Beethoven and Rock Guitar

First it was Roll Over Beethoven from Chuck Berry.
It was more an insult than a compliment, but it was just the beginning for Ludwig in Rock and Roll.

The Beatles covered this tune several years later, then ELO, (the Electric Light Orchestra) revamped, and completely vamped this classic in the 70's when they added in Beethoven's Fifth Symphony into the 8 minute version.

And then, along came Savatage.
And then the Trans Siberian Orchestra, born of Savatage.

And now, the final performances of Trans Siberian Orchestra's Beethoven's Last Night are being performed by heavy metal guitars, rock and stage trained vocalists, dancers, Electric violinists, keyboardists  & a drummer to end all drummers.  As you read this, they may well be a thing of the past, and only available from members of their Yahoo discussion Group online (I highly recommend it to fans, or those new to TSO affectionately referred to as "newbies")

Most are familiar with TSO as a Winter/Christmas tour group that has 2 bands performing a rock opera for the holidays. It became a part of my Christmas in 2003 in Charlotte NC when they performed at the Blumenthal Theatre: complete with pyro.

The well dressed blue hairs that sat in the audience at that time had a shell shock look on their faces as they were exposed to an onslaught of heavy metal, soaring vocals and a storyline that was perfect for the season.

To their credit, only a few left, but most stayed in their seats as their initial shock melted into awe.

For Beethoven's Last Night, TSO has one group touring.  It consists of one of the finest rock musicians to ever hit the stage: Al Pitrelli, along with Chris Caffery,  bass player Johnny Lee Middleton and drummer Jeff Plate, all one time Savatage members, and part of the core of the group of musicians that now make up TSO today.

Yes, there is a storyline about Beethoven, a narrative that weaves the story, a violinist that is powered by the Energizer Bunny and then some, other gifted musicians, and vocalists that will stop you dead in your tracks.  All that, plus staging and lights that make this a true rock opera.  Paul O'Neill's vision is spectacular...but this is not about Paul O'Neill

It is the guitar playing of Al Pitrelli that  draws me to the performance year after year.  He is like many of the guitarists I admire most: not a poser, but a performer, a true musician and artist.  If you want a compete discography, its on Wikipedia, but here are a few basic points:  A Berklee student, he dropped out and played with the likes of Alice Cooper, Asia, Dee Snider,Stephen Pearcy, before joining up with Savatage in the mid '90's after the loss the incredible Criss Oliva. (Criss's brother Jon is still one of the driving creative forces behind TSO.  More on him and other TSO/Savatage key players at a later date. Remember:  this is about Al) . He had a 2 year stint in Megadeth, but it was TSO, where the creative forces were really unleashed.

He feels the music, and the classical notes written hundreds of years ago are given a new life.  Whether he plays electric or 12 string acoustic, the nuances and subtle tones are there, as well as the strength.

As an observer, I find Al an enigma...much like John Entwistle, there is a quiet power in his on stage presence.  Something is about to be released, and once he opens up, the electricity has nothing to do with the actual plug in variety.  Its aura and energy.
Its as though he were channeling Beethoven himself: challenging the master to create songs that would allow only an electric guitar to sear the soul.  Or steal the soul. The reality is soon evident:  once Beethoven is heard through a Marshall Amp, the world is forever changed.