Rock Overdose spoke with guitarist Chris Caffery about the Savatage reunion at this summer’s Wacken Open Air festival in Germany, past choices, relationships with band members, and more.

Asked to give the story behind the reunion, Caffery reveals: “Well, there really is not a huge story to tell. For years everybody was asking if we were going to play again and I was always saying the same thing, that when there was the right time we would. I got a phone call and, I was told about the news about it and it was something that… I think it was just time. We want to go out and play that music again and kind of celebrate the band with those fans. It’s been a very long time. I mean, we missed it and that’s really all I can say about it right now.

“It’s like pretty much what’s going on with this reunion is that, as far what’s going to happen, who’s going to play, everything like that, I tell everybody that all these questions are going to be answered the next morning. I am just very happy that the band is playing again, I mean, that for me, it’s like 40 Christmases are going to be happening all in one day and I’ve lived that band, I got into it when I was a very young kid and it’s been a part of my life now for, for God, I guess it’s 28 years that Savatage has been a part of my life, so to be able to get back on stage and play that music again in front of what I believe are the greatest metal fans in the world, that arrive at the Wacken Festival, that to me, like I said it’s like 30 Christmases together and that is pretty much all I can say about it right now.

“We really want to leave that night to be something special for people and I don’t want to give away anything or say what is going to happen or what we are going to do or what is going to even happen after, cause like I said, every question that everybody has is going to be answered the next morning, get up and eventually they are going to know what is going to happen that night then.”

The interview can be found in two parts at the following locations: Part 1, Part 2.

To celebrate the reunion at Wacken this August, EarMUSIC will issue Return To Wacken on June 19th, featuring a selection of songs from the Floridians' previous appearances at the prestigious German festival, in 1998 (!) and 2002. Besides greatest hits, such as “Hall Of The Mountain King”, “Gutter Ballet”, or “The Wake Of Magellan”, the album booklet gives some real insights into the band with personal memories by Jon Oliva, rare pictures and press quotes. An album medley can be heard below.

 

 

Return To Wacken tracklist:

“Hall Of The Mountain King”
“Gutter Ballet”
“Believe”
“Chance”
“Edge Of Thorns”
“The Wake Of Magellan”
“Dead Winter Dead”
“The Hourglass”
“Tonight He Grins Again”
“Prelude To Madness”

“When the Crowds Are Gone“        

Album medley: