Savatage guitarist Chris Caffery, vocalist Zak Stevens and drummer Jeff Plate recently participated in a video interview with Metal Pilgrim.

During their chat, which can be seen below, Caffery, Stevens and Plate talk about the band's upcoming 2025 live "reunion" tour and why it's not exactly a reunion, the tentative setlist and production. They also open up about Jon Oliva, his health, and offer more insight as per if and how Jon Oliva will take part in Savatage's 2025 tour. The guys also speak about the new Savatage album, what it will be like and when it might be out, the current state of metal and why so many young people still become metalheads, the atmosphere in the band and much, much more.

An excerpt has been transcribed as follows:

Chris Caffery: "Well, the music is being written and it keeps being written. As far as when it's going to be finished, there is not a date. Let's just put it this way that when we can, we will get music done. And the stuff that is written is very good. And when we get together and start playing, I have a feeling there's gonna be new stuff that gets written too. I mean, in a perfect world, we get these shows done, we make a plan that's actually going to stay straight and we can have an answer for this for an actual date.I think it would be great to have some music, but for right now, I think the most important thing is that we're going. And now that the Savatage machine is moving, we'll be able to answer these questions better, I think, now that it's solidified that it's no longer the rumor that Savatage is playing. So we'll have these answers more as we get together."

Zak Stevens:  "And we have been working on music. We've been recording stuff for a while now. I mean, I've got about probably eight or nine songs that I've been working on with Jon. And he keeps writing more, like Chris said. So it's just an ongoing process. Stuff is continuing to beat the old stuff. So Jon goes, 'Oh, you like that? Well, here.' And then something winds up beating something else, and then what you thought was gonna be the ten songs on the record, now half of them have already gone to a new level. So we've got a lot of music. So it's just gonna be a matter of time to when we can record it."

Jeff Plate: "It's very honorable of Jon to allow us to do this. Savatage is his baby. He started this thing back in the '80s. And the fact that he's, like, 'Let's let these guys get out there and play and get this thing rolling.' He's got some health things he's really got to straighten out. And they are serious, they are unforeseen and all of a sudden these things just happen. But Jon, I give that man a lot of credit for saying, 'Okay, guys.'"

The legendary Savatage (Johnny Lee Middleton - bass, Chris Caffery - guitars, Al Pitrelli - guitars, Jeff Plate - drums, and Zak Stevens - vocals) have announced tour dates across Europe for summer 2025, with a mix of festival appearances and headline shows.

Says Zak Stevens: "As you can imagine, there are so many special things about these shows that are racing through my mind. We get to play a series of headline shows for the first time in over twenty years that will put us right back in front of all of the unbelievable fans who have given us so many unforgettable memories over the last three decades. Here’s our chance to directly give back to everyone who’s been there supporting us all these years! All the great festival shows are going to be off-the-charts amazing. It’s even hard to imagine the scale of excitement that’s going to take place with those shows."

Savatage mastermind Jon Oliva expressed his disappointment at not being able to join the band for the shows, but shared his excitement, stating: "I am very excited for the guys to be doing some shows. Unfortunately, due to health issues, I will not be able to join the guys for this run. Hopefully, this is just temporary. I will continue working in the studio on new music for the future. These shows will be awesome and I will be working with them to get it all ready for you. I know everyone is going to love it!!! Me and the guys are very excited and ready to kick ass! So from me, thank you all for the support for all these years and we can’t wait to rock you!"

For further details, including ticket/festival links, head to Savatage.com. Find a video trailer below.

South American dates:

April
19 - São Paulo, Brazil - Monsters Of Rock
21 - São Paulo, Brazil - Espaço Unimed (Headline Date)
23 - Santiago, Chile - Masters Of Rock

European dates:

June
13 - Leeuwarden, Netherlands - Into The Grave
14 - Oberhausen, Germany - Turbinenhalle (Headline Date)
16 - London, UK - Shepherds Bush Empire (Headline Date)
18 - Zurich, Switzerland - Komplex 457 (Headline Date)
19 - Munich, Germany - Tonhalle (Headline Date)
22 - Dessel, Belgium - Grapop Metal Meeting
24 - Milan, Italy - Alcatraz (Headline Date)
26 - Barcelona, Spain - Rock Fest
28 - Thessaloniki, Greece - Rockwave

(Photo - Josh Ruzansky)