List of Savatage band members

Savatage
The Poets and Madmen touring lineup, 2001
Background information
Origin	Tarpon Springs, Florida, United States
Genres	Heavy metal, progressive metal, power metal
Years active	1978–2002, 2014–present
Labels	Combat, Atlantic, Nuclear Blast, SPV/Steamhammer
Associated acts	Jon Oliva's Pain, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Circle II Circle, Machines of Grace, Doctor Butcher, Testament
Website	www.savatage.com
Members	Jon Oliva Johnny Lee Middleton Chris Caffery Zachary Stevens Jeff Plate Al Pitrelli
Past members	Criss Oliva Steve "Doc" Wacholz Keith Collins Andy James Alex Skolnick Damond Jiniya

Savatage has known several lineups during its active periods from 1980 to 1993, 1994 to 2002 and currently from 2014. The band was founded by brothers Jon (vocals, keys) and Criss Oliva (guitar) in the late 1970s, who were subsequently joined by various other members such as Steve "Doc" Wacholz (drums), Johnny Lee Middleton (bass), and Chris Caffery (guitar). In 1992 Jon Oliva left the band and was replaced by Zachary Stevens, but the band dissolved when guitarist and founding member Criss Oliva died in a car accident in 1993.
Jon Oliva then reformed Savatage in 1994. The band again saw many members come and go during this second period, but had a solid lineup from 1995 to 2000 featuring Middleton, Stevens, Caffery and new members Al Pitrelli (guitar) and Jeff Plate (drums), in addition to Oliva on keys. In 2000 Stevens and Pitrelli left the band, and Jon Oliva once again took over lead vocals. However, in 2002 the band went on an indefinite hiatus until being reformed in 2014.
From 1987 on, Paul O'Neill acted as the band's producer, co-lyricist and co-composer, and leads Trans-Siberian Orchestra along with Jon Oliva and Al Pitrelli. Savatage members Johnny Lee Middleton, Chris Caffery and Jeff Plate also perform in Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and former guitarist Alex Skolnick has also performed with the group.

Personnel

Current lineup

• Jon Oliva – lead vocals (1978–1992), keyboards (1981–1992, 1993, 1994—2002, 2014-present), guitar (1978, 1994), bass (1980–1981, 1994), drums (1991, 1994)^[1]
• Johnny Lee Middleton – bass guitar, backing vocals (1986-2002, 2014–present)^[1]
• Chris Caffery – rhythm & lead guitar, backing vocals (1987–1988 touring, 1989–1990, 1995-2002, 2014–present), keyboards (1987-1988 touring, 1989-1990)^[1]
• Zachary Stevens – lead vocals (1992–2000, 2014–present)^[1]
• Jeff Plate – drums (1994-2002, 2014–present)^[1]
• Al Pitrelli – lead & rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1995–1999, 2002, 2014–present)^[1]

Former members

• Criss Oliva – lead guitar, backing vocals (1978–1993; died 1993), bass (1978, 1991)
• Steve "Doc" Wacholz – drums (1979–1993)
• Keith Collins – bass guitar (1981–1985)
• Andy James – drums (1993)
• Alex Skolnick – lead guitar (1994)
• Damond Jiniya – lead vocals (2001-2002)

Session musicians

• Paul O'Neill - producer, lyricist, co-composer (1987-2002)
• Ray Gillen – backing vocals ("Strange Wings", Hall of the Mountain King; died 1993)
• Robert Kinkel – keyboards, backing vocals (Hall of the Mountain King, Gutter Ballet, Streets: A Rock Opera, Dead Winter Dead, The Wake of Magellan, Poets and Madmen)

Touring musicians

• Michael Reynolds – drums (1988)
• John Zahner – keyboards, rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1991–1992)
• Wes Garren – rhythm guitar, keyboards, backing vocals (1993)
• Jack Frost – rhythm guitar (2001–2002)
• Jeff Waters – rhythm guitar (2002)

Avatar (pre-Savatage) members

• Joe Conn - drums (1978-1979)
• Tony Ciulla – bass guitar (1978-1979)
• Brian Belenon - bass guitar (1979)
• Pat Dubs – rhythm guitar (1980)
• Andy Gmelin – bass guitar (1980)
• Rich Bigano - rhythm guitar (1980)
• Fritz – bass guitar (1980)
• Bob Boyer - additional vocals (1980)

Timeline

Lineups

References