SAVATAGE’s JON OLIVA Reveals He Nearly Died In A ‘Freak Accident’

After a long hiatus, SAVATAGE is making a comeback. The American heavy metal band, known for their forays into progressive and power metal, hasn’t played live since Wacken Open Air in 2015, and their last tour was way back in 2002. Now, they’re set to return with shows in South America (April) and Europe (June).

Their return kicks off in Brazil at the Monsters of Rock festival at Allianz Parque in São Paulo on April 19, sharing the stage with SCORPIONS, JUDAS PRIEST, EUROPE, OPETH, QUEENSRŸCHE and STRATOVARIUS. Rumors suggest they may also play a separate show at Espaço Unimed in São Paulo two days later.

SAVATAGE’s 2025 lineup will include Johnny Lee Middleton on bass, Chris Caffery and Al Pitrelli on guitars, Jeff Plate on drums, and Zak Stevens on lead vocals.

Founding member Jon Oliva will unfortunately be absent. He suffered a serious accident in 2023, fracturing his T7 vertebra in three places. His health has been further challenged by diagnoses of multiple sclerosis and Ménière’s disease.

In a new interview with Marcelo Vieira, Oliva detailed how his injuries, which hinder even routine activities, render him unable to participate in the tour.

“Oh, I feel like s**t. Well, I’ve learned my lesson,” he said (as transcribed by Blabbermouth). “First of all, never fracture your spine. That’s my first tip, because it’s incredibly painful and it takes a long time to heal. And, unfortunately, I fractured my spine in three places. Other than that, I’m okay, except with the fracture, I mean, I can’t sing. I can’t really move around that well yet because it isn’t completely healed yet. And I can’t do therapy, physical therapy, because it’s not healed enough yet for that.

“So I’m basically stuck, and it sucks and I’m very disappointed, but what are you gonna do? Things happen. And if I would’ve hit where I did a foot to the left, I’d be dead right now. My truck, my vehicle got cut in half and I missed being grounded to a tree by about a foot. It was scary. And it was a freak accident. I hit a puddle on the road, I hit a puddle and I hydroplaned and I went off the road and hit a tree, and the tree cut my car in half. And, like I said, I just missed hitting the tree with my body by about a foot, they said.”

SAVATAGE 2025 South American dates:

April 19 – São Paulo, Brazil – Monsters Of Rock
April 23 – Santiago, Chile – Masters Of Rock

SAVATAGE 2025 European headlining shows:

June 14 – Oberhausen, Germany – Turbinenhalle
June 16 – London, UK – Shepherds Bush Empire
June 18 – Zurich, Switzerland – Komplex 457
June 19 – Munich, Germany – Tonhalle
June 24 – Milan, Italy – Alcatraz

SAVATAGE 2025 European festival appearances:

June 13 – Leeuwarden, Netherlands – Into The Grave
June 22 – Dessel, Belgium – Grapop Metal Meeting
June 26 – Barcelona, Spain – Rock Fest
June 28 – Thessaloniki, Greece – Rockwave