Savatage Rockumentary with Jon Oliva

Radio rockumentary from 2007. Hear Jon Oliva talk about the ups and downs with Savatage, all their albums and his side projects.
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[@TheAxe4Ever]

I gotta tell this story. Indulge me for a moment. This past Friday I had to take my elderly dad to a doctors appointment in Tampa. We live an hour and a half north of Tampa. My dad had to take a leak, so I pulled into a rest area near Zephyrhills. As I stood outside smoking a cigarette my dad came back out at the same time I saw someone walking from the parking area toward the building. I said to my dad “Holy shit! I think that was the mountain king that just walked by!!” He said “who?” I quickly told him of my absolute favorite band and the best guitar player in the world that is no longer with us. And the best friggin’ songwriter/singer in metal is his brother and that they started that band together. Then I told him about TSO. I told him “that guy that just walked by, I swear that was Jon Oliva, THE MOUNTAIN KING! My dad said “finish your smoke and if he comes back by before we leave, ask him if it’s him. I knew it was. But I didn’t want to act like “that guy”. You know, the star struck fan that is annoying. But I couldn’t let the opportunity go by. So he came back by and I said “Excuse me, is your name Jon?” He said yes. I said Jon Oliva? He said “yep.” I was at a loss for words, being that star struck kid deep down! 😂 I said “As soon as I saw you walk by I knew it was you!” He stuck his hand out to shake my hand and all I could say was “It’s awesome to meet you”. He seemed to be in a hurry but took a brief moment to shake my hand and say hi. I didn’t want to bug him for a picture. I wish I did though! He got in his truck and waved as he drove by us. It made the trip to Tampa much cooler! I saw him at Florida Metal Fest a couple years ago in Tampa and he came out and did a couple of Savatage songs with Obituary. It was KILLER! Just wanted to share my story of the day I met the mighty Jon Oliva!

[@JeffKMayo]

Great story. Jon is one of the greatest music composers on earth.

[@TheAxe4Ever]

JM Jedi Thanks. It was something I’ll never forget. And yes, you are absolutely correct. He’s one of the best writers/composers/arrangers ever! Love his style of vocals too. Immediately recognizable.

[@JeffKMayo]

@@TheAxe4Ever Yeah man! So glad you shared that experience. I watched a live performance of him here on KZbin doing "Sirens" with the band in 2010 and he sounded EXACTLY like he did when he was a young man. Just...wow!

[@SouthernSkeptic]

I don't think Jon would turn a fan away. He's all class.

[@TheAxe4Ever]

Southern Skeptic It was a brief encounter. Like I said, he looked like he was in a bit of a hurry but was more than willing to stop for a moment, offer up his hand and say “hello” to a fan and even look over and throw up the metal horns as he drove by me. Definitely a class act. I love his smartass sense of humor in all of his interviews too! He seems real “hangoutable” if you know what I mean.

[@golgothaassassin5035]

Savatage is criminally underrated.

[@golgothaassassin5035]

Criss Oliva as basically a kid, in the early early 80's was an amazing musician. Just listen to the Dungeons Lp, his guitar riffs/leads were so before there time. In 82/83/84 Noone could touch him,.. and have you heard Jon sing/play? Those two brothers were on a different plain.

[@AlejandroPerez-uq6pj]

Criminally underrated, yes in deed.

[@KevinOrtega1980]

One of the all time greats here!!! 🤘🏼 This band is awesome and one of the epitomes of US Power Metal

[@donpetersen8198]

Outstanding. If you're a Savatage or Jon Oliva fan, you need to listen to this.

[@MetalExpressRadio]

Thank you, Don!

[@AudiophileTommy]

Or a Chris Caffery fan🎉

[@alteredband]

Savatage was my personal favorites in the late 80’s. When everyone else was playing Metallica, or some hair band, THIS band was kicking ass on my stereo!!

[@stephenadamsmusicalinterpr4203]

I'm a late bloomer. I knew about Savatage but didn't pay that much attention until my interest in TSO led me the way. Looking back I should have paid more attention the them and less attention to those "hair bands." Dokken, Scorpions, Ozzy (although like Criss, Randy was a genius) Dio, and even Van Halen didn't hold a candle to Savatage. I'm happy to be on board now.

[@Savatanica]

Nice tatoo man,Sava for life🤟

[@fairplayer7788]

I met Chris one time at a laundromat in Holiday FL when I was a teenager I think he told me they just got back from Europe touring with King Diamond my mother was into them more then me he did his Laundry at this place because either him or his wife were good friends with the lady that worked there Ivey or here husband Joe it is a great memory I really love their music more now that I'm older if Ivey orJoe ever read this thanks for the memory.

[@michaelsmilek2404]

Mine As Well Brother!

[@kaiyoungerman9348]

@@stephenadamsmusicalinterpr4203 Love me some Savatage and Dokken! Lynch and Criss and superior guitarists, but Criss is better IMHO

[@paularyche]

Jon Oliva so fuckin awesome it makes me cry!!

[@setifaast]

The greatest and most diverse heavy band ever

[@stephenadamsmusicalinterpr4203]

And most underrated.

[@ziggyjzigs]

Streets was the album that got me through my dads death when I was 17. Thank You Jon and Paul

[@Warrior_Resisting_Colonialism]

Interesting to hear Jon tell the story of basically what ended up being a little metal band that no one ever heard of. A hobby and a big family side project that in the end, likely never even did break even or if it did, it couldn't of been by much. Amazing that they never broke out. Perhaps they were just head of their time. The best band in the world imo. No one did metal the way these boys did it. What could of and what should of been, just never did. It's criminal how Criss is never mentioned as one of the greatest and when you say Savatage, people say what's that? Been a fan since high school and they will always be #1 to me. Though TSO isn't for me at all, I'm glad to know Jon and some of the boys went on to make it big and make some money after sacrificing so much of their family life. That sacrifice will never be for nothing. There are many of us fans who have been so fortunate to have had Savatage as part our lives soundtrack since childhood really, and there are FAR more fans yet to still discover this extremely, under valuated metal band. R.I.P. Criss Oliva. You beautiful, mother fucking soul! Keep watching over your big brother. I'm sure you long for the day when you get to welcome him back home but we're selfish down here and want him to ourselves for many years to come! \m/

[@stormcorrosion176]

Q*bert BRO. Thank you for this comment. I first found Savatage as a sophomore in HS. "Dead Winter Dead". When "This Is The Time" started, Savatage then and there was my favorite band ever.

[@JAMES-dv5ns]

But Jon Oliva definitely did not break even I think he still works with TSO or at least gets royalties for it

[@machupikachu1085]

The band always money for the label up until the late 90's and early 2000's. Jon had put of $1 million dollars of his TSO money to keep the name alive, but just decided that it didn't make financial sense anymore. Can't really blame him. Plus, he mentioned he was running out of Criss's riffs from old demos and didn't want to tarnish the legacy, IIRC.

[@Aracnicon]

One of most underrated band in history. God I love me some Savatage

[@ggale2721]

I can remember buying gutter ballet on cassette when it was released. That was my introduction to Savatage. I ended up buying their back catalogue almost immediately and realised that they were the most underated band in history. I joined the army in 1992 and got posted out to a place called Fallingbostel in Germany.(what a sh*thole). Sadly due to my job I lost contact with my music fandom until 1996 when I left the forces. I started catching up again(musically),only to find out that Criss Oliva had been killed a couple of years earlier. I was heartbroken,he in my honest opinion was better that Yngwie Malmsteen. Long live Savatage. Gone but definitely not forgotten..

[@maurobuckley]

Excellent interview! Savatage one of the greatest heavy metal bands of all times!

[@MophineChild]

Second to none in my opinion.

[@deathound98]

Criss is the best guitar player that ever walked on this earth, he's jamming in heaven now

[@SouthernSkeptic]

Criss was the greatest metal guitar player ever and Jon is a musical genius.

[@davidadams2395]

I loved his guitar playing so much I had his white Charvel tattooed on my right shoulder just as it was on the back of _Streets._

[@thorcerchi5341]

They were 2 genius. No band can be compared with them. Criss owned a unique, magic touch and class. His melodies are just..... unexplainable. Jon was the crazy, deep soul ingredient.

[@thorcerchi5341]

@@davidadams2395 I still dream of having that guitar one day. Just to play Savatage songs

[@StackBundle]

@@thorcerchi5341 If you didn't know, It's a Charvel Predator with a neck from a Charvel Legend, locking nut and Floyd Rose bridge. You can buy both guitars for probably 2-2.5k combined assuming you can find them. White predators are rare and Charvel Legends with maple fret boards are even moreso.

[@tippss3332]

Chris definitely was on a different level of playing. Unique!!! Talented!!!! We were robbed of a great guitarist who was only getting started. God bless u Jon . RIP Chris! Sava will always love on!!!!!!

[@stellong4963]

Criss was from another planet .He gave us his spactacular music for a few years and came back where he belongs

[@georgekolotouros230]

These guys were insane live !! Especially in the small venue.

[@howardreed6969]

saw em at Tampa Power Station MANY TIMES

[@rayblakk5288]

One of the most incredible interviews that I've heard ! Thank you ! I'm 25 miles north of Tampa, raise the fist of the metal child !!!!

[@MetalExpressRadio]

Thank for the great feedback!

[@bloodmoon3155]

Jon oliva was and will always be my most favorite western metal singer and music writer. Until Dimash came to existence and now I have two of the best singers and musicians this planet ever produced in 20th, and 21st century.

[@SouthernSkeptic]

I had If I Go Away played at my mother's funeral.

[@davidmichaelsen9805]

HUGE fan of the Oliva brothers.Old SAVATAGE FOR LIFE❤️🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘...

[@johnkatsoudas4767]

I have been a huge fan of Savatage since Hall Of The Mountain King. I just recently just a few months ago got back into their music. I had already had all their studio and live albums, but I updated and ordered all of them remastered from eBay a few months ago. They sound so awesome. I love all their albums and that includes Fight For The Rock. This band should have been huge!!!

[@alistairwells9399]

Thank you so much for this, absolutely love Savatage

[@MetalExpressRadio]

Thank you for listening!

[@enlightenedwarrior7119]

RAISE THE FIST OF THE METAL CHILD !!!

[@enlightenedwarrior7119]

One of the best metal vocalist takes you on a trip

[@petervargo1696]

More people need to hear this. Savatage is one of my all time favorites. Too bad I discovered them so late in the game...Poets and Madmen was already released...

[@stellong4963]

Jon sounds that he is a very sweet and sensitive person

[@MetalExpressRadio]

He is indeed!

[@zeidenmedia]

Saw them at The Metro in Chicago for Power of the Night Tour. It was unforgettably awesome.

[@MrNova66SS]

Badass band! Saw them in 90 Gutter tour. Criss was a huge loss for music. Lost interest when Zak took over vocals. Jon is a legendary metal singer and is the Savatage sound.

[@MrMoralesOrlando]

Amazing way to present an interview with music in between like the 80s, Savatage forever!!

[@antoniofrustaci8085]

Great interview!!!

[@NealVio]

A great interview. I love the backstories. I thought Jon did a great job with Poets and Madmen. A great CD and I'm glad you released it.

[@MeatballAvenger]

Amazing, great interview!

[@virtuosooo]

Glad to have stumbled onto this. I love hearing Jon's savatage stories. His interviews are always great. Very cool. Thanks for putting this out.

[@keithhamer1718]

Great band R.I.P Criss

[@BlackieNuff]

Fun Fact : The album Streets was the original intended title. "A Rock Opera" was just a note jotted down on the script/sheet music, and that was mistaken as part of the album title and it ended up there.

[@stallionproductions666]

Thank you!

[@laynerpereira2392]

Dope! Jon & Criss was and always will be something that transcends through music. Cheers from Brazil! SAVATAGE FOREVER \m/

[@CaptainMcKayRandom]

Very interesting. I’m curious now about Poets and Madmen, which songs were meant for Zak and of those demos are out there anywhere. Personally I think that album is really good and I have a hard time imagining anyone besides Jon on vocals. Great video.

[@user-pr2qg3kr5t]

A true pioneer!!I remember seeing these guys when i was just a teenager😎

[@JeffKMayo]

Jon Oliva is worthy of being called a modern day Mozart or Beethoven. The man is a creative musical genius and the mainstream never even speaks his name.

[@machupikachu1085]

He finally got his due though. TSO makes cra cra money. Good for him!

[@guillotinedeath]

Iconic Riffing

[@scotkaeff7456]

I loved, and still love, Savatage since I heard Hall when it came out. Bought it based on the cover. I finally got to see them on the Edge of Thorns ("No Good Deed Goes Unpunished") tour in Cincinnati and seeing Criss live was a revelation; same with Johnny Lee. Savatage is the one band that I picture what could've been had Criss not been killed.

[@JoeyArmstrong2800]

Jon Oliva is the John Lennon of underground metal.

[@crusheverything4449]

Savatage isn’t quite “underground”, but I get your point.

[@JoeyArmstrong2800]

@@crusheverything4449 well they ain't top 40 pal

[@stevebull4578]

I love this band, everything 80’s metal should be. Perfect vocals, with incredible high pitch screams and white hot guitar riffs, with intricate and beautiful solo’s. F@#king beautiful!

[@scottblasingame9789]

Fan since 87. An amazingly talented singer/songwriter in Jon and an absolute beast on the guitar in Criss, they should have been one of the top 10 heavy metal bands of all time. Well, in my book, they are. And I enjoyed the Zak years too. I did not know the Alex story on Handful of Rain. Awesome to hear the guy he is; got me choked up. Now in 2020, I doubt we will be blessed with any new Savatage albums, but I hope that Jon gets to finish his Romanov concept though I would bet that would go out as a TSO thing. Thanks for the great interview. YOU ARE METAL! YOU ARE METAL!

[@jimmyandersson59]

Jon Oliva rules!!!

[@StolichnayaCzara]

Agreed ...we were all robbed due to a senseless accident that should have NEVER happened. And Jon, he's around you more than you know.

[@machupikachu1085]

That drunk driver already had 7 (seven!) previous DUI's driving without a licence or insurance, as well. So Tragic. :(

[@StolichnayaCzara]

@@machupikachu1085 I believe you are correct. I have read that somewhere. It was a slap in the face of the band, family and the fans when that driver was sentenced. It pissed me off that he got off so lightly.

[@scottward1194]

Criss was so good. Man what a great band.

[@keithholm7493]

MADNESS REIGNS!!!

[@MetalExpressRadio]

🤘

[@zzkeokizz]

I'm so Glad Jon went to see Phantom. Osan amazing musical. And his songs are just as amazing. They also laid the foundation of TSO.

[@heavymetal6285]

Great Interview \../

[@r.g.armstrong2688]

I think the song Fight for the Rock is one of the most fierces metal anthems. It could have been a Manowar song.

[@turefromfinland3264]

Gutter Ballet album is classic!!!!

[@LebD]

I didn't start getting into Savatage until the 90s when I bought a used copy of Edge of Thorns. They were kinda like King's X in the way that they have a very dedicated small fanbase.

[@alistairwells9399]

Love a bit of Kings X too, great band

[@paulpulverspools1940]

Jon, I hope ur 80+ and sing belting out Sirens like nobody but you can 🤘🤘

[@PaulWildstar]

Jon Olivia is amazing. Savatage rocked!

[@spiderbutt3]

Jon, I was able to drink beer with you, Criss, Dr Killdrums & Keith Collins, POTN Tour Columbus Ohio! Savatage, Rouge Male & Illusion. You we're the coolest fucking dude ever!!!! While we were talking after the show, YOU TOLD ME, I think you know the words better then I do!! I WILL NEVER FORGET THAT! TOTALLY BLOWN AWAY!!!! And then I have a couple pic's with you & Criss Gutter Ballet Tour!!! Such a cool dude!!!!!

[@leticiabromley6013]

God, Criss was fierce with that guitar..sonic bliss.

[@hken658592]

SAVATAGE has always been and will always be one helluva killer ROCK band!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@RScott413]

I heard Power of the Night when it came out and while I was a serious Maiden fan I LOVED these guys and Hall of the Mountain King was my confirmation that they were too good for reality.

[@thomasgray7128]

I agree Criss was so underated, I don't think the music business knew what they had!! Criss was the best metal guitarist I've ever heard, other than Randy Rhoades!!!

[@stephenadamsmusicalinterpr4203]

51:32 Jon: "We found Zak." The fact is, Dan Campbell found Zak and brought him in.

[@johnoliva5014]

Wrong zak was in a band called wicked witch we got the demo and hired him

[@stephenadamsmusicalinterpr4203]

@@johnoliva5014 yeah....ok. If you’re going to impersonate Jon, at least spell his name correctly.

[@johnoliva5014]

Your wrong

[@tomi9521]

Savatage is one of the most underrated bands ever. They hit a niche in Metal that everyone else missed, even Metallica & Slayer. Scary Fun, Groove, power metal, maybe Exodus hit it a bit. The release of Sirens and Power of the Night on Spotify sounds awesome. Ive been cranking it in my car, fckng love it! What can you say about Jon and Chris, absolute killer. I wish this band had the recognition they deserve.

[@machupikachu1085]

They did, thankfully. It's just called TSO now. They have sold out tours and make insane money now. So happy for him.

[@tomi9521]

@@machupikachu1085 TSO is a different animal. Its not Savatage. Nobody knows who Savatage is.

[@mnman2oo7]

Sooooo Under rated!!!!!

[@fastimesmehotmaicom-yk4eq]

Savatage..hands down best band on the planet!!!

[@MetalHeart8787]

I Loved Hand full of Rain, just wish Oliva sang on it. BUT glad to know he did most of the Writing.

[@section8usmc53]

I LOVE Fight For The Rock. The recording quality isn't great, but the music is outstanding.

[@onekoolmedic]

Do you all think they would’ve been much bigger if they wrote or focused on hit singles or radio friendly songs.

[@MetalExpressRadio]

Good question! They should have been bigger, but I'm glad they focused on quality before hits anyway.

[@CiceroSantiagobrasilia]

nossa são muitas músicas boas da banda, esta banda é do caralho pqp

[@troyelliott390]

👊

[@Coiltrane]

SAVATAGE SAVES YES IT DOES

[@PJyrstinkangas]

Maybe it's just me, but somehow Jon's voice sounds like David Paich and Geoff Tate here. Not as low, but similar.

[@jurgencuypers8350]

a shame we never heard of Damond anymore; I saw him with Sava on their last tour and thought he was an excellent fit; a shame he didn't record any more records

[@hnavarror]

Any news about Jon Oliva? I heard about his stroke some years ago, but there’s no more news about him 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@paultaddayphotography7205]

I believe he recovered pretty well Hugo.

[@hnavarror]

@@paultaddayphotography7205 Cool , happy to hear that : ) . Do you know if we can expect some new music from him?

[@jurgencuypers8350]

strange, I hear Jon say: I should have went back (I heard the same in an episode of Two and a Half Men); is this how Americans say it? just wondering ... in English, it's: I should have gone back.

[@user-vq5sb4jl1l]

Beste Groep die er ooit heeft bestaan! Hail Metal Han!

[@darkeidholorimeevilgeniusp867]

I met Jon and Criss at Livestock 1 in Zephyrhills Florida. I followed Criss and Johnny Lee Middleton from the stage to the tour bus and my got on the bus because I was pretending like I was from England they were asking me questions about England and stuff like that and fortunately I had been there in the military. But when Criss and I were joking privately he said what happened to your accent. I said dude I'm from Ohio. And he was like oh my God we got to go over here and get my brother good. Jon had a Winnebago of his own right next to the door bus so we went on there and we're talking to him and Criss is like hey man I met this dude Don he's from England and we were talking and everything and then all the sudden I lost the accent and Jon was like dude what the fuck. Man that was great times. Livestock one was a blast. There was a prison right across the street and I think a retirement home or something like that, but the music had to stop at 11 p.m. no matter what. And I remember standing on the stage wild The Stranger band attempted to play in the Savatage time because of the curfew. Ronnie the guitar player from The Stranger band was my neighbor in Safety Harbor. I thought I was going to have to help Savatage throw the stranger band off the stage. Man I wish somebody would have had some cameras going or something back then because I have been trying every since then to find some footage of that concert. I would especially like to find the segments with the stranger band, Savatage , and Blackfoot. Because of my English accent by the time the last band played Blackfoot I was practically running the gate where the highway patrolman was running the gate. I had bought everything he ate or drank for 2 days and he just stood back and let me manage the girls at the gate. And when Blackfoot took the stage me and my friend Sean we're trying to get back up there with these two strippers from Peek-A-Boo Lounge in Bradenton and this guy that I always call the Anvil because he had shoulders and a crew cut mullet that look like an anvil. And he held out his hand like woah don't come up here. So I held out my hand to shake his hand when he saw the $50 bills he said come on up. And I was up there in front of the PA system and approximately 30000 people dancing with the stripper and having a blast man I wish I could tell you what I would probably pay for that beautiful Bean footage LOL. After Blackfoot finish the show I was in the little Quonset hut behind the stage signing autographs. I had on leather pants and a leather tank top with leather boots and Spurs and long hair. I would love to people's faces when they realized the signature was Don Faulkner.. who's the fuck is Don Faulkner LOL. I saw Savatage play at the Rockit Club in Tampa. Tiger Tiger open up for them and I was standing at the edge of the dance floor with my ex-wife and this other spinner when these two guys started moshing after sabotage took the stage. And the very first song of the show they knocked my wife down in this girl down and we're high-fiving each other. I grabbed the one guy from behind by the hair of the head and smashed his face into his buddy and drop them both on the dance floor and kick the shit out of them before 4 bouncers grabbed each limb and took me out the back door. And the one guy at my feet said head first or feet first and the head bouncer says feet first so they let me walk out and the head bouncer goes man that was a sick fucking move dude, badass oh, but you got to go sorry. My wife was so pissed

[@MrDizzyvonclutch]

Aren’t documentaries typically films, and not just a slideshow from a radio program? Just curious…? lol

[@MetalExpressRadio]

Never heard a documentary on radio or podcast?

[@willd4731]

John seems to be talking out of both sides of his mouth. Keeps talking about how they struggled financially through the years, but at the same time they refused to not even bend slightly to be a little bit more commercially viable. Great band, but you always wonder what could have been.

[@machupikachu1085]

They made money, but their former manager stole it. They struggled until Mountain King, and then made an ok living. Until TSO that is, which made Jon a multi millionaire. And good for him. He deserves it. He's brilliant.

[@enlightenedwarrior7119]

Ah ah. Ah ah ah a h ALRIGHT!!!

[@visionboxed]

the girl on the sirens cover looks like björk, but not that insane like the original ;)))

[@danielagado1731]

no jon oliva no criss oliva no savatage period so sad how savatage ended

[@beyonderbill3409]

I am so profoundly sad that one of my favorite bands of all time died at the hands of Christmas music. Something truly great and unique was lost.

[@MrDizzyvonclutch]

Your old Yale shirt there. Was that an endorsement of Skull and Bones, Luciferian and NWO ideology? lol

[@johnadams2063]

Savatage? More like palagerise

[@chriskarp1877]

Savatage sucked after Streets!

[@rubicon-oh9km]

No, you sucked after Streets.

[@tamparocks]

Jon is the most narcissistic person I have ever known.

[@MetalExpressRadio]

Oh, really? How come?

[@johnadams2063]

These guys where tools.. sorry but that's why nobody knows who they are..they tried to hard to be iron maiden and there was already an iron maiden.. it also sounds like they were just unwilling to stop being tools

[@Menieres4Life]

You’re a joke.

[@johnoliva5014]

You are a total dick you have no idea what we went through and to confirm what im saying we never sounded like iron maiden and never wanted to ....you idiot

[@johnadams2063]

@@johnoliva5014 oh grow up u baby.. your obviously to stupid to be a success.. everybody works hard u poor baby. And yeah to me u sound like iron maiden u child. How u gonna tell me what I think. Again your a little baby..

[@johnadams2063]

@@johnoliva5014 plus the entire band where huge hairy foolish dipshits. Jesus go look it up .. the singer was all fat and sloppy and the guitarist was one of those guys who trys to play as many notes as possible.. huge tool

[@atomictwist6537]

"They sound like iron maiden"? You lost me there man. Criss definitely has some memorable licks, The intro solo for hall of the mountain king is fantastic. As is his solo for edge of thorns. i urge you to listen again with a clean mind so the art isnt smudged by your negative perception, for we all want to see the best in something, right? Besides compared to what comes out today... this stuff is pure gold.