The Savage Sound Of

SAVATAGE

Savage Metal Music - Not For The Faint Of Heart!

Some bands want their fans to bang their heads - others want their fans to split their heads open. The Florida-based Savatage subscribes to the latter philosophy.

Recently signed to Atlantic Records, the group released their major label debut LP - POWER OF THE NIGHT - in July. But according to bassist Keith Collins, a L.I. native who transplanted himself to the palm tree state to get more music-oriented work, POWER OF THE NIGHT is the group's third vinyl effort.

The mustached musician comments, "Contrary to what Atlantic wants to say, this is our third album. Under the name Avatar we released a first LP on a small Floridian label, Parr Records. We changed our name to Savatage and released SIRENS in July '83. We sold records as far as new Zealand and the Netherlands; Parr Records couldn't keep up with the requests. We still get mail on that record.

"In July of '84 we signed with Atlantic after doing demo work. We released POWER OF THE NIGHT in July of '85, but only a week before it was released, Important Distributors - a division of Combat Records, a very metal oriented label - released a six-song LP called THE DUNGEONS ARE CALLING. So actually we have four records out that weren't on Atlantic."

The other members of Savatage are brothers Jon and Criss Oliva (who supply vocals, keyboards and guitar, respectively), and Steve "Dr. Killdrums" Wacholz (percussion), the only drummer in rock 'n' roll who'll admit that Bam Bam of The Flintstones heavily influenced him. ("What also sets me aside," laughs Wacholz, "is that I'm the only rock drummer to play triple bass drums.")

Seven - Year Blitz

First organized seven years ago, Savatage went through several personnel and name changes before their current line-up started to gain a substantial local following. It didn't take them long to attract the attention of hoards of crazed headbangers, but their big break came in the summer of '84 when Atlantic Records A&R execs got knocked out by the band's opening act for Zebra at a New York area metal club. The band inked a deal shortly thereafter and was fortunate enough to acquire the services of British hard rock producer Max Norman, best known for his work with Ozzy Osbourne and Loudness.

When POWER OF THE NIGHT hit the streets this summer, some fans were shocked that the group touched on such taboo subjects as necrophilia and heroin addiction.
Comments Collins, "People might think that it's disgusting that we write about sleeping with a dead person, but they have to look beyond the literal level of our lyrics. Actually, there is a moral to every song, or lyrics are very intricate. We're not trying to lecture to anyone, but you can actually learn things or help yourself from listening to our lyrics."

Sure, there are shades of Spinal Tap in Savatage - some of the venues they play aren't top-notch, and they may overplay the leather-and-chains image - but they're by no means stupid. Savatage knows their audience and they know how to market themselves.
Explains Collins: " When I joined the band three and a half years ago, I brought a business sense to the band. We do find that we are business-oriented. This is a business and the business is called 'art form'. , It's show business, the business of show. I learned this a long time ago from Bobby Farrell, he used to be a Country & Western star of the 40's and 50's. He was a very intelligent man and he gave me 40 or 50 hours of his time just rapping. I've learned an awful lot from him...

"I'm the kind of person that if you tell me how I can save time, I'll listen. From past life experiences I've tried to apply everything I've learned to working with the band - and it's a very business-oriented thing. You do have to deal with people and you do have to convey yourself cordially and professionally. If I come across really nice to people, then they might know someone who can take me a little further than where they are. If I embarrassed somebody in front of their friends or contacts, I wouldn't be very professional. Being business-oriented is part of being professional."

Collins knows his audience down to the last spiked wristband. "I know that heavy metal audiences are usually working-class - yuppies, don't like metal, they like Phil Collins. You're talking about people that work with their hands, not in offices. They usually don't go to college and they're concerned with making a rebellious statement. It provides them with excitement in their otherwise boring lives.

"A kid puts on a Judas Priest or Iron Maiden T-shirt - it says, 'Hey, I'm saying something and if you don't like it, fuck off.' You're talking about that area of music that hits people from 12 to 25 or 26 - the rebellious stage. Kids rebel and then have growing pains and then they turn into something and then they change. It's that type of musical area," says Collins.

Metal Sweats!

As for the criticism that heavy metal appeals mainly to males, Collins thinks that situation is changing for the better. "The thing with metal is that sure, it's more male oriented, but there's more and more females becoming involved in it. Males like the feel of the music, they like the association - they like sweating a little bit. But that's what girls don't like about it. When you go to a heavy metal concert, you get all grubby and sweaty and smelly, that grosses girls out. And the other thing is that when guys go to heavy metal shows, they don't dance to heavy metal. If you're a girl and you like to dance, you don't like heavy metal because if you've got a boyfriend who's into heavy metal, you never dance. It seems like more girls like to dance. Guys only dance because they might want to go out with a certain girl - that might be the only way that they'll get to do what they want to do at the end of the night, if you know what I mean."

Savatage are more concert oriented than most bands. They'll be the first to admit that they make records only so that they'll have more and more fans to play to. The group loves to see the screaming crowds with their fists flying in the air. Sounds unoriginal, huh? Well, there are a few things that set Savatage apart from the seemingly thousands of metal maniacs who are signed to major record labels right now.

Collins explains, "Sure we sing about hell and the devil, but we're not singing about black magic. We don't practice black magic, we leave that to black metal bands like Mercyful Fate. They'll tell you that they actually worship the devil; groups like Motley Crue, who people think worship Satan are actually just posing. They're what I'll term commercial metal."

"We're much more melodic than most metal bands and I think that the musicianship in this group is very strong. We have a strong commitment to make a powerful but original sound - although we realize that you can't be totally original. At this point in music history there's so much to look back upon and be influenced by that it's bound to show up in your music. I'd say the first metal band was Steppenwolf back in '69, and we've got a bit of that sound in us. But mostly, people compare us to Black Sabbath - I don't really think that we sound like them but I certainly don't take it as an insult. Everybody has to sound like somebody else."

Right now, Savatage are on the extensive "Monsters of The Universe Tour" which started in Hartfort, Connecticut on July 13th. The "Monsters Tour" is a special three band package which is based on an unusual music industry concept. Savatage, along with Elektra Records' Rogue Male and Geffen Records' Illusion, are performing at the country's top clubs while rotating the headlining position (one band tops the bill every three nights). It's a strange way for a band to get themselves noticed, but it appears to be working quite effectively.

"We're really anxious to be out there and the response so far has been pretty good. The crowds may be small, but they're enthusiastic," concludes Collins.