List of Savatage band members

Savatage has known several lineups during its active periods from 1979 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, and the band's first stable line-up in the early eighties also included drummer Steve "Doc" Wacholz, and Keith Collins on bass. During the second half of eighties Collins was replaced by Johnny Lee Middleton, and the line-up was expanded to include second guitarist Chris Caffery. The nineties began with the band again down to four after Caffery's departure, and in 1992 Jon Oliva stepped down as frontman though he remained involved in songwriting. He was replaced by vocalist Zachary Stevens, but the band dissolved when guitarist Criss Oliva died in a car accident in 1993.

Savatage
OriginTarpon Springs, Florida, United States
GenresHeavy metal, progressive metal, power metal
Years active1978–2002, 2014–present
LabelsCombat, Atlantic, Nuclear Blast, SPV/Steamhammer
Associated actsJon Oliva's Pain, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Circle II Circle, Machines of Grace, Doctor Butcher, Testament
Websitewww.savatage.com
MembersJon Oliva
Johnny Lee Middleton
Chris Caffery
Zachary Stevens
Jeff Plate
Al Pitrelli
Past membersCriss Oliva
Steve "Doc" Wacholz
Keith Collins
Andy James
Alex Skolnick
Damond Jiniya

Jon Oliva 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 the return of Middleton (bass), Stevens (vocals), and Caffery (guitar), along with new members Al Pitrelli (guitar) and Jeff Plate (drums), in addition to Oliva on keys. In 2000 Stevens and Pitrelli left the band, and Oliva 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. Stevens, Middleton, Caffery and Plate also perform in Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and former guitarist Alex Skolnick has also performed with the group. In April 2017 it was announced that O'Neill had died at the age of 61.[1]

Personnel

Current lineup

  • Jon Oliva – lead vocals (1978–1992), keyboards (1981–1992, 1993, 1994—2002, 2014-present), rhythm guitar (1994), bass (1978, 1994), drums (1981, 1991, 1994)[2]
  • Johnny Lee Middleton – bass, backing vocals (1986-2002, 2014–present)[2]
  • Chris Caffery – rhythm & lead guitar, backing vocals (1987–1988 touring, 1989–1990, 1995-2002, 2014–present), keyboards (1987-1988 touring, 1989-1990)[2]
  • Zachary Stevens – lead vocals (1992–2000, 2014–present)[2]
  • Jeff Plate – drums (1994-2002, 2014–present)[2]
  • Al Pitrelli – lead & rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1995–1999, 2002, 2014–present)[2]

Former members

  • Criss Oliva – lead & rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1978–1993; died 1993), bass (1991)
  • Steve "Doc" Wacholz – drums (1977, 1979–1993)
  • Keith "Thumper" Collins – bass guitar, backing vocals (1981–1985)
  • Andy James – drums (1993)
  • Alex Skolnick – lead guitar (1994)
  • Jack Frost – rhythm guitar (2000–2001)
  • Damond Jiniya – lead vocals (2001-2002)
Session musicians
Touring musicians
  • John Zahner – keyboards, rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1991–1992)
  • Wes Garren – rhythm guitar, keyboards, backing vocals (1993)
  • Jack Frost – rhythm guitar (2001–2002)
  • Jeff Waters – lead & rhythm guitar (2002)
  • Bill Hudson – rhythm & lead guitar (2015)
Avatar (pre-Savatage) members
  • Joe Conn - drums (1978-1979)
  • Tony Ciulla – bass (1978-1979)
  • Brian Belenon - bass (1979)
  • Pat Dubs – rhythm guitar (1980; died 2002)
  • Andy Gmelin – bass (1980)
  • Rich Bigano - rhythm guitar (1980)
  • Fritz – bass (1980)
  • Bob Boyer - vocals (1980)

Timeline

Lineups

Years Lineups Releases

1978-1979

1980-1981

  • Jon Oliva lead vocals, bass
  • Criss Oliva guitars, backing vocals
  • Steve "Doc" Wacholz drums

1981-1985

  • Jon Oliva lead vocals, keyboards
  • Criss Oliva guitars, backing vocals
  • Keith "Thumper" Collins bass, backing vocals
  • Steve "Doc" Wacholz drums

1986-1987

  • Jon Oliva lead vocals, keyboards
  • Criss Oliva guitars, backing vocals
  • Johnny Lee Middleton bass, backing vocals
  • Steve "Doc" Wacholz drums

1987-1990

  • Jon Oliva lead vocals, keyboards
  • Criss Oliva lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Chris Caffery rhythm guitar, keyboards, backing vocals (touring 1987-1988, full member 1989-1990)
  • Johnny Lee Middleton bass, backing vocals
  • Steve "Doc" Wacholz drums

1990-1992

  • Jon Oliva lead vocals, keyboards
  • Criss Oliva guitars, backing vocals
  • Johnny Lee Middleton bass, backing vocals
  • Steve "Doc" Wacholz drums
  • John Zahner keyboards, guitars, backing vocals (touring 1991-1992)

1992-1993

  • Zachary Stevens lead vocals
  • Criss Oliva guitars, backing vocals
  • Johnny Lee Middleton bass, backing vocals
  • Steve "Doc" Wacholz drums

1993

  • Zachary Stevens lead vocals
  • Criss Oliva guitars, backing vocals
  • Johnny Lee Middleton bass, backing vocals
  • Andy James drums
  • Wes Garren guitars, keyboards, backing vocals (touring)

1994-1995

  • Zachary Stevens lead vocals
  • Jon Oliva keyboards, rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Alex Skolnick lead guitar
  • Johnny Lee Middleton bass, backing vocals
  • Jeff Plate drums

1995-2000

  • Zachary Stevens lead vocals
  • Jon Oliva keyboards, vocals
  • Al Pitrelli lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Chris Caffery rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Johnny Lee Middleton bass, backing vocals
  • Jeff Plate drums

2000-2001

  • Jon Oliva lead vocals, keyboards, rhythm guitar
  • Chris Caffery lead guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Johnny Lee Middleton bass, backing vocals
  • Jeff Plate drums

2001-2002

  • Damond Jiniya lead vocals
  • Jon Oliva vocals, keyboards
  • Chris Caffery guitars, backing vocals
  • Johnny Lee Middleton bass, backing vocals
  • Jeff Plate drums
  • Jack Frost guitars (touring)

2014–present

  • Zachary Stevens lead vocals
  • Jon Oliva keyboards, vocals
  • Al Pitrelli guitars, backing vocals
  • Chris Caffery guitars, backing vocals
  • Johnny Lee Middleton bass, backing vocals
  • Jeff Plate drums

References

  1. "Paul O'Neill". April 5, 2017. Retrieved April 5, 2017.
  2. "Official Myspace Page Of SAVATAGE Relaunched in October 2008". myspace.com. Retrieved 2008-12-02.
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