Savatage News!! Savatage is headed to Monsters Of Rock Brazil 2025

Sadly, not any update about the new album tentatively called "Curtain Call" - but, cool to know Savatage is doing something.

Here's a rough of the script I read for this video if anyone wants to translate it to see/hear what I said.

While it is not news about Savatage’s newest album that Jon previously mentioned – tentatively called “Curtain Call” – there is some Savatage news to discuss!

Savatage has confirmed that they are set to perform at the 2025 Brazil Monsters of Rock Festival, scheduled April 19, 2025.

Oddly enough – the line up will not include Jon Oliva. Rather it will be Johnny Lee Middleton on bass, Chris Caffery and Al Pitrelli on guitars, Jeff Plate on drums and it will be Zak Stevens resuming vocals for Savatage.

Jon Oliva’s lack of appearance is not too much of a surprise, however. In the latest interview I’d heard (see my other video about the news of that upcoming album “Curtain Call”) – Jon had specifically mentioned he was no longer really interested in touring anymore, because his own health had gotten in the way. In 2016, Jon had announced on social media that he’d suffered a stroke in April of that year, and that it was not as bad as it could have been, but it did have some set backs to his health and recovery, with things often associated with stroke. Despite his health issues, Jon did say that he had no regrets about the life style he had lived, and it was the only life style he’d known and lived since he was 18. But he admitted that there comes a time where people need to step back and make some changes – and he claimed to have made those changes.

However, Jon, sadly had a number of fairly recent run ins with the law – back in 2021, he was arrested for a DUI and possession of a controlled substance, then again in 2023 with another cocaine possession charge.

Jon’s own brother, Criss Oliva, who was a founding member of Savatage was killed in October 1993 by a drunk driver. The drunk driver in that incident survived, and had seven prior DUI arrests, and during the accident that killed Criss, had a blood alcohol level of .294. Despite his numerous DUIs and the fact he had killed Criss Oliva, the drunk driver only served 18 months in jail.

Zak would join Savatage prior to Criss’ death, and together in Savatage, they would make the phenomenal album Edge of Thorns. Savatage continued, and made Handful of Rain, Dead Winter Dead, Wake of Magellan all with Zak. Zak would leave in 2000, and Jon would return, and they would make Savatage’s final album, to date, Poets and Madmen.

Hopefully, Savatage’s appearance at this event will signify some more news about this phantom album called “Curtain Call” – and we end up getting more news about Savatage and their future.