasized his continued involvement and support. His presence, even in video form, underscores his importance to the band’s legacy. Moreover, this configuration allows the remaining members to honor their commitment to the music and the fans, while respecting Oliva’s current health limitations.
FAQ: SAVATAGE Reunion
Will SAVATAGE tour the United States? While no U.S. dates have been announced yet, the band has expressed interest in playing for their American fans. Check their official website and social media for updates.
Is Jon Oliva still involved with SAVATAGE? Yes, Jon Oliva remains an integral part of the band, despite his physical limitations. He is involved in the creative process and supports the reunion.
Will SAVATAGE release new music? The band has hinted at the possibility of recording new material, but no concrete plans have been announced. Jeff Plate mentioned that Jon oliva has “a bunch of new ideas” and “the plan was to do some recording.”
Where can I find more details about SAVATAGE’s tour dates? The latest tour information can be found on the band’s official website and social media pages.
* How can I support Jon Oliva? Fans can show their support by purchasing SAVATAGE merchandise, attending concerts, and sending messages of encouragement through social media.
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