Initially the project consisted entirely of solo recordings by Oliva, but after several months of work he was joined in 2004 by former members of Circle II Circle to form a band. After hearing the results of their earliest studio sessions together he then decided to repeat the solo work from scratch with the band, releasing their first album 'Tage Mahal on the SPV label early that year. Originally slated to be released on the same label in May 2006, JOP subsequently signed to AFM Records for the release of the follow-up entitled Maniacal Renderings, which was released in September 4th 2006. Oliva credits his late brother Criss (with whom he had founded Savatage) as co-writing some of the work on this latest album (particularly the track "The Answer"), after finding some working tapes they had recorded together immediately before Criss' death in a road accident in 1993.
Jon Oliva's Pain hit the road fequently, visiting mostly Europe. 2006 saw some appearances at the larger European festivals. In april 2007, Jon Oliva was reunited with Chris Caffery onstage at the Pestpop festival in Belgium. This festival featured three Savatage related bands: Jon Oliva's Pain, Circle II Circle and Chris Caffery.
October 2007 saw Jon Oliva's Pain headlining ProgPower Europe, among the played songs was Chance, which was never performed with Jon on lead vocals before.
In 2008 JOP released Global Warning, which received excellent reviews from all over the globe. The album includes an ode to the bands past sound engineer Greg Marchak (O to G.) The band is currently preparing the fourth JOP album and will be hitting some of the annual summer festivals in Europe.
The music and themes bear comparison with the likes of Alice Cooper, focussing as they do on elements of obsession, pain, confusion and insanity. Oliva himself cites The Beatles, Queen and The Who amongst his and hence the band's influences.
JOP always play a bunch of classic Savatage songs onstage. Typical Savatage songs that are played are Sirens, Hall Of The Mountain King, Gutter Ballet and a lot of songs from the Streets album.
Lineup:
Jon Oliva (vocals, keyboards)
John Zahner (keyboards)
Matt LaPorte (guitars)
Kevin Rothney (bass)
Christopher Kinder (drums)
Tom McDyne (guitars)
Former Members:
Jerry Outlaw (guitars)
Shane French (guitars)
Stories
Jon Oliva's Pain Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So many meanings held inside
There for you to see
Beyond the doors of broken dreams
Are they real or fantasy
You may never know
All you see is pain, to spike right through your brain
Stories, Stories, Stories...
Now inside this living hell
The fires burn... the violence swells
Is it destiny
Time to face judgment day
On your knees, time to pray
To the lord above
Sure he's heard the lies
The twisted truth... the cries
They fall on his deaf ear
His punishment we fear
Stories, stories... They will somehow find you
Stories, stories... There to remind you
Stories, stories... Beware which ones you follow
Stories, stories... Here today, gone tomorrow
Stories, stories... True-false, we always listen
Stories, stories... They truly are unforgiven
The song "Stories" by Jon Oliva's Pain is a reflection on the stories that make up one's life. Oliva encourages listeners to pay attention to these stories as they hold significant meaning. However, he also warns about the dangers of getting lost in the stories that are full of pain, as they can consume one's mind and lead to a living hell, where violence swells and judgment day awaits. Oliva suggests that there are many different stories, and one should be wary of the ones that they choose to follow, as they may not always be true or may have negative consequences. The lyrics suggest that stories hold immense power and can forge one's destiny, but it is essential to remain conscious of them and determine which ones are most worthy of one's attention.
Line by Line Meaning
Stories told through your life
Throughout your life, you accumulate stories that shape who you are.
So many meanings held inside
These stories have multiple layers of meaning that give them depth.
There for you to see
These meanings are there for you to discover and interpret.
Beyond the doors of broken dreams
Behind your shattered hopes and desires, there are more stories waiting to be told.
Are they real or fantasy
It's hard to tell whether these stories are grounded in reality or mere illusions.
You may never know
Sometimes the truth is elusive, and you may never learn the whole story.
Tales on your TV... in papers, magazines
Mass media inundates us with stories that can be overwhelming and distressing.
All you see is pain, to spike right through your brain
Many of these stories are about pain and suffering, which can be traumatic to witness.
Now inside this living hell
Life can feel like a hellish experience, with suffering and misery around every corner.
The fires burn... the violence swells
Metaphorically speaking, the intensity of life's struggles can feel like being engulfed in flames or swallowed by violence.
Is it destiny
It's natural to question whether our suffering is predetermined or fated to happen.
Time to face judgment day
We all must eventually confront the consequences of our actions and decisions.
On your knees, time to pray
In times of desperation, many people turn to prayer for comfort and guidance.
To the lord above
The concept of a higher power is a common source of comfort for those who believe.
Sure he's heard the lies
The idea that a deity can discern between truth and falsehood gives believers hope.
The twisted truth... the cries
However, human beings are capable of deceiving themselves and others, even when appealing to a higher power.
They fall on his deaf ear
Despite prayers and pleas for help, sometimes it feels like no relief is forthcoming.
His punishment we fear
For those who believe in divine judgment, it's natural to worry about retribution for one's mistakes and misdeeds.
Stories, stories... They will somehow find you
Throughout life, in different forms, stories will always have a way of making themselves known to us.
Stories, stories... There to remind you
These stories serve as reminders of what we've experienced and what we've yet to learn.
Stories, stories... Beware which ones you follow
Not all stories are beneficial or accurate, so it's important to scrutinize them carefully.
Stories, stories... Here today, gone tomorrow
Stories have a fleeting nature and don't last forever, even if their impact can be long-lasting.
Stories, stories... True-false, we always listen
Whether or not stories are true, we often give them our attention and consideration.
Stories, stories... They truly are unforgiven
Stories never go away or can be erased, regardless of their impact on us.
Contributed by Jake D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.