Keyboardist JOHN 'SPOCK' ZAHNER Pays Tribute To MIDNIGHT

Keyboardist John "Spock" Zahner, whose studio and live performance credits include CRIMSON GLORY (1986-1989),SAVATAGE (1991-1992),CIRCLE II CIRCLE (2003) and JON OLIVA'S PAIN (2004-present),has issued the following statement regarding the passing of former CRIMSON GLORY frontman Midnight (real name: John Patrick McDonald, Jr.):

"My friend Midnight passed [on July 8] and I will miss him! Midnight and I shared many years both on the road with CRIMSON GLORY and in the last two years with Lee Harrison [MONSTROSITY] and my great friend Matt LaPorte [JON OLIVA'S PAIN].

"I am very fortunate to have written and performed music with him that will live; Because Midnight is timeless. Midnight was a creator of many forms of art which cannot be replaced for he was one of a kind.

"I close my eyes, and I see Midnight sitting on the carpet, weaving like a snake and playing his acoustic guitar while he sang. Not knowing why but creating beautiful music effortlessly! The happy and the scary faces he made as his voice was soaring above the strident chords. Midnight wasn't done yet! He was trying to re-establish his place in the pantheon of rock and metal singers. Up to the end, recording CDs full of new and amazing music. Here was a musical talent that won't be seen again!

"When I see the influence Midnight has had on other musicians in various genres of music, I'm glad that he had CRIMSON GLORY.

"His other band mates can tell the early stories. Jon, Ben, Jeff, Midnight, Dana, myself and the Morris brothers forged 'Transcendence'; a unique combination of majestic metal and mystic madness. That and other CRIMSON GLORY music have influenced many metal bands since!

"When we were in the studio recording 'Transcendence', Midnight would easily sing repeated takes outdoing himself each time. His view on the afterlife was there as well. Listen to the words, it's very obvious Midnight understood about the next plane of existence.

"In death I've found the answer
In death I live again
Fear not the reapers blade
It does not mean the End
It never really ends

"On Saturday, July 11 , we had a celebration of Midnight and his music. Hundreds of friends and family came out to remember him at the pavilion on Siesta Key Beach.

"Dana gave his eulogy surrounded by his other band mates. It was a very emotional moment. Matt LaPorte gave a very moving speech about his connection to Midnight. There was something quite poignant in his words that I wish to bring up. Matt asked the gathering to look at each other because this particular group would never be together again. This special assembly was reserved for Midnight alone.

"After the balloons were released (all silver stars),we played some CRIMSON GLORY, SAVATAGE and THE BEATLES songs. The band consisted of Jon and Ben on acoustic guitar joined by Wade Black, Danae Drenning, Phil Anderson on hammer dulcimer, Matt LaPorte on mandolin, and myself on keys. The final song was 'Imagine'; it just felt right."

The current members of CRIMSON GLORY have been asked by ProgPower USA founder/promoter Glenn Harveston to headline the ProgPower USA tenth anniversary festival on Friday, September 11, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia. According to the band, "Wade Black will be the main vocalist for the show, but we are making plans to have several guest singers performing the classic CRIMSON GLORY songs and honoring Midnight's legendary legacy in their own personal and unique ways. John Zahner (SAVATAGE, CRIMSON GLORY, JON OLIVA'S PAIN) will also be joining the band for this performance and we feel very fortunate to have him sharing his talent with us again.

"We plan to film the performance in its entirety for a DVD release later next year as part of the 25th anniversary of CRIMSON GLORY."

Midnight passed away on Wednesday, July 8 from "total kidney and liver failure." He was 47 years old.

According to JON OLIVA'S PAIN guitarist Matt LaPorte, who played on some of Midnight's recent solo recordings, the singer spent his final hours surrounded by his mother, brother, daughter as well as members of CRIMSON GLORY, SAVATAGE, and JON OLIVA'S PAIN. His death occurred at 3:30 a.m. EST at St. Anthony's Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Midnight sang on CRIMSON GLORY's first three albums — "Crimson Glory" (1986),"Transcendence" (1988) and "Strange and Beautiful" (1991) — before going into self-imposed exile for almost a decade. He eventually rejoined CRIMSON GLORY in 2005 but was dismissed in January 2007.

Last fall, Midnight announced plans to release a new solo CD called "All Souls Midnight" which was to feature the "Acoustic Crimson" EP (four songs) along with the lost "Midnight Mass" recordings from the late '80s/early '90s plus some other "cool rarities."

CRIMSON GLORY's classic "Lonely" video (off "Transcendence"):