Fave Savatage Offshoot?

So I've been listening to a lot of Savatage related stuff lately...Doctor Butcher, Jon Oliva's Pain, Circle II Circle, etcetera, etcetera, and I know there's a lot of Savatage fans round these parts, so what's yer favorite "side project" or offshoot band featuring members of Savatage?

Though I like all of the Sava-family tree bands to some extent, this is still my favorite:



I bought an import copy of this CD at a KISS Expo in 1995 (paid too much $$ for it too!) but it was well worth it IMO. Jon Oliva has said this was "the most fun" record he's ever made, and described it as a chance for him and Caffery to "blow out some brain cells and time travel back to 1983 for a little while." Some of this album borders on thrash and is still some of the heaviest stuff Jon O. has ever recorded as far as I'm concerned. Fave songs: "Reach Out and Torment Someone," "The Picture's Wild," and "I Hate, You Hate, We All Hate!" A real gem if you ain't familiar with it. Since this debut was released in 1994, it's since been reissued with a different cover and some bonus tracks. There's also a second CD (released by the band themselves and later by Crook'd Records) simply called "THE DEMOS" which contains early drafts of some of the tunes off the debut plus a couple of songs that didn't make it onto the record. The sound on that one is pretty rough but it's worth hearing just for the hilarious live rendition of "Chester the Molestor."

I wish Jon and Chris would do another Doctor Butcher record!!

Release the hounds!

I voted for TSO as that is the only Savatage-related thing I own and enjoy. I had one of Chris Caffrey's solo discs for a spell, but sold it on ebay.

I voted for JO's Pain. It is the closest thing to the Savatage I love. Dr.Butcher is great too though. You should pick up the reissue with bonus tracks.

My vote went to JOP although I enjoy TSO around Christmas.

i prefer Chris Caffery's solo stuff. does that count?

mc666 wrote:

i prefer Chris Caffery's solo stuff. does that count?

That would go under "other" I suppose. I should've added his solo stuff as a choice but by the time I realized it I'd already saved the poll and couldnt' figure out how to go back and edit it in (if there even is a way to do such a thing).

Jon Oliva's Pain. Hands down the best "new" band playing today.

Jon Oliva's Pain is my favorite from the ones I have heard, which is the only Savatage-related project with Doctor Butcher that I really like.

I went with with TSO.

Never heard any of them except Jon Oliiva's Pain. Is Doctor Butcher any good? I like the name.

Jon Olivas Pain! I finally came across that Doctor Butcher cd earlier last year in a used bin out of all places. It is a great cd!

Phoenix Reign Drummer wrote:

Jon Olivas Pain! I finally came across that Doctor Butcher cd earlier last year in a used bin out of all places. It is a great cd!

Score, dude! When I bought it back in '95 it was a new release and I had to get an import copy from Germany. I think it cost me $35.

I voted for JO'sP

like the other choices, Carrefy solo too.

Circle II Circle by a mile.

I'm only familiar with John Oliva's Pain,so that's what I went for

Fat Freddy wrote:

Phoenix Reign Drummer wrote:

Jon Olivas Pain! I finally came across that Doctor Butcher cd earlier last year in a used bin out of all places. It is a great cd!

Score, dude! When I bought it back in '95 it was a new release and I had to get an import copy from Germany. I think it cost me $35.

I recognize the cover and I know I saw that Doctor Butcher cd in a used shop (that has since gone bye-bye) years ago. Had I known then, I would have picked it up.

Man, if I had a nickel for every cd I passed over back in the days before the internet, I'd probably have enough money to build an extension on my house just to store all those extra cd's.

I went with JOP because it's closer to the Savatage sound. I do enjoy TSO alot as well.

Doctor Butcher.

TSO - I'm not familiar with the others. I will need to check out JO'sP

I'd go with Circle II Circle. With Chris Caffery's solo stuff a very close second.

That Doctor Butcher is one I'm always on the look out for.

I'd go with Circle II Circle, since I have not heard any of other Savatage related projects expect for Trans.

I went for JOP, I like 'em all though, however Caffery's solo stuff has been hit and miss for me.

thrasher73 wrote:

My vote went to JOP although I enjoy TSO around Christmas.

+1 w/ props to original poster.

Fat Freddy wrote:

Phoenix Reign Drummer wrote:

Jon Olivas Pain! I finally came across that Doctor Butcher cd earlier last year in a used bin out of all places. It is a great cd!

Score, dude! When I bought it back in '95 it was a new release and I had to get an import copy from Germany. I think it cost me $35.

wow that had to hurt. i think the only cd i ever paid that much for was Helloweens Chameleon cd even though I do like the album it wasnt worth the $35 but what choice did I have back then. Now you can buy it for around $15 and it has bonus tracks. go figure

Phoenix Reign Drummer wrote:

wow that had to hurt. i think the only cd i ever paid that much for was Helloweens Chameleon cd even though I do like the album it wasnt worth the $35 but what choice did I have back then. Now you can buy it for around $15 and it has bonus tracks. go figure

Yea, nowadays I'd never pay that much for a CD, but at that time, it wasn't a big deal ... I was still single and living with my parents so therefore I had plenty of extra $$ to piss away on import CDs. Sadly those days are long gone now!!