Savatage bassist Johnny Lee Middleton has shared an update on the band’s future plans, including the possibility of a long-awaited return to the United States, in a discussion with Metal Mayhem ROC.
The comments addressed whether Savatage plans to expand its touring schedule in the coming years, following sporadic shows in Europe and South America throughout 2025 and 2026.
“We have a 10-year plan, so we’re on year two,” Middleton said. “So we’ve still got some time left. We have some more music we’re gonna release. We have a game plan. And we’re working on getting some stuff together in the States for next year. But, yeah, we plan on coming back to South America next year and in Europe again, and we’re trying to snake some stuff in the United States, whether it’s a package deal with a couple other bands or just doing some one-off shows with ourselves.”
Middleton went on to explain the financial challenges the band faces when it comes to touring in the U.S.
“The problem is we never did get to the point of drawing enough people in the United States to warrant the money that we need to pay the 18 guys that I gotta pay to do a gig,” he continued. “And when we did the stuff back in the [earlier] Savatage days, we used a lot of our friends and stuff as crew guys. And it was, like, the music friends.”
“Now the guys we use are the TSO [Trans-Siberian Orchestra] guys, and they don’t work for cheap,” Middleton added. “So we have really good crew, but they cost a lot of money. And so we could make the guarantees in Europe that make it worth our time to do this, and we’re working on some stuff in the States right now that we’re… You’ll probably see us next year.”
While details remain unconfirmed, Middleton’s remarks suggest fans in the U.S. could see Savatage return to the stage sometime next year.
Middleton’s comments come as Savatage continues to build out an active European schedule, giving weight to his claim that the band is following through on its multi-year plan.
The band’s “Prelude to Madness” run is set to keep Savatage on stages across the continent well into next month. The European leg kicked off on July 19 in Istanbul. It stretches through August 15 in Moravský Krumlov, Czech Republic, with stops in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Spain, Belgium, Poland, and elsewhere in the Czech Republic along the way.
Several of those European dates carry extra significance. The band’s July 27 performance at the Amphitheatre of Pompeii in Italy was billed as a “very special show,” reportedly filmed for future release. This underscores the kind of high-profile production Middleton says is easier to justify financially in Europe than in the States.
The tour has also paired Savatage with a rotating cast of support acts, including Trooper, Vision Divine, Nevermore, and Armored Saint on select dates. This package-style approach mirrors a strategy Middleton floated as a possible way to crack the U.S. market again.
That touring model helps explain the economics Middleton described. The band now relies on the same seasoned crew members who work with Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Larger guaranteed paydays in Europe make it possible to cover costs that a smaller U.S. club run might not.
