After a long hiatus, SAVATAGE is making a comeback. The American heavy metal band, known for their forays into progressive and power metal, hasn’t played live since Wacken Open Air in 2015, and their last tour was way back in 2002. Now, they’re set to return with shows in South America (April) and Europe (June).
Their return kicks off in Brazil at the Monsters of Rock festival at Allianz Parque in São Paulo on April 19, sharing the stage with SCORPIONS, JUDAS PRIEST, EUROPE, OPETH, QUEENSRŸCHE and STRATOVARIUS. Rumors suggest they may also play a separate show at Espaço Unimed in São Paulo two days later.
SAVATAGE’s 2025 lineup will include Johnny Lee Middleton on bass, Chris Caffery and Al Pitrelli on guitars, Jeff Plate on drums, and Zak Stevens on lead vocals.
Founding member Jon Oliva will unfortunately be absent. He suffered a serious accident in 2023, fracturing his T7 vertebra in three places. His health has been further challenged by diagnoses of multiple sclerosis and Ménière’s disease.
Jon Oliva has made it clear in an interview with Brazilian music journalist Igor Miranda that his injuries will prevent him from touring. He described how his condition impacts even everyday activities, making performing impossible.
“I can’t even sing right now because of the pain,” Oliva said. “I can’t stand for too long, and I need time for my vertebra to heal naturally.” When asked about surgery as a possible solution, Oliva explained that he had considered it but ultimately decided against it after seeking advice from medical professionals and acquaintances. “They wanted to put metal in my body,” he said. “But people I spoke to told me not to do it, that I would regret it. So, I chose to let it heal naturally.”
Jon Oliva has confirmed that a new SAVATAGE album is in the works, although progress has been intermittent. “I basically have an album ready,” he revealed. “I’ve been working on it off and on. We were talking about touring before my accident. I’ve been working on stuff for about a year. If I get the guys together to record, it’s ready. But we wanted to do this tour first.”
He also revealed that they have enough material for more than one album. “We have enough for four albums,” he said. “The lyrics aren’t written yet, but musically, it’s done. And it’s my fault everything stopped because of the fractures.”
While he’d previously suggested the next album could be their last, Oliva now sounds less certain about that possibility. He said: “I said it might be the last one, but now I’m not sure. I have all this material. What am I going to do? Release a quadruple album? I don’t think it will be the last one.”
SAVATAGE 2025 South American dates:
April 19 – São Paulo, Brazil – Monsters Of Rock
April 23 – Santiago, Chile – Masters Of Rock
SAVATAGE 2025 European headlining shows:
June 14 – Oberhausen, Germany – Turbinenhalle
June 16 – London, UK – Shepherds Bush Empire
June 18 – Zurich, Switzerland – Komplex 457
June 19 – Munich, Germany – Tonhalle
June 24 – Milan, Italy – Alcatraz
SAVATAGE 2025 European festival appearances:
June 13 – Leeuwarden, Netherlands – Into The Grave
June 22 – Dessel, Belgium – Grapop Metal Meeting
June 26 – Barcelona, Spain – Rock Fest
June 28 – Thessaloniki, Greece – Rockwave
Reeder, the visionary behind Metal Addicts, has transformed his lifelong passion for metal into a thriving online community for metal aficionados. As a fervent devotee of black metal, Reeder is captivated by its dark, atmospheric, and often unorthodox soundscapes.