Jon Oliva about "Gutter Ballet" - part 2

from : Aardschok/Metal Hammer, Holland feb. 1990
author : Andre Verhuysen
translated by : Ellen Bakvis

It's januari 1990 and " Gutter Ballet " was finally released. It was not an easy delivery, obviously, because originally the record should have been released in the spring of 1989. what was it again that Steve Wacholz told Aardschok/MH in december '88 ? " ...1989 will be the year of Savatage ...".
Jon Oliva laughs when I confront him with this quotation. " In the meantime we have learned not to mention dates, because it's evident from the past that with Savatage few things happen according to schedule. What Steve probably meant to say was that "Gutter Ballet" might be the crucial album for Savatage, because at that time he still thought the album would be released in 1989. And basically, that is true, that still is the case. But maybe it's only right that it took so long, because the record only improved during that period of time.
As to why it all took so long ? well, it started ofcourse in 1988 with my drug problems. I was heavily addicted to coke and alcohol and the only solution was to have myself admitted for detox.
When I finally had that behind me, the major part of '88 had already passed and we had yet to begin writing the new songs. We finished those for the major part in early '89, but once in the studio we were confronted with other problems.
Like for instance a fire that caused the studio to be useless for almost three months. And our producer, Paul O'Neill, was also involved in doing the Badlands record, and that also took a little more time than was originally planned.
Yeah, and at one time we even had to cancel the European tour, because it doesn't make much sense to be touring without a new album. But we insisted on doing the Dynamo festival, because we had already canceled the year before because of my health problems.
Well, when that European tour was canceled we refused to be rushed by anything or anyone. "Gutter Ballet" was too important to be spoiled by anything and so we continued to work quietly after the Dynamo festival. The title song, for instance, was written right after we returned from Holland."

In early 1989, the band recorded a demo with 8 songs that showed up at the Aardschok/MH editorial office in an underhand way. On that tape, there are five excellent songs that eventually didn't make it onto "Gutter Ballet". One of them, "Metalhead" was even played at the Dynamo Open Air. So, it's even more surprising to see that these songs are not on "Gutter Ballet". It's a sin and a shame to let such songs fall into oblivion...

"We feel the same way about that, so don't worry ! By the way, where did you get that tape? It was originally recorded for our producer so he could hear the new songs. It's not even a real demo. You know, Steve Wacholz, our drummer, and Johnny Lee Middleton, the bassist, aren't even playing on that tape. Everything you hear was done by the Oliva brothers, Criss and me.
You're right, there are excellent songs on it that we didn't use. We want to record them this summer and before the end of the year some sort of intermediate LP is supposed to be released. On one side, studio songs of which "Metal Head" will definitely be one and probably "Target" and "You Never Know", on the other side live recordings mainly consisting of older material. That would fill the gap during the time we'll be working on the real follow-up for "Gutter Ballet."

At the time of Dynamo Open Air, the tentative album title was still "Temptation Revelation". Why the sudden change ?

"There were several reasons for that. In the first place, several people notified us of the fact that choosing an instrumental song for the album title wouldn't be a very clever thing to do. Don't ask me why, but that's the way it seems to be. And "Temptation Revelation", the song, was an instrumental. That couldn't be changed.
But then we wrote "Gutter Ballet" and we knew right from the start that this was meant to be the album title. The conflicting methaphor in "Gutter Ballet" fitted in perfectly with the album.On the one side the filthyness. The dirt out on the streets that motivates our heavy side, on the other hand the gracious ballet that stands for the piano and the orchestration that you can hear on the record. A better title than "Gutter Ballet" just couln't be found."

Speaking of the piano...you are responsible for that and I must say that I respect the fact that you have the guts to come out with it. But where does this sudden interest in the piano come from?

"Oh well, that interest has always been there, but up until now I just didn't play good enough. I've never had piano lessons. I have taught myself everything, that's why it took so long. But the piano is a wonderful instrument and heavily underestimated, especially in the metal world. You can put down such beautiful things with it, especially in contrast with a super heavy guitar sound like Criss'.
Some people just refused to believe me when I told them there would be four songs on the album that contained piano parts. They were afraid we had recorded another "Fight For The Rock". Another lame attempt to commercial success. But that is something we will never do again. As far as we are concerned, "Fight For The Rock" doesn't even exist anymore.
Anyway, the piano parts didn't make the record the least bit more commercial. But it did make it much better, because using a piano you're able to convey so many emotions. More than by means of the guitar, but those two instruments together form an incredible combination.
It's evident on "Gutter Ballet", but in the future we will definitely exceed that. I'm really looking forward to playing the piano live. I'm fed up with just having the microphone at my disposal during the entire show. It must be wonderful to be able to play "Gutter Ballet" and "When The Crowds Are Gone" live! "

And we'll be able to see all of this happen very soon, because the very day that this conversation took place, I got a confirmation saying that Savatage will be touring Europe starting in februari.

"Yep, that's right, I was told this morning that we definitely will be touring Europe in february. In Germany, we'll be playing as he opening act for King Diamond, with Candlemass opening before us. But, because ofcourse we wan't to play in Holland as well, we'll be in Tilburg on february 8th. King Diamond will be playing in France then, I think, but we prefer to play in the Noorderligt that day.
I still remember us playing there a couple of years ago. Everybody came to the venue on their bikes. I had never seen anything like that before. Weird...
It will be an awesome concert in Tilburg because we're headlining there so we can play as long as we like. With King Diamond, we only get 45 minutes, so we can't play too many of the old songs.
By the way, you guys in Holland will be able to see our new guitarist for the first time. His name is Chris Caffery and he turns Savatage into a fivepiece. He's a genuine band member, even though he cannot yet be heard on "Gutter Ballet". But on the next record, he will certainly be there. In the past, he used to play in Heaven and Dirty Looks. In any case, he's just as crazy as the rest of us, so he's a real asset. We decided to ask him to join, after listening to the tapes of our Dynamo Open Air gig. That sounded so incomplete, that we decided to do something about it. So that was our last concert as a quartet. We got much better, but what am I babbling...come and see for yourself in Tilburg, february 8th. Be there ! "