By: Rich Catino

Concept albums were not common or a popular thing to do during the 80s for heavy metal bands, but is where the idea got its start. Kiss failed terribly in 1981 with “The Elder”, while in 86’ King Diamond’s “Abigail”, Iron Maiden’s “Seventh Son of a Seventh Son” and “Operation Mindcrime” by Queensryche in 1988 set the standard.

With the addition of Paul O’Neil in 1987 as producer/co-writer (plus founding members/writers, brothers Jon and Criss Oliva) on “Hall of the Mountain King”, and “Gutter Ballet” in 1988, it established the band as major players, securing an opening slot for Dio and Megdeth in arenas. “Gutter Ballet” is a turning point to Savatage becoming more progressive where the piano was introduced as being as important as the guitar. Lyrics and music becoming connected to each other foreshadowed the future as the title track and power ballad ‘When The Crowds Are Gone’ are actually part of the story in “Streets”. Released in 1991, “Streets: A Rock Opera”, should have elevated Savatage to arena headlining status. Unfortunately that did not happen. Aside from the changing climate in the music industry, at the time, the title itself could have discouraged the majority of hard rockers and headbangers thinking it was too “theater” and “Broadway” for their tastes. Regardless, “Streets” is highly regarded amongst the band, Tage fans, and critics as one of Savatage’s best pieces of work, and concept albums in rock history.

The story of “Streets” is about a fallen rock star DT Jesus (DT, short for either De-Tox or Down-Town), who has hit hard times, and explains the story behind his rise to fame again and his second fall. In song presentation, “Streets” is a balanced listening experience alternating between hard rockers like the title track, ‘Jesus Saves’, ‘Strange Reality’, and ‘Ghost in the Ruins’, with emotional piano based ballads ‘A Little Too Far’, ‘Can You hear Me Now’, ‘If I Go Away’, and ‘Believe’ which in recent years saw a new lease on life finally reaching the masses played to arena audiences by the Trans Siberian Orchestra. And for those who don’t know this yet (really??), with Paul O’Neil as the mastermind, the rock band in TSO is the guys from Savatage. Aside from the hit ‘Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24’, over the years the TSO setlist has included other Savatage songs like instrumentals ‘Prelude to Madness’ (retitled ‘The Mountain’) and ‘Mozart and Madness’ (retitled ‘Mozart and Memories’), ‘Sleep’, ‘Gutter Ballet’, ‘Chance’, ‘Handful of Rain’, ‘This Is The Time’, ‘The Hourglass’, and ‘All That I Bleed’.

Go back and revisit this important piece to music history and one of the earliest concept albums to influence future generations. And as I write this a Savatage reunion has been confirmed for the Wacken Open Air festival in Germany 2015. Plus, it has been talked about for many years Paul O’Neil would like to bring the Gutter Ballet/Streets story to Broadway. Deservedly so.