Today would have been Criss Oliva's birthday.

[Tawmis]

He was my guitar idol.



Here's a cool pieces about him...
https://www.guitarworld.com/features/cr ... ntain-king
https://allthatshreds.com/look-back-sav ... iss-oliva/
https://rockandrollparadise.com/criss-oliva-101993/

[adeyke]

I was a fan.

[Tawmis]

I was a fan.

Seriously?

How did I not know this until now?

[adeyke]

Because I don't discuss my musical tastes a lot?

I quite like Savatage.

[Tawmis]

Because I don't discuss my musical tastes a lot?
I quite like Savatage.

Yeah... but... I've talked about Savatage a bit here (still my all time favorite band, even though they're now defunct).

I'm amazed... that in this small, nitch community we have... that someone else has heard of Savatage... let alone a fan.

You just may be my new favorite person on here!

[adeyke]

You just may be my new favorite person on here!

I very much doubt that .

[Tawmis]

You just may be my new favorite person on here!

I very much doubt that .

Hah! While we may disagree on things - you underestimate how much the enjoyment of Savatage means to me!

[Rath Darkblade]

I'd never heard of Criss Oliva or Savatage before, so I did some research into his life and death.

I'm sorry to hear. I can understand that he would have meant a lot to you. *offers 'bro-hugs' and positive vibes*

[Tawmis]

I'd never heard of Criss Oliva or Savatage before, so I did some research into his life and death.

I'm sorry to hear. I can understand that he would have meant a lot to you. *offers 'bro-hugs' and positive vibes*

Thank you, sir. Not many have heard of Savatage or Criss Oliva...

The interesting thing is... one of Savatage's songs became the staple song of Trans-Siberian Orchestra (which most have heard of), because TSO is composed and formed by members of Savatage...
Savatage Christmas Eve/ Sarajevo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZSWKB1_o4E
TSO Christmas Eve / Sarajevo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sw0-nhQeqbc

Literally, TSO's first hit song.

Amazing that simply changing the name and theme of the band, and how much that song was embraced...

[Tawmis]

Yesterday would have been Criss Oliva's birthday -
Here's a memorial video I'd made quite a few years ago...

[Tawmis]

Today (well, yesterday officially - the 17th of October) - is when Criss Oliva was tragically taken from us so many years ago.

Recent video edit I did of their video "When The Crowds Are Gone"

[Tawmis]

Another year has come and gone without new music from Criss.

[Tawmis]

Tomorrow (well, might be today for some of you) - October 17th, Christopher Michael Oliva, the guitarist of Savatage, would tragically be taken from this world, by a drunk driver who had seven PRIOR offenses. His wife would die later, from the wounds she too, had suffered. The drunk driver barely served any time - he was sentenced to five years in prison to be followed by 10 years probation and 200 hours of community service working with the Mothers Against Drunk Driving. He only served 18 months in prison.

This wasn't manslaughter. This was his 7th DUI offense. This was murder.

And the fact that he served _18 months_ after _SEVEN DUI_ offenses is beyond atrocious. He should be in prison for life.

[Tawmis]

I know it's just me, but today would have been Criss Oliva's birthday.

Just remembering a guitarist whose music deeply influenced me and touched my soul.

The Orchestra Still Plays.