By John Vidiadakis

Chris, let's make a flashback first, and see how and when you got in contact with Savatage for the first time… Which was then your opinion on them, too?

I was playing guitar in a band called Heaven on Columbia Records. Produced by Paul O'Neill. The band was falling apart at the time and Paul was producing Hall of the Mountain King. He thought it would be good if the band had a second guitarist live. I was asked to audition. I got the gig when I just turned 20, two weeks later I was touring with Dio, Megadeth and Savatage!!!!!!!! I loved the music, I hoped to be in the band one day, the timing was not right that tour.

Why did you leave the group after the masterpiece called "Gutter Ballet"? After all, what is the taste these years left to you?

I was young then, very young. I had a band with my Brother on drums my whole life. He really wanted me to go and play with him. I wanted to play  more lead guitar. I should have stayed in Savatage and tried this band on the side, I left and that was that. I regret the time I missed with Criss Oliva. I will never get that back. I also think I grew up during those years. Jon and I started Doctor Butcher shortly after he was out of Savatage, so the time away from him was only about 1 year. I really got my guitar playing together during those years...I do not think I would have been ready to play lead in Savatage after Criss past away if I had never left. All things happen for a reason.

According to your memories, which was the attitude of the press and the fans towards "Gutter ballet"? Did you get any bad comments for leaving the pure metal past behind? 

At the time there were a Gutter. Press too. I think the sequencing of the record made it sound melllower than it actually was. I always thought if we went Rage and War into the rest of Side B after She's in Love that the transition into the piano based music would not have been so drastic sounding up front. Eventually everyone loved it. It was very successful for us.

You re-joined the band before "Dead winter dead". How did this re-joining happen?

I was working with Jon in Doctor Butcher, the band and Paul O'Neillwere very impressed with my playing on that CD. Eventually, that combined with the fans requesting me...led to me coming back. I also felt it was where I should be. It was time to come home again.

The line-up that made "The wake of Magellan" seems really strong. What do you think on that, and how would you describe each Savatage member?

- Johnny is our Rock.......Steady force in Savatage for a long time. We love him and he is part of the internal backbone, I love him! Zak is a big part of our new sound. An incredible singer, yet very humble. My roomate on the road, he is a very funny guy!!! Very different than Jon, but a distinct singer and a big part of our sound now.
- Jon, The Mountain King!!!! Enough said!!!!!!! He is Savatage now!!!!! - Al, A great guitarist that fits in more every day. He is turning into one of my best friends. A great musician, we work well together, better all of the time. 
- Jeff, Well, Drummers.......You need one and Jeff is perfect. Solid, a great guy, very dedicated and a lot of fun at parties!!!

Now, about the always present member of Savatage, that will always live in the hearts of the fans and the group… What kind of memories do you have from Criss, and how would you describe them as a personality, as a musician, as a friend? It seems that he was the low-profile man, who preferred to speak with his music, was it so?

He was shy on the road to certain people. He stayed away from the press at times. He just loved his guitar. He was my best friend on the road. The nicest guy I ever met. We had a falling out when I quit, I hurt him. I let him down, now I make up for it by keeping his music alive and spreading it to new fans all over the world. A true virtuoso, I miss him every day!

I'd like you to explain how the whole thing about Metallium project started, what is the result similar to (musically) and what future plans are there for this project. And, by the way, what's going on with Doctor Butcher?

The whole project started as a result of a tour I did in Europe in October with a singer named John West...(Badlands, Lynch Mob, Artension) and a drummer named Mike Terrana (Yngwie, McAlpine) We just did some cover stuff for fun. The promoter of that tour is the bassist of Metalium, his name is Lars Ratz. He knew of a 23 year old singer from Germany named Henne Basse. He sang on tour with Brainstorm. He is amazing. We recorded a song for an Accept tribute record in November. Mike played drums, Henne sang, Lars played bass, me and another German guitarist named Mattias Lange played guitar. We also recorded three originals Lars had. The then unnamed band became called Metalium....Metal meeting the Mellennium.....It got signed instantly. I was asked to play and co-produce, the rest is history! The music is killer. A modern mix of classic metal sounds. From Maiden and Queensryche to Sabbath and DIO. I love the record and hope to play as many live shows as possible with them on tour. It will be released in Europe on June 25th.

It would be great if you could give a short comment on every Savatage album, from "Sirens" to "The wake of Magellan".

- Sirens, A fan Favorite, it started it all.
- Dungeons, Continued where Sirens left off....Killer record.
- Power, Criss' coming out party as a guitarist, one of my favorite Sava records.
-Fight for the Rock, I am not sure any of us understand that one!!!
- Mountain King, The true Savatage Classic. My favorite Jon Oliva Savatage record.
- Gutter, My favorite Criss Oliv Record. My first record as a member, my fondest memories as life as a Rock and Roll musician....From what I can remember!!!
- Streets, Very well received thru time, becomes more classic every year. A bit overwhelming to some at the time. In time, a true classic.
- Edge, Criss last, Zak's first. Great energy, a lot of fun to play this stuff live.
- Handful of Rain, Jon's record, he did everything except sing lead and play lead. Chance was a groundbreaking song, re-birth of Savatage as we know it now.
- Dead Winter, I am back, Al is in........Jeff is in permanently. Great story, great music, the band feel was not there yet. Very under-recognized thru some parts, very recognized in others. A great tour!
- Wake, Great band feel again, killer record, story, cover, the whole package. Brought us to another level in Europe and introduced us to South America. The Tour was incredible!

What are the future plans of the group? "Poets and madmen", is this the title of the upcoming album? When do you expect it to be released, and what do the parts composed sound like?

That is the title, we expect it out in October....Heavier, more classic Sava. I can't wait!!!

What do you think on the Trans Siberian Orchestra project?

A good way to expand our writing with out compromising the Savatage sound. Kinda our alter-ego. I love the newest..."Beethoven's last Night!"

Savatage seems now to gain wider publicity, and to come out of the almost "cult" status they were into for many years, with the exception of "Edge of thorns" and the great success it brought. What do you think on that? Do you foresee any problems, such as exhausting demands from the fans, the press and the record company, or lack of free time?

Free time.....what is that!!!!!!!!!?????? The only thing it does is make us work harder to satisfy ourselves and our fans, and hopefully to get more fans!

What kind of music do you like to listen to? Also, which are your main influences as a guitar player and a composer? 

I listen to all kinds, from Yanni, to Sabbath to Hendrix to Megadeth, depends on my mood, and Her mood!!!!!! :)

Which are, in your opinion, the best groups, the best albums and the best guitarists this world ever faced?

Tough question.....
- Groups.......Beatles, Zeppelin, Sabbath, AC/DC, Kiss, Rush......
- Albums.......Sgt Peppers, Holy Diver, Dio...Heaven and Hell and Sabotage, Sabbath.....Back in Black, Metallica, Ride the Lightening, Megadeth,Rust in Peace,....DOCTOR BUTCHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, Band of Gypsy's, Piece of Mind, Judas Priest, Unleashed in the East.
- Guitarists.......Schenker, Uli Roth, Eddie VH, Criss Oliva, Hendrix, Stevie Ray, Randy Rhoads, Steve Morse, Yngwie, Jeff Waters.....Annihlator.....Mustaine....Rhythm......They rule!!!! ACE FREHLEY!!!!!

What are your impressions from Greece? Also, why did the rumors for your visit during the "The wake of Magellan" tour, never come true?

I loved it, one of my favorite shows ever. I am not sure exactly, scheduling got screwed up, Al got hurt.

Chris, many thanx for the interview, hope to see you in Greece in a hot Sava live!!!!