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
Mettle Eastern
Chris Caffery Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Into the day we charter ships upon the blackened sea
Eyes peeled across the nations, some angered celebrations
In 24 we found enough, the operation’s met with glee
There sits a martyr, he enjoys the sight of blood and pain
Across the border he has marched, he is just plain insane
Into horizon rises, death in roadside surprises
Who knows best?
The west is riddled
It’s time for Mettle Eastern, Mettle Eastern
It’s a way of life now
Mettle Eastern, Mettle Eastern
Mettle Eastern, Mettle Eastern
It’s clear and crisp his vision, some can’t resist the mission
It is amazing as their grave becomes a crystal ship
Some wish them rest in peace, some wish to blaze the East
Kings, Princes, ministers brimming eyes distilled in prophecy
We are a bearer of a message for all mankind
We need to live and must let die the fury left behind
It seems a hopeless mission, as one betrays decision
The peace is nebulous as we march on ‘cuz the son won’t rest
He won’t rest
The west is riddled
It’s time for Mettle Eastern, Mettle Eastern
It’s a way of life now
Mettle Eastern, Mettle Eastern
Mettle Eastern, Mettle Eastern
The west is riddled
It’s time for Mettle Eastern, Mettle Eastern
It’s a way of life now
Mettle Eastern, Mettle Eastern
Mettle Eastern, Mettle Eastern
The lyrics to "Mettle Eastern" by Chris Caffery explore the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and the complex web of politics and power that drives them. The opening lines describe a world in transition, where the sun and moon are both fading and the waters are blackened, suggesting a sense of foreboding and uncertainty. Against this backdrop, the song's narrator sees "angered celebrations" and "madness" spreading across nations, as people look to their leaders for direction.
The song then introduces a "martyr" who delights in violence and chaos, crossing borders and causing death and destruction wherever he goes. The chorus repeats the phrase "Mettle Eastern" over and over, suggesting that this kind of brutality has become a way of life for those caught up in these conflicts. The lyrics express a sense of frustration and hopelessness, as the singer acknowledges that the quest for peace in this region is a difficult and often futile one.
Overall, "Mettle Eastern" is a powerful commentary on the ongoing violence and political instability in the Middle East. The song highlights the complex web of factors that drive these conflicts, from religious and cultural differences to economic and political power struggles. By exploring these themes with a mix of anger, sadness, and resignation, Caffery's lyrics offer a poignant reflection on the state of the world today.
Line by Line Meaning
I see the redness of the sun, I see the fading of the moon
I observe that the day is breaking and the night is ending
Into the day we charter ships upon the blackened sea
We venture into the daytime and sail through the darkened waters
Eyes peeled across the nations, some angered celebrations
We watch closely through the nations, experiencing some hostile festivities
In 24 we found enough, the operation’s met with glee
In a mere 24 hours, we have amassed what we required for the mission and are meeting with happiness
There sits a martyr, he enjoys the sight of blood and pain
A person who is willing to die for their beliefs is present, and they take pleasure in witnessing violence and agony
Across the border he has marched, he is just plain insane
He marched across the border and seems to be completely irrational
Into horizon rises, death in roadside surprises
We see the emergence of unexpected tragedies on the roadside
We spread the madness to the masses ‘cuz each father knows best
We distribute the insanity to the public since every father believes they know what’s best
The west is riddled
The Western world is full of problems
It’s time for Mettle Eastern, Mettle Eastern
It's now time for the Middle East to stand up for themselves
It’s a way of life now
This way of living is now a part of their existence
It’s clear and crisp his vision, some can’t resist the mission
His plan is well-defined and certain, some are unable to deny it
It is amazing as their grave becomes a crystal ship
It’s remarkable how their final resting place transforms into a shining ship
Some wish them rest in peace, some wish to blaze the East
Some hope they rest easy, while others want to set fire to the East
Kings, Princes, ministers brimming eyes distilled in prophecy
Royalty and officials with hopeful eyes, anticipating the future
We are a bearer of a message for all mankind
We are the carriers of a universal message
We need to live and must let die the fury left behind
We must continue to live and let go of the anger from the past
It seems a hopeless mission, as one betrays decision
The task appears to be impossible since someone undermined the plan
The peace is nebulous as we march on ‘cuz the son won’t rest
As we keep going, the prospect of peace remains unclear, as the enemy won’t stop fighting
Contributed by Ella L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
RajNosam
Wrong album cover, but still love this song! My favorite off of Pins And Needles!
Mario Gillette
This since is called Mettle Eastern. NOT Metal East..