Celebrity Rate-A-Video - Savatage
with Criss Oliva and Steve Wacholz

by: Charley Crespo
from: Hit Parader, ?/1987
Transcribed and HTMLised by : Gonzo the Silenced

Savatage were recording a new album in New York when we caught up with them. Once again, however, we found ourselves without a turntable. Rather than miss the opportunity to do our first Rate-a-Record with Savatage, we opted to rate some hot hits as they appeared on MTV. Drummer Steve "Doc" Wacholz says he watches MTV at home while guitarist Criss Oliva says he rarely ever does.

"Cult of Personality"
Living Colour

Steve : Good song, good band, good video. The band'sgot a promising future. Nice clothes.
Criss : It's good to see the brothers back in action. They're going to go a long way.

"Let the Good Times Rock"
Europe

Steve : Boring song - too pop for me. Good video,though, with a lot of action. The drummer should learn how to play right-handed.And the guitar player should take off his sunglasses.
Criss : I respect the guitar player. He's good.Great video. It's a good song, but a little too pop.

"Down Boys"
Warrant

Steve : Where's the originality? There's too much choreography right off the bat. The guitar player should have dyed his roots better.
Criss : The fat guy gets my vote.
Steve : They should have more clips of the fatguy. Where'd he go?

"Straight Up" Paula Abdul Criss : N-O. Fast-forward this stuff. Steve : This one gets the big trash can from me.Thumbs down on the video, thumbs up on her body. Metal rules!! * Savatage's Criss Oliva (right) and Steve Wacholz. "A lot of kids can identify with "Youth Gone Wild" by Skid Row. *

"Wild Thing"
Tone Loc

Criss : I like the Van Halen in this - they've sampled "Jamie's Crying." Eddie gets my vote. This guy stole Robert Palmer's girls.The concept is good and the hookline is cool. It was very smart to do it.
Steve : Big rip-off. I don't know why this sells. I wonder if Van Halen get any residuals from this

"Seventeen"
Winger

Steve : Original song title? I have their album. I like them a lot. They've got a cool edge; a lot of bands don't have that. They have a well-trained guitar player and a phenomenal drummer. Thumbs up.
Criss : I don't see anything special. I guess they're doing what they do well. Oops, it's on Atlantic, our record company... the band is great.

"Youth Gone Wild"
Skid Row

Steve : I knew about the singer from a band called Kid Wicked in Canada five years ago. I've heard nothing but good things about him since then. Great record, great band, good song too. A lot of kids can identify with this song. They're going to go through the roof opening for Bon Jovi on this tour.
Criss : Thumbs up.

"Lost in Your Eyes"
Debbie Gibson

Steve : I'd go to jail if I told you what I thought.
Criss : She's on Atlantic too, so shut up.

"Your Mama Don't Dance"
Poison

Criss : Thank God they took off their makeup.
Steve :It looks like they sold their stock in the hairspray company too. They've got a charismatic lead singer. I want to know why the bass player is getting beat up and arrested in the video.
Criss : It's a video, Steve. You can get beat up in a video too.