Exclusive: How Trans-Siberian Orchestra's winter tour will honor late founder Paul O'Neill
Patrick Ryan
Christmas won't be the same without Paul O'Neill.
When Trans-Siberian Orchestra hits the road for its annual winter tour later this year, it'll be doing so without the guidance of its beloved founder, who died in April of an accidental overdose of prescription medication used to treat his numerous chronic illnesses. He was 61.
But guitarist Al Pitrelli assures that TSO will still deliver a merry metal holiday spectacle when it embarks on its Winter Tour 2017, which kicks off Nov. 16 in Erie, Pa. USA TODAY is exclusively announcing the dates of the 60-city trek, which is based on the progressive rock band's 1999 TV movie The Ghosts of Christmas Eve, which features fan-favorite tunes including Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24), O’ Come All Ye Faithful and Good King Joy.
The tour boasts a completely revamped stage setup and presentation of the film, which tells the story of a runaway girl who takes refuge in an abandoned theater on Christmas Eve. In its own way, the show will also honor O'Neill.
"Every note and every lyric is something that Paul had written; 99% of (the production) is Paul's design," says Pitrelli, 54. "Everything that you see on that stage is a tribute to the man’s genius."
Pitrelli, who also played with Alice Cooper and Savatage before joining TSO in 1995, last spoke to O'Neill a few days before his death during one of their weekly Sunday night phone conversations, when they'd chat about their families and plans for new music. He got a call from his manager late on the evening of April 5 regarding his bandmate's passing.
"I lost my best friend, my producer, my big brother, the patriarch of this (group)," Pitrelli says. "I remember just hanging up the phone and looking around my house, and the thirty or so gold and platinum records that are hanging on my wall directly correspond (to) my involvement with Paul. You say, 'Well, his physical presence is no longer here, but everything in my home, my children and my life is because of him.' As life goes on, it’s just an unfillable void right now."
The band also faced another blow in July, when its touring bassist David Zablidowsky (aka David Z) died in a crash in Florida when an RV belonging to his band Adrenaline Mob was struck by a tractor-trailer. But TSO, which has touring acts on the East and West coasts, never considered canceling its upcoming jaunt, as a tribute to both O'Neill and Zablidowsky.
"To cancel the tour — that’s like me canceling myself breathing. I wouldn’t know what to do without it, because this is one of our children," Pitrelli says. "I hear time and time again, 'It’s not the holidays until I see you guys live,' or 'From Thanksgiving to New Year’s, we’re playing your music in our home.' So the thought of ending that? No. (It) would never happen."
As for what he'll miss most about O'Neill, he says his stories, generosity and constant motivation.
"He always wanted people to strive to be better than they were," Pitrelli says. "Paul taught me something a long time ago that his version of hell is when you die, you meet the person you could’ve become."
Touring this winter, "I think every one of these songs will become that much more poignant," he adds. "I’m going to miss him every day for the rest of my life. Every note that I play on my guitar will be because of him."
Tickets to Trans-Siberian Orchestra's Winter Tour 2017 go on sale to the general public starting Sept. 15, following a pre-sale for fan club members that runs Sept. 6 through Sept. 10. For tour dates and more information, visit trans-siberian.com.
The full list of dates:
Nov. 16 — Erie, Pa., Erie Insurance Arena, 4 and 8 PM
Nov. 16 — Council Bluffs, Iowa, Mid America Center, 7:30 PM
Nov. 17 — Baltimore, Royal Farms Arena, 8 PM
Nov. 18 — Allentown, Pa., PPL Center, 3 and 8 PM
Nov. 18 — Denver, Pepsi Center, 3 and 8 PM
Nov. 19 — Wilkes Barre, Pa., Mohegan Sun Arena, 2:30 and 7 PM
Nov. 19 — Colorado Springs, Colo., World Arena, 2:30 and 7 PM
Nov. 21 — Salt Lake City, Vivint Smart Home Arena, 4 and 8 PM
Nov. 22 — Rochester, N.Y., Blue Cross, 7:30 PM
Nov. 24 — Worcester, Mass., DCU Center, 3 and 8 PM
Nov. 24 — Spokane, Wash., Spokane Arena, 7:30 PM
Nov. 25 — Manchester, N.H., SNHU Arena, 3 and 8 PM
Nov. 25 — Seattle, KeyArena, 3:30 and 8 PM
Nov. 26 — Uncasville, Conn., Mohegan Sun Arena, 3 and 8 PM
Nov. 26 — Eugene, Ore., Matthew Knight Arena, 3 and 7:30 PM
Nov. 29 — Fort Wayne, Ind., Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, 7:30 PM
Nov. 29 — Fresno, Calif., Sav Mart Center, 7:30 PM
Nov. 30 — Lexington, Ky., Rupp Arena, 7:30 PM
Nov. 30 — Oakland, Calif., Oracle Arena, 7:30 PM
Dec. 1 — Toledo, Ohio, Huntington Center, 3:30 and 8 PM
Dec. 1 — Sacramento, Golden 1 Center, 3:30 and 8 PM
Dec. 2 — Dayton, Ohio, Nutter Center, 3 and 8 PM
Dec. 2 — Ontario, Citizens Business Bank Arena, 3:30 and 7:30 PM
Dec. 3 — Grand Rapids, Mich., Van Andel Arena, 3 and 7:30 PM
Dec. 3 — Phoenix, Gila River Arena, 3:30 and 8 PM
Dec. 6 — Richmond, Va., Richmond Coliseum, 7:30 PM
Dec. 6 — El Paso, Texas, Don Haskins Arena, 3 and 7 PM
Dec. 7 — Charlotte, N.C., Spectrum Center, 7:30 PM
Dec. 7 — Lubbock, Texas, United Supermarkets Arena, 7 PM
Dec. 8 — Greenville, S.C., Bon Secours Wellness Arena, 4 and 8 PM
Dec. 8 — Wichita, Kan., Intrust Bank Arena, 8 PM
Dec. 9 — Duluth, Ga., Infinite Energy Center, 3 and 8 PM
Dec. 9 — Kansas City, Mo., Sprint Center, 3 and 8 PM
Dec. 10 — Greensboro, N.C., Greensboro Coliseum, 3 and 7:30 PM
Dec. 10 — Oklahoma City, Chesapeake Energy Arena, 3 and 7 PM
Dec. 13 — Raleigh, N.C., PNC Arena, 7:30 PM
Dec. 13 — Birmingham, Ala., BJCC, 7:30 PM
Dec. 14 — Washington, Capital One Arena, 7:30 PM
Dec. 14 — Jacksonviille, Fla., Jacksonville Memorial Auditorium, 7:30 PM
Dec. 15 — Hershey, Pa., Giant Center, 3:30 and 8 PM
Dec. 15 — Sunrise, Fla., BB&T Arena, 8 PM
Dec. 16 — Buffalo, N.Y., KeyBank Center, 3 and 8 PM
Dec. 16 — Orlando, Amway Center, 3 and 8 PM
Dec. 17 — Philadelphia, Wells Fargo Center, 3 and 7:30 PM
Dec. 17 — Tampa, Amalie Arena, 3 and 7:30 PM
Dec. 20 — Indianapolis, Bankers Life Fieldhouse, 7:30 PM
Dec. 20 — New Orleans, Smoothie King Center, 7:30 PM
Dec. 21 — Cincinnati, U.S. Bank Arena, 4 and 8 PM
Dec. 21 — Houston, Toyota Center, 3:30 and 8 PM
Dec. 22 — Pittsburgh, PPG Paints Arena, 3 and 8 PM
Dec. 22 — Dallas, American Airlines Arena, 3:30 and 8 PM
Dec. 23 — Detroit, Little Caesars Arena, 3 and 8 PM
Dec. 23 — San Antonio, AT&T Center, 3:30 and 8 PM
Dec. 26 — Newark, N.J., Prudential Center, 3 and 8 PM
Dec. 26 — St. Louis, Scottrade Center, 3 and 8 PM
Dec. 27 — Albany, N.Y., Times Union Center, 3 and 8 PM
Dec. 28 — Chicago, Allstate Arena, 3 and 8 PM
Dec. 29 — Cleveland, Quicken Loans Arena, 3 and 8 PM
Dec. 29 — Milwaukee, BMO Harris Bradley Center, 3 and 8 PM
Dec. 30 — Columbus, Nationwide Arena, 3 and 8 PM
Dec. 30 — St. Paul, Minn., Xcel Energy Center, 3:30 and 8 PM