JON
OLIVA'S PAIN
Jon Oliva’s Pain is the name
of the new, fresh band of Jon Oliva. Behind The Veil had the chance to
interview Jon for his new album "Tage Mahal" and question him about Savatage
of course.
1. Before we start this interivew,
can you tell me who’s winning the Elections?
J.O: We will have that dickhead
Bush for another four years. He is a complete idiot but the American people
had to choose between idiot number one and idiot number two. Maybe this
will be a title for my next album.
2. Before I ask you questions
about your new personal album “Tage Mahal”, Three Months ago I had the
change to speak with Chris Caffery for his personal album. Firstly tell
me guys why ain't you making something for Savatage?
We have plans of making another
Savatage album next year which will be our 20 + anniversary. By this time
most of the Savatage members would like to take a rest from this band,
do something with their personal albums. It's like having short vacations
from Savatage.
3. You have a new album called
“Tage Mahal”, musically speaking tell me with your own words what changes
and what differs in the album's sound. Are there any new elements the fans
must take notice of?
Tage Mahal is my personal album
and has some personal topics I had the chance to approach. It’s not far
more that the Savatage Music. The most different think is about the production
which I will explain you later on. Fistrly I wanted to call the band “Tage
Mahal” but I couldnt because another band had the rights for this name.
Secondly I wanted to call the band “Pain” but there is also a band called
Pain, so I called the band as Jon Oliva’s Pain.
4. In your website you are saying
that “Tage Mahal” was originally an idea for an istrumental album of your
brother Criss. Is it a concept album or not? Did Criss leave you any material
that you used?
Criss had an idea for a personal
album with this title. Before the time he died in a crash accident he wanted
to make a personal album. I also wanted to make a personal album
but for known reasons I couldn't. Tage Mahal was the title Criss dreamed,
he didn't leave any material. I thought that Tage was the spelling he wanted
because it comes from Sava-Tage. “Tage Mahal” is not a concept album, but
a trip to the mind of Jon Oliva. If you can read the lyrics, you can see
“Tage Mahal" as a Trip through my brain.
5. What is your favorite song
from “Tage Mahal” and Why?
That’s difficult question. I like
every song from this album but especially I think that “Guardian Of Forever”
and “The Dark” are my favorites.
6. Can you tell me more about
the production, I think one of the best productions you ‘ve ever done.
Thank you very much! I used an
old studio, with old equipment. I didn't use any “new equipment” like consoles
with digital effects and that kind of stuff. I used computers only for
the mixing. I wanted the sound to be more warm to the ears of the listener.
I didn't use any hard disks but tapes. When I compared the digital songs
to this songs in Tage Mahal, they were competely different.
7. What are your future plans
after the release of this new album? Are you planning any live appearances?
Will we see you play here in Greece?
We will begin our Tour in your
country. We will play 3 gigs there, one in Thessaloniki and two in Athens
which will be very special shows. The second show in Athens will be an
acoustic show with a lot of talking from me, many songs and I am sure we
all have a great time. Don’t miss it! We will continue our Tour in January.
8. What about the Transiberian
Orchestra?
We have already released our new
album and it goes well, we are having till December some shows in the States.
We also make a full house on Madisson Square garden.
9.Can you explain the phenomenon
with Transiberian Orchestra? Why are they selling more records than Savatage
in the United States?
I don’t know man! If I knew I would
not be a musician but a business manager (laughs). Well I don't know why
Transiberian Orchestra are having more success than Savatage but I am sure
that many idiots in the States don’t know that Transiberian Orchestra are
Savatage with more singers! Couple of years some radio reporters told me
that people didn’t want to hear more of Transiberian Orchestra. We are
finished here, we are not going to sell any records. Last month the same
guys found me in the Madisson Square garden and congratulated me for the
new Transiberian Orchestra album! They are completely idiots and ignorants.
They think that they know but actually they don’t know a shit!
10. Do you have some spare songs
on the “chest”. Some material that you havent used in “Tage Mahal” album
and from your previous work?
I have tons of songs that I haven't
used in my albums. Take as an example “Tage Mahal”, they were 7 songs that
I didn't use in this album and I will probably use in the future. You know
I don’t categorize songs. This song is better for Savatage, that song is
better for Jon Oliva’s Pain, that song is for Transiberian Orchestra, this
song is for my new band called shit….(laughs). I just write songs and when
I have a new album I decide which song I will use.
11. What do you remember from
your previous visits here in Greece, did you like the Greek audience?
Honestly Savatage are having great
time when they play in Greece, I think that the Greek audience is very
warm and one of the best in the world.
12. I have kept as a dessert
the psychological question. Imagine you have a crystal ball that you could
see the future in Colors. What colors are you seeing for the future, for
Savatage and for you of course.
Wow! I see Gold! Platinum! And….Green!
The colour of money (laughs). Look as in for the future, I am happy
as long as I can write music, I can play music and make people happy. I
think that everything will be ok!
13.Thank you very much for the
Interview Jon, I enjoyed it!
Thank you Costas, Will I see you
in Greece? Do you live in Thessaloniki or Athens?
- I live in Athens, and actually
I had a great time when I saw you a couple of years ago with Savatage.
I was standing on a roof of the stadium with my friends and you looked
us from the stage and you blessed us! So I have your blessings!
(laughs) Well, I when I see you,
you will have my blessings again! Take care Costas!
-Thank you, take care you too
Jon!
Costas “C.O.B.” Meidanis
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