SAVATAGE guitarist CHRIS CAFFERY says the reunited progressive metal greats intend to professionally film their upcoming concert at Italy's ancient Amphitheatre of Pompeii — a one-off performance set to feature a 40-piece orchestra.
Speaking to This Day In Metal, CAFFERY described a band determined to do its comeback properly rather than chase quick paydays. "We don't wanna go and jump and take one offer for one show somewhere and just fly in there and show up," he said, stressing SAVATAGE's commitment to quality at every stop.
The Pompeii show stands apart within the band's 2026 European run. For it, Al Pitrelli and Jon Oliva are working with musical directors from TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA — the arena juggernaut spun out of SAVATAGE's own DNA — to craft orchestrations blending classical and rock elements across a setlist of more than two hours, substantially different from other tour dates. The concert, CAFFERY noted, honours late mastermind Paul O'Neill's belief that "the classical musicians were the rock stars and heavy metal musicians of their time," a philosophy heard in works like "Gutter Ballet."
On the filming, CAFFERY was cautiously optimistic. "I never like to give official news until we get official news as a band. But I'm pretty sure that that's gonna be one of those ones that we're not gonna go, 'Let's just fly away' without there being cameras running."
SAVATAGE's current lineup features vocalist Zak Stevens, guitarists Pitrelli and CAFFERY, bassist Johnny Lee Middleton and drummer Jeff Plate. The band has been rebuilding momentum since their celebrated 2015 Wacken Open Air reunion, which drew 80,000 fans after nearly two decades away — and Pompeii looks set to be the most spectacular chapter yet.