Savatage made a massive return to the stage in 2025, and according to long-time guitarist Chris Caffery, the global response has been nothing short of spectacular. During a recent sit-down with host Matt Capitano on the “Face The Music” podcast, the veteran musician reflected on the overwhelming success of their European and South American comeback dates, while also offering hope for fans eagerly awaiting performances in the United States.
Detailing the reception the band received overseas, Chris Caffery explained that the enthusiasm spanned multiple generations of metal fans.
“It’s been amazing. And I think it’s better than I could have hoped for, which I was just hoping for it to be really good, that people would be happy we were back and they would accept it and they would wanna see more. It’s been over-the-top great, which is really cool. People have been so excited. And there’s been so many new fans that never had a chance to see us before. And some of the old ones that are arriving to the shows with their children that [are] anywhere from 14 to for how long it’s been since we played, in their twenties, where the kid never had a chance to see Savatage. So, we’re meeting their families as they bring ’em to the shows,” he said (as transcribed by Blabbermouth).
To ensure the reunited group lived up to its legendary reputation, the members engaged in rigorous preparation. For Chris, this meant meticulously studying the iconic leads originally crafted by late Savatage founder Criss Oliva.
“I think the fact that we really busted our butts to make sure that the band was very tight and the music was played very well and we were all in shape when we went up on stage and did the best we could do, the fans that used to go see us all the time that would brag to their friends that didn’t know of Savatage, how we were live, ‘You gotta see this band live. You gotta see this band live,’ I think we lived up to their memories to them, and they were very happy,” he continued. “So when they brought their friends out and their family and this and that, they were, like, ‘See.’ So we didn’t let anybody down. And I think that includes ourselves. And I just wanted to do the best I possibly could do. I mean, I sat and really kind of nickel and dimed a little bit of the [late Savatage guitarist] Criss [Oliva] solos more than I did in the past, because in the past I was just kind of playing ’em and into my head, making sure I remembered ’em as close as possible, but this last time I was going through and really picking apart specific licks and even some of the songs I’d never played before. I think it was just either the amount of time that it’s been since I first played a Savatage song till then. I would send tapes of me playing this stuff to [Savatage singer] Zak [Stevens], and they were just, like, ‘This sounds exactly the same.’ And I’m, like, ‘Yeah. I never played that song before.’ So there’ll be Savatage songs I never played that I’ll play for the first time, and I’m playing the lead or songs that I played 20 years ago, I’m playing the lead completely different. And the different happens to be really correct. So it’s one of these things where I don’t know if it’s just me getting older and getting better or if there’s a little bit of guidance that comes around every once in a while. I think it’s a little of both.”
Addressing the elephant in the room regarding a potential North American tour, the guitarist confirmed that stateside gigs are on the horizon, though the logistics are still being ironed out. He urged American audiences to recognize that the international community spearheaded the initial reunion demand, while stressing that the band refuses to compromise on production quality.
“Yeah, I think we will. I think right now everybody just needs to be happy that we’re back. I try to tell it to the States fans. I’m, like, do you understand that it was the Europeans and South Americans that dug this out of the woodwork? Now that you’ve seen that we’re playing all these other places, don’t get upset when we’re not playing with you. If you would’ve had the same demand out of the gate, or in the past, the first shows may have been the United States. They got that benefit. So it’s, like, now we’re just trying to make it be the right thing. We don’t wanna come over here and do anything less as far as the production and how we’re getting on that stage and the situations. We don’t wanna get into a compromise situation where [fans will say], ‘I saw ’em. It was okay.’ It’s, like, we wanna really make sure that we get something together that’s gonna work. We’ve been going over, mulling through a few different ideas and things that happens, and I know some festivals have asked us to come and play and some of ’em headline. And we’re working it all out. It’s not like it’s not going to happen. I just don’t know exactly when or how. And I’m always the last to know. So somewhere there’s gonna be somebody out there who will know before me. ‘Hey, I hear you guys are playing…’, and I’ll be, like, ‘We are?’ It’s always like that. It was like that last year when we were playing. ‘Oh my God. It’s great to know you guys are playing back at Rockwave [in Greece].’ I’m, like, ‘We are?’ The people in Greece knew before me, and the people in the United States will know where we’re playing in the USA before me. It’s just gonna happen that way,” Chris explained.
He quickly reiterated his desire to hit as many markets as possible. “I wanna play everywhere we can. And like I said, hopefully none of our travel plans get messed up through the ways of the world. But I keep my finger crossed and hope for the best.”
Expanding on the regional differences in audience engagement, the guitarist agreed with Matt Capitano‘s observation that international crowds often interact with live music on a more intense frequency compared to American attendees. He compared the sheer scale of the European festival scene to the massive productions of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO).
“I love playing in America, but I think a lot of times we have so many things going on in this country that for some people the music becomes just a part of everything else,” he continued. “With a lot of these European and South American fans, I know that especially some of the countries that are less busy economically, I think the music is such a bigger percentage of a part of these fans’ lives that when you go to see them live, you’re filling maybe 10 holes that music would fill in America, that are filled around us by nine other things. The music is just one of 10 in the things that people do on the weekend. These kids are doing just that. It’s their one release. And I think when you play for these audiences, you feel that live. And I think it’s undeniable. Not that there’s not great audiences in the United States — there are, and there always has been — but you’ll see, even with that, some of the places you get to, some of the more rural places where the kids will crawl out of the woodwork, ’cause they’re not in a big city and there’s not a big sports team and there’s not a big arena around it. When we used to play some of the club venues with Savatage or some of the theaters, you would get out there into some of these places and these crowds were just, like, bananas. They were great. And you feel that. But the European festival scene is definitely something that has to be seen to be able to describe exactly. It’s kind of like a TSO show. You could talk about ’em, unless you see it, you don’t really know. But I mean, there’s lots of great stuff, like I said, in South America too. And I know there’s a lot of great festivals coming around in America too.”
Fans have plenty of ongoing Savatage activity to look forward to this year. On June 26, earMUSIC is slated to release Madness Reigns From The Gutter (1990), an archival live album capturing the group at the peak of their classic “Rulin’ Gutter” touring era.
Additionally, the current incarnation of the band, featuring vocalist Zak Stevens, guitarists Al Pitrelli and Chris Caffery, bassist Johnny Lee Middleton, and drummer Jeff Plate, will launch the 2026 “Prelude To Madness” tour this spring and summer. The itinerary boasts roughly 20 European dates, including major festival stops at Germany’s Wacken Open Air, Spain’s Leyendas Del Rock, Belgium’s Alcatraz, and Sweden Rock.
Savatage “Prelude To Madness” 2026 European Tour Dates:
- June 3-6 – Sölvesborg, Sweden – Sweden Rock Festival*
- July 19 – Istanbul, Turkey – Zorlu PSM Turkcell Sahnesi
- July 21 – Bucharest, Romania – Arenele Romane Open Air (special guest: Trooper)
- July 23 – Plovdiv, Bulgaria – BE4 Hills*
- July 25 – Athens, Greece – Release Festival*
- July 27 – Pompeii, Italy – Amphitheatre of Pompeii (special show with orchestra)
- July 28 – Este, Italy – Castello Carrarese (special guest: Vision Divine)
- July 30 – Wacken, Germany – Wacken Open Air*
- Aug. 1 – Tilburg, Netherlands – O13
- Aug. 3 – Pratteln, Switzerland – Z7 Open Air (special guest: Nevermore)
- Aug. 5 – Villena, Spain – Leyendas Del Rock*
- Aug. 7 – Kortrijk, Belgium – Alcatraz Festival*
- Aug. 8 – Hamburg, Germany – Elb-Riot*
- Aug. 9 – Geiselwind, Germany – Keep It True*
- Aug. 11 – Warsaw, Poland – Progresja (special guests: Nevermore and Armored Saint)
- Aug. 12 – Leipzig, Germany – Parkbühne (special guest: Nevermore)
- Aug. 13 – Bonn, Germany – KUNST!RASEN (special guest: Nevermore)
- Aug. 15 – Moravský Krumlov, Czech Republic – Rock Castle*
* Festival appearance
