Florida-based JON OLIVA'S PAIN have checked in with the following update:

"ProgPower USA fans are known for their passion, knowledge and fervor for the bands and the music they love. They know everything possible about the history of their favorite artists and follow them religiously throughout their careers. But have any of you fans ever wondered what it would be like to crawl into the mind of the writer, witness the actual writing process and creation of demos, and then hear the final mix live?

Well, now you can...and it can only happen at this year's ProgPower USA Festival by none other than the Mountain King himself, Jon Oliva!

Oliva, along with Christopher Kinder (drummer and producer for Jon Oliva's Pain), will take you on a two hour journey as they discuss the construction process of a new song, record the tracks, and mix that song live...a song which will appear on a future JOP record. Fans will get a once in a lifetime look into the mind of one of the world's most gifted singer/songwriter. Everything surrounding the writing and recording process will be performed live right in front of you.

A question/answer/meet-n-greet will commence immediately at the end of the event!

This rare glimpse at the creative process of the Mountain King will take place at 5:00pm on Thursday, September 13, 2012 at Vinyl, located within the Center Stage Complex in Atlanta, GA as part of the ProgPower USA XIII festivities. Tickets will go on sale to ProgPower USA sponsors and Gold Badge Holders on March 17th via Ticket Alternative. Any remaining tickets will be made available to the public on March 19, 2012. Only 150 tickets will be available for this seated event. Further event information can be located at www.progpowerusa.com.

PLEASE NOTE: No audio or video recording will be allowed. The music performed at this event is copyrighted and owned by Jon Oliva. Any attempt to record or film this show will result in the immediate removal from the building and a ban for the entire festival weekend with no refund."

SAVATAGE's metal masterpiece Hall Of The Mountain King was released in 1987. Then came the brutal debut release from DOCTOR BUTCHER in 1995. Now after 25 years, Jon Oliva's Pain will bring both these albums to the Europe Festival/venue stages in 2012 as they perform an anniversary assault of music from both iconic records. Along with Hall Of The Mountain King and Doctor Butcher, the band will perform additional Savatage and JOP songs and continue to celebrate the life and work of JOP's recently departed guitarist and brother, Matthew LaPorte.

The band's tour schedule is as follows, with more dates due to be added soon:

June

16 - Ritz Theatre - Tampa/Ybor City, Florida
23 - Z7 - Pratteln, Switzerland
24 - Graspop Festival - Dessel, Belgium
27 - venue tba - Dubai, United Arab Emirates
29 - Turock - Essen, Germany
30 - Dokkem Festival - Raard, Netherlands

July

3 - Colos-Saal - Aschaffenburg, Germany
4 - venue/city tba
5 - Biebob - Vosselaar, Belgium
7 - Byscenen - Haugesund, Norway
10 - Live Club - Milan, Italy
12 - Bang Your Head Festival - Balingen, Germany
13 - venue/city tba
15 - Garage - London, UK

Details of the band's upcoming Ritz gig in Tampa/Ybor City are as follows:

7:30pm: doors

7:30om - 8:45pm: pre party in the front bar with RETRIBUTION (featuring Damond Janiya, formerly of Savatage)

9:00pm - 9:30pm: THE ETERNAL AFFECT

9:45pm - 10:45pm: JET CITY (The Ultimate Tribute to QUEENSRŸCHE)

11:00pm - 12:30am: JON OLIVA'S PAIN

12:30am – 300am: JOP meet & greet and after show party with RETRIBUTION

Ticket are $25.00 in advance and day of show. They can be purchased now through the Ritz Theatre Box office at 813-248-9210 between Wednesday and Saturday (tickets to be picked up at Will Call). You can also buy them in person. Ticketmaster purchases will be available online within the next week (additional fees will apply).