Trans-Siberian Orchestra is a blasphemy against the gods of metal, an abominable spectacle of faux megachurch power rock with a full orchestra, dramatic recitations and enough laser lights to scorch your retinas. It exists as two separate entities, one of which travels the east side of the country and one of which travels the west, both spreading peace on earth, Christmas cheer, and botched histories of Beethoven.
On the other hand, Savatage, the four-piece sometimes five-piece band that birthed Trans-Siberian Orchestra, was completely metal. Founded in Florida in by brothers Criss and Jon Oliva, Savatage sidestepped most of the teased-out hair metal trends of the '80s.
Instead, they composed elaborate concept albums with virtuosic musicianship and palpable passion. But the song by itself was pretty epic. And sure, they freely admitted to having been influenced by Andrew Lloyd Webber on their album Gutter Ballet. Gritty in theme and operatic in scope, Streets was metal in the best way. Guitarist Criss died in a car accident in , but Savatage survived long enough to record Dead Winter Dead in , and that is the contemporary Christmas classic to which I deck the friggin' halls.
Since that time, Trans-Siberian Orchestra has dominated radio airplay around Christmastime, while Savatage has been largely forgotten. The Hillsborough County Medical Examiner in Tampa wrote in an autopsy report dated May 25 that O'Neill had methadone, codeine, diazepam and an antihistamine in his system when he died April 5 in Tampa.
The county released the report on Tuesday. The cause of death for the year-old was intoxication and the manner of death was drug abuse. He was found dead in a hotel room. And it is. I'm just happy to be part of it. I loved working for the man. I love working for his family.
I loved to help him bring some of his ideas to life. I loved him guiding me, I loved throwing ideas at him. It was just the greatest quarter century in my life, musically.
Al is very aware of the musical legacy he is upholding in TSO and how Paul wanted the music to live on. It's like any other art form or anything else that you want replicated for decades and centuries — we're going to do our best. The Composers. Jon Oliva Composer A self-taught musician, Jon Oliva is accomplished on keyboards, guitar, drums, bass, violin, and cello, and is internationally renowned as the founder, writer, keyboardist, and lead singer for the hard rock band Savatage.
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