Chris Oliva

@Sealer 5230 wrote:

5 years ago I got this album – Savatage “Streets” , at that time I didn´t notice it that much, but a year later when I got deeper into guitar playing, I found out that I´m in love with that album. I think that Chris´ playing was simply beautiful. I think that his phrasing and note choice were excellent. Since then I really wanted to check this guy out and was impressed by his works with Savatage. Do you have any opinion about his playing?

You guys probably don´t like those hard rock/heavy metal music anymore, but I still find the naive rock vibe to be entertaining in its passion.

Cheers.
Marcin

Hi Marcin,

I think you might be surprised how many IG members here (as well as instructors) still like/enjoy hard-rock and metal! I’m sure that there are some that are more into jazz and fusion, but make no mistake, there are plenty of metal & rock aficianados out here!

Sadly, I must inform you (as it seems you might NOT be aware) that Criss Oliva of Savatage, was killed by a drunk-driver way back in 1993 – at the way-too-young-age-of-30 – on his way back from a gig. (I believe his wife/girlfriend was also killed, but I’m really NOT sure of that detail?) I pasted in the following from a tribute-webpage:

“Criss Oliva was the lead guitarist, co-writer, and co-founder of the band Savatage. On October 17, 1993, the world lost one of its all-time greatest musical geniuses and the greatest guitar player ever when Criss was killed by a drunk driver. Although Criss’s life was tragically cut short, and his talent was grossly underappreciated, his music will stand the test of time, and Savatage will ultimately be remembered as his band. Criss, like all true musical geniuses, such as Mozart, will live forever through his music…

I am sorry if this “bums you out” as I am sorry to be the “bearer-of-bad-news,” but I thought that you should know the truth about this excellent guitarist. May he R.I.P.
Also worthy of note is that one of my bandmates (Scott) actually helped to engineer one of Savatage’s records while he was working at The Power Plant in New York City back in the late 80’s and early 90’s, and he tells me that Criss Oliva was a “super-nice guy.” For whatever it’s worth, Scott also remembers Criss to be a completely self-taught guitarist who “did not read a note of music.” However, this did not stop him from being an awesome rock-guitarist.

~Bill Meehan~

Hi Marcin,

I’m sorry to have assumed that you didn’t know about Criss’ death. Maybe we piqued someone else’s interest by talking about him (and Savatage as a band.) Perhaps someone new will become a fan because of our dialogue. Wouldn’t that be cool?!?

I think you raise a good point about musicians embracing their roots “so-to-speak.” I’ll give you a good example. When I first started playing guitar, my three biggest inflences were (in no particular order) Jimi Hendrix, Alex Lifeson (Rush), and Michael Schenker (UFO, MSG.), amongst others. Once in a while, I re-visit my roots and pop in an old UFO, Rush, or Hendrix CD and it helps bring me back and remind me of how I felt when I was just starting out and all excited about learning from my heroes and stuff! I see nothing wrong with this sort of trip down memory lane, and I think it can actually help one’s playing from time-to-time. ,(Besides the nostalgia trip, I now realize that even with young, inexperienced, “ears,” these early influences of mine STAND THE TEST OF TIME! In other words, these guys really were GREAT!) That being said, I also think it’s important to evolve and to embrace change by trying different things/styles and maybe even listening to stuff that you might NOT have listened to when you were younger. It’s “all good!” as the saying goes!

Peace!

~Bill Meehan~