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'77 -'Blaze', Pat Dubs (v, g) Tim Grounds (g), Doug Greenfield (b), Steve Wacholz (d).
-'Warhead', Tim Trese (v, b) Tim Grounds (g), Britt Miller (g), Steve Wacholz (d)
-'Tower', Jon Oliva (v,d), Criss Oliva (g) Tony Ciulla (b), Bob Kovach (d), plays Dunedin High School, Steve Wacholz is in the audience.
-'Alien', Jon Oliva (v), Rich Biganno (g), ? (b), ? (d).
-'Paradox', Pat Dubs (ex-'Blaze')(v, g), Tim Grounds (ex-'Blaze', 'Warhead')(g), Brian 'B' Lennon (b), Steve Wacholz (ex-'Blaze', 'Warhead')(d).
-Criss and Tim Grounds ('Paradox' guitarist) in WFSO contest, Criss wins the contest and recieves '77 Fender Stratacaster from The Scorpions.
-Steve auditions for Tower, makes it, but replaced weeks later...
-Jon & Criss combine members of 'Tower' and 'Alien' to form 'Metropolis' with Joe Conn (d), Tony Ciulla (b).
'78: -Another DHS show; jon 'blows up' in pyro accident.
-Steve hangs out at the Pit where 'Metroplis/soon to be Avatar rehearses with Joe Conn (dr), Tony Ciulla (b).
-'Metropolis' record 'Let's Get Rowdy' and 'Take Off With The Crowd' for a two songs '45.
'79: -Steve's band 'Paradox' starts rehearsing in the 'Pit'.
-Occasional shows alternating the use of both names, 'Avatar' and 'Metropolis'
-Jon asks Steve to audition again and makes it.
-Metroplis turns to Avatar
-Jon, Criss, Steve re-name 'Metropolis' to 'Avatar'.
-'Avatar' play Tarpon Springs High School, show is cut off early; criss pissed, breaks his hand.
-'Sirens' written, thanks in part to criss' cast.
-"Onslaught" of bassists, Roach, Brian 'B' Lennon (ex-'Paradox'), many others.
-Line up becomes Jon (vox), Criss (g), Steve (dr), Andy Grelin (b), Pat Dubs (ex-'Blaze', 'Paradox')(g)
-Huge Halloween party at 'Pit', 3,000 in attendance.
-Andy leaves, Fritz joins.
-Steve leaves and joins 'Imagine'
-'Imagine', ? (v), Pat Dubs (g), ? (g), ?(b), Steve Wacholz (d). (
-'Avatar' becomes: Criss (g), Jon (dr,vox), Fritz (b), Bob Boyer(vox), Rich Pigano(g).
'79/'80: -Mark Holland part time management. Steve & Mark book Avatar
-Steve gets involved with business side of band.
'81/'82:
-Keith Collins is the soundman (ex-'Solar City' guitarist) becomes bassist.
-Band builds reputation in Brandon, Fl.
-95YNF comptilation album with Rock Me, Minus Love.
-95YNF show in Kmart lot.
-Dan Johnson approaches about a one year record deal.
-'City Beneath The Surface' Ep.
-Jon, Criss and Criss' longtime girlfriend Dawn Hopkins (later Dawn Oliva) come up with the name Savatage.
-Show opening for Zebra at th Bayfront Mahaffey Theater, Tampa. Randy Jackson (Zebra) and Robert Zemsky are impressed.
-Contacted by Jason Flom (A&R rep.) from Atlantic records.
-Special Showcase show in Brandon, Flom 'blown away'.
-Rick Derringer chosen to produce Atlantic demos at Morrissound Studio.
-Par trades off record -'Dungeons are Calling' to let Savatage to do the Atlantic demos
-Keith almost kills Derringer in his van.
'83 -Record demos, No More Sat. Nights, Washed Out, Fighting For Love, Stuck on You, with Derringer.
-Electra, Pasha, Geffen, Metal Blade, and Megaforce labels also become interested in band.
'84:
-Band signs with Atlantic for ten record deal.
-Rob Zemsky becomes manager.
'85: -Johnny Lee Middleton ('Lefty') asked to join but declines.
-Attorney, Mark Cristini-signs band to bogus deal.
-Get Max Norman to record the next record.
-Start recording 'POTN' at Bearsville, NY.
-Move to NY, Jon's uncle Joe's place.
-Sporadic shows (Detroit, Rochester)
-Band starts longtime relationship with booking agent, John Dittmar.
-WEA tour-'Monsters of the Universe'
'86: -Steve abandoned in London, interrogated by officials for 7 hours at customs.
-Record 'FFTR' with producer Stephan Galfas at Trident Studios, London.
-Get AMI (Rick Smith and Steven Machat) as management to help Zemsky.
-Johnny (ex-'Lefty') joins.
-Steve stays in NY a bit handling lots of band business.
-NJ-lots of shows (for FFTR)
-Ted Nugent tour, European dates w/ Motorhead Headline Koos.
-Metallica backs out of Oulu, Finland festival due to Chernobyl, Savatage replaces.
-Manager Steve Machat takes off with $27,000 after show.
-"Escape from London" tour.
-Savatage gets "technically" dropped from Atlantic.
-Steve meets Jon Goldwater (Crash management) and Paul 'O Neill.
-Re-negotiate deal with Atlantic records.
'87/'88: -Video for 'HOMK' in 'Howe Caverns'.
-Chris Caffery (ex-'Heaven', 'Dirty Looks') added as second guitarist/keys, but plays offstage
-Three month tour with Dio and Megadeth.
'89/'90: -Re-negotiate deal with Atlantic.
-Start 'Gutter Ballet' written and rehearsed at the 'Record Plant' (now '3-2-1 Studios').
-Jon in rehab during break from 'GB' recording.
-John Dittmar sent Jon and Steve to see 'Phantom of the Opera'.
-Caffery asked to join fulltime.
-'GB' U.S. tour with Testament.
-Caffery leaves band at tours end.
-Dynamo Festival, Holland.
'91: -Starts 'Streets', nine months to complete.
-Keyboardist John Zahner (ex-'Drama') added for tour.
-'Jesus Saves' video shoot.
-'NYC Don't Mean Nothing' video shoot, never released.
-Tour Euro. with 'Vicious Rumors' Japan tour and small U.S. tour.
-U.S. your cut short due to low slow record sales.
-Jon decides to leave the band.
'92: -Radio Broadcast of Jon's last show, Rock-it club, Tampa, Fl.
-Tampa Bay Music Awards, Sava wins many awards.
-Dan Campbell finds Jon's replacement Zak Trussell.
-Re-negotiate Atlantic deal.
'93:
-Steve decides not to tour.
-Andy James (ex-'Roxx Gang') joins for tour.
-Wes Garren added as second guitarist/keys for tour.
-'EoT' Euro. tour with 'Overkill' and small U.S. East coast tour.
-Confirmed openers for the Vince Neil's solo tour.
-Criss' last show, M L Chasers-Clearwater, Fl.
-Criss killed by Drunk Driver while enroute to 3rd Annual Livestock festival near Tampa, Fl.
-Criss Oliva Benefit Concert with Jon, Steve, Johnny and John Zahner playing with only a white guitar wrapped with roses up the neck sitting on a stand in Criss' spot on the stage. (This guitar is now on display at the Orlando Hard Rock Cafe).
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