Savatage drummer Jeff Plate has announced that he will be sitting out a couple of upcoming live dates, with Blais Elias stepping in.

Plate cited health issues as the reason for his absence, specifically chronic nosebleeds which he had previously addressed surgically.

However, the condition has returned and Plate feels it's best to avoid traveling by air until it is again resolved.

In Plate's place will be Blais Elias, who has been part of the Savatage/TSO family for a decade and is the perfect man for the job.

Elias is a huge fan of the music and has already played some of these songs live with TSO.

His years working with Al Pitrelli and Johnny Middleton will make this a seamless transition – the band will be tight and flawless and sound fantastic.

The shows that Plate will miss are scheduled to take place in Sweden and France, where Savatage will perform alongside Iron Maiden and Sabaton respectively.

The tour is part of the band's upcoming "Prelude To Madness" tour, which celebrates one of the band's most defining eras.

All dates and further information can be found at www.savatage.com.

Savatage has also announced the release of their previously unreleased official live recording "Madness Reigns From The Gutter (1990)" on June 26.

The album captures the band at the height of their legendary "Rulin' Gutter" tour and features fan-favorite tracks such as "City Beneath The Surface" and "Gutter Ballet".

In related news, Savatage's management has announced that the band will be performing a special concert with orchestra on July 27 in Pompeii, Italy.

This will be followed by a headlining appearance at Wacken Open Air festival in Germany on August 1.

Further tour dates can also be found on the band's website.

The album and tour announcements come as Savatage prepares to celebrate their unwavering passion with fans across Europe through their upcoming live shows.