Chris Caffery
A powerhouse American guitarist whose blistering riffs and melodic solos became the driving force behind the progressive metal of Savatage and Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
Born 1967 (age 59)·American guitarist·Birthday: September 9·Generation X
Biography
Chris Caffery's hands have shaped the sound of modern progressive and symphonic metal. Joining the influential band Savatage in the late 1980s, his dual-guitar attack alongside Criss Oliva, and later Al Pitrelli, defined their complex, theatrical sound on albums like 'Gutter Ballet' and 'Streets.' This work directly paved the way for the rock-opera spectacle of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, where Caffery became a fixture, his searing solos a highlight of their annual winter tours. Beyond these collective juggernauts, he forged a distinct solo path, releasing a series of personal and heavy albums under his own name that allowed his songwriting and vocal talents to shine. Caffery's career is a bridge between the raw power of 80s metal and the ambitious, orchestral heights the genre would later achieve, with his guitar work serving as a constant, fiery thread.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Chris was born in 1967, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Chris Was Born
The biggest hits of 1967
#1 Movie
The Jungle Book
Best Picture
In the Heat of the Night
#1 TV Show
The Andy Griffith Show
Chris's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1967Born
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1972Started school
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1980Became a teenager
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1983Could drive
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1985Could vote
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1988Turned 21
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1997Turned 30
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2007Turned 40
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 50
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 59 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Has been a lead guitarist for the progressive metal band Savatage since the late 1980s, contributing to landmark albums like 'The Wake of Magellan'.
- Is a longstanding touring and recording guitarist for the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, performing on numerous albums and their massive annual tours.
- Has released multiple solo albums, including 'Faces' and 'Your Heaven is My Hell', showcasing his own songwriting and vocals.
- Played guitar on 'Dead Winter Dead', the Savatage album whose story inspired the formation of Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
Did You Know?
He is left-handed but plays guitar right-handed.
He briefly played in the band Doctor Butcher with Savatage vocalist Jon Oliva.
He is an avid collector of horror movie memorabilia.
He released a solo Christmas EP titled 'Holiday Hell'.
“I love the energy of metal. It's a very passionate form of music.”
