Legendary American progressive metal band Savatage is excited to announce their first headline shows since 2002. EMP presents:
– Saturday, June 14, 2025 – Oberhausen, Germany – Turbinenhalle
– Monday, June 16, 2025 – London, UK – Shepherds Bush Empire
– Wednesday, June 18, 2025 – Zurich, Switzerland – Komplex 457
– Thursday, June 19, 2025 – Munich, Germany – Tonhalle
– Tuesday, June 24, 2025 – Milan, Italy – Alcatraz
Singer Zak Stevens shares his thoughts: “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, putting us right back in front of all 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!”
In their long-awaited return to the stage after a decade, the iconic lineup of John Lee Middleton, Zak Stevens, Chris Caffery, Jeff Plate, and Al Pitrelli will also perform at the following festivals:
– Friday, June 13, 2025 – Leeuwarden, Netherlands – Into The Grave Festival
– Sunday, June 22, 2025 – Dessel, Belgium – Graspop Metal Meeting
– Thursday, June 26, 2025 – Barcelona, Spain – Rockfest
– Saturday, June 28, 2025 – Thessaloniki, Greece – Rockwave Festival
Zak continues, “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 founder Jon Oliva expresses his disappointment at not joining, yet shares his excitement for his bandmates: “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 over all these years and we can’t wait to rock you!”
Savatage has cultivated a passionate cult following with over twenty years of musical excellence, eleven groundbreaking albums, and hundreds of performances around the globe. Their unique blend of thrash, progressive, power metal, and classic hard rock has left an indelible mark on the music world. Founded in Tampa, Florida, by brothers Jon and Criss Oliva, Savatage’s journey has been a mix of triumph and tragedy. Albums like the seminal 1987 release “Hall of the Mountain King” and the critically acclaimed 1991 rock opera “Streets” continue to resonate with fans today. The untimely death of Criss Oliva after the success of 1993’s “Edge of Thorns” marked a turning point for the band, but they rebounded with a newfound identity, culminating in their 1995 album “Dead Winter Dead.” Their electrifying reunion performance at the 2015 Wacken Open Air in Germany, where they captivated an audience of 80,000, reaffirmed Savatage’s enduring legacy and their powerful connection with fans.
