JON OLIVA'S PAIN Part Ways With Guitarist

SAVATAGE mastermind Jon Oliva has posted the following message on his official web site:

"I know that I personally don't post here much.....ever. I can't type!!! But, I wanted to get on here and let everyone know that things in the studio are really going great!

"This [JON OLIVA'S PAIN] record is different from the last, very versatile, with lots of things going on, everything from heavy metal to progressive metal, to just all kinds of stuff. We're experimenting with lots of different things and all of us, the whole band, are really excited about it. Everyone has contributed music and ideas and it's just been a lot of fun! I know you guys will be blown away!

"Now, with the update of the 'goings on' in the studio taken care of, there's something else I'd like to address before false stories and rumors begin to spread. I want to take this opportunity to get the story straight.

"Last year Jerry Outlaw was hired to go on tour with the band and to fill the position of additional guitarist, which I believed would take the band to another level. Jerry did an outstanding job, fulfilling every expectation. His abilities are incredible. There is however, an enormous difference between touring and being in a studio environment.

"For the past 2 years I've been playing with John [Zahner, keyboards], Chris [Kinder, drums], Kevin [Rothney, bass] and Matt [Laporte, guitar] and we've developed a 'formula,' one that had proven to be a successful one with the release of the last album. My theory is 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it.' However, when we returned from the last tour in Europe and began working on creating the new album, it became apparent that there were distinct differences in the process that Jerry was used to in the studio, as opposed to how the band had done things the previous year and wanted to continue doing. We tried to make some changes to make the situation adaptable and comfortable for Jerry, but unfortunately, it became clear that it was just not something that was going to work. So, last week Jerry was let go from the band. Understand that this is not to say that Jerry was not capable of handling the guitar duties, actually, quite the opposite. What it does mean is that Jerry's way of doing things was different from mine and the rest of the band's. He was having difficulties with our process in the studio and creative differences began to emerge. I felt it was better to move on before actually entering into the studio to begin final recordings.

"All of us would like to thank Jerry for his contributions and for the incredible job he did while he was on tour with us. We wish him lots of luck and all the best in his future endeavors."

JON OLIVA'S PAIN's as-yet-untitled follow-up to 2004's "'Tage Mahal" is tentatively scheduled for release in May via SPV Records.