Z7 SUMMER NIGHTS OPEN AIR

PROG METAL SUMMER FEST

Following their acclaimed stage comeback in summer 2025, Savatage will return to Europe once again in 2026 with the Prelude To Madness tour. Alongside various festival appearances, the band will play a handful of select headline shows – one of which will take place right on our doorstep as part of the Z7 Summer Nights Open Airs on 3 August. As special guests, we are proud to welcome none other than the newly re-formed Nevermore, featuring Jeff Loomis and Van Williams.

Tampa, Florida, 3 November 2025: Prog metal pioneers Savatage announce their highly anticipated Prelude To Madness Tour 2026. The tour kicks off on 19 July in Istanbul, marking the long-awaited return to Europe. Fans can expect an explosive setlist spanning the band’s entire catalogue, including classic anthems and deep cuts that underline Savatage’s appreciation for their legendary fanbase, known as The Legion. Vocalist Zak Stevens comments: “After the fantastic tours through South America and Europe last year, I’m really looking forward to the upcoming Savatage shows in Europe. This is going to be huge.” Savatage are widely regarded as one of the most influential bands in progressive metal. Over the course of their eventful career, the Tampa-based band have released eleven groundbreaking albums and played hundreds of concerts worldwide. With their unique blend of thrash, prog, power metal and classic hard rock, they have left a lasting mark on heavy metal. Their innovative approach to concept albums and rock operas has influenced countless artists and earned them a devoted global following. During the nearly two-decade-long touring hiatus, this passionate fanbase tirelessly campaigned for the band’s return. The one-off reunion show at Wacken Open Air 2015 thrilled 80,000 fans and confirmed both Savatage’s legendary status and the unwavering dedication of their audience. Building on the success of the Wacken triumph, Savatage made international headlines again in 2025 with their first headline shows since 2002. The European tour successfully united multiple generations and proved to be an intensely emotional experience for both longtime followers and new fans alike. We are therefore all the more delighted to present one of the few Savatage headline shows in summer 2026. The Prelude To Madness tour features the current powerhouse line-up of Zak Stevens (vocals), Al Pitrelli and Chris Caffery (guitars), Johnny Lee Middleton (bass) and Jeff Plate (drums).

Nevermore: In spring 2025, the news spread like wildfire through the metal scene: Nevermore are coming back! Founding member Jeff Loomis (guitar) and longtime drummer Van Williams are set to revive the prog metal legend with new bandmates. At the end of March, they announced: “The wait is over! After an extensive selection process, we’ve assembled a line-up that honours our legacy while also pointing towards a new future. That makes us incredibly happy.” The identities of the chosen musicians are expected to be revealed soon. Preparations for the long-awaited return are currently in full swing: “We’re gearing up for the next chapter of Nevermore, and we promise the wait will be worth it.” Formed in 1992 from the ashes of Sanctuary, Nevermore carved their way into the metal pantheon between 1995 and 2010 with seven outstanding albums and a powerful live presence. In summer 2026, the newly reassembled prog/thrash metal outfit from Seattle will arrive in Pratteln alongside Savatage – a double bill that promises a top-class summer night on Kraftwerkstrasse. Savatage frontman Zak Stevens can hardly wait either: “We’re absolutely thrilled to welcome our old friends Nevermore as special guests.”