MySpace 

Welcome to my Myspace Music page. This is a place to find all things DRUM, and music in general, that are happening in my life and career. There is a lot going on, so I will be updating, changing and improving things here to the best of my ability.

First of all, I want to thank all of you for giving me the chance to do THIS. It is no secret that without the support and drive, I wouldn't be here right now. I will be checking in everyday and I will read all messages and comments sent to me and respond to those as I see fit. In respect to that, please keep them honest and serious, no surveys or gossip or silliness. With everything happening in my career and life, every minute counts, so I will thank you in advance! This will also give me the opportunity to check out more of your profiles and music. And I am certainly interested in any ideas and photos you may have.

More information on my projects, tour dates and endorsements, can be found at my website: www.jeffplate.com. I would prefer that personal messages be directed there. There you can also find a detailed history of my drumming life up to joining Savatage in 1994.

The following is a timeline of what I've done since joining Savatage.

1994: Joined Savatage to tour and support the release of Handful Of Rain. Following a US tour, we toured Japan and recorded Japan Live '94. I always felt that if I could do one tour and record one album, I would have won. Within 6 months of nearly cutting my hair off and getting a "real" job, I had accomplished what I dreamed of doing as a kid.

1995: Recorded my first studio release, Dead Winter Dead. This concept record contained the hit song "Sarejevo 12/24," and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra was born.

1996: Two tours in Europe in support of Dead Winter Dead, headlining the Summer Metal Meetings and playing several major festivals. We also toured the US. The Trans-Siberian Orchestra recorded Christmas Eve and Other Stories.

1997: Savatage records The Wake Of Magellan. It is released in Europe and debuts at 11 on the German POP charts. Tours of The US, Europe, Japan and South America follow. TSO begins doing television appearances supporting CEAOS.

1998: TSO records The Christmas Attic, and does several television appearances. Christmas Eve And Other Stories is certified gold. Savatage tours the US, Europe and South America.

1999: TSO records a television special, The Ghosts Of Christmas Eve, which is broadcast nationally. TSO embarks on its first tour, a seven show run, that proves to be a major success.

2000: Savatage records Poets And Madmen as a quartet, as Zack Stevens officially leaves the band. TSO records its first non-seasonal CD Beethoven's Last Night. TSO splits into East and West touring companies to meet the demand for its Christmas tour.

2001: Poets And Madmen is released with tours in the US and Europe. TSO's The Ghost Of Christmas Eve is released on VHS and DVD. Christmas Eve And Other Stories reaches platinum status. TSO East and West tour again, with shows being added to each coast.

2002: This year I began working with Electric Violinist Mark Wood on some projects outside of TSO. I played on the theme music he wrote for the Tour De France, and later that year he was awarded with an Emmy for his work. This led to other sessions and progressed into working in his Electrify Your Strings Program, which travels around the country working with music programs from elementary to college. Mark and EYS have kept me busy every year since. Check it out at Mark's site: www.markwoodmusic.com.

In my off time I was giving lessons and playing locally to keep the chops up. The TSO Winter Tour marks its fourth year, and as the audience and production grow, we begin moving from theaters into arenas.

2003: I began working extensively with Chris Caffery on a new project, Faces, with plans of recording and touring the following year. The single most significant event in my life was the untimely death of my sister Terry on 11/11/03. She died in a car accident 3 days before I was to leave for tour. Everything was different now. The fifth TSO Winter Tour was another success, and surreal to say the least.

2004: Recorded Chris Caffery's Faces and Music Man CDs. Recorded TSO's The Lost Christmas Eve to complete the Christmas Trilogy. The Last Christmas Eve reaches gold status as TSO launches its 6th Winter Tour, which at this point moved into all arenas.

2005: Recorded Chris Caffery's W.A.R.P.E.D. Tour dates in the US and in Europe opening for Metal Church. Recorded "Inspector Highway" for the Doctor Buther rerelease. Mark Wood and TSO's 7th Winter Tour fill out the year.

2006: Recorded Long Time No Sing with premier vocalist John West. I became a member of Metal Church and recorded A Light In The Dark, and toured Europe in support of the cd. Mark Wood's EYS program becomes busier, and TSO's 8th Winter Tour plays to over 1 million people between the East and West. Highlights of the tour, performing with Jon Anderson of YES and Greg Lake of ELP.

2007: Metal Church tours the US and Europe. WickedWitch is reformed under the name Machines Of Grace, and begin recording its debut CD in the fall. TSO's DVD The Ghosts Of Christmas Eve reaches platinum status. The 9th Winter Tour welcomed Roger Daltrey as a guest. Greg Lake and Ian Hunter perform with TSO in Cleveland on New Year's Eve.

2008: Recorded This Present Wasteland with Metal Church.

And then, Marriage! With a honeymoon and an EYS program in Bermuda... not a bad to start the year.

Metal Church performs in the US, and with Queensryche in Puerto Rico.

TSO celebrates its 10th year of touring. Steven Tyler performs with TSO in Nassau and The Meadowlands.

2009:

Machines Of Grace prepares for debut release. The self titled cd is released n July 7th to great reviews. MOG oerforms several shows in NY and opens for Stryper in October.

Metal Church calls it quits, and performs at Rocklahoma for it's only show of '09.

Mark Wood releases the 'Prologue' cd and dvd, with The Mark Wood Experience. The cd includes a number of previously released songs and a 10 minute bonus track with the current line up.

TSO completes the long awaited Nightcastle cd, and schedules the release for October 27. TSO East and West prepare for year 11 of the annual Christmas tour.