DR. BUTCHER

The Savatage Siren Wails Again

From: RockHard, Germany, April 1993
Author: Chris Leibundgut
Translated by: Ellen Bakvis

"Savatage without Jon Oliva" - this shocking message hit us like a bomb in the middle of last year, and will have spoilt the appetite of many a Sava-fan.
Savatage without Oliva's charismatic voice, was equally unthinkable as Jon's siren without Criss Oliva's characteristic powerrifs - that at least was what everyone thought.
But apparently both parties involved don't share that opinion. Savatage have already released their first album with the new singer Zak Stevens a while ago, while Jon Oliva let us know, that he was involved in a project by the name of DR. BUTCHER.

Ofcourse we wanted to know more about that as soon as possible, and thanks to Savatage- Co-Manager Jon Goldwater we were able to talk to Mr. Oliva himself by phone a few days later. Jon was staying at the New York domicile of Chris Caffery - ex-Savatage-subguitarist and Jon's partner in DR. BUTCHER matters by trade - and willingly answered our questions:

* Jon, first of all we'd like to know your view of the separation from Savatage...

"Well, as you know I was in Savatage for a long time, and I just had the drive to finally make something that is really heavy. That would not match with the musical direction that Savatage has taken. But I am still involved with Savatage as a songwriter and have also written the major part of the material for their new album "Edge OF Thorns". But personnaly, I wanted to make ' something outrageous ' again, and for that I couldn't have found a better partner than Chris (Caffery), because he's the only person wo is just as twisted as I am, haha !"

* Yesterday on the telephone, Chris said that the DR. BUTCHER material would more or less go in the direction of " Hall Of The Mountain King ". Would you agree with that ?

" I would say, our material is even heavier than that. In my opinion the DR. BUTCHER- songs are heavier than anything I have ever made with Savatage - "Sirens" and "The Dungeons Are Calling" included!"

* Normally, most musicians 'wimp out' as they get older. Halford and Oliva seem to be exactly the opposite ...

" Basically I like all kinds of music, but I simply had the feeling , that I had just about worn out the 'piano-style' as I call it. As a singer, I was getting bored . That's why I thought it would be best to take a few steps back and make something more agressive, something that's not restricted by rules."

* According to this your departure has nothing to do with any band-internal conflict whatsoever?

" No, absolutely not! Criss already knew for a long time, that I wanted to go in a somewhat different direction, and we never argued because of that. I'm sure that Criss and I will work together in the near future."

* Criss said, that your decision to leave the band was mainly caused by the fact that all the stress that goes with the touring simply became too much. Is that true ?

" I wouldn't say , that living on the road no longer attracted me, but things with Savatage became a bit too monotonous, and I finally felt a little restraint - the typical "seven- year- itch. "

* So there's a fair chance that DR. BUTCHER will turn out to be more than a Studio project and we'll also be able to see you live again ?

" Oh yeah, definitely. We'll probably get started by the end of October, because our album should be available early September, when everything works out the way it's supposed to."

* Wow, it sure looks like you've got definitive plans there ?

" Yeah and the cool part of the matter is, that we have enough time, to get everything properly done, before we go public. We still have to write six or seven songs for the album. Besides, we are right now in the process of developing a massive merchandising project, something like the old Kiss, who also had just about anything for sale. "

* Have you designed a thing like a DR. BUTCHER - mascot ?

" Yeah, we've got a lot of stuff planned. It's gonna be great! Somehow this element just doesn't exist anymore nowadays. Especially the Seattle-scene has become deady serious. Where'd all the fun go ? That is exactly what I've in missing in the music scene of today - nobody's having fun anymore. But just wait and see, when we come out with DR. BUTCHER - that'll be a helluva lot of fun, haha ! "

* It may come as a bit of a surprise to a lot of fans, that you teamed up with Chris Caffery of all people. It is said that Chris has not exactly split with Savatage in friendship a few years ago.

" This story has been greatly exaggerated by the press, for there really have never been bad feelings between us and Chris. DR. BUTCHER offers Chris and me the possibility to make a new start and to do exactly what we want to do, without being forced to make compromises, which has not always been the case with Savatage. We're not gonna let anyone talk us into anything: we will only do those things that have been decided on band-internally. And if anyone has a problem with that, we'll be doing it anyhow!"

* For how long have you already been working on DR. BUTCHER ?

" For just about six months. Last October we have already recorded a couple of Demos; but Chris and I have been working together a little longer than that. the whole process is a bit more complicated for us, 'cause we're not exactly living close to one another.Hal Patino, our bassist, lives in Danmark, and not even I know of the current whereabouts of our drummer Gene Barnett. "

* Just like Savatage, you have been contracted by Atlantic. Don't you think possible conflicts could arise from that situation ?

" No, I'm not at all worried about that. I think there will be no conflicts whatsoever, because the new Savatage LP and our thing are so drastically different from each other. With DR. BUTCHER, we aim at agression, while the new Savatage album "Edge Of Thorns" goes more in the direction of mainstream/Queensryche. I mean, the Savatage album has come out real strong and I hope they will be succesfull with it, 'cause that would only help us along the way, but with song titles like " Shut Up And Fuck " chances are few for us to be compared to Savatage..."

* Do you already know when you're gonna hit the studio for your new album and who's gonna be the producer ?

" It looks like that's gonna happen in early April. But first Chris and I will be hiding in our little hellhole for the next two months and write some songs, before we dive into the studio. We will probably be doing the production ourselves, though we are right now discussing the possibility of bringing in someone nevertheless."

* Have you become a little distrustful concerning producers, while Paul O'Neill's influence has become more and more evident with Savatage ?

" Paul O'Neill has always been very good for Savatage, because he's a first class lyricist and has again done a great job with them on " Edge Of Thorns ". But, with DR. BUTCHER a man like Paul woul be a displaced person, 'cause Chris and I know exactly, what we want. Too many cooks spoil the broth, and we will most certainly never let any outsider talk us into anything, 'cause that would ruin everything."

* What can be said about the songs you have written so far ?

" Well, there's " The Chair ", a song about - what else? - the electric chair; " The Altar " deals with the corruption in the catholic church; not a lot can be said about " Freaks " and "Shut Up And Fuck " - in those songs the title speaks for itself.
Basically, our lyrics are about real life events, that we handle with a little sarcastic humor. The music itself is traditional, very heavy, but in spite of that very modern and reflecting the nineties. What we've got on tape so far, sounds like no other band. I believe that with our music we appeal to the thrash/death metal kids just as much as to those who prefer good grooves and melodies. But it's definitely heavy, heavy, heavy ! "

* How do your estimate your chances of commercial success with DR. BUTCHER ? A thing that has been denied bands like Savatage and Vicious Rumours, despite the strong albums they made ?

" I believe, in the case of Savatage - and perhaps also Vicious Rumours - it often had to do with factors that were simply beyond our control. But hey, that's how it often goes in this business - sometimes you're lucky, and sometimes you're just not. With DR. BUTCHER we will do our best, to enforce our own breaks. I'm full of confidence concerning the future of this band, 'cause we've got the potential of coming out really big."

* But for that, your health, which has not always been the best during the last few years, has got to cooperate as well...

" Chris and I have both quit drinking in the meantime, and nobody has to be worried anymore that either of us will do anything insane. America's liquour industry will be at great loss because of it - haha, but our body's just told us " Boys, that's enough ", 'cause in the end Chris and I emptied a bottle of Jack Daniels each, and in case that wasn't strong enough, we switched to Wild Turkey 101. But sooner or later, you'll have to pay for such excesses. That's why we are now on the " Dave Mustaine - trip ", which is a lot better for both of us, 'cause this way we will - hopefully - live a little while longer !"