I usually wait for the T.S.O. tour to hit Detroit, Toledo or Grand Rapids to sit down with the guys and record the CS/Christmas special but this year they are playing so many matinee shows, that the timing would have been tuff to record 2-hours worth of stuff. The solution was for me to go to Florida and interview the band members during their tour rehearsals. This gave us more time to record, allows me get the show produced sooner for affiliates that want the special early to tie into the T.S.O. tour schedule and it gave me access to both touring troupes TSO East and TSO West.

This years CS/TSO special will feature all 4 guitarists, Chris Caffery (Savatage/Doctor Butcher), Alex Skolnick (Testament/Savatage), Al Pitrelli (Alice Cooper/Megadeth/Savatage), Angus Clark (Kitaro/Naked Sun) as well as electric violinist Mark Wood (toured with Steve Vai, Celine Dion, Dee Snider).

The 5 of them will talk about their amazing journey over the last 12 years to become the #1 Seasonal touring band in the world, what it’s like spending Christmas on the road and being part of the biggest light, sound and performance show in the world.

The Chop Shop/TSO Christmas special will be on all across the nation Christmas week, with most stations running the 2-hour show on Christmas eve and Christmas morning.