Jon Oliva Says New Savatage Album is Nearly Complete—But Can He Ever Perform Again?

Twenty years. That’s how long it’s been since Savatage last did a proper tour. Two decades of silence, barring the occasional “We might do something soon” tease. Well, guess what? They’re finally (probably) back. At least in some form.

This year, Savatage will storm South America and Europe, hitting festivals like Monsters of Rock in São Paulo and a few solo gigs that are as confirmed as a politician’s campaign promises (meaning: maybe, but don’t hold your breath).

They’ll be back on stage, dusting off their progressive-power-metal wizardry for the first time since their one-off Wacken Open Air spectacle in 2015. But there’s a catch. Jon Oliva—Savatage’s beating heart, its gravel-voiced warlord—won’t be there.

The Spine Says No (And So Do His Doctors)

If you’re wondering why Oliva is sitting this one out, it’s not because he doesn’t want to perform. It’s because his spine is basically telling him to sit the hell down. In 2023, he fractured his T7 vertebra in three places. Which, for those of us who don’t have medical degrees, means he’s in a lot of pain. Walking? Tough. Singing? Even tougher. The guy can’t stand for long without agony. And if you thought surgery might be an easy fix, well, nope.

“They wanted to put metal in my body,” Oliva explained in an interview with Brazilian journalist Igor Miranda (in portuguese). “But people I spoke to told me not to do it, that I would regret it. So I chose to let it heal naturally.”

Which, honestly, makes sense. But also… damn. That means no Oliva on stage for now. Just Zak Stevens, Johnny Lee Middleton, Al Pitrelli, Chris Caffery, and Jeff Plate flying the Savatage flag.

But the bigger question remains: what about the new album?

Curtain Call: The Album That Exists (But Doesn’t, Yet)

Oliva swears he has an album basically ready. In fact, he claims there’s enough material for four albums. Yes, four. Which, if true, raises one question: what the hell has he been doing for the last 20 years?

Writing. Apparently, a lot.

“We have enough for four albums,” he said. “The lyrics aren’t written yet, but musically, it’s done.”

So we’re looking at a fully composed, but mostly lyricless album? Interesting. But hey, he’s been busy with life—and by life, we mean multiple sclerosis, Ménière’s disease, a fractured spine, and a couple of run-ins with the law. The man’s had a lot going on.

But let’s talk about Curtain Call, the (working title) of the next Savatage album. If it ever actually comes out, it’ll feature a mix of Oliva and Stevens on vocals, and a lineup stacked with old Savatage blood—Middleton, Pitrelli, Caffery, Plate, and even former drummer Steve Wacholz in some capacity.

And the closing track? Also called “Curtain Call”? Yeah, that one’s apparently a tearjerker.

“It’s just me with a piano,” Oliva revealed. “It’s basically me singing to the fans, telling them all goodbye and thank you. Every time I hear it, I cry. Everybody I played it for cries.”

Which, look, is sweet. But also ominous. Because it really sounds like Oliva is planning his exit from the music scene. Not because he wants to. But because his body might not give him a choice.

Savatage’s Future: Alive or on Life Support?

This whole situation is wildly bittersweet. Yes, the band is coming back. Yes, there’s supposedly a near-complete album waiting to be recorded. But is it happening soon? Unclear.

At one point, Oliva called this the band’s final record. Now? He’s not so sure.

“I said it might be the last one, but now I’m not sure,” he admitted. “I have all this material. What am I going to do? Release a quadruple album? I don’t think it will be the last one.”

(Okay, but real talk: why not? If you have the material, just go full prog-madman and drop a ridiculous multi-disc monstrosity.)

In the meantime, Chris Caffery and Jeff Plate are hyping up the upcoming tour like it’s the second coming of Hall of the Mountain King.

“The band never broke up,” Plate insists. “We haven’t done a proper tour in over 20 years, but we never officially broke up.”

Fair enough. But twenty years is a long time. And if this is Savatage’s return, it needs to be more than just nostalgia bait.

But here’s the real question: Will Oliva ever step back on stage?

Plate is hopeful. “Jon’s gonna be involved in everything that we’re doing from here forward,” he says. “He can’t go out and do these tours right now, but he’s gonna work himself back into it.”

Which is great to hear. But at the same time… let’s be real. This man has been through hell. If he’s not physically up to it, he won’t force it.

And that’s okay.

The Verdict? Hope for the Best, Prepare for the Delays

And where does this leave us?

• Savatage is back on the road (without Oliva, for now).
• A new album is written but not recorded.
• It might be their last album. Or not. Even Oliva doesn’t know.
• Jon Oliva is still a songwriting machine, but his health is a major roadblock.

Basically, we’re still in “wait and see” mode. Which, if you’ve been a Savatage fan for long, is nothing new.

But here’s hoping Oliva finds a way to heal, finish this damn album, and—just maybe—get back on stage at least one more time. Because after two decades of silence, Savatage deserves a proper, full-strength return.

We’ll be here. Watching. Waiting. And trying really hard not to get our hopes up too much.

But… c’mon, guys. Just give us the album already.

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