Metal-Rules writer Marko Syrjala conducted an interview with Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Metal Church drummer Jeff Plate. In the discussion, Plate talks about Metal Church reuniting in 2012, the formation of TSO, working with Zak Stevens (Circle II Circle, Savatage), Chris Caffery (Savatage, Trans-Siberian Orchestra), Alex Skolnick (Testament), and Al Pitrelli (Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Savatage, Megadeth), learning to know Savatage and Metal Church, and Savatage reunion thoughts. (Note: The interview occurred before the Savatage reunion at Wacken Open Air 2015 was announced).

On the future of Metal Church:

“We have a record that has already been started, my drum tracks are done. That’s all I will tell you. It will be out soon. We have a couple of shows in America with Accept in California. San Diego and Los Angeles basically.”

On TSO and the success of “Sarajevo”:

“This is the key song to everything, because when we were in the studio and Paul says, ‘I want to do this Christmas song.’ And we are all like, ‘What! Are you crazy?’ I can remember him and Jon going back and forth on this and Jon is like, ‘I don’t want to do that.’ Paul is like, ‘Come on. Please, please.’ The arrangement I mean is perfect for Savatage, it’s like, ‘Yeah. That completely makes sense.’

If it fits into what the record is, it fits into the story. But that song took off on radio in America, like Savatage is over here in hard rock world. That Christmas song took off over here and all over sudden you had little kids in old metal moment that loved the song and couldn’t get enough it. So, they had a hit song which Savatage would never have been able to capitalize on. So, in Paul’s wisdom and the management people around him. It’s like, ‘We have a hit song, let’s take advantage of this. We have the group of people to do it.’ So, that’s how the TSO thing really kind of all came together. And then the first album Christmas Eve And Other Stories. The centerpiece of that record is that song, the instrumental song. The centerpiece of our live show was still that song; it’s one of the most popular Christmas songs in America during that time. So, it’s huge. So yeah, the fact that they had worked… Here again, Jon Oliva. He works all these years to be a success and all over sudden the thing you think would never… This is isn’t what we are supposed to be doing, and this instrumental Christmas song becomes the biggest hit that he’s ever I have been involved in. So, you have to jump on these things and take advantage while you can or else you may miss.”

To read the whole interview visit Metal-Rules.com.