Zachary Stevens
Encyclopedia
Zachary "Zak" Stevens is best known as the former lead vocalist of the band Savatage
. He is also a drummer and has a degree in psychology but is not, as is often reported, a licensed, practicing psychologist.
Stevens first achieved fame singing for a band called Wicked Witch. However, after Savatage co-founder Jon Oliva
stepped down from the fore of the band at the conclusion of their tour in support of Streets: A Rock Opera
in 1992 to concentrate on other projects, namely his other band Doctor Butcher and a Broadway-bound musical entitled Romanov, Savatage required a replacement. Criss Oliva
, Savatage's lead guitarist, and their long-time producer Paul O'Neill
heard demos of Stevens and wanted him to sing for the band. After an initial audition, Stevens was considered to be the right man for the job and joined Savatage in 1993. He first appeared on the album Edge of Thorns
. Stevens's vocals were considered to be a departure from that of Jon Oliva, and some Savatage fans prefer to distinguish between the Jon Oliva lead albums and those with Stevens on lead vocals. The album Dead Winter Dead
contains lead vocals from both Oliva and Stevens and contains the song "Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)", which gave rise to and became a hit for the Trans-Siberian Orchestra
.
In 1996, Stevens appeared along with other Savatage members in the Trans-Siberian Orchestra project. His last album recorded with Savatage was The Wake of Magellan
(1997), which some fans consider to be Savatage's best work in the post-1993 Savatage canon.
In 2000
, Stevens quit Savatage, citing that he wanted to spend more time with his young family. In 2002, he formed his own band Circle II Circle. His Savatage connections remained evident, as Jon Oliva
produced the first Circle II Circle album, Watching in Silence, and guitarist Chris Caffery
recorded guitar on some songs. Oliva and Caffery also co-wrote several of the songs on Watching in Silence. In 2003, Stevens's band left Circle II Circle to join Jon Oliva's band Pain. Stevens then hired an all-new band. Circle II Circle has released three additional full-length albums since, 2005's The Middle of Nowhere
, Burden of Truth
in 2006, and Delusions of Grandeur
in 2008.
Savatage
Savatage is an American heavy metal band founded by the brothers Jon and Criss Oliva in 1978 at Astro Skate in Tarpon Springs, Florida.-Early days :...
. He is also a drummer and has a degree in psychology but is not, as is often reported, a licensed, practicing psychologist.
Stevens first achieved fame singing for a band called Wicked Witch. However, after Savatage co-founder Jon Oliva
Jon Oliva
John Nicholas Oliva is best known simply as Jon Oliva and as founder of and lead vocalist for Savatage. He is the third of four children...
stepped down from the fore of the band at the conclusion of their tour in support of Streets: A Rock Opera
Streets: A Rock Opera
-Production:The album was originally due to be a double CD record, but record label Atlantic Records lost reels of the sessions in their vaults. These "lost tracks" were re-written over the years and eventually formed parts of songs on Edge of Thorns and later works...
in 1992 to concentrate on other projects, namely his other band Doctor Butcher and a Broadway-bound musical entitled Romanov, Savatage required a replacement. Criss Oliva
Criss Oliva
Christopher "Criss" Michael Oliva was born in Pompton Plains, NJ. He was the lead guitarist in, and co-founder of, the band Savatage...
, Savatage's lead guitarist, and their long-time producer Paul O'Neill
Paul O'Neill (rock producer)
Paul O'Neill is an American music composer, lyricist, producer, and songwriter.-Early years:A New York City native, O'Neill began playing guitar with a number of rock bands in high school and quickly graduated to folk guitar gigs at downtown clubs...
heard demos of Stevens and wanted him to sing for the band. After an initial audition, Stevens was considered to be the right man for the job and joined Savatage in 1993. He first appeared on the album Edge of Thorns
Edge of Thorns
-Band members:*Zachary Stevens – lead vocals*Criss Oliva – guitars*Johnny Lee Middleton – bass guitar*Steve Wacholz – drums -Additional musicians:...
. Stevens's vocals were considered to be a departure from that of Jon Oliva, and some Savatage fans prefer to distinguish between the Jon Oliva lead albums and those with Stevens on lead vocals. The album Dead Winter Dead
Dead Winter Dead
- Story :In the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo, there is a town square surroundedby buildings that were constructed during the Middle Ages. Thesquare has a beautiful stone fountain at its center and at one...
contains lead vocals from both Oliva and Stevens and contains the song "Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)", which gave rise to and became a hit for the Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Trans-Siberian Orchestra is an American progressive metal band founded in 1993 by producer, composer, and lyricist Paul O'Neill, who brought together Jon Oliva and Al Pitrelli and keyboardist and co-producer Robert Kinkel to form the core of the creative team. Since then, TSO sold nearly 8...
.
In 1996, Stevens appeared along with other Savatage members in the Trans-Siberian Orchestra project. His last album recorded with Savatage was The Wake of Magellan
The Wake of Magellan
-Personnel:*Zachary Stevens - lead vocals*Jon Oliva – lead vocals , keyboards*Chris Caffery – guitars, backing vocals*Al Pitrelli - guitars, backing vocals*Johnny Lee Middleton – bass guitar, backing vocals...
(1997), which some fans consider to be Savatage's best work in the post-1993 Savatage canon.
In 2000
2000 in music
See also:* 2000 in music Record labels established in 2000-Events:*January – Gary Glitter is released from jail, two months before his sentence for sexual offences ends.*January 1**John Tavener is knighted in the New Year's Honours List....
, Stevens quit Savatage, citing that he wanted to spend more time with his young family. In 2002, he formed his own band Circle II Circle. His Savatage connections remained evident, as Jon Oliva
Jon Oliva
John Nicholas Oliva is best known simply as Jon Oliva and as founder of and lead vocalist for Savatage. He is the third of four children...
produced the first Circle II Circle album, Watching in Silence, and guitarist Chris Caffery
Chris Caffery
Chris Caffery is a heavy metal guitarist who is best known for his work as a member of Savatage and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra...
recorded guitar on some songs. Oliva and Caffery also co-wrote several of the songs on Watching in Silence. In 2003, Stevens's band left Circle II Circle to join Jon Oliva's band Pain. Stevens then hired an all-new band. Circle II Circle has released three additional full-length albums since, 2005's The Middle of Nowhere
The Middle of Nowhere (Circle II Circle album)
The Middle of Nowhere is a 2005 release by Circle II Circle. It was the band's second studio release, but the first featuring the new band assembled after Stevens fired the original band in 2003...
, Burden of Truth
Burden of Truth
Burden of Truth is a 2006 release by Circle II Circle. It was the band's third full-length studio release so far, and is a concept album, with the songs telling a story based on The DaVinci Code...
in 2006, and Delusions of Grandeur
Delusions of Grandeur (Circle II Circle album)
Delusions of Grandeur is a 2008 release by Circle II Circle. It was the band's forth studio release.- Track listing :# Fatal Warning - 03:55# Dead of Dawn - 04:07# Forever - 05:16# Echoes - 05:21# Waiting - 03:35# Soul Breaker - 03:29...
in 2008.
Savatage albums
- Edge of ThornsEdge of Thorns-Band members:*Zachary Stevens – lead vocals*Criss Oliva – guitars*Johnny Lee Middleton – bass guitar*Steve Wacholz – drums -Additional musicians:...
(1993) - Handful of RainHandful of Rain-Personnel:Due to the shake-up in the band following Criss's death, the line-ups were somewhat unclear at the time. Drummer Steve Wacholz left the band and did not play on the album, but he is pictured in the album to maintain a more "classic" Savatage line-up. Bassist Middleton was apparently...
(1994) - Dead Winter DeadDead Winter Dead- Story :In the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo, there is a town square surroundedby buildings that were constructed during the Middle Ages. Thesquare has a beautiful stone fountain at its center and at one...
(1995) - Japan Live '94Japan Live '94Japan Live '94 a live album that was recorded by Savatage. The show that was recorded for the release was held in Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan on November 12, 1994 and was the last show on the short Handful of Rain tour.Due to a lack of time on the CD, the entire show was not released onto CD...
(1995) - The Wake of MagellanThe Wake of Magellan-Personnel:*Zachary Stevens - lead vocals*Jon Oliva – lead vocals , keyboards*Chris Caffery – guitars, backing vocals*Al Pitrelli - guitars, backing vocals*Johnny Lee Middleton – bass guitar, backing vocals...
(1998)
Trans-Siberian Orchestra albums
- Christmas Eve and Other StoriesChristmas Eve and Other StoriesChristmas Eve and Other Stories is a rock opera and Christmas album by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. The story is about a young man who wanders into a bar on Christmas Eve where he encounters a mysterious old man who tells him a tale about the magical effect of Christmas day on the human race...
(1996) - The Christmas AtticThe Christmas AtticThe Christmas Attic is the second album by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, a rock opera, and the second installment of their Christmas Trilogy, the sequel to Christmas Eve and Other Stories and the prequel to The Lost Christmas Eve...
(1998) - Beethoven's Last NightBeethoven's Last NightBeethoven's Last Night is a concept album by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, released in 2000. The album tells the fictional story of Ludwig van Beethoven on the last night of his life, as the devil, Mephistopheles, comes to collect his soul...
(2000) - The Lost Christmas EveThe Lost Christmas Eve-References to other media:"Back to a Reason " is a sequel to the Savatage song "Back to a Reason", on their 2001 release Poets and Madmen....
(2004) - Night CastleNight Castle- Disc two :- Personnel :* Paul O'Neill - Producer* Robert Kinkel - Producer* Dave Wittman - Recording & Mix Engineer- Vocals :Solo:* Jay Pierce - "Childhood Dreams", "The Safest Way Into Tomorrow"* Tim Hockenberry - "Sparks", "Believe"...
(2009)
Circle II Circle albums
- Watching in SilenceWatching in SilenceWatching in Silence is a 2003 release by Circle II Circle. It was the band's first release, and featured guest appearances from lead vocalist Zachary Stevens's former band mates from Savatage, Jon Oliva and Chris Caffery, who co-wrote many of the songs on the album.- Track listing :#"Out of Reach" ...
(2003) - The Middle of NowhereThe Middle of Nowhere (Circle II Circle album)The Middle of Nowhere is a 2005 release by Circle II Circle. It was the band's second studio release, but the first featuring the new band assembled after Stevens fired the original band in 2003...
(2005) - Burden of TruthBurden of TruthBurden of Truth is a 2006 release by Circle II Circle. It was the band's third full-length studio release so far, and is a concept album, with the songs telling a story based on The DaVinci Code...
(2006) - Delusions of GrandeurDelusions of Grandeur (Circle II Circle album)Delusions of Grandeur is a 2008 release by Circle II Circle. It was the band's forth studio release.- Track listing :# Fatal Warning - 03:55# Dead of Dawn - 04:07# Forever - 05:16# Echoes - 05:21# Waiting - 03:35# Soul Breaker - 03:29...
(2008) - Consequence of Power (2010)