Interview
with Jon Oliva from Savatage Legion fanzine '84
Contributed by: Erikk Draven
HTML by: Ellen Bakvis
Hi Jon ! Glad
you could find the time for this interview. Things must be
getting a little hectic about now. Tell me, what's going on ?
Right now we are working on the new material for our album
we'll be doing later this year for Atlantic Records. We're
spending a lot more time on these songs than we did on the first
two records. We really kinda rushed through those first sessions
with PAR.
How rushed was
it ?
It really was rushed. We only had two weeks to write some of
the stuff and then a week or so to work them over before we
recorded. The amount of time we spent in the studio wasn't much
either. In fact, on the average we only have four hours in each
song including the mixdown. We were rather surprised they came
out so well.
What are your
favorite songs on 'Sirens'?
Hey I like them all ! I guess my real favorites would have to
be 'Holocaust' and 'Out on the streets'.
Want to talk
about the production on the L.P ?
Did you say production ? What production ?
You don't care
for the production ?
Let's just say that we had hoped for something a little
better. You know it really doesn't sound that bad but it sure
doesn't sound that great either. We all have a complaint or two
about the whole package but that's over and done with and we'd
like to move to newer things.
I know you've
been asked this before, but I gotta know. Is Savatage going to
come out with a more commercial sound ?
You're right, I have been asked this alot before. Maybe I can
clear it up for you now. I feel that Savatage has been and will
always be a band capable of doing alot of different styles of
music. I mean look at the difference between ' City beneath the
Surface' and ' Out on the Streets ', is that night and day or
what ? Some people will say we have an identity crisis but we say
you'll never know what to expect that first time you play a new
record of ours. I like all the new songs we're doing. I wouldn't
play them if they were wimpy. I like heavy music and the response
from Atlantic has been very positive towards them too. We had
thought that some of the new stuff would be beyond their realm of
music, I'll have to say we were pleasantly surprised, Atlantic
doesn't want us to wimp out, but they do want us to become more
accessible. Maybe some of our new songs may be in the commercial
vein but you have to have a few songs that the radio will play or
you're dead. You need a hit to survive. Look at Judas Priest,
Kiss, Accept, Twisted Sister and countless other metal bands.
Their music isn't wimpy but just more accessible. They retain
their identity and make their label happy at the same time. All
the bigger bands have variety. That's what gives them the
accessibility they need.
Is that why so
many Metal bands never get recognition. Is it their lack of radio
tunes ?
That's how we see it. Today, to make it big you've got to
have some hits. Alot of Metal bands will never break the U.S.
market because of that. In todays world you need radio play and
that's a drag because there are alot of great bands out there.
What is
Savatage's approach to the U.S. market ?
We're gonna write what we feel, the kind of music that comes
from the heart, and then get down on our knees and hope like hell
!
Is Savatage a
heavy metal band ?
We love metal, we play it, we wear it, we write it, we sleep
it, we eat it and listen to it but.....we would rather be a band
that plays metal very heavy and very good because we feel we are
a band that can play all music very good. Maybe we are a heavy
metal band but we don't want to be classified as anything. You
know, that really begins to restrict you and we don't want to be
restricted. If you listen to our songs you'll find lots of
different elements; horror, boy and girl, the reality of life and
death, the dangers of drugs and sometimes Satan. When we speak of
Satan it's only to warn people of his evil. Personally, I think
anybody who walks around and praises Satan is certainly a sick
puppy. But that's how I feel. That's what's so great about music.
You can voice strong ideas and people will listen to it and say:
I don't like what he says but I like the sounds, or I'm glad he
said that because now I have another opinion, or I don't give a
shit what he says I love the music and the power. Anyway, it's
all in the wash and you get to sort it out for yourself. It's the
power of the night.
What do you
think about Black Metal ?
Let's just say I don't like what it stands for. Satan is
nothing to mess with.
Will Rick
Derringer produce your next record ?
I don't think so. Rick was sent down to put the demo package
together.
Any idea who
will be doing the producing ?
Right now nothing has been firmed up, but we did entertain
Max Norman for a few days. He loved the band and if the schedules
can be worked out he'll be doing the job.
How much music
does Criss write ?
Criss writes alot of killer music. I think that if he would
write melody and lyrics he would write more than me. Most of his
songs are the real heavy ones like 'Holocaust', 'I Believe',
'Sirens'.
What's a typical
Jon song ?
'On the Run' , 'Out on the Streets' , 'Rage' .
What about Steve
and Keith, do they write ?
At first all the song writing was done by Criss and me. It
took thm awhile to get the feel of the band. Keith used to write
alot in his other bands and now I'm finding him helping alot with
lyrics and arrangements. He adds his parts and comes up with some
killer riffs. Steve is also coming out of his shell. He's adding
alot of musical and lyrical ideas also. In fact one of the new
songs we're working on, Steve wrote all the lyrics and the title
and it's great !
Criss is pretty
awesome. What's he like ?
He's really quick on the axe. I mean not only fast playing
but musically quick. His ideas really formulate fast. I remember
when we were just kids just starting to play, I showed him 'Smoke
on the Water' and then I hit the road for a year or so with my
band. When I came back I took one look at his playing and I threw
my guitar away and got him to play with me. I mean talk about
taking the bull by the horns, the kid must have been up every
night learning. He's got such afeel to his playing.
Does he have any
influences ?
Sure, everybody has influences. If you take Blackmore,
Rhoads, Page and Van Halen and mix it together you start to get
close to his style.
I've heard he's
rather moody?
Not really, just a quiet guy who loves to play his guitar.
Steve and Keith
really crank it out too !
Steve hits harder than any other drummer I've ever seen. The
destruction he submits his drums to everynight is something to
see. That's why he's called Dr. Killdrums, it says it all! Keith
joined the band about two years ago. We had tried out so many
bass players and none of them were what we wanted. We had known
Keith for awhile and one day asked him if he would try out for
the spot. He played his first gig after only eight rehearsals.
They both do their jobs and they do them very well ! It's so
important to have stability in a band. That's when the flow
starts and once that happens there's no stopping.
When I was in
N.Y. I met your manager Bob Zemsky. We had some rather
interesting talks. He talked about the 'Pit' and 'Fountain of
Youth'. What significance does this have for you ?
Bob, he's pretty crazy. The Pit is where we rehearse. We've
been there about six years, I guess it's kinda an inspiration for
us. Really the damn building is falling down on us whenever we
play!! The Fountain of Youth is about 1000 yards away from the
Pit. There is supposed to be proof that it is the actual Fountain
of Youth. Who knows, it may hold some mystical power of some sort
that makes us write the songs we do! In fact, we've just written
a song called ' The Fountain of Youth ' , it's killer! Maybe it's
the power of night and maybe it's just nothing.
You mentioned
this power before. What is the power of the night ?
The' Power of the Night ' is a song we wrote some time back.
It talks about the power we all have and the way we can use that
power. Very heavy tune!
Jon, this has
been a great interview. Do you want to add anything in closing?
Yeah, party and be cool! See ya !!