List of Savatage band members
Savatage | |
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![]() The Poets and Madmen touring lineup, 2001 | |
Background information | |
Origin | Tarpon Springs, Florida, United States |
Genres | Heavy metal, progressive metal, power metal |
Years active | 1978–2002, 2014–present |
Labels | Combat, Atlantic, Nuclear Blast, SPV/Steamhammer |
Associated acts | Jon Oliva's Pain, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Circle II Circle, Machines of Grace, Doctor Butcher, Testament |
Website |
www |
Members |
Jon Oliva Johnny Lee Middleton Chris Caffery Zachary Stevens Jeff Plate Al Pitrelli |
Past members |
Criss Oliva Steve "Doc" Wacholz Alex Skolnick Damond Jiniya Keith Collins |
Savatage has known several lineups during its active periods from 1980 to 1993, 1994 to 2002 and currently from 2014. The band was founded by brothers Jon (vocals, keys) and Criss Oliva (guitar) in the late 1970s, who were subsequently joined by various other members such as Steve "Doc" Wacholz (drums), Johnny Lee Middleton (bass), and Chris Caffery (guitar). In 1992 Jon Oliva left the band and was replaced by Zachary Stevens, but the band dissolved when guitarist and founding member Criss Oliva died in a car accident in 1993.
Jon Oliva then reformed Savatage in 1994. The band again saw many members come and go during this second period, but had a solid lineup from 1995 to 2000 featuring Middleton, Stevens, Caffery and new members Al Pitrelli (guitar) and Jeff Plate (drums), in addition to Oliva on keys. In 2000 Stevens and Pitrelli left the band, and Jon Oliva once again took over lead vocals. However, in 2002 the band went on an indefinite hiatus until being reformed in 2014.
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. Savatage members Johnny Lee Middleton, Chris Caffery and Jeff Plate also perform in Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and former guitarist Alex Skolnick has also performed with the group.
Personnel
Current lineup
- Jon Oliva – vocals (1978–1992, 1994-2002, 2014-present), keyboards (1981–1992, 1993—2002, 2014-present), guitar (1978–1979, 1994), bass (1980–1981, 1994), drums (1991, 1994)[1]
- Johnny Lee Middleton – bass guitar, backing vocals (1986-2002, 2014–present)[1]
- Chris Caffery – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1987–1988 touring, 1989–1990, 1995-2000, 2014–present), lead guitar (2000-2002), keyboards (1987-1988 touring, 1989-1990)[1]
- Zachary Stevens – lead vocals (1992–2000, 2014–present)[1]
- Jeff Plate – drums (1994-2002, 2014–present)[1]
- Al Pitrelli – lead guitar, backing vocals (1995–1999, 2002, 2014–present)[1]
Former members
- Damond Jiniya – lead vocals (2001-2002)
- Criss Oliva – guitar, backing vocals (1979–1993; died 1993), bass (1978–1979, 1991)
- Alex Skolnick – guitar (1994)
- Keith Collins – bass guitar (1981–1985)
- Steve "Doc" Wacholz – drums (1980–1993)
- Session musicians
- Paul O'Neill - producer, lyricist, co-composer (1987-2002)
- Ray Gillen – backing vocals ("Strange Wings", Hall of the Mountain King; died 1993)
- Robert Kinkel – keyboards, backing vocals (Hall of the Mountain King, Gutter Ballet, Streets: A Rock Opera, Dead Winter Dead, The Wake of Magellan, Poets and Madmen)
- Touring musicians
- Wes Garren – rhythm guitar, keyboards, backing vocals (1993)
- Jack Frost – rhythm guitar (2001–2002)
- Jeff Waters – rhythm guitar (2002)
- Michael Reynolds – drums (1988)
- Andy James – drums (1993)
- John Zahner – keyboards, rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1991–1992)
- Avatar (pre-Savatage) members
- Pat Dubs – rhythm guitar (1979–1980)
- Andy Gmelin – bass guitar (1979–1980)
Timeline
![](../I/m/0b2ff46f617692a1dd42fa71fc8991e2.png)
Lineups
Years | Lineups | Album releases |
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1978-1980 (as Avatar) |
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1980-1981 |
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1981-1985 |
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1986-1987 |
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1987-1990 |
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1990-1992 |
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1992-1993 |
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1993 |
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1994-1995 |
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1995-2000 |
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2000-2001 |
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2001-2002 |
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2002 |
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2014–present |
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