Madness Reigns - An Interview with Jon Oliva

Join Justin as he chats with musician Jon Oliva about the early years of Savatage, the legacy of Criss Oliva, substance abuse, rehab, Halloween, haunted recording studios, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and more!

[@gregjohnson298]

Savatage is an amazing band,love every song they've ever done.The Oliva brothers are a huge influence for me as a musician.It's exciting that Jon is working on a new album,can't wait to hear it!

[@stormcorrosion176]

Thank you brother. I’ve not been more excited for an album in my entire life. This is bringing tears to my eyes and joy to my soul. Thank you brother and thank you Jon Oliva.

[@MonstersMadnessandMagic]

Thank you for listening!

[@minawalkure]

I've never clicked on a video so fast in my life.

[@MonstersMadnessandMagic]

Hahaha!

[@chrissttiiee]

Ikr!?! Awesome 👍

[@thehatemachinestl]

I think Gutter Ballet is a masterpiece and was my introduction to Savatage. Such a great band!

[@chrissttiiee]

That's what Streets is for me.

[@mikec7256]

Great interview. Savatage is legend! Jon is amazing! Thank you for this.😊

[@bserdev8407]

Great talk man, Jon is a hell of a character. Get him again some time soon, maybe he spills something on the new record. There haven't been many interviews with Jon in the last decade or two, but of the ones that exist, this one felt like a conversation rather than an awkward interrogation

[@MonstersMadnessandMagic]

Thats my goal, man! Thanks for listening and for the kind words

[@donpetersen8198]

Outstanding! I miss Savatage!

[@TheAxe4Ever]

Jon is one of my favorite songwriters and singers. Awesome and unique voice and killer songwriting. Criss was an absolutely HUGE influence in my playing. He was one of the best. Sure do miss him. Being from Florida myself, that made me and so many of my friends have a close connection of Savatage and the Oliva Bros! I ran into Jon when I was traveling from Ocala to Tampa at a stop to get a bite to eat and I saw him walking up the sidewalk and I fanboy’ed out and yelled out “Jon! Jon Oliva?” He just smiled and said “yep.” I didn’t want to bother him and I just said “HUGE fan brother man! And Criss was my guitar guy.” Saw them way back in the day a couple times at the Rock-it club. He simply said “Thank you so much! That means the world!” That was it. He jumped back in his truck and when he drove by, he looked at me, smiled and threw me the horns. Just a cool dude. The. I saw him at Florida Metal Fest when he got up onstage with Obituary. That was awesome! Thanks for the interview!

[@MonstersMadnessandMagic]

Thanks for listening, dude, I appreciate you!

[@SuddenStorm982]

Hall of the Mountain King was my first Savatage album, what a classic 🤘🏆

[@jcbentura9538]

I discovered them recently,amazing album! One of my favorites of all time!🖤🤟

[@Warrior_Resisting_Colonialism]

Wow what a great introduction. My first was handful of rain. I never heard anything like it.....but then again, I still haven't. Blew me away. I was too young and wasn't ready for earlier Savatage yet. I'd get into the heaver sounds latter in my 20's, then I loved the earlier stuff even more. Now, when I think of Savatage I think of Jon's vocals, not Zac's even though that's where I started. Handful of rain is still a freaking masterpiece though.

[@gekalskip]

What a fun interview and great guy is Jon Oliva, all the best to him and looking very much forward to more of his amazing music

[@jrjr773]

Awesome! Good to hear from Jon! SAVATAGE!!! I've got my TSO tickets for this Christmas season!

[@jdw2150]

Great interview! Well done! And... Thanks so much!!! Savatage gave me soooo much enjoyment of the years and I'm glad to see Jon getting some payback for his sacrifices, I miss Criss dearly. He was good dude when we met, and a virtual mentor for my own playing.

[@jcbentura9538]

This interview was very,very pleasant to hear! Viva Savatage, viva Jon Oliva!!🇲🇽🇺🇸

[@christopheraustin1397]

Great interview man, Savatage is my favorite band of all time, Jon you are amazing man thank you for all the killer music, I was with you guys all through the 80s and now!! Madness reigns 💪💪🤘🤘🤘🔥🔥🤘

[@MonstersMadnessandMagic]

Thanks, dude! I appreciate you checking it out.

[@jskypercussion]

​@MonstersMadnessandMagic Thanks for doing this interview. I have been waiting to hear from Jon soon. I can't wait for the new Savatage album.

[@nstamato]

Man, i can't wait for the new savatage album, hope everything goes well with it, stay safe and healthy Jon, we need you back in our lives! P.S. We can all stream everything now, but let's make an effort to buy the new record, show our support. I know I'm gonna buy any vinyl they put out.

[@stormcorrosion176]

Same. Will be the first album I’ve bought in 10 years

[@nstamato]

@@stormcorrosion176 It's probably safe to say that the vast majority of savatage fans bought a physical medium of music at some point 😅

[@unlistedunlisted3108]

Great interview. Love savatage. Jon is right TSO is Savatage. Wake of Magellan is one of the best concepts ive ever heard.

[@GutterBallet]

Great stuff. As long as Jon keeps giving me music in some form, I’ll be happy.

[@Sniper_Cat_71]

Shoot man, I've owned every single album in multiple formats. Was a member of the old Savatage fan club back in the day, that was how I found out that Criss had died. This was a great listen, thanks.

[@MonstersMadnessandMagic]

Thanks for listening!

[@turefromfinland3264]

Gutter Ballet is one of my favorite records of all time.

[@BlackieNuff]

Savatage... Trans-Siberian Orchestra... Jon Oliva's Pain... The way I see it, Savatage split, and the result was TSO and JOP. TSO focused more on the orchestral progressive arrangements, and JOP returned to more Savatage roots while still being progressive. I think it's ALL good, and everything played out as it was supposed to. LOL @ "Savatux" - that's gold.

[@Metallian81]

Thanks for this, I always love to hear Jon. I know most people shit on Fight for the Rock, but I still love the album, despite knowing about the troubles with it. Red Light Paradise is a great song. Morphine Child from Poets and Madmen is such a great song, I love it and the album! I can hardly wait for the next Savatage album.

[@turefromfinland3264]

It's Savatage's worst record!!! The only bad album, or maybe Dead Winter Dead is also.

[@Metallian81]

@@turefromfinland3264 I still love it, but it's understandable why it's hated. Kind of reminds me most people hate Helloween's "Chameleon" album, yet I also love that. *EDIT* Not sure if your familiar with with the band.

[@adrianwagner336]

2nd time ive listened to this one and stll learned more...thank you and thank YOU Jon get more better sooner!! be well always and happy daze brother 😃😃

[@MonstersMadnessandMagic]

I appreciate you!

[@kevinbonville]

I remember American Wearwolf in London scared the shit out of me as kid. With the transformations and the dreams inside dreams great band my favorite band!!

[@jonzaremba]

It's a good thing I keep a framed photo of Jon next to my bed. I gazed upon it while listening.

[@MonstersMadnessandMagic]

You always were a problem solver.

[@TheRealProdigy]

31:19 I just recently got into savatage I’m 34, yes I’m late. But as soon as I heard the song prelude to madness off the Mountain King album I immediately thought about Trans-Siberian Orchestra. So when I looked it up and saw that basically, the producer, Paul O’Neill created that out of members of savatage, I always said that Trans-Siberian Orchestra rose from the ashes of Savatage. And Jon just confirming that brings a smile to my face. 😊.

[@chrissttiiee]

This interview is killer. Thank you!

[@MonstersMadnessandMagic]

Thanks for listening!

[@RyanSeek]

Always nice to see a recent interview with the Mountain King pop up. Excellent work on the questions. I thank you for your efforts and congratulate you on getting one on one with the one and only Jon Oliva!

[@MonstersMadnessandMagic]

Thanks, Ryan!

[@NealVio]

What a great interview. I love the inside back stories. BTW, Thorazine Shuffle is such a great song.

[@MonstersMadnessandMagic]

Thank you! Glad you liked it.

[@BlackieNuff]

I will admit FFTR was a "weaker" album compared to everything that preceded it and the stuff on HOTMK, but it grew on me and I actually like it. The ballads and commercial tunes took longer, but those only made up less than half the album, so it was okay. Hyde and Red Light Paradise were my immediate favorites. I liked the intro to RLP so much, I did some editing and extended it.

[@andrettski8686]

'Power of the Night' introduced me to Savatage in '85 then I went back to 'Sirens' and 'Dungeons'. I love them all(except one) but 'Gutter Ballet' probably the best of all because of the production. Still a fan to this day.

[@dustinhinson2117]

Huge Savatage fan..... HOWEVER, after 6 months of listening to nothing but Dream Theater a few years ago and catching every nuance to them, Savatage (regardless of guitarist, Criss the obvious God) hits on a whole new level of AMAZING

[@kevinbonville]

Jonn P. Is on a savage cd as fill in. " The awake of the Magellan "

[@cirzinho5715]

Sorry guys, I’m late and I know it! Just found this channel Hall of the mountain king was the first Savatage song I’ve heard. It was on a rock show from a radio station in Brazil. I was 18 years old if I am correct. I was immediately blown away and followed them since then. I’d love to see John live. Never had the opportunity. I’m 51 now and John I’m left handed too 😂🤘 and Black Sabbath was my first band 😂😂 We are so much alike man.

[@larryadams9854]

Awesome interview

[@MonstersMadnessandMagic]

Thanks for listening, Larry!

[@Gary-p6i]

This is awesome!!

[@MonstersMadnessandMagic]

Thanks for listening, Gary!

[@patriotpizzaman]

I saw the tour they opened for Dio. They blew Megadeth off the stage. They made Dio look old and scripted. Dio still played and sung well but, Savatage tore through their set like Vikings ripping through a small village of pacifists. We were in the front row right in front of Cris. Best opening act I ever saw!

[@ajhoogterp6363]

Savatage is outside category, how are you John ? Savatage a great band since 1983 for me

[@ironj100]

Jon O is a good guy

[@andrettski8686]

I wish he would have him talk more about the tours with Testament.

[@Warrior_Resisting_Colonialism]

It's so strange that management was trying to change them into the "next Journey" on Fight for the rock...That was a swing and miss from that by far. It's still hard rock and good too! It's just that some of it isn't so metal but it's still a great album! It's nothing whatsoever like Journey.

[@manowar4046]

Jon Oliva is the real deal.

[@tamparocks]

John is drug addict drunk and is being sued for supplying drugs to his wife who died from those drugs.

[@romankrhounek5974]

Streets is a masterpiece

[@wildbill1]

great interview!

[@MonstersMadnessandMagic]

Thank you!

[@nads9223]

Good stuff.

[@Warrior_Resisting_Colonialism]

It sucks so hard Savatage didn't break out. The best heavy metal band of all time, didn't make it. It's criminal.

[@markpalavosvrahotes5575]

But they did. TSO.

[@Warrior_Resisting_Colonialism]

@@markpalavosvrahotes5575 Some of the same guys, but that's NOT Savatage music lol.

[@IcedEarthMinion]

Great interview, thanks for posting. This was recorded in 2023, correct?

[@MonstersMadnessandMagic]

Right, recorded it a few days before I posted it

[@romankrhounek5974]

I love John met him so many times had beers 🍻 ,sang Sirens on stage

[@MarcCentanni]

Get better Jon. Also, thank you for telling all these stories. Interviewer was great too. Stupid how blabbermouth takes this Interview and focuses on Jon getting hurt. What a joke of a website

[@MonstersMadnessandMagic]

Thanks for listening, Marc!

[@Warrior_Resisting_Colonialism]

Just because TSO are the same guys as Savatage, doesn't make them Savatage lol. I'm not sure why he said that and is still so upset about Fight for your rock which is thousands times more metal than TSO hahaha That big $ eases the pain of TSO if he's ok about that being a job (I don't blame him) but still sore about Fight, which IS still Savatage, just doing some hard rock with heavy metal, is all, which is still cool. TSO isn't even anything we Savatage fans can stand, it's totally different, main stream stuff.

[@beyonderbill3409]

I lost one of my favorite bands of all time to the hands of Christmas music. Ain't that a bitch?

[@MonstersMadnessandMagic]

Hahaha, it is!

[@chrissttiiee]

They do a great job of acknowledging Chris & Paul & Savatage. It'd be a fun fact to most.

[@TropicalGardeningCyprus]

in reality, we lost them when Chris died. Past that, it's John's Oliva's pain beginning with Handful of Rain and so on. We didn't loose them to TSO, we lost them to a drunk driver way back...

[@beyonderbill3409]

@@TropicalGardeningCyprus In your reality maybe. I respect that, but in MY reality Savatage was still a thing. I kept buying Savatage albums, multiple copies. The Wake Of Megellan is one of my favorite records of all time. Jon asks in this interview to Sava-Fans, "Where were you?" I was there! A lot of us were. That statement shows exactly how much he respects the fans. I hate what happened to Chris, and I think drunk driving is one of those things that people get off WAAAAY too easy for. But for me, I Savatage was still one of my favorite bands long after. And regardless, I'll be getting Curtain Call. Gotta complete the set.

[@TropicalGardeningCyprus]

@@beyonderbill3409 I bought them ALL too and I loved them all the same, I even bought the first TSO double album when it came out and Dr Butcher!! I loved that album too much. But, musically, for me it's just not the same... nothing that they wrote after Chris' passing sounded like the savatage I knew. I bought the first John Oliva's pain album, felt really alienating to my ears and stopped there. Last year I gave them another go, I listened to the whole album of Global Warning and was blown away. Really great stuff that changed my mind about JOP.

[@outoftime788]

sory but streets suked compared to guter edge n hor. i stil liked it tho. savatage was over after handful of rain. never liked tso, never! its a way way watered down version of savatage. understand why they did it like he said they made tons of cash. tons n tons of people go to see tso shows every dam year

[@crusheverything4449]

Streets smokes those other albums.

[@outoftime788]

@@crusheverything4449 meth....

[@jamieburgess1460]

I went to Chris's funeral in Dunedin.

[@MonstersMadnessandMagic]

Holy cow! Did you know them personally?

[@jamieburgess1460]

@@MonstersMadnessandMagic Before I moved down here to Florida I saw Mt. Zoar, and Sub Human, they became Manowar, Bass player was Joey DiMaio. Saw them most weekends in the late 70's Joey was a roadey, for Black Sabbath when he met Ross the Boss in like 1980,then came Manowar.

[@jamieburgess1460]

@@MonstersMadnessandMagic I saw Savatage 16 times,Jon Olivia's Pain 9 times.