The Return of Savatage: A Legendary Reunion in London and at Hellfest 2025
The Return of Savatage: A Legendary Reunion in London and at Hellfest 2025
Written by Alison “MetalBabe” Cohen
Photos by © Artur Tarczewski / © Dario Di Martino
Words can’t describe the emotion, excitement, and fulfillment I experienced this summer while making my Savatage dreams come true. When I realized the “Return of Savatage” was really happening, my goal was to see them twice: headlining, and at a festival. It made the most sense to catch their third show in London, England at Shepherd’s Bush June 16th followed by their debut at Hellfest in Clisson, France on June 19th.
This was monumental for the Legion. Savatage had not performed in over two decades, aside from their iconic appearance at Wacken 2015, where Savatage and Trans-Siberian Orchestra made history playing Main Stage 1 and 2 simultaneously. (Their last official tour was Poets and Madmen in 2002.) I saw that tour in St. Louis, MO at The Pageant. I remember standing front and center – after Fates Warning opened – wondering who was going to come onstage for vocals, (since I knew it wasn’t’ Zak Stevens.) Within minutes of opening song “Commissar,” I was in love with the tour’s fill-in Damond Jiniya (Diet of Worms).
For those unfamiliar, Savatage is a legendary metal band from Tarpon Springs, FL, formed by brothers Jon and Criss Oliva in 1979. Between 1983 and 2001, they released 11 powerful albums before evolving into what’s now known worldwide as Trans-Siberian Orchestra. After touring exclusively with TSO since 2002, Savatage are making their return! They had a few April dates in South America, followed by almost a dozen in Europe and the UK.
Savatage’s current lineup includes Zak Stevens, Chris Caffery, Al Pitrelli, Jeff Plate, Johnny Lee Middleton, Paulo Cuevas, and Shawn McNair. I learned from Pitrelli during our interview at Hellfest that Cuevas was a student of his, and that McNair is in a Maiden Tribute in Nashville, TN called Powerslave. They both filled in on keyboards since Jon Oliva needs to focus on his health before he can tour.
We flew from LAX to Gatwick for the London show. Once we arrived, it was a quiet few days in anticipation. When the day finally arrived, the streets were packed with Savatage fans and metalheads, and Savatage shirts could be seen on fans in every direction.
Although Shepard’s Bush Empire was not technically sold out, it was packed from the front of the stage to the back, as well as the second and third floors of this 2200 seat venue.
Friday, June 16th – London, England
Savatage played 21 songs from eight albums. Some of the songs in their set have not been played live in 27 years. Plate mentioned later during our interview at Hellfest that they practiced 250 hours for this tour. That is intense. They’ve also added lights, video screens, and a stage show they’ve never had before.
Seeing Savatage perform is extraordinary for fans. It always has been. Something about the music that Producer/Co-Writer/”Mastermind” Paul O’Neill and the Oliva brothers created is unlike anything else. Even though lineups have changed, every performer has stayed true to the initial vision. Fans traveled from all over London, the UK, Europe, and even the States. Fans were either seeing them for the first time, or for the first time in 23 years.
I watched German power metal band Induction as direct support from downstairs. They were stoked it was their first time playing London. They got the crowd ready for Savatage and even got us to sing along with Europe’s “The Final Countdown.” I spoke with guitarist Justus Sahlman after the show and gave him a Metal Babe Mayhem sticker. Ironically, he saw me outside giving a couple of girls stickers after the show and saying, “only the girls get them,“ and he ran up holding his saying “I got one!” Oops!
After Induction, I talked our way upstairs for the first half of Savatage. After rocking out in the front of the balcony for the first half of the show, I worked my magic to get to the front row for the second half.
Having (Jon) Oliva onstage via video for “Believe,” including a montage of (Criss) Oliva was a perfect way to ensure there was not a dry eye in the house. Although, (Jon) Oliva could not be there, his blessing was given, and his hands were involved every step.
Of course, being front and center at a Savatage headlining show in London wasn’t enough… I had to crowd-surf too! So I went into the crowd a bit when they started their last song “Hall of the Mountain King.” Seeing Stevens point at me as I crowd-surfed onto the stage was the best possible ending of an already perfect night. I was ecstatic over seeing such a phenomenal show and could not wait for Hellfest.
Setlist:
The Ocean
Welcome To The Show
Jesus Saves
Power of the Night
Another Way
Wake of Magellan
This is the Time
Strange Wings
The Storm
Turns to Me
Handful of Rain
Chance
Starlight/Temp/Rev/Mozart
Dead Winter Dead
Hourglass
Believe
Gutter Ballet
Edge of Thorns
Encore:
Nothing Going On
Hall of the Mountain King
Click HERE to listen to the Entire Playlist on Spotify
Savatage Saturday, June 19th – Hellfest – Clisson, France
Saturday was all about Savatage, starting with how I was going to be able to not look melted for our 3 o’clock interview with Plate and Pitrelli. Their press conference was at four o’clock, and their set time on Main Stage 1 was 7:35 PM.
I had a bit of fear in the back of my mind that Savatage’s press conference might be cancelled (since Friday’s events were canceled due to the heat). It was crazy hot in the press room, but it happened, and we persevered.
I avoided showering at Hellfest due to the long lines in direct sunlight with no shade, but I soldiered through before my interview. I was cool for about 10 minutes, but melting again by the time we made it to the media area. (It was just over a mile walk from our campsite to the media tent).
When we walked into the media area, I immediately spotted Caffery, Middleton, Pitrelli, and Plate sitting down doing an interview. We checked in, and a few moments later Pitrelli and Plate were asked to leave their current interview to join us.
It’s hard to believe that Pitrelli is still the baby of the band, even though he’s been there for 30 years! It was heartfelt to hear how much love they have for Jon (Oliva) and will always have for Paul (O’Neill). There truly is no other band that even compares to Savatage… musically, creatively, artistically, or emotionally.
We had a little downtime before Savatage’s set, but I wanted to make sure I was at the photo pit entrance before they started. From the first note to the last, it was magical. Setlists vary, depending on festival or club, and the band are mixing it up nightly, just a tad.
I spent the first three songs in the photo pit. This stage was extremely high, and I could not even see Plate, or the keyboard players when I did my photos. However, I did catch eye contact with Stevens and he waved to me! I went to the front for a bit, and then towards the back to take in everything. I enjoyed emotions from fans around me seeing Savatage for the first time in 23 years, or possibly ever.
I found it interesting that someone went crowd-surfing during “Believe.” That shows me that rock and metal are equal in Europe. Several fans crowd-surfed during “Edge of Thorns.” I wanted to go up again, but by the time I made it further back the crowd was too loose. (I am just glad I did it in London.}
Setlist:
The Ocean
Welcome To The Show
Jesus Saves
Strange Wings
Handful of Rain
Chance
Gutter Ballet
Edge of Thorns
Believe
Encore:
Power of the Night
Hall of the Mountain King
Having a longer set like the club shows is preferred, but it’s great to see them on a festival stage. This is just the beginning of the “Return of Savatage.” In comparison, in London the band played 21 songs and at Hellfest they played 11. In London, fans started in the queue at 8:30 AM to get to the front of the stage and were there for Savatage. It was hot at Shepard’s Bush, but nothing compared to intensity felt at Hellfest. At Hellfest, most fans melted for three to four nights and were there for a variety of different bands. There were quite a few Savatage shirts worn that day, and fans gathered for their set.
In the end, I was interviewed in the London queue about Savatage, crowd-surfed, got a setlist, Caffery guitar pick, interviewed Plate and Pitrelli, got pics and hugs from four of the guys, sat in during their press conference and even asked a question, and shot the first three songs from the photo pit. Both shows were incredible, and I’m honored to be part of it. I believe if you want something, you have to make it happen, and I am very grateful I made this trip happen to see Savatage in both environments.
Savatage are working on a 10-year plan, and hopefully all of you are part of it. I plan to be there for as many steps along the way as I can. I know that O’Neill and (Criss) Oliva are looking down on us all, proud of Savatage the band and the Legion. RIP Paul O’Neill and Criss Oliva.
