Progressive metal band Savatage made a historic return to the headlining stage this past Monday, April 21st, performing their first non-festival club show in more than two decades at São Paulo’s Espaço Unimed. The highly anticipated concert followed the band’s appearance just two days prior at the massive Monsters Of Rock festival in the same Brazilian city.
Fans lucky enough to attend the Espaço Unimed show were treated to an extensive 20-song setlist with deep cuts and cherished classics. Demonstrating the band’s commitment to this reunion, the set featured numerous songs not performed live in many years. Notable rarities included “Strange Wings” (last played in 2002), “Taunting Cobras” (absent since 1998), “This Is The Time” (1990 track, last heard in 2002), “The Hourglass” (also dormant since 2002), and the powerful encore opener “Power Of The Night” (unleashed for the first time since 2003). The performance of “Believe” also featured a poignant tribute to the band’s late, iconic guitarist Criss Oliva.
Taking the stage for these Brazilian dates and upcoming shows is the formidable lineup of Zak Stevens on lead vocals, guitarists Chris Caffery and Al Pitrelli, bassist Johnny Lee Middleton, and drummer Jeff Plate. The core members are complemented by touring keyboardists Paulo Cuevas and Shawn McNair.
However, one crucial figure missing from the reunion is founding vocalist and keyboardist Jon Oliva. His absence stems from serious health issues, including a T7 vertebra fracture suffered in 2023 that necessitates the use of a wheelchair, as well as diagnoses of Multiple Sclerosis and Ménière’s disease. Reports from recent interviews indicate these conditions prevent him from enduring the rigors of touring, with Oliva opting for natural healing over suggested surgery involving metal implants.
The current tour brings vocalist Zak Stevens back to the forefront. Stevens originally joined Savatage in 1992 as Jon Oliva‘s replacement, fronting the band for four albums including classics like “Edge Of Thorns” and “The Wake Of Magellan,” before departing in 2000. Oliva returned to lead vocals for the band’s 2001 album “Poets And Madmen.” Guitarist Al Pitrelli, who is part of the current lineup, had briefly left Savatage for Megadeth around the time of that album’s recording but contributed solos before his departure.
These current performances mark Savatage‘s most substantial live activity since their unique, one-off reunion show at Germany’s Wacken Open Air festival in 2015, which featured both Stevens and Oliva. The São Paulo headlining gig signifies a monumental return for the beloved band, thrilling fans who have waited over twenty years for such an event.
