TSO

The only post of the year that will feature Holiday music. Bear with it, cause it does come full circle with two other bands I've posted in the past few months. Coming full circle tonight with some Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Which if you payed attention has it's roots in Metal. Formed in 93 by compose Paul O'Neill and Jon Oliva and Al Pitrelli both of whom played in Savatage, the band combined the classical elements of the holiday sounds with a more progressive approach in hard rock and metal. The band has been successful for some years now, running tours with two different bands during the season. Both of which feature former members of Savatage. The last few years see Al Pitrelli handling one coast and Chris Caffery handling the other coast. While originally formed in 93, TSO didn't release their first album 'Christmas Eve & Other Stories' until 96, due to the untimely loss of Jon's brother and Savatage guitarist Criss Oliva. The album contained the track 'Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24', which may be the bands most well known track. What people don't realize is the song appeared a year earlier on Savatage's 'Dead Winter Dead' album. See everyone knows a Metal track after all. The band of course tours every year and sells really well. The band never is without talent either, featuring a long list of guitarists and vocalist who play in a few other metal bands. Examples include current guitarists, Al Pitrelli has played with the likes of Megadeth, Alice Cooper, Blue Oyster Cult, and even Michael Bolton. While Chris Caffery has released a handful of solo records and is currently producing his own line of Hot Sauce. Previous guitarist have included current Testament axeman and jazz man Alex Skolnick and former Journey singer Jeff Scott Soto. Having seen the band twice in the past few years, it is nothing short of a modern Rock Opera and it's always worth it everytime. So deck the halls and turn it to 11.

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