Florida's AVATAR, later to become the more familiar SAVATAGE, was created by the extreme talents of the Oliva brothers during 1978. Jon and Criss Oliva's first steps into the Heavy Metal arena came with a 1977 band called ALIEN. Jon, working with guitar player Rich Biganno, also gigged with an outfit dubbed TOWER. This latter act fractured, but with the Jon on lead vocals and drums, became METROPOLIS. Subsequently Tony Ciulla was to take on bass duties and Joe Conn became the drummer. This formative act issued a rare 7" single 'Let's Get Rowdy' / 'Take Off With The Crowd' in 1978. Adopting the title of the benevolent sorcerer in the movie 'Wizards', the group became AVATAR.

As is the familiar route, AVATAR underwent a succession of line-up changes, passing through the ranks would be ex-PARADOX bassist Brian Lennon amongst many others until some stabilization was to take effect as Jon and Criss were joined by Steve Wacholz, of BLAZE, WARHEAD and PARADOX repute, on drums, as Jon switched to bass. Also involved would be another BLAZE and PARADOX man, guitarist Pat Dubs, and bassist Andy Grelin. Wacholz opted out, to forge IMAGINE, leaving Jon no option but to take command of the drums once again as Bob Boyer was briefly acquired as lead singer and Rich Pigano became rhythm guitarist. Then in 1981 Keith Collins, previously with SOLAR CITY, took on bass responsibilities as Wacholz rejoined. One of the earliest shows performed was opening up for SHOOTING STAR.

As the desire for original material grew, AVATAR contributed two tracks, 'Rock Me' and 'Minus Love', for inclusion on a local compilation, 'The Pirate Album', assembled by radio station 95 WYNF. Promotion for this saw AVATAR performing in the local K-Mart parking lot. They then released the now extremely rare 'City Beneath The Surface' EP in 1982. Only 1000 copies of the EP were pressed, a handful of these rarities made more collectable as yellow vinyl. However, once Savatage became popular, the AVATAR sessions were to be heavily bootlegged.

Working with a minimal budget of $3,000, the group laid down fifteen tracks in just three days, recording over two days and mixing on the third. This set of tracks would be spread over the next two releases, 'Sirens' and 'The Dungeons Are Calling'. The day before PAR Records was about to press 'Sirens' a hasty name change to SAVATAGE took place. Label boss Dan Johnson had been served warning by a European band also entitled AVATAR who laid legal claim to the title, necessitating a quick re-think.

Besides his exploits fronting SAVATAGE, Jon Oliva has also been prominent with TRANS SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA, DOCTOR BUTCHER and, in 2004, JON OLIVA'S PAIN. Keith Collins also figured as a member of BURNING STARR.

Guitarist Criss Oliva, universally recognised as a highly individualistic talent, died in 1993. Travelling home from the Livestock Festival in Zephyrhills, Florida on the night of October 17th, Oliva's car was hit head on by a truck that strayed into his lane.