We interviewed guitarist Chris Caffery of Savatage, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and more.
Shannon Wilk – When exactly did you fall in love with rock music and what drove you to then pick up the guitar?
Chris Caffery – “As far as I can remember I just liked the sound of rock music and the look of an electric guitar. I think I was 5 when I first sang a Beatles song for show and tell in school.”
Shannon – What did you find to be the hardest part of learning guitar?
Chris – “Well first I’m a lefty who played righty and then I have small hands so the big chords and playing really structured chords has always been not the easiest for me. Kinda why I like open tunings and bar chords!”
Shannon – Can you talk about the evolution of your guitar playing from your first live gig to eventually being a part of Savatage and TSO?
Chris – “Well I got involved with Savatage when I was 18. I was 17 when I met Paul O’Neill. I had some lessons when I was 11 but I was mostly self taught until I got into Savatage and Criss Oliva started showing me some other things. From there I kinda just picked up guitar from everyone I saw or worked with. My first official live gig I think I was 13 or 14 and I played an elks club in ridgewood New Jersey. It was a cover band we were calling Blitzkrieg. I was the only guitarist. It was all kind of metal and rock music.”
Shannon – At what point did you get used to touring with large groups of people like you do in the Trans-Siberian Orchestra?
Chris – “Savatage always toured large tours. With lots of bands. Festival tours, arena tours, theater tours. So I always was around a lot of people. TSO was just the most that were ever out for just one band!”
Shannon – Did you ever get nervous on the high TSO platforms?
Chris – “No I am not afraid of heights really. Only on airplane flights w turbulence and in older elevators that don’t always work too well!”
Shannon – What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned from being a part of the music industry?
Chris – “Hmm. Follow your heart I guess. Loyalty has a bigger life span than greed. Also probably get it in writing!”
Shannon – To date, you’ve put out several solo albums. What is the most challenging part of doing a large part of it by yourself?
Chris – “I think it’s seriously the critics because I can do a record and someone can love it in one article and hate it in the next. Since I made it as a guitarist there are many people who just won’t take the music seriously with me singing. I’m not the greatest singer in the world but I am definitely not the worst so I think just learning how to deal with that constant up and down.”
Shannon – Recently, you’ve put together a new band called Spirits of Fire with a few other well-known musicians. What sparked the idea to create this epic supergroup?
Chris – “That actually came from Frontiers records they are the masters of musical puzzles.”
Shannon – You recently got off the tour with Doro and Metal Church. How was that?
Chris – “That was a lot of fun I have been lucky enough to have played with both bands before! Doro I have played with her band at times on stage and in the studio for over 15 years and I did a tour in Metal Church 3 years ago so it was great to play with these close friends and to see the metal fans in America for a few weeks.”
Shannon – What album do you consider to be the soundtrack of your life?
Chris – “Hmm probably my first solo record Faces.”
Shannon – What sparked the idea to come out with two hot sauces?
Chris – “Well I actually have more than two out but I’ve always liked cooking and I like spicy foods so I had some recipes and got involved with Steve at High River when he was first developing the company and he took me on as a partner with my sauces. I’m releasing more this year!”
Shannon – Outside of music and cooking, what are some of you hobbies?
Chris – “Well I like to work on my sea glass art that’s a new adventure but it’s a lot of fun. I’m not the world’s greatest painter but for some reason I can create just about anything out of sea glass! I like to do a lot of things really I just don’t seem to find the time for them all. Developing my company Metalphant for Wilbur has been a lot of fun too. It makes a lot of people happy and I get to donate money to charities as well. I also like pinball! I play in a lot of tournaments and have 11 of my own games it’s a fun hobby when I’m done with all of my work for the day!”
Shannon – What’s coming up for you, music-wise?
Chris – “I’m doing a lot of writing for the next Spirits of Fire record. In the summer, I’m playing more shows with Jimmy Sturr and his Grammy award winning orchestra. I’m also doing a festival with Greg Smith’s band, Off The Road this month. I’m also doing a lot of my artwork and adding a new Metalphant store. Before I know it, October will come and it will be TSO time again!”