1. How did the band get started? How did you meet
and how long have you been together?
Chris Caffery:
The band was started by Jon and Criss Oliva in Florida in 1981.
Jon and Criss were Brothers...they met at an early age...Ha Ha...They
met the original drummer, Steve Wacholz, in High School. They began
playing under the name of Avatar and changed the name to Savatage
after releasing a 45. Johnny Lee Middleton became the bassist in 1985,
Chris Caffery...me....first toured with the band as a sideman in 1987.
2. How would you describe your music?
Chris
Caffery: Depends on the CD...For the most part...A Heavy Metal
Queen meets Black Sabbath meets early Van Halen.
3. What
are your biggest influences?
Chris Caffery: See
above.
4. What influence do you think your bands has in
music and metal today?
Chris Caffery: Savatage
has many influences. Lyrically, we inspire a lot of people's lives
in many ways. Musically, we influenced many bands that have come and
gone and that still play today. The addition of Piano into Metal is
something we kinda pioneered as a "Band Sound."
5. What made you want to be in the band? And if you weren't in
the band what would you be doing now?
Chris Caffery:
The Songs...The guitar riffs and Jon Oliva's voice. And if I wasn't
in the band what would you be doing now, playing guitar.
6. Are any band members in side projects? If so what are they,
and explain a little about them.
Chris Caffery: Jon
Oliva and I have a band called Doctor Butcher. It is a Heavy Metal
project that we use to release tension. It is much fun. Jeff Plate
and I are working with a vocalist named John West from the band Royal
Hunt on a side project. Jack Frost has a band called Seven Witches
he has done for years. Damond the singer came from a project called
Diet of Worms that is still alive.
7. How would you feel
if a band took their sound from yours and became very well known?
Chris Caffery: It has not happened really, so I dont know.
Maybe flattered depending on the band!!!
8. What current
bands do you like or respect?
Chris Caffery: I
like the band Tool, I think Bruce Dickinson from Iron Maiden and Rob
Halford from Judas Priest made amazing solo CD's. I think my favorite
band is Pantera. Both live and in the studio.
9. How many
demos/albums do you have? Tell me about them!!
Chris
Caffery: About 100...Seriously I do not know. Savatage has around
15 albums officially. About 5 Best of things and a whole bunch of
bootlegs. I have appeared on about 60 different releases that I possess.
10. What demo/album do you like the best?
Chris
Caffery: "Doctor Butcher"
11. What is the
meaning behind the songs?
Chris Caffery: Depends
on the band. Then the CD.
12. What are the bands favorite
songs?
Chris Caffery: "Hall of the Mountain
King," "The Morphine Child Awaken," and "He Carves
His Stone."
13. What does the future hold for the
band?
Chris Caffery: A World tour, European festivals
and a tour with Judas Priest in Europe. More touring in the States
and Back to Europe and to South America headlining.
14.
If you could play with any band who would it be and why?
Chris Caffery: Ozzy Osbourne. I could play Sabbath songs, his
solo songs and write new stuff with Ozzy!!!
15. Who writes
the majority of the music?
Chris Caffery: Jon
Oliva and myself write most of the music now. Paul O'Neill and Jon
Oliva write most of the lyrics and melodies.
16. Who has
been the favorite band you've played with and why?
Chris
Caffery: I am hoping Judas Priest...this is a future prediction.
They were a childhood favorite of mine.
17. Where did
you get the band name from?
Chris Caffery: It
was taken from the name Avatar and some letters were added on because
another band owned the name.
18. Describe what the band
is like live?
Chris Caffery: High energy and
very unpredictable. A high level of musicianship and vocals with lots
of emotion.
19. If you are gonna do any kind of video
what would be in it?
Chris Caffery: Us at some
point....not sure if we are at the moment!
20. Are there
any touring plans made; if so tell me about them?
Chris
Caffery: See above!!! We just finished a 5 week headline tour
in the US with Fates Warning opening!
21. Where do you
think the band will be 20 years from now?
Chris Caffery:
Probably sleeping! |
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