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Savatage
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1994-10-02
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SAVATAGE
line up: Jon Oliva (vocals/keyboards)
Criss Oliva (guitar)
Johnny Lee Middleton (bass)
Steve Wacholz (drums)
The Oliva-brothers, just moved from New York to Florida, found in '78 in Palm
Harbor their first band Metropolis. This band furthermore exists of bassplayer
tony Ciulla and drummer Joe Conn. The line up gets more steady, after drummer
Wacholz ('79) and bassplayer Keith Collins ('82) have joined the band.
Operating under the name Avatar, they sign a contract with Par Records and in
april of '82 a 3-track EP "City Beneath the Surface" is released. There are
only a 1000 cpoies pressed of this collectors item. Because there's already
another Avatar in the U.S. they change the name into Savatage. In october of
'83 the debut album "Sirens" is released. The record is extremely heavy,
unknown in those days, with Sabbath-alike songs. But again, the edition is
rather limited and the records are especcially in Europe hard to get. However,
Savatage is a promise for the future, also noticed by Atlantic Records, where
they get a contract. In spring '85 the band attacks on two sides: the mini LP
"The Dungeons are Calling" is released by Combat/Music for Nations and the
album "Power of the Night" is released by Atlantic. The mini album was already
recorded in 1984, it has a extremely rough, half-mixed sound and two songs are
new versions of songs of the old Avatar-EP. Expectations are less high of the
Atlantic-LP, but when this album appears to be less commercial than previous
work, it also gets a warm welcome. The very good production of Max Norman makes
this album even the best Savatage-album so far. In the autumn, Collins, getting
already a bit older, is replaced by the young talented Johnny Lee Middleton,
discovered in a bar in Tampa. With him, the recordings for a new album are
started, in the London Trident-studios. The result is "Fight for the Rock",
released in the summer of '86. This album show Savatage in a different light:
the album has two covers and a less heavy production with the add of strings.
It is a bit of a disappointment for the metal-fan. Nevertheless, the record
sells well in the U.S., but in Europe, people prefer the remixed and
re-released version of "Sirens". Without being supported by Atlantic, they
succeed to do some concerts in Europe, and they prove to be one of the best
live-acts. With the album "Hall of the Mountain King", released in '87, they
restore their metal-reputation. The record has again the heavy sound of the old
material and is very well produced by Paul O'Neill and the band itself.
Concerts in Europe have to be cancelled, again because there's no support from
Atlantic. Also Jon Oliva is admitted into a drugs-clinic, because of his
addiction to drugs and alcohol. When Atlantic refuses to release some
live-recordings, the band goes again in the studio, together with producer Paul
O'Neill, to record the next album.
albums: Sirens (Par '83/Combat/Music for Nations '85)
The Dungeons are Calling (Combat/Music for Nations '85)
Power of the Night (Atlantic '85)
Fight for the Rock (Atlantic '86)
Hall of the Mountain King (Atlantic '87)
Gutter Ballet
.