Legendary progressive metal outfit SAVATAGE made their long-awaited return to the stage after a decade-long absence with a powerful performance at the Monsters of Rock festival in São Paulo, Brazil, on Saturday, April 19, 2025. The show, held at Allianz Parque, was part of a massive lineup that included SCORPIONS, JUDAS PRIEST, EUROPE, OPETH, QUEENSRŸCHE, and STRATOVARIUS—a dream gathering for classic and modern metal fans alike.
The reunion performance marked SAVATAGE’s first live appearance since their historic 2015 set at Wacken Open Air, and fans were treated to a carefully curated setlist that spanned the band’s rich and influential catalog.
🔥 Setlist Highlights & Rare Performances
The night was filled with emotion and nostalgia, as the band dusted off deep cuts that hadn’t been played live in decades:
The Ocean (first time since 1998)
Welcome (first time since 1998)
Jesus Saves
The Wake Of Magellan (first time since 2002)
Dead Winter Dead
Handful Of Rain (first time since 2002)
Chance
Gutter Ballet
Edge Of Thorns
Believe (a poignant tribute to Jon Oliva, with him playing and singing via video as the band joined in after the first chorus)
Sirens (first time since 2003)
Hall Of The Mountain King
🎸 Who's in the Lineup?
The 2025 SAVATAGE touring lineup includes:
Zak Stevens – Lead Vocals
Chris Caffery – Guitar
Al Pitrelli – Guitar
Johnny Lee Middleton – Bass
Jeff Plate – Drums
Paulo Cuevas and Shawn McNair – Touring Keyboardists
Notably absent from the stage was Jon Oliva, the band’s founding vocalist, songwriter, and soul. While he was present in spirit—and even in voice and image during "Believe"—his ongoing health challenges have made live performance impossible at this time.
💔 Where is Jon Oliva?
Oliva has been battling a number of serious health issues in recent years, including a fractured T7 vertebra, multiple sclerosis, and Ménière's disease, which have left him largely immobile and in chronic pain.
In a recent interview with Brazilian journalist Igor Miranda, Jon shared, “I can’t even sing right now because of the pain. I can’t stand for too long, and I need time for my vertebra to heal naturally.” He opted out of spinal surgery after advice from friends and medical professionals who warned against it.
Despite his absence on stage, Oliva remains heavily involved behind the scenes and in the band’s future plans.
🗣️ The Band Speaks: A Rebirth Fueled by the Fans
In a January interview with The Metal Voice, drummer Jeff Plate and guitarist Chris Caffery reflected on the reunion:
“The fanbase never gave up on us,” said Plate. “The band never broke up... We’ve all been active with Trans-Siberian Orchestra, keeping the spirit of SAVATAGE alive through that.”
Caffery added, “After Wacken in 2015, we wanted to keep going. But then Paul O’Neill passed, then COVID hit, then Jon’s injuries... ten years just flew by. We realized we had to do this now before it’s too late.”
🎤 The Legacy Continues
Vocalist Zak Stevens, who joined SAVATAGE in 1992 and recorded landmark albums like Edge of Thorns, Handful of Rain, and Dead Winter Dead, is leading the band’s charge forward on stage. Meanwhile, the bond among Caffery, Pitrelli, Middleton, and Plate—strengthened over years of performing with TSO—is palpable.
“It means a lot for me to be back in that family,” said Caffery. “SAVATAGE was my life for decades. Getting to celebrate what Jon, Paul, and Criss built—it’s beyond emotional.”
⚠️ A Complicated History
SAVATAGE’s journey hasn’t been without turbulence. After the death of Criss Oliva in 1993 and Jon’s personal struggles with addiction, health, and a recent history of legal troubles—including drug-related arrests in 2021 and 2023—many feared the band’s story had quietly ended. But even amid tragedy and chaos, SAVATAGE has remained a name fans chant with unwavering loyalty.
Jon himself reflected back in 2016 after suffering a stroke, saying, “I lived the rock 'n' roll lifestyle since I was 18... I enjoyed the ride very much. But there comes a time where you have to make life-changing decisions… which I have.”
🌍 Looking Ahead
With new shows planned across Europe and beyond this spring and summer, and with Jon contributing from the sidelines, SAVATAGE’s return feels less like a reunion and more like a rebirth. There’s no talk yet of a new album, but the spark has been reignited—and with it, hope for a new chapter in the band’s epic saga.
Stay tuned. The Mountain King has stirred once more.
📸 Images and videos from the performance are already spreading across social media, capturing moments fans have waited a decade to witness. SAVATAGE is back. Long live the legacy.
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