Chris began playing guitar at the age of 11, but some of his earliest memories include performing The Beatles song Help! for a show and tell in kindergarten. His favourite bands growing up included The Beatles, KISS, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest and Rush among others. He has cited guitarists such as Ted Nugent, Rik Emmett, Ace Frehley, Randy Rhoads, Michael Schenker as influences through out the years as well.
After only 13 months, Chris grew bored with guitar lessons and decided to teach himself. He was part of a band called "Blitzkreig" in middle school and played a few shows, the first of which was at a bar in Ridgewood, New Jersey when Chris was only 13. At the age of 14, Chris and his brother formed a band called "Anti". While searching for a bass player, Chris found Darryl Sage, who remains one of his best friends and ended up co-owning Chris's house in Ridgewood. Anti eventually found a singer named Blaze, and whilst in High School, Chris opened for bands like Mountain, Overkill, Steppenwolf, Blackfoot and Metallica. Chris graduated from High School at the age of 16 and went straight into being a professional musician, teaching students during the day and playing shows in the night.
Anti did fairly well, but always had trouble with vocalists. Chris recorded his first demo tape at age 14 and his second at 17, which got him his first national gig. Chris was in New York City one night, hanging around in a club in the middle of Times Square, when he met the lead singer of a band called Heaven named Allan Fryar. They were looking for a guitarist and Chris asked if he could give Allan a tape. A week later and Fryar called, and it turned out that the band also needed a drummer, so Chris's brother Phil joined. The band was managed by David Krebs and a certain Paul O'Neill, who Chris would maintain close ties for most of his career.
Heaven were in-between leaving labels, and Chris did shows with them at the end of a tour and they recorded a new demo. Fryar sung on tapes of some Anti songs and it inspired the band to get the producers in the studio. Opening for Heaven were Skid Row (minus Sebastian Bach) on the East Coast (Chris turned down the opportunity to join the band) and on the West Coast, Warrant.
Paul O'Neill was later introduced to the Oliva brothers, Jon and Criss of Savatage by an Atlantic Records rep and O'Neill left Heaven to work with Savatage. Eventually, Paul invited Chris to New York, where they recorded the CD and introduced Chris to the band. Heaven did was not working with O'Neill and Krebs any more, but wanted a vocalist. Ironically, the band considered asking Sebastian Bach to join them, but they could not catch him in New York. But, Chris soon learned that a second guitarist may be needed in Savatage, so he learned all of the Savatage songs he could in time for Savatage's 1987-1988 tour with Dio and Megadeth. Savatage hired someone else, which left Chris very upset and he flew himself down to the audition. Chris was given the opportunity to perform, played 2 songs before the band stopped and hired him on the spot. The band went on tour, but Chris was kept on the side of the stage, hidden from the audience. Chris was only 20 years old and playing arenas and was happy, but miserable. He left Savatage after the arena tour.
Chris bounced between bands, such as Big Mouth for a couple of years until he came into contact with the Oliva brothers once more. They asked Chris to join them just as the 'Gutter Ballet' CD was finished. He gladly accepted, but the road took it's toll on all of the members and it was around this time that Jon Oliva began his drug and alcohol addiction. Under pressure from his brother to find a singer for their band, Chris quit Savatage at the end of the tour and formed Witchdoctor, with his brother Phil on drums, Hal Patino of King Diamond on bass, and TSO West member Doug Kistner on keyboards. The band played all over Europe, but the brothers were not clicking musicially and the band disbanded. Criss was contacted to perform on Savatage's Streets tour, but issues meant this did not happen. Chris soon learned that Jon Oliva had left Savatage. Chris called Jon, who invited him to Florida, and over "10 bottles of Jack Daniels", their project Doctor Butcher was born.
Zachary Stevens replaced Jon in Savatage, but Jon continued to work with his brother Criss on the record. Chris was again asked to re-join the band, but, he stayed loyal to Jon and Butcher. Some initial demos were recorded with Hal Patino and Gene Barnett for Butcher, but bad press over Jon's health lead Atlantic Records to make a decision - Doctor Butcher or Savatage? Atlantic chose Savatage. Chris was left disheartened. He went to work with friend Ray Gillen of Badlands fame, but he died shortly after the project began. Around this time, Criss Oliva was killed in a car accident. Chris was asked for the fourth time to join Savatage, but Atlantic Records suggested Alex Skolnick join the band instead. Chris would later work with Alex on the TSO East touring company. Butcher was signed in Europe and their debut was recorded in 1994. Jon Oliva left to do the Handful of Rain tour with Savatage so Butcher never toured. Chris, this time, inquired about joining Savatage on a more permanent basis with Jon Oliva, as a close friend and student of Criss Oliva he felt he could pay respect to Criss "spiritually" on stage. Jon agreed, and Chris was joined by Al Pitrelli, a good friend of his from New York. The two formed a steady partnership for almost 6 years, recording both 1995's Dead Winter Dead and 1998's The Wake of Magellan together.
During this time, Chris recorded with Joe Lynn Turner, TM Stevens, as well as produced and recorded for Metalium. Chris was featured on Tribute CD's for Guns N' Roses, Accept and Iron Maiden. The Maiden CD was with Jeff Plate and his long time and newly re acquainted best friend, John West. Savatage was stalled a bit in the recording of a follow up to The Wake of Magellan, due to the tremendous success of the then "Side Project", Trans Siberian Orchestra. Caffery considers himself the "ring leader" of TSO East when they tour, and he enjoys performing live with the ensemble.
Al Pitrelli left Savatage in 2000 when he accepted an invitation to replace Marty Friedman in Megadeth. Zak Stevens left shortly after, citing family reasons. Chris was left as the only guitarist in Savatage and Jon Oliva took up lead vocal duties for the first time in ten years. Chris played the lead parts with Jack Frost (who replaced him in Metalium) playing the rhythm parts on a short tour with Fates Warning and Judas Priest in support of 2001's Poets and Madmen. After Megadeth "disbanded" (it later reformed in 2004) in 2002, Al Pitrelli was invited to re-join the band since "he never left the family anyway".
Since the release of Savatage's most recent CD, Chris has appeared on records of Savatage alumni, including Zak Stevens's Circle II Circle and on Jon Oliva's Pain records. Chris himself released solo EPs and albums in 2004 and 2005, with a follow-up full-length album due for release in 2006.
Solo Discogs
The Mold EP - 2004
Music Man EP - 2004
Faces - 2005
W.A.R.P.E.D - 2005
Pins And Needles - 2007
House Of Insanity - 2009
Your Heaven Is Real - 2015
The Jester's Court - 2018
Faces
Chris Caffery Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Photographs have been taken, of the crimes,
It's not really fair, we're jiving a He
See the things that I've lost, as they hide, in the center of my mind
Seems we all have been crossed, test of time
It's not really fair, the leader he lies
Life has faces, faces that lest
Faces of love and faces of hale
Faces of death, I can't wait!
Every day he's pretending, in his mind, he really is not there
Every move that we're making, puppet minds
It really isn't fair, the kingdom it dies, it dies!
Life has faces, faces that test
Faces of truth, his face is a mess
Faces of love and faces of hate
Faces of death, I can't wait!
Feel the danger upon you, open wide, it's always calling
I'm no stranger to hatred, it's mankind
He's not really fair, we're living a lie 'til we die!
Life has faces, faces that test
Faces of truth, his face is a mess
Faces of love and faces of hate
Faces of death, I can't wait!
The song "Faces" by Chris Caffery appears to be an introspective reflection on the struggles of life, particularly the different faces that life can present us with. In the opening lines, the singer wakes up every day with someone on their mind, possibly a loved one who is no longer with them as suggested by the line "See the things that I've lost." The reference to photographs having been taken of the crimes could imply memories of the past or even regrets.
The lines "Every move that we're making, puppet minds" suggest that the singer feels trapped in a situation that they have no control over, having to go along with whatever the world dictates. The repetition of the phrase "It's not really fair" appears to indicate frustration at the unfairness of life.
The chorus appears to be a commentary on the different aspects of life, the good and the bad. The verses list the different emotions and experiences that make up life, from love to death, and the contrasting faces that they can present. Overall, the song seems to be a reflection on the complexity of life and the different emotions that come with it.
Line by Line Meaning
Every day awaken, in my mind, you're always there
The singer wakes up each day with memories of someone in their head.
Photographs have been taken, of the crimes,
Incriminating evidence has been captured.
It's not really fair, we're jiving a He
It's not just to deceive someone.
See the things that I've lost, as they hide, in the center of my mind
The singer reminisces on past losses that are still affecting them.
Seems we all have been crossed, test of time
Everyone has faced challenges throughout their lives.
It's not really fair, the leader he lies
It's unjust that the leader is dishonest.
Every day he's pretending, in his mind, he really is not there
Someone is mentally absent and in denial.
Every move that we're making, puppet minds
People are being controlled and manipulated in their actions.
It really isn't fair, the kingdom it dies, it dies!
It's unjust that a kingdom is dying.
Life has faces, faces that lest
Life has different aspects to it.
Faces of truth, his face is a mess
The truth is not always pleasant and can lead to trouble.
Faces of love and faces of hale
Love can manifest in different ways.
Faces of death, I can't wait!
The singer looks forward to the end of something.
Feel the danger upon you, open wide, it's always calling
Someone is constantly exposed to danger and vulnerability.
I'm no stranger to hatred, it's mankind
The singer has experienced negativity and knows that it's part of human nature.
He's not really fair, we're living a lie 'til we die!
Someone is unjust and people are living in deception until their death.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHRISTOPHER C. CAFFERY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Speed King
I just ordered the album. Can't wait to get it. Excellent musicianship Chris 🤘.
The Doug of the North
A favorite for sure! Just worked on and adding the riff run to my practice routine, at half speed on a good day :)
Manuel Gioiosa
Epic work with a very powerful riff.
Angel Satti
one of your greatest!
Christopher Caffery
Thank you
web radio metal entropia
hell wow!!!
Maria Socorro
Boa tarde amigo legal 😘😘
Maria Socorro
Boa tarde amigo caffery