I should have clarified on that, it didn't last long beyond his passing. If memory serves me correctly, Dead Winter Dead was comprised of some earlier material, which resulted in the record company demanding a "Christmas Album" (mostly because of Christmas Eve Sarajevo, which Criss played lead on) Savatage wouldn't agree under their current name and it led to the birth of TSO while Savatage was still in full swing.
Didn't Jon also leave sometime around Dead Winter Dead to pursue his own solo deal as Jon Oliva's Pain?
I could be wrong on all this, so correct me if I am. I wasn't calling you out or anything man, seriously, if I'm wrong let me know.