SAVATAGE kicks off 2026 European tour at Sweden Rock Festival

SAVATAGE commenced their 2026 European tour with a bang on June 4, gracing the stage at the renowned Sweden Rock Festival in Sölvesborg, Sweden. The highly anticipated show was a significant milestone for the band, not just because it was their first live performance of the year, but also because it marked the debut of drummer Blas Elias in place of the veteran Jeff Plate. Elias, a familiar face in the SAVATAGE family, has previously collaborated with TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA, SLAUGHTER, and RATT frontman Stephen Pearcy.

Jeff Plate made a candid announcement on social media on May 21, revealing that his reoccurrence of severe health issues would force him to sit out the initial leg of the “Prelude To Madness” tour. Plate disclosed his struggles with chronic nosebleeds, which had previously necessitated surgical intervention and recently resurfaced, prompting him and his medical team to exercise caution with air travel until the matter was resolved.

Nonetheless, despite Plate’s absence, the band expressed confidence in Blas Elias stepping into his shoes, citing his extensive history of collaboration with SAVATAGE members, particularly through TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA. Plate reassured fans that he expected to rejoin the band in July once medically cleared, maintaining that the situation, while unfortunate, was being managed appropriately and would not derail the band’s plans.

The extensive “Prelude To Madness” tour will see SAVATAGE light up stages across Europe at major festivals and headline shows, spanning multiple countries such as Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Spain, Belgium, Poland, and the Czech Republic. Included in the tour itinerary are prominent events like Wacken Open Air, Leyendas Del Rock, and a special orchestral performance in Pompeii.

With Zak Stevens leading on vocals, Al Pitrelli and Chris Caffery on guitars, Johnny Lee Middleton on bass, and Elias temporarily drumming for the opening shows, SAVATAGE’s triumphant return to European soil is well underway. Fans eagerly await Jeff Plate’s return once he receives the medical green light to travel, ensuring that the band is complete for the remainder of their electrifying tour.