Savant Time Line
November 1991 -
Savant is formed by long time friends Bruce Miller and Val Acemyan. They settle on the name Jagdpanzer, but change it to Savant after finding out there was a band in Europe with that name. Bruce & Val played guitar and they quickly added friend Jay Bibber on drums
Late November 1991 –
After trying out several bassist they settled on Chris (Ill Nino). Bruce is coaxed into taking on Vocals for the band.
December 1991 –
Chris moves from area and leaves band. Omar Oliveros, a friend of Jay’s, Takes on the position of bassist. After only several weeks with the band they Play their first show at the then famous Studio One(now Tequila Joes) in Newark NJ.
January thru November 1992 –
Savant plays much around the New Jersey/New York Area in such Venues as Studio One, The legendary Stone Pony and Club Bene
Late November 1992 –
Savant goes into the studio to record a 4-song demo. They go to the now Infamous Big Blue Meenie studios.
December 1992 -
Just after they finish recording the demo Omar decides to leave the band. He is quickly replaced by Damian Debenedetto, a roadie and friend. He is just 18.
December 1992 thru June 1993 –
Savant continues to play the local area, gathering a reputation as a hard playing, hard drinking in your face band.
June 1993 –
After three years with the band co-founder Val Acemyan quit’s, without ever giving a reason.
Late June 1993 –
Pete Crecco auditions for the band after his former band, Dark Knight, breaks up. Bruce, Jay and Damien like his style and he is added to the line up.
July thru December 1994 -
Savant plays the metro area clubs and get some shots opening for worldwide Acts. The band decides to mutually part ways. They have become frustrated and feel they have no interest in playing anymore.
January 1996 –
Bruce, Pete and Jay , who all remained close, decided they missed the stage and reformed They contacted Damien to play bass, they started to rehearse. But Damien’s interest became laxed and he frequently forgot about rehearsals. A decision was made to to replace him.
February 1996 –
The search was on for a bassist, they audition several people but could not find what they were looking for. They wanted a bassist who added a missing ingredient to the band.
March 1996 –
Through a friend of Jay’s they meet Richie Leitch. He is given the demo and is told to learn the four songs on it plus a Metallica song and a Iron Maiden song. He had to have it all down in four days. When the audition came, Richie blew everyone away with his talent. Another ingredient was added to Savants sound.
March 1996 thru January 1997 –
Savant plays everywhere they can. They’re reputation has stayed the same. They still play and drink hard. In mid January 1997 they decide to enter the studio and record they’re debut album "The Dawning” They go back to Big Blue Meenie to record.
March 1997 –
While recording the band still plays shows. They also sign a deal with Black Pumpkin Records/distribution to release “The Dawning”
April 1997 –
“The Dawning” is completed, but does not get released at this time
September 1997 –
The band has a CD release party for “The Dawning”. They play by themselves with no opening act. The show last 2 ˝ hours. The crowd turnout was incredible. Savant starts to go on the road and play out of the NY/NJ area.
September 1998 –
CD sales are not what the band expected and they get out of they’re contract with Black Pumpkin records. Frustration sets in again and long time member Jay Bibber leaves the band. Bruce, Pete & Richie decide to play out the rest of the shows that are booked. So the search was on for a drummer.
October 1998 -
The band auditions Chris Nixon, a fan of the band. After his audition they decide to let Chris play a show at the Wreckroom in NJ a week away. He plays the show with ease. After the show the band gives him the spot. Savant starts to appear in some International heavy metal magazines.
March 1999 -
Savant wins The Battle of the Bands at The Wreckroom in NJ with ease. They competed against 30 bands over a four month time span. There following began to swell. It seems Savant has an ability to win over a crowd.
April 1999 -
OXSO Entertainment, Savants managing company, is contacted by Amazon.com. It seems they were contacted by people who were searching for the “The Dawning” OXSO sends them copies of the CD and they start to sell worldwide.
April 1999 thru September 1999 –
Savant is starting to gain some world wide recognition. They begin to receive fan mail from countries like Greece and Germany. In September 1999 they are featured on the cover of “The East Coast Rocker” a music paper that serves the NY metro area and is read by hundreds of thousands. Chris begins to feel like he is not a member of the band and wants to record with Savant.
October 1999 –
Record sales never reach what was hoped. The band is very hard on each other. They begin to feel let down and that “The Dawning” was a failure. Chris decides to leave the band and the rest of the guys feel it is over too. They play their last show on October 30th to a packed Images nightclub in Jersey. They end the 3 hour set with Nevermore.
November 2000 –
Bruce, Pete & Richie decide they want to play again. They call up Jay Bibber and they decide to start playing again.
December 2000 –
However it seems some animosity between Pete & Jay exists and Jay leaves again. They audition a few drummers but settle on none.
March 2001 –
Bruce decides to contact Chris once again, and in a strange turn of events Chris was wanting to re-join Savant. The band converts Bruce’s garage into a rehearsal studio.
April 2001 –
Savant starts to rehearse and play their first show in almost two years at the place they played there last, Images night club in Fairview, NJ.
April 2001 -
January 2002- Savant has been playing shows again and writing new material. The band knows that they have to start from the ground up. They have to rebuild what they lost. This metal quartet is galvanized. They fit well now. Savant has all the needed ingredients to take the world by storm. They Are scheduled to start recording in March 2002. And weather it is on a Major record label, or self-released by OXSO Entertainment. One thing Is for certain, it is going to be a KICK ASS cd.