As Savatage prepares for their first live shows in two decades, original frontman Jon Oliva spoke with Marcelo Vieira and discussed the injuries that prevent him from taking part in the reunion tour. Check out the interview below.
Oliva: “I feel like shit. First of all, never fracture your spine. That’s my first tip, because it’s incredibly painful and it takes a long time to heal. And, unfortunately, I fractured my spine in three places. Other than that, I’m okay, except with the fracture I can’t sing. I can’t really move around that well yet because it isn’t completely healed yet. And I can’t do physical therapy because it’s not healed enough yet for that. So I’m basically stuck, and it sucks and I’m very disappointed, but what are you gonna do? Things happen. And if I would’ve hit where I did a foot to the left, I’d be dead right now. My truck got cut in half and I missed being grounded to a tree by about a foot. It was scary. And it was a freak accident. I hit a puddle on the road, and I hydroplaned and I went off the road and hit a tree, and the tree cut my car in half. And, like I said, I just missed hitting the tree with my body by about a foot, they said.”
According to Oliva, there was talk about cancelling the tour since he is unable to participate, but he insisted that Savatage go ahead with the planned shows.
“The guys are hungry. They’re gonna do great. I’m very confident that that they’re gonna kick your ass. I mean, I wish I could be there, but physically I can’t, and I won’t go out on stage if I can’t be at 100%. And with this injury, there’s just no way that I can sing at a hundred percent, and I won’t do that. I’d rather just let the guys do it, and when I’m healed up — hopefully next spring, summer — I’ll be okay to be back in there and I’ll be back out there.”
Savatage (Johnny Lee Middleton – bass, Chris Caffery – guitars, Al Pitrelli – guitars, Jeff Plate – drums, and Zak Stevens – vocals) have released a teaser video for their April 23 performance at Masters Of Rock in Santiago, Chile. Watch below:
The band previously shared teaser videos for their upcoming performances at Masters Of Rock in Buenos Aires, Argentina on April 26, and at Monsters Of Rock 2025, in São Paulo, Brazil on April 19. Watch both clips below:
Savatage recently announced tour dates across Europe for summer 2025, with a mix of festival appearances and headline shows.
Says Zak Stevens: “As you can imagine, there are so many special things about these shows that are racing through my mind. We get to play a series of headline shows for the first time in over twenty years that will put us right back in front of all of the unbelievable fans who have given us so many unforgettable memories over the last three decades. Here’s our chance to directly give back to everyone who’s been there supporting us all these years! All the great festival shows are going to be off-the-charts amazing. It’s even hard to imagine the scale of excitement that’s going to take place with those shows.”
Savatage mastermind Jon Oliva expressed his disappointment at not being able to join the band for the shows, but shared his excitement, stating: “I am very excited for the guys to be doing some shows. Unfortunately, due to health issues, I will not be able to join the guys for this run. Hopefully, this is just temporary. I will continue working in the studio on new music for the future. These shows will be awesome and I will be working with them to get it all ready for you. I know everyone is going to love it!!! Me and the guys are very excited and ready to kick ass! So from me, thank you all for the support for all these years and we can’t wait to rock you!”
For further details, including ticket/festival links, head to savatage.com. Find a video trailer below.
South American dates:
April
19 – São Paulo, Brazil – Monsters Of Rock
21 – São Paulo, Brazil – Espaço Unimed (Headline Date)
23 – Santiago, Chile – Masters Of Rock
26 – Buenos Aires, Argentina – Masters of Rock Argentina
European dates:
June
13 – Leeuwarden, Netherlands – Into The Grave
14 – Oberhausen, Germany – Turbinenhalle (Headline Date)
16 – London, UK – Shepherds Bush Empire (Headline Date)
18 – Zurich, Switzerland – Komplex 457 (Headline Date)
19 – Munich, Germany – Tonhalle (Headline Date)
21 – Clisson, France – Hellfest
22 – Dessel, Belgium – Grapop Metal Meeting
24 – Milan, Italy – Alcatraz (Headline Date)
26 – Barcelona, Spain – Rock Fest
28 – Thessaloniki, Greece – Rockwave
The post JON OLIVA Talks Injuries That Prevent Him From Performing At Upcoming SAVATAGE Reunion Shows – “I Won’t Go Out On Stage If I Can’t Be At 100%”. appeared first on BraveWords - Where Music Lives.
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Oliva: “I feel like shit. First of all, never fracture your spine. That’s my first tip, because it’s incredibly painful and it takes a long time to heal. And, unfortunately, I fractured my spine in three places. Other than that, I’m okay, except with the fracture I can’t sing. I can’t really move around that well yet because it isn’t completely healed yet. And I can’t do physical therapy because it’s not healed enough yet for that. So I’m basically stuck, and it sucks and I’m very disappointed, but what are you gonna do? Things happen. And if I would’ve hit where I did a foot to the left, I’d be dead right now. My truck got cut in half and I missed being grounded to a tree by about a foot. It was scary. And it was a freak accident. I hit a puddle on the road, and I hydroplaned and I went off the road and hit a tree, and the tree cut my car in half. And, like I said, I just missed hitting the tree with my body by about a foot, they said.”
According to Oliva, there was talk about cancelling the tour since he is unable to participate, but he insisted that Savatage go ahead with the planned shows.
“The guys are hungry. They’re gonna do great. I’m very confident that that they’re gonna kick your ass. I mean, I wish I could be there, but physically I can’t, and I won’t go out on stage if I can’t be at 100%. And with this injury, there’s just no way that I can sing at a hundred percent, and I won’t do that. I’d rather just let the guys do it, and when I’m healed up — hopefully next spring, summer — I’ll be okay to be back in there and I’ll be back out there.”
Savatage (Johnny Lee Middleton – bass, Chris Caffery – guitars, Al Pitrelli – guitars, Jeff Plate – drums, and Zak Stevens – vocals) have released a teaser video for their April 23 performance at Masters Of Rock in Santiago, Chile. Watch below:
The band previously shared teaser videos for their upcoming performances at Masters Of Rock in Buenos Aires, Argentina on April 26, and at Monsters Of Rock 2025, in São Paulo, Brazil on April 19. Watch both clips below:
Savatage recently announced tour dates across Europe for summer 2025, with a mix of festival appearances and headline shows.
Says Zak Stevens: “As you can imagine, there are so many special things about these shows that are racing through my mind. We get to play a series of headline shows for the first time in over twenty years that will put us right back in front of all of the unbelievable fans who have given us so many unforgettable memories over the last three decades. Here’s our chance to directly give back to everyone who’s been there supporting us all these years! All the great festival shows are going to be off-the-charts amazing. It’s even hard to imagine the scale of excitement that’s going to take place with those shows.”
Savatage mastermind Jon Oliva expressed his disappointment at not being able to join the band for the shows, but shared his excitement, stating: “I am very excited for the guys to be doing some shows. Unfortunately, due to health issues, I will not be able to join the guys for this run. Hopefully, this is just temporary. I will continue working in the studio on new music for the future. These shows will be awesome and I will be working with them to get it all ready for you. I know everyone is going to love it!!! Me and the guys are very excited and ready to kick ass! So from me, thank you all for the support for all these years and we can’t wait to rock you!”
For further details, including ticket/festival links, head to savatage.com. Find a video trailer below.
South American dates:
April
19 – São Paulo, Brazil – Monsters Of Rock
21 – São Paulo, Brazil – Espaço Unimed (Headline Date)
23 – Santiago, Chile – Masters Of Rock
26 – Buenos Aires, Argentina – Masters of Rock Argentina
European dates:
June
13 – Leeuwarden, Netherlands – Into The Grave
14 – Oberhausen, Germany – Turbinenhalle (Headline Date)
16 – London, UK – Shepherds Bush Empire (Headline Date)
18 – Zurich, Switzerland – Komplex 457 (Headline Date)
19 – Munich, Germany – Tonhalle (Headline Date)
21 – Clisson, France – Hellfest
22 – Dessel, Belgium – Grapop Metal Meeting
24 – Milan, Italy – Alcatraz (Headline Date)
26 – Barcelona, Spain – Rock Fest
28 – Thessaloniki, Greece – Rockwave
The post JON OLIVA Talks Injuries That Prevent Him From Performing At Upcoming SAVATAGE Reunion Shows – “I Won’t Go Out On Stage If I Can’t Be At 100%”. appeared first on BraveWords - Where Music Lives.
Continue reading...
