JON OLIVA Talks Metal

March 5, 2008

Germany's Metal Hammer magazine recently conducted an interview with Jon Oliva (SAVATAGE, JON OLIVA'S PAIN). An excerpt from the chat follows:

Metal Hammer: Who personifies metal the most for you — and why?

Oliva: As a musician I have to say Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler because of their riffs and dark sound. For a kid of my age at that time, it was very alluring, different and dark. Kids are into monsters and horror movies anyway and they were the musical pendant to that. So if you were into horror, as most 11-year-olds are, it was a natural thing. Hence, Tony and Geezer have to be the ones.

Metal Hammer: What's the best metal album ever in your opinion?

Oliva: That's so tough, as there are so many good ones. I have to go with my personal favorite album, which is "Sabotage" by BLACK SABBATH. It has great songs like "Symptom Of The Universe" or "Hole In The Sky" and "Megalomania". Classic. That was my favorite album as a young guy, as far as heavy metal goes.

Metal Hammer: Which is the most important metal band of all time for you?

Oliva: It has to be BLACK SABBATH. People are arguing which band was the first but I don't consider DEEP PURPLE or LED ZEPPELIN to be metal. BLACK SABBATH was the first and the most important one, as they opened the doors for the rest of us to go through. They pushed the envelope.

Metal Hammer: What does heavy metal mean to you in general: Lifestyle or music?

Oliva: It's more the music. I don't play just metal, but lots of hard rock as well. So to me it's the music. When I work on a metal song, I push it down the metal road as this is the kind of song it will be.

Metal Hammer: What's the future of metal, what's the next thing to come?

Oliva: Well, I don't know. They tried various mixtures here in America like heavy metal mixed with rap. It was a fad for some years and died out. I wish a band would come out with really great songs and vocals. I miss that: bands with great guitarists and singers, not all that growling anymore. Today it's more an attitude thing than really singing. I'm a singer, so I like singing. I'm waiting for the next Freddy Mercury or Robert Plant. Someone outstanding. Hopefully someone like will come in the future, but so far I haven't heard anybody.

Read the entire interview in English, German.

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