We will be adding more info about Jon as this web page progresses... In the meantime here's some personal info from an "old" interview with Jon ( source: JonOliva.com )
Full Name:John Nicholas Oliva
Birth date: 07.22.1960
Birth place: Bronx, New York City
Residence: Brooksville, Florida
Hobby's: Playing with my dog Emmit ; watching the stars Musical influences: Beatles, Queen, The Who
Favorite album: Beatles "Abbey Road" and "White Album"
Favorite musician/songwriter: Lennon and McCartney
Other bands/ side projects: Doctor Butcher, Trans Siberian Orchestra, the musical The Romanovs.
First professional performance: 1974 in the Trailer Park Rec. Center ( Sherwood Forest Block party ). We played nothing but Kiss songs and the admission fee was the huge amount of $1.50 First concert: Black Sabbath
When did you start making music? At the age of 6 What jobs did you have before you became a professional musician? I worked in a shop at a golf court for a while. What equipment do you use? Korg and Yamaha keyboards, Steinway piano's Which Savatage song is your favorite and why ? " Believe " - because of the atmosphere and because it's such a cool song! Which Sava-song means the most to you and what was it that inspired you to write it ? " Alone You Breathe ", the inspiration should be obvious. Most awkward moment onstage ? Blue Moon Circus in Oberhausen, Germany on the "Gutter Ballet" tour. Those who have been there, know exactly why !
Qoutation from "Savatage-RockHard Legends" [Rock Hard mag. Germany 1996]
"The narrowest line imaginable between Genius and Madness is drawn between the right and left brain halves of Jon Oliva".
_Jim Morris_
Jon Oliva is a phenomenon in many respects. Apart from the fact that the born comedian went into HM history as one of the most charismatic singers, the man also plays the piano, guitar, bass, and drums without ever having had tuition in his entire life.
"I'm sure Jon is one of the most talented musicians this planet has ever set eyes upon,"confirms Steve Wacholz. The chain-smoker (Paul O'Neill:" Jon's cigarette consumption is costing him astronomical amounts of money!") easily manages to sit down behind a grand piano for an entire evening and play Beatles songs in a la John Lennon, like he did in a Californian hotel during the "Streets" tour, when after a Savatage show he gave a private performance in front of many enthousiastic hotel guests 'till the early morning hours. Jim Morris is convinced of the fact that apart from Jon there's no HM singer, who is able to manage such a thing. Especially not with this perfection.
Paul O'Neill:" It was impossible to let anyone else but Jon Oliva play the piano parts of "Alone you Breathe" at the "Handful of Rain" sessions. I have ordered in an excellent pianist from a music school, but even after eight hours he wasn't able to express emotions comparable to Jon's." Also as a songwriter the repertoire of the family-father (two boys, seven and thirteen years old in '96) seems to be inexhaustable. He manages to write a song that sounds just right within six or seven minutes. Big Dave, friend, neighbor and traveling companion for many years describes the abilities of the "Mountain King". "Within a quarter of an hour he'd gathered several ideas, that I recognized a year later on "Edge of Thorns". I have already asked him a hundred times, why he doesn't make use of this talent to at least now and then write a song that'll roll up the Billboard-singlecharts backwards. But he always says, "I can't write that junk, because that's not who I am. I don't like superficial stuff like that". The man could've been a millionaire for years... "
On the contrary he's one of those people that would give away their last shirt if anyone would ask them for a favor. There is nobody in his entourage who doesn't continually emphasize what a modest, friendly and generous fellow Jon Oliva is. The certified "Madman" surely isn't a saint, but, to put it in Big Dave's words, "He's the biggest contrary of an asshole one can imagine. Like his brother he's one of those people that would never look down upon anybody. "
Paul: I have seen Jon after shows, after which he was fully exhausted, He went outside, ran into 200 kids there and each and every one of them got his autograph, even if it took two hours. Jon simply has a heart of gold. In Japan he once completely dis appeared after a show. I looked for him everywhere and found him in an empty hall where he was providing the cleaning shift, that existed of older men and women mostly, with beer and sandwiches.
In his early childhood Jon was inspired by his father, who for many years besides his job as a sales manager of a synthetic factory played piano in hotel and dinner clubs." We've always had a grand piano in the house and right from the beginning my parents have supported Criss and me when they saw how much music meant to us, although my father, who had a classical education, deeply regretted the fact that neither of us ever took one hour of tuition and have followed our own path across the field. But we were teenagers that wanted to play Black Sabbath songs. "
Watch an EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with Jon and Criss Oliva at their home in Florida before the 1991 "Streets" tour.
This interview is conducted by Götz Kühnemund, courtesy of RockHard, Germany.
More interviews to follow...
Jon Oliva's Pain playing HOUNDS, Tilburg, The Netherlands, 05-14-2008
Thanks for the add- Saw you guys at the Sterling Hotel in Allentown,Pa- don't know if you even remeber the show lol.....my kids(Sarah & Jeff) of Necromance- met you and went to NY with you guys- they absolutely worship you! After seeing you- I know why! Keep on makin the music!
COWHEAD 102.5 THE BONE SHOW JULY 3RD LIVE @ BOURBON STREET NEW PORT RICHIE FL. FEATURING GREG BILLINGS, PITTBULL TODDLER,VOODOO,RAGE FOR ORDER & LIVE AFTER DEATH.
What a great show! I showed up mostly to see what kind of Cowhead antics would appear on stage and to see a great crowd cheer for an Iron Maiden tribute band, but what most impressed me was VOODOO, the Ronnie James Dio tribute band. Playing songs from the Rainbow years, Heaven and Hell, Mob Rules, and Last in Line. Lead Singer Angie James Dio came out on stage and gave Bourbon Street what they really wanted...A KICK ASS SHOW! I have never seen a Dio tribute band, and I was happy to see one finally. Great band, Great vocals, Great show. You guys get my vote! I heard a rumor, going around...Is this really Dio's daughter?
I am completely devastated by this absolute tragedy, the METAL/Music community has lost yet another alltime great! Even though I didn't know MIDNIGHT (real name: John Patrick McDonald Jr.) personally... his voice and music has touched my soul and brought me through many a dark time in my own life! He will be missed dearly, and never be forgotten! MIDNIGHT will forever live on in all of our hearts and minds through his amazing voice! May his soul R.I.P.!
Many many thanks for the add, really appreciate it!!! a pleasure to have among our friends!! Fabulous song writer...fabulous musician...fabulous voices... keep your HARD ROCK PASSION alive!!! all the best!
HARD ROCK PASSION: website, updated regularly... slowly but surely...by fans from France, Belgium and Canada. We appreciate that leaving a comment, don't hesitate… Check out our profile… cheers!
Thanks a lot Jon Oliva for your myspace-friendship! For me you are the greatest composer! Hope you had a great time in Europe! Thanks one more time for unforgettable shows at RockHard and BangYourHead! Lots of love to you! St.
Not sure who moderates this page but Jon, I hope the Mountain King has not abandoned his minions. LOL I'm listenin' to Poets & Madmen as I type this (The Rumor kicks ASS), and felt compelled to tell you how much your amazing music continues to move me. I have just about every Sav and JOP song (with a few rare bonus tracks bein' the odd exceptions) that you've ever released, and would love to find an inexpensive way to someday own those as well. Thank you for your incredible gift of music. May the Mountain King reign forever. HAIL to the King!! Horns waaaaay up!
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