by Mary Ellen Gustafson. I’ve known the people involved in creating what has become this massive entity called Trans-Siberian Orchestra and the core rock band they started with, Savatage, almost since they started in 1996. Over the years I’ve had the opportunity to have conversations and interviews with Paul O’Neill, Bob Kinkel, Jon Oliva, Chris Caffery, meet John Lee Middleton and Jeff Plate and at least see Al Pitrelli play live with both bands. And, after all these years of attending the TSO's West Tour and feeling like I know Al as well as all the others involved, I’ve never actually met or talked to him. When I hooked up with the guys in Savatage in 1998, he wasn’t around at the moment, but I still remember him and Chris playing off each other to the songs on the Wake Of Magellan Tour and thinking it was one of the most awesome guitar duos I’d ever seen. Actually, it’s still right up there at the top to this day. Bottom line; I’ve got a lot of history with and respect for Al Pitrelli and I finally got a chance to meet him...