Music Oliva celebrates Savatage meeting and explains absence [ENTREVISTA]

Amid the attractions of Monsters of Rock Brazil 2025which takes place in São Paulo (Allianz Parque) on April 19, surprised the presence of an attraction that is not one of the headliners, but arouses huge interest. This is Savatageband that has not performed live since 2015 and has not tours since 2002.

The presence of the American group of Heavy/Progressive Metal at the event – which will still have Scorpions, Judas Priest, Europe, Opeth, Queensrÿche and Stratovarius – It was the first announced activity of this return. They are also confirmed at a similar event in Chile and, in this case in June, a series of performances in Europe, including festivals and solo appointments.

There is also a speculation that Savatage will make a separate presentation at Espaço Unimed, also in São Paulo, two days later. The band itself had announced this information, but then it went back – and there is no official confirmation yet.

Fact is that fans in Brazil will be able to watch Zak Stevens (voice), Johnny Lee Middleton (low), Chris Caffery (guitar), Al Pitrelli (guitar) and Jeff Plate (battery), as well as a keyboardist to be chosen. Unfortunately, the vocalist, keyboardist and leader Jon Oliva will not be present. However, your involvement continues.

Only founding member still alive – since his brother, the guitarist CRISS OLIVAdied in 1993 – the 64 -year -old has dealt with a number of health problems. In 2023, he suffered an accident that caused him a fracture in three regions of the vertebra T7. In recent times, it has also been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (chronic disease in which the immune system destroys nerve protective coverage) and meniére disease (inner ear disorder that causes vertigo episodes).

In a news conference with Zoom, with only the Rolling Stone Brazil Representing the country, Oliva – who did not appear on video, only in audio – reinforced the fracture as a preventive for his presence on the tour. He said he was moving in a wheelchair, revealed that he cannot even sing today due to the pain he feels and stressed that he needs to wait for the natural healing of his vertebra, because he chose not to have surgery. “They wanted to put metal things on my body, but people I talked to, they said not to do that, because I would regret it”he explained.

The leader, however, assured being involved with this new chapter of Savatage. It was in charge of defining the repertoire – which will have about 26 songs in its longest version – and said it will be in all rehearsals. He even revealed some songs that must be played:

“We will also add some surprises, I can’t reveal. But I’m well involved. I wouldn’t be doing this here [entrevista] If it was not involved. I chose some older ones, as ‘Sirens’, ‘Gutter Ballet’, ‘Edge of Thorns’, ‘Jesus Saves’, ‘Believe’, ‘Hall of the Mountain King’songs that I feel we need to play. And many things from Handful of Rain (1994 album, first since the death of Criss Oliva) onwards. I mixed how much I could. Time goes by fast and people don’t realize how fast a show is. I want people to hear the most obscure songs too, like ‘Morphine Child’, ‘Miles Away’, ‘Follow Me’, ‘Damien’, ‘Dead Winter Dead’, ‘This Is The Time’, ‘The Wake of Magellan’, ‘The Hourglass’, ‘Chance’. The rehearsals will be terrible for these guys – I’ll be on them. [Risos]”

Oliva also pointed out that the 2025 tour was under discussion a few years ago, even before the accident suffered in 2023. The idea, of course, was that the singer and keyboardist participate. However, he encouraged the maintenance of planning without his presence. The reasons are noble.

“Savatage fans have waited for so long and are such loyal fans. And these guys [os músicos] They waited 20 years to play. So let them do, okay, I don’t care. I just want to give fans something to show them that we are still united, that everything is fine and that we are working on a new material. ”

The return, by the way, should have happened before. In 2015, Savatage performed a presentation at the German Festival Wacken Open Air. However, a loss that followed the following year made the idea discarded: Paul O’Neillproducer and lyricist of the group, died in April 2017 at the age of 61. Jon and he formed the Trans-Siberian Orchestramore symphonic sound project that has become a phenomenon of popularity – much larger than the main band.

“When Criss passed away [em 1993]this simply interrupted any progress. We thought what we would do. [Quando Paul faleceu em 2017] I couldn’t handle it all at the time. We were in the pack and simply left the scene. Strange things happen when you lose someone so close. It was a very difficult period, just as when Criss passed away. But life continues and I hope that now we can do a new album together, the guys do the shows and then we see what will happen. I’m anxious. ”

Relationship with Brazil

It surprises, even, that Brazil was chosen to start the tour. It is not common for international artists. However, according to Jon Oliva, this has always been the plan – given the band’s great popularity here, as witnessed during visits in 1998 (including a performance at that year’s Monsters of Rock) and 2001.

“Good, [começaremos no Brasil porque] You offered us more money. [Risos] I am joking. I had a lot of fun in Brazil. Before I hurt me, I said, ‘If we are going to do it, let’s start to Brazil.’ I talked about it two years ago. When we decided to do that, I think our office contacted Monsters of Rock, or they contacted us. This part is not with me, my work is the music and defining that this will be a killer show. But I’m happy to start in Brazil – despite the money issue. [Risos]”

The 27 -year -old festival received a separate mention by Jon. At the time, Savatage shared the stage with Slayer, Megadeth, Manowar, Dream Theater, Saxon, Glenn Hughes, Korzus and Dorsal.

“One of my favorite shows was at Monsters of Rock in Brazil. I still remember the show and I thought the place would collapse because of people jumping. I even saw the top of the stadium moving. Al came to say, ‘Let’s end up destroying this place, how are we going out here?’ I said, ‘Run as if your life depended on it.’ [Risos]”

Absence of tour

Even though all accessibility was guaranteed logistically to Jon Oliva, it would not be possible to participate in the Savatage tour. The musician said he can not even sing today.

“It is painful. My style of singing is supported by Belting, I sing very loudly. And it hurts a lot. I swore to myself that I would not go on stage being only 50%. I’m not happy with it, but fans mean more to me than anything. I’m not the like, ‘If I can’t go, no one will. ”

The vertebra fracture, by the way, was mentioned in most of the answers. There was no disguise to his frustration because his current condition does not allow the presence on stage.

“I need to wait for these fractures to heal, because I didn’t want to have surgery. They wanted to put metal things on my body, but people I talked to, they said not to do that, because I would regret it. Anyway, I can’t do anything, I’m at home. It is very frustrating. I can’t describe. It is very disappointing. But it is the situation I have. I do not advise anyone to break the spine. It is the greatest pain I felt in all my life. I just need to wait to heal and follow the planning to start physical therapy, I will do. ”

New album and trans-siberian orchestra

In addition to the shows, Savatage aims to record a new album. The provisional title would be Curtain Callgiven the intention to turn it into the last album in the group’s history, but it will not happen. The explanation lies in the fact that Jon Oliva has a lot of material – and is not willing to throw anything out.

“We have material for four albums. Only the lyrics are not written, but musically is done. And it is my fault that everything has stopped because of the fractures. […]I spoke [em outra entrevista] That this must be the last, but now I’m not sure. I have all this material. What will I do? Release a quadruple album? I don’t think it will be the last one. ”

Anyway, Jon still divides attention with his recovery and trans-Siberian Orchestra, which is still active and performing tens of thousands of people in North America. With the death of Paul O’Neill, it was up to the lead singer and keyboardist the project.

“Paul was my best friend in the world and Criss was my brother. They were my partners. And I lost both. This had its effect on me. It was very difficult to continue. I had to keep trans-siberian orchestra following. I kept more involved in this last years than when Paul was alive. The Trans-Siberian Orchestra is a large organization, with 300 people involved, my hair is getting graying quickly. [Risos]”

Interestingly, TSO fans have been remembering Oliva about Savatage. Even with the huge success of the band formed in 1996, it would not be ideal to discard the group where it all started in 1979.

“I went out in my wheelchair with a driver to take me to some Trans-Siberian Orchestra shows. In them, many people had Savatage T -shirts. People went to the sound table where I was, and asked for autographs. TSO fans finally understood that the TSO would not exist without Savatage. Savatage began the TSO. It’s nice that people have noticed this, coming back to listen to the Savatage albums and finally realizing it is one family. ”

Service – Monsters of Rock 2025

*Savatage is one of the attractions of the 2025 edition of Monsters of Rock Brazil, which takes place at Allianz Parque, in São Paulo, on April 19. Scorpions, Judas Priest, Europe, Opeth, Queensrÿche and Stratovarius complete the programming. Tickets are for sale in EVENTIM.

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