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
Walls
Chris Caffery Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Monday evening, I crave the release
My mind it takes notes to regain control
My body it shakes from a blistering soul
‘Til the night when we’re together
Words of love from the dead mouth of thee
Too sad on Earth, let’s take to the sky
Walls made of sugar, walls made of grain
Living inside the rows keep driving me insane
Some walls will bring the war
Some walls will keep the peace
Others mock, convalescent eternally
Into the void in my imagination I fall, in these walls
Tuesday morning has toasted my brain
Tuesday evening has baited my veins
‘Til the night when we’re together
Words of love from the dead mouth of thee
Too sad on Earth, let’s take to the sky
Looking forwards, falling back into
Walls made of sugar, walls made of grain
Living inside the rows keeps driving me insane
Some walls will bring the war
Some walls will keep the peace
Others mock, convalescent eternally
Into the void in my imagination I fall, in these walls
Can you take me to the walls of China
Bring me back to see the walls of old Berlin
Show me the gates of Heaven
Many others are dying to get in
The walls of Kentucky, they know what to do
They discussed it all with the walls of Peru
‘Til the night when we’re together
Words of love from the dead mouth of thee
Too sad on Earth, let’s take to the sky
Looking forwards, falling back into
Walls made of sugar, walls made of grain
Living inside the rows keeps driving me insane
Some walls will bring the war
Some walls will keep the peace
Others mock, convalescent eternally
Into the void in my imagination I fall, in these walls
The lyrics to Chris Caffery's song 'Walls' appear to be a poignant commentary on the experience of being trapped, both physically and mentally. The singer speaks of being freed by God on Monday morning and craving release on Monday evening, suggesting a sense of being caught between two states of being. The repeated lines about walls made of sugar and grain, along with the reference to the walls of various locations around the world, seem to represent the different types of barriers that hold us back in life - some offer safety and protection, while others cause conflict and strife. The singer seems to be stuck inside these walls, living a life of routine and obsession that drives them insane.
The repeated refrain of '‘Til the night when we’re together / Words of love from the dead mouth of thee / Too sad on Earth, let’s take to the sky / Looking forwards, falling back into' suggests a desire to connect with someone or something beyond this earthly existence. The idea of receiving words of love from a 'dead mouth' implies a connection with the afterlife or a sense of spiritual awakening. The final lines, 'Into the void in my imagination I fall, in these walls', seem to suggest that the singer has retreated into their own imagination as a way of coping with their trapped state.
Overall, it seems that 'Walls' is a complex and multi-layered song that speaks to the human experience of feeling confined and isolated, while also hinting at the possibility of finding connection and hope in unexpected places.
Line by Line Meaning
Monday morning, God set me free
Starting a fresh week, feeling renewed and hopeful.
Monday evening, I crave the release
By the end of the first day, feeling drained and wanting to escape.
My mind it takes notes to regain control
Using mental reflection to gain a sense of balance and stability.
My body it shakes from a blistering soul
Emotional turmoil causing physical distress and discomfort.
‘Til the night when we’re together
Anticipating a time when a loved one will be present and provide emotional support.
Words of love from the dead mouth of thee
Hearing comforting words of love from someone who has passed away.
Too sad on Earth, let’s take to the sky
Feeling overwhelmed and wanting to escape reality through dreams or imagination.
Looking forwards, falling back into
Moving forward but also relapsing into negative patterns or situations.
Walls made of sugar, walls made of grain
Life's obstacles come in various forms, some sweet and some bitter.
Living inside the rows keeps driving me insane
Being trapped in routines or patterns causing mental instability and dissatisfaction.
Some walls will bring the war
Certain obstacles may lead to conflict or struggle.
Some walls will keep the peace
Other obstacles may provide a sense of security or stability.
Others mock, convalescent eternally
Some obstacles make fun of or taunt the individual, causing long-lasting effects.
Into the void in my imagination I fall, in these walls
Finding solace and escape through imagination while stuck in difficult situations.
Tuesday morning has toasted my brain
Starting the second day with a foggy and unfocused mind.
Tuesday evening has baited my veins
Ending the second day with heightened emotional turmoil.
Can you take me to the walls of China
Yearning to explore and experience different cultures and histories.
Bring me back to see the walls of old Berlin
Feeling nostalgic and wanting to revisit memories and important moments from the past.
Show me the gates of Heaven
Seeking spiritual enlightenment and guidance.
Many others are dying to get in
Feeling a sense of competition or urgency towards achieving personal goals or desires.
The walls of Kentucky, they know what to do
Finding comfort in familiar and reliable structures or routines.
They discussed it all with the walls of Peru
Sharing ideas and experiences with others who have faced similar obstacles or challenges.
Contributed by Skyler G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ronnyhaden5893
Damn if don't sound a little like john I like it