HORSEHEADS, NY (WENY) -- It's not quite Thanksgiving, but some people have already started listening to Christmas music to get in the holiday spirit. One band that's become synonymous the past 25+ years with the Christmas season is Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
Horseheads' own Jeff Plate is a founding member of TSO, and has been at the helm of the drum kit since the first note. His career with TSO began while playing drums for the metal band Savatage in the 1990's, when they produced a Christmas song under the direction of producer Paul O'Neill, titled "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24" in 1995. The song exploded, and became the launching bad for what would become Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
"The group was basically created in 1996, and what's when we did our first album, "Christmas Eve and Other Stories'," said Plate.
The song went double platinum, and was later re-released on TSO's first album in 1996, "Christmas Eve and Other Stories." That album went certified triple platinum after its release. TSO went on its first tour in 1999; 25 years later, Jeff says he's privileged to see be doing what he loves, as the band is currently on its 2024 Winter Tour, "The Lost Christmas Eve" - with the musicians, signers, performers and stage crew putting on a show full of music, storytelling, and spectacle.
"Every year is different, but this year in particular we are presenting "The Lost Christmas Eve", which is the third album in Paul's Christmas Trilogy for TSO, and along with that comes some songs we have not played in quite a while. We always add something new musically to the show. But visually, if you have seen us before, you know that every year TSO has a look, for sure. But every year there is a different production element, whether it's an effect, or a video or lighting or something do with the stage. So every year it is a new tour, but since we haven't done this particular album, this story in God, over 12-13 years I think, this is going to be pretty special, and I know the team has something pretty cool in store for it," Plate said.
Plate said it's the fans coming back year after year that keep Trans-Siberian Orchestra going, and being able to perform to stadiums full of fans all across the country. In order to tour the United States in such a short time frame each holiday season, there are two performing sets of Trans-Siberian Orchestra; East and West. Jeff is a member of the East crew.
RELATED: Horseheads' Jeff Plate Talks Drumming Career, Trans-Siberian Orchestra
"We play to close a million people a year on these tours, we have one of the most downloaded Christmas songs ever. Which is kind of amazing to think of, and here again I just mentioned, TSO released their first record almost 30 years ago, and the fan base is still growing every year," he said. "These moments where I get on stage and see people smiling and just having a blast is what makes it all real. And to know that some people come to several shows a tour, but regardless if you come for the first time, you're probably bringing someone new the second time you show up."
Along with the music, giving back at each tour stop along the way is part of TSO's culture. The band donates one dollar per ticket sold to a local charity at each city on the tour schedule.
"Paul always felt that the holidays were a really festive time for a lot of people, and a struggle for some others. And this was just a way to get the audience involved, literally helping somebody in their community. And maybe somebody that they know. But it's just such a great pay [it] forward. We've donated to children's hospitals, blood banks, zoos, you name it. Everything, all across the country. And to date, this year we are going to hit our 20 million ticket sold for all these tours, and coinciding with that is $20 million in charity, it's probably actually more than that," Plate said.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra's 2024 Winter Tour kicked off on November 13th, and runs until December 30th. Regionally, Jeff and TSO will be making a stop at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo on December 4th, PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh on December 21st, and the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on December 22nd.
For the full tour schedule and tickets, click here.
