Chris Caffery

Christopher Caffery
Caffery performing with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra in 2007.
Background information
Birth name	Christopher Caffery
Born	(1967-09-09) September 9, 1967 (age 49) Suffern, New York, U.S.
Genres	Heavy metal, progressive metal, power metal, thrash metal
Occupation(s)	Musician, songwriter
Instruments	Guitar, vocals, bass, keyboards
Years active	1984–present
Associated acts	Artension, Savatage, Doctor Butcher, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Jon Oliva's Pain, Metalium
Website	www.chriscaffery.com

Chris Caffery (born September 9, 1967 in Suffern, NY) is an American musician, best known for his work as a member of Savatage and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Recently, Chris has been pursuing a solo career, releasing four albums since 2004.

Raised in Mahwah, New Jersey, Chris began playing guitar at age 11, but some of his earliest memories include performing the Beatles song Help! for a show and tell in kindergarten. Chris' favorite bands growing up included the Beatles, Kiss, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest and Rush among others. He has cited guitarists such as Ted Nugent, Rik Emmett, Ace Frehley, Randy Rhoads, Michael Schenker as influences throughout the years as well.

After only 13 months, Chris grew bored with guitar lessons and decided to teach himself. He was part of a band called "Blitzkrieg" in middle school and played a few shows, the first of which was at a bar in Ridgewood, New Jersey when Chris was only 13. At the age of 14, Chris and his brother formed a band called "Anti". Chris dropped out of High School at the age of 16 to become a professional musician, teaching students during the day and playing shows in the night.

Chris recorded his first demo tape at age 14 and his second at 17, which got him his first national gig. Chris was in New York City one night, hanging around in a club in the middle of Times Square, when he met the lead singer of a band called Heaven named Allan Fryar. They were looking for a guitarist and Chris asked if he could give Allan a tape. A week later and Fryar called, and it turned out that the band also needed a drummer, so Chris's brother Phil joined. The band was managed by David Krebs and a certain Paul O'Neill, who Chris would maintain close ties for most of his career.