Savatage is an American heavy metal band, founded by brothers Jon (vocals) and Criss (guitar) Oliva in 1979 under the name Avatar. The band's first stable lineup in the early eighties also included drummer Steve "Doc" Wacholz, and bassist Keith Collins. Currently the band consists of Jon Oliva, alongside bassist Johnny Lee Middleton (since 1986), guitarist Chris Caffery (who first joined in 1987 as a touring member), singer Zachary Stevens (who first joined in 1992), drummer Jeff Plate (since 1994) and guitarist Al Pitrelli (who first joined in 1995).

History In 1986 Collins was replaced by Johnny Lee Middleton, and the lineup was expanded in 1987, to include second guitarist Chris Caffery. The nineties began with the band again down to four after Caffery's departure. He was replaced by John Zahner on tour. In 1992 Jon Oliva stepped down as frontman though he remained involved in songwriting. He was replaced by vocalist Zachary Stevens, though Oliva continued to collaborate in the studio. Wacholz also took a hiatus from touring and was replaced by Andy James on tour. The band went on hiatus when Criss Oliva died in a car accident in 1993.

Jon Oliva reformed Savatage in 1994, recording Handful of Rain, with Stevens, new guitarist Alex Skolnick and producer/manager Paul O'Neill. Wacholz and Middleton refused to record as they were grieving Criss Oliva's death. Oliva, Stevens, Skolnick, Middleton and new drummer Jeff Plate all contributed to the supporting tour. The band had a solid lineup from 1995 to 2000 with Al Pitrelli and the returning Caffery replacing Skolnick. In 2000, Stevens and Pitrelli left the band, and Oliva took over lead vocals and Caffery took over lead guitar. In 2001 new members Damond Jiniya (vocals) and Jack Frost (guitar) joined for touring, however Frost was let go in 2002 to make way for the returning Pitrelli, though he was briefly replaced on a tour by Annihilator guitarist Jeff Waters.

In 2014, the band reformed with Oliva/Middleton/Caffery/Stevens/Plate/Pitrelli lineup returning at Wacken Open Air 2015, but were inactive until 2023 when Jon Oliva confirmed work on a new studio album. The band will play their first shows in nearly ten years in the spring and summer of 2025, without Oliva due to his diagnosis of both multiple sclerosis and Ménière's disease.

From 1987 on, Paul O'Neill acted as the band's producer, co-lyricist and co-composer, and leads Trans-Siberian Orchestra along with Jon Oliva and Al Pitrelli. Stevens, Middleton, Caffery and Plate also perform in Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and former guitarist Alex Skolnick has also performed with the group. In April 2017 it was announced that O'Neill had died at the age of 61.

Members

Current members ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsJon Olivaall releases including session appearance on Edge of Thorns (1993)Johnny Lee Middletonall releases from Fight for the Rock (1986) onwards, except Handful of Rain (1994)Chris CafferyZachary Stevenslead vocalsall releases from Edge of Thorns (1993) to present, except Poets and Madmen (2001)Jeff Platedrumsall releases from Japan Live '94 (1995) to presentAl Pitrelli

Former members ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsCriss Oliva1978–1993 Steve "Doc" WacholzdrumsKeith "Thumper" Collins1981–1985all releases from City Beneath the Surface EP (1983) to Power of the Night (1985)Alex Skolnick1994lead guitar

Touring musicians ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsJohn Zahner1991–1992Zahner joined Savatage as touring keyboardist and guitarist following Chris Caffery's departure.Wes Garren1993Garren took over from Zahner as sole keyboardist and appeared on several live videos.Andy JamesdrumsJames replaced Wacholz who decided not to tour.Damond Jiniya2001–2002lead vocalsJiniya and Frost joined as touring replacements for Stevens and Pitrelli. Frost was fired to make way for the returning Pitrelli.Jack Frostlead and rhythm guitarJeff Waters2002Waters performed as co-lead guitarist on Savatage's 2002 Summer tour in place of Pitrelli who was unavailable.Bill Hudson2015Hudson and Kuprij performed with the band at Wacken Open Air in 2015. Kuprij will also appear on the bands upcoming album Curtain Call (TBC)Vitalij Kuprij2015 keyboardsPaulo Cuevas2025–presentCuevas and McNair joined as touring keyboardists for shows in 2025.Shawn McNairBlas Elias2026drumsElias filled in for Jeff Plate on the first two shows of the Prelude To Madness tour.

Session and guest musicians ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsLarry Dvoskin1986keyboardsFight for the Rock (1986)Brent Danielsbacking vocalsPaul O'Neill all releases from Hall of the Mountain King (1987) to Poets and Madmen (2001)Ray Gillen1987 backing vocalsRobert KinkelJohn Dittmar1989background shouts and laughsGutter Ballet (1989)Stephen DaggettJerry Van DeilenDan CampbellAbi Reid1991female background vocalsStreets: A Rock Opera (1991)Mary Wooten1995celloDead Winter Dead (1995)John West1999–2001backing vocalsPoets and Madmen (2001)Jane Mangini2023–2024keyboardsCurtain Call (TBC)

Avatar (pre-Savatage) members NameYears activeInstrumentsJoe Conn1978–1979drumsTony CiullabassBrian Belenon1979Pat Dubs1980 rhythm guitarRich Bigano1980Andy GmelinbassFritzBob Boyervocals

Timeline

Line-ups PeriodMembersStudio releases1978–1979 Jon Oliva – lead vocals, bass Criss Oliva – guitars, backing vocals1980–1981 Jon Oliva – lead vocals, bass Criss Oliva – guitars, backing vocals Steve "Doc" Wacholz – drums1981–1985 Jon Oliva – lead vocals, keyboards Criss Oliva – guitars, backing vocals Steve "Doc" Wacholz – drums Keith "Thumper" Collins – bass, backing vocals City Beneath the Surface EP (1983) Sirens (1983) The Dungeons are Calling (1984) Power of the Night (1985)1986–1987 Jon Oliva – lead vocals, keyboards Criss Oliva – guitars, backing vocals Steve "Doc" Wacholz – drums Johnny Lee Middleton – bass, backing vocals Fight for the Rock (1986) Hall of the Mountain King (1987)1987–1990 Jon Oliva – lead vocals, keyboards Criss Oliva – lead guitar, backing vocals Steve "Doc" Wacholz – drums Johnny Lee Middleton – bass, backing vocals Chris Caffery – rhythm guitar, keyboards, backing vocals Gutter Ballet (1989) Ghost in the Ruins – A Tribute to Criss Oliva (1995)1990–1992 Jon Oliva – lead vocals, keyboards Criss Oliva – guitars, backing vocals Steve "Doc" Wacholz – drums Johnny Lee Middleton – bass, backing vocals John Zahner – keyboards, rhythm guitar, backing vocals Streets: A Rock Opera (1991)1992–1993 Criss Oliva – guitars, backing vocals Steve "Doc" Wacholz – drums Johnny Lee Middleton – bass, backing vocals Zachary Stevens – lead vocals Edge of Thorns (1993)1993 Criss Oliva – guitars, backing vocals Johnny Lee Middleton – bass, backing vocals Zachary Stevens – lead vocals Andy James – drums Wes Garren – keyboards, rhythm guitar, backing vocals none1994–1995 Johnny Lee Middleton – bass, backing vocals Zachary Stevens – lead vocals Jon Oliva – keyboards, rhythm guitar, vocals Alex Skolnick – lead guitar Jeff Plate – drums Handful of Rain (1994) Japan Live '94 (1995)1995–2000 Johnny Lee Middleton – bass, backing vocals Zachary Stevens – lead vocals Jon Oliva – keyboards, vocals Jeff Plate – drums Al Pitrelli – guitar, backing vocals Chris Caffery – guitar, backing vocals Dead Winter Dead (1995) The Wake of Magellan (1997)2000–2001 Johnny Lee Middleton – bass, backing vocals Jon Oliva – lead vocals, keyboards, rhythm guitar Jeff Plate – drums Chris Caffery – lead guitar, backing vocals Poets and Madmen (2001)2001–2002 Johnny Lee Middleton – bass, backing vocals Jon Oliva – vocals, keyboards Jeff Plate – drums Chris Caffery – guitars, backing vocals Damond Jiniya – lead vocals Jack Frost – guitarsnone2002 Johnny Lee Middleton – bass, backing vocals Jon Oliva – vocals, keyboards Jeff Plate – drums Chris Caffery – guitars, backing vocals Damond Jiniya – lead vocals Al Pitrelli – guitars, backing vocals Jeff Waters – guitars, backing vocals Band inactive 2002–20142014–2015 Johnny Lee Middleton – bass, backing vocals Jon Oliva – keyboards, vocals Jeff Plate – drums Chris Caffery – guitars, backing vocals Al Pitrelli – guitars, backing vocals Zachary Stevens – lead vocals Bill Hudson – guitars Vitalij Kuprij – keyboards none On hiatus 2015–20232023–present Johnny Lee Middleton – bass, backing vocals Jon Oliva – keyboards, vocals Jeff Plate – drums Chris Caffery – guitars, backing vocals Al Pitrelli – guitars, backing vocals Zachary Stevens – lead vocals Paulo Cuevas – keyboards, backing vocals Shawn McNair – keyboards, backing vocals Curtain Call (TBC)

References