SAVATAGE Announces Spring/Summer 2025 European Festival Appearances

SAVATAGE has announced three European festival appearances so far for spring/summer 2025. The shows will follow the band's performances in April 2025 at Brazil's Monsters Of Rock festival and at Chile's Masters Of Rock festival.

Confirmed SAVATAGE 2025 tour dates:

April 19 – São Paulo, Brazil – Monsters Of Rock
April 23 – Santiago, Chile – Masters Of Rock
June 13 – Leeuwarden, Netherlands – Into The Grave
June 19-22 – Dessel, Belgium – Graspop Metal Meeting
June 26 – Barcelona, ​​Spain – Rock Fest

SAVATAGE's lineup for the 2025 shows will consist of Johnny Lee Middleton ten bass Chris Caffery ten guitars Al Pitrelli ten guitars Jeff Plate ten drums oath Zach Stevens ten lead vocals.

Late last month, SAVATAGE mastermind Jon Oliva explained his absence from the band's upcoming appearances, writing in a social media post: “Hello SAVATAGE fans, this is Jon Oliva. I want to set a few things straight for everyone. First of all, I am very excited for Johnny, Chris, Zak, Jeff & Al to play again. I feel it's important for the fans to enjoy our music live, and believe me these guys will kick ass.

“As far as I go, I was going to do these shows but unfortunately, I've run into more health issues. I want you all to know that if there was any way I could do these shows I would, but my health issues are more serious than I originally thought.

“As most of you know, I fractured my spine in 3 places and have recently been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis as well as Ménière's disease. My doctors are working with me to get healthy again.

“I am working closely with the guys and will be involved in every other aspect of the show. I am 100 percent behind the guys doing this and I promise I will return [as soon as possible]. In the meantime, I am working in the studio on new material.

“I love you all and thank you for understanding my situation, I know my brothers will deliver the goods.

“Enjoy Sava Legions.

“Much love to you all. Jon Oliva“.

According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication DisordersMénière's disease is a disorder of the inner ear that causes severe dizziness (vertigo), ringing in the ears (tinnitus), hearing loss, and a feeling of fullness or congestion in the ear. Ménière's disease usually affects only one ear, but in 15% to 25% of people with the disorder, both ears may be affected.

Zak joined SAVATAGE in 1992 as the replacement for Jon Oliva. Zak sang on four albums with the band — “Edge Of Thorns” (1993),“Handful Of Rain” (1994),“Dead Winter Dead” (1995) oath “The Wake Of Magellan” (1997) — before departing in 2000, allowing Jon to return. Both Jon swear Zak took part in SAVATAGE's 2015 performance at Wacken Open Airwhich marked the band's first, and only so far, appearance on stage since they went on hiatus back in 2002.

SAVATAGE's last album release, “Poets And Madmen”in 2001 was highlighted by Jon's return as lead vocalist, replacing Zakwho left the band citing family reasons, and the departure of the guitarist Al Pitrelliwho accepted an offer to join MEGADETH in 2000. Pitrelli did record solos for some songs prior to his departure. Another very limited US tour followed, supported by FATE WARNING in the early shows, and then NEVERMORE for the remainder. Around this time, Jon chose Zak's replacement in the form of Damond Jinia (DIET OF WORMS). Damond performed Zak's parts on tour, with Jon having an increased vocal role in proceedings.

In September 2021, Jon Oliva was arrested on the west central coast of Florida for driving under the influence as well as possession of a controlled substance. Police charged Oliva with possession of cocaine, which is a felony, and DUI, which is a misdemeanor. Oliva was reportedly arrested again in July 2023 on another cocaine possession charge.

Back in 2016, Jon announced on social media that he suffered a stroke in April of that year. At the time, he said: “It was not as serious as it could have been, but it did leave me with some physical recovery challenges often associated with strokes.”

Despite his health issues, Jon said that he did not regret the way he had lived his life. He wrote: “I lived the rock 'n' roll lifestyle since I was 18. It's all I knew and I enjoyed the ride very much. But there comes a time in everyone's life where you have to step back and make some life-changing decisions… which I have.”

Soon after SAVATAGE's reunion performance at the 2015 Wacken Open Air festival in Wacken, Germany, Oliva claimed that he felt better than he had in 20 years because he had “stopped drinking and eating” in preparation for the concert. He explained: “It's my voice that's freaking me out, because, even when I was in my late 20s, early 30s, doing songs like '24 Hours Ago' were always really hard to do. And, of course, I didn't realize that it was all the drugs and alcohol I was doing. But, after doing that, getting my act together and stuff, singing '24 Hours Ago'it's actually easy now. [Laughs]”

In addition to his work with SAVATAGE, Oliva is well known for co-creating the classical music-meets-prog rock and pyro act TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA alongside the project's founder Paul O'Neill. Oliva has reportedly remained involved in TSO's activities even after O'Neill's April 2017 death of an accidental drug overdose.

Jon's brother Crisswho was one of the founding members of SAVATAGEwas killed in October 1993 by a drunk driver when he and his wife Dawn were en route to the Livestock festival in Zephyrhills, Florida. The driver of the other car was found to have a drunk driving record of seven prior DUIs and having a blood alcohol content of .294 percent.