Dream Theater
Biography
The technically proficient guitar playing of John Petrucci elevated Dream Theater to the upper echelons of contemporary heavy metal. While its lineup has continuously evolved, the Long Island-based quintet has consistently delivered sharp-edged music. Dream Theater is known for its high-energy concert performances. While they've released several live albums -- Live at the Marquee, recorded at the London club; Live in Japan, recorded during the Music in Progress tour in 1993; and a triple CD and DVD, Live Scenes from New York -- they remain one of heavy metal's most bootlegged bands.
Originally named Majesty by Berklee College of Music students Petrucci, bassist John Myung, and drummer Mike Portnoy, the band soon expanded with the addition of keyboard player Kevin Moore and vocalist Chris Collins. Releasing an eight-tune demo, Majesty Demo, as Majesty, the group sold 1,000 copies within six months. The departure of Collins in late 1986 left Majesty without a vocalist, and after a long period of auditioning possible replacements, the group settled on Charlie Dominici in November 1987. Changing its name, the group agreed on "Dream Theater," inspired by a now-demolished California movie theater.
Selected Discography
Systematic Chaos
2007
Score: 20th Anniversary World Tour Live With The Octavarium Orchestra
2006
Octavarium
2005
Live At Budokan
2004
Train Of Thought
2003
Rudess covers Moore and Sherinian with ease and reffering to the battle between he and Derek on When Dream and Day Reunite, he's much faster with one hand than Sherinian is with two. Petrucci is phenomenal and LaBrie recovered from a vocal rupture about midway through DT's success when he was told he would never sing again. I personally think that's quite amazing. Saw DT live in Atl last may and I would have to say the band sounds just as good live. Amazing performance from an amazing band.
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Just looking at the comments and stuff, and as a big DT fan, I wanted to clear up a few things. I'm absolutely with Crowned in that DT makes DT. Sure, Portnoy is possibly the greatest drummer of all time, but the other musicians are MASTERS of their respective instruments. No one can touch Rudess on keyboards, not even former DT keyboardists .
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Well, actually, Dream Theater is all of them, that is what makes them so unique and dominant; at any given time, any one of the members of the band will be doing something mind blowing on their instruments. Petrucci and Portnoy write all the music, so to say Portnoy IS Dream Theater exclusively is not entirely accurate. Layne, if you listen to some newer D.T., LaBrie lets loose and screams a bunch; the end of the song Octavarium features some intense screaming for example.
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I've said it once and I'll say it again, Mike Portnoy IS Dream Theater!!!!! The guitars are great too. I LOVE prog, but the 80's SUKKED. My only thing against LaBrie is that he NEVER screams. Just my opinion, but to be any sort of metal, you have to scream from time to time but not all the time. Otherwise, there's not much emotion being shown.
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After I heard Biaxadent just recently by Liquid Tension Experiment.. . I was as a child that was newly awakened to the whole progressive rock movement and Dream Theater from whence it all came. Biaxadent is just absolutely amazing and I can't hear it enough. Alot of th LTE is great..and have always loved DT but now listening to it with new ears!
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I hear you. LaBrie isn't my favorite either. But he does have merit in the field. I think there are plenty of progressive singers who out do him, Daniel Gildenlow comes instantly to mind. Yet, I couldn't imagine Dream Theater being who they are without LaBrie, especially on "Scenes". But yea, I am partial.
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No imposition here, Crowned; take it rather as educated Opinion.
Hey, after all, you are entitled to like LaBrie -no harm intended, friend. But, my point is that, he is an inconsistent vocalist and that is why he's not in my fav list. I consider that even an Ian Gillan or a Glenn Hughes type of vocalist would have given the group a better edge on the vocals. But, I repeat, that is just my opinion. |
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LaBrie is not a great vocalist? You forget to mention the certain "spirit" that LaBrie brings when he is on. It is a child-like essence of the love for music and the passion for vocalizing music. It seems such a shame that people would attempt to impose their opinions upon the merits of musicians who are far beyond qualified and educated in the highest institutions of music, without considering the abundant amount of skill and dedication it would entail to perform challenging and innovative art.
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LaBrie is not a great vocalist. His pronunciatio n goes to hell when the time comes to hit high scales; his resources as an interpreter are limited and has no knack for "feeling" when the time comes to slow the pace.
Yes, he has a very progressive vocal range, but, guys with less range do better work on getting the rest of the vocal elements down right. The main problem is that we are inclined to think that range is all a vocalist needs. |
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Dream Theater invented Prog Metal dude. There were some bands in the 80's that could be considered semi-prog... H e l l o w e e n , Queensryche. . e t c . . . b u t "Images and Words" broke new ground and ever since Prog metal has evolved from it. You don't have to dig Labrie, I do, but when I was in high school I couldn't stand him, I just grew to absolutely love him. Like I said, Liquid Tension Experiment is Dream Theater without vocals. Dream Theater is definitely Metal, listen to Train of Thought or Octavarium.
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C&C777, I'd be willing to live with someone classifying Labrie as Prog. ALL of my bands have been Prog/Metal. However, I've never heard DT classified as prog metal. Love your originality! ! ! Love that you haven't sold yourself out like a lot of people have!
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No, nothing alternative at all about Dream Theater. LaBrie is a prototype Prog rock/metal singer. Emphasis being on PROG, where the vocalists can actually sing and don't need to grunt and heave and scream. I loathe the Alternative label, and grew up on Hard metal, Labrie is just that good.
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Storrez, you must be more towards alternative than metal. The vocals aren't bad, but they could be a little more metal. LaBrie's vocals are good, but lack the energy I love. However his tonality is perfect. And I LOVE the CEMETARY GATES cover they did (if you're not familiar with it, look it up on YouTube!!!!
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Layne, you're crazy. LaBrie is an amazing vocalist. Don't get me wrong, everything instrumental they've done is outstanding, and they would still be very popular without any vocals, but the lyrics are amazing, and for me LaBrie helps bring them to life. The feeling and meaning are already there, otherwise they wouldn't be good lyrics, but the right vocalist is always hard to find. In my opinion, they found the right guy.
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I am lucky to have able to talk with these guys on G3 tour, and it's incredible how simple and down to earth they are. funny guys, and they are not gods afterall, they only have a cool job.
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if you want Dream Theater without vocals, check out Liquid Tension Experiment, which is exactly that. (also with Tony Levin on the Bass).
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this band kills it and they are never on the radio around here ( OR )
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I have 6 of the discs here on Pandora and love them all!!! I've always described DT as 'as metal as alternative can get' and have got nothing but kudos. Mike Portnoy is one of the 4 or 5 drummers that inspired me to pick up a pair of drumsticks for the first time. As far as I see it, the weakest part of the band is the vocalist. If they went totally instrumental , I wouldn't be disappointed . Anyway, Rokk on Dream Theater!!!!! ! Thanx 'crowned and conquering'! ! !
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I couldn't agree more Belle...
I remember standing in awe at my first listen to Ytse Jam, back in 1990. Even though I still relay to the feeling, it's not the same... Morrissey makes me feel that way now. Musical tastes evolve. So, I leave it here. DT is good music after all, it's just not my music now. |
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Just like many artists that have been around for a while, DT is evolving their sound as they age. I'm sure not everyone likes the same music now as they did as kids.
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I once shared jorge's sentiment as well. But I soon realized that it was only because I wanted every album to be as good as "Scences", as soon as I got over that, I was able to really enjoy their newer stuff. It still dominates. Listen to "Sacraficed Sons", your kidding yourself if you think they lost something.
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jorgevalenti n e . . . a r e you insane? DT spent? Their music has only gotten better as each album comes out. Octavarium was absolutely amazing and Systematic Chaos is completely insane!!! They are this generations masters of progressive rock and only continue to produce music that is mind blowing.
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I think that as of lately, DT is spent; after Six Degrees I stopped buying. Too repetitive.
It will surely be one hell of a Farewell tour, though! (hope it happens soon) But, come to think of it, they've played all of their material live already, so... it wouldn't be that great after all. Oh God, I'm so tired of DT, I think I'll even stop bantering about them too. |
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Scenes from a Memory is Dream Theater's examplary masterpiece of a concept album. Seen DT like 6 times and have never once been disappointed . They continue to feed my prog rock obsession.
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Been hooked ever since I saw Pull Me Under on MTV back in the day. Had the good fortune to see them in concert 3 times so far! SFAM Is my all time fave album, but all of them are great.... cept maybe WDADU... just can't quite get in to that one. I don't have Score... from what I read here, I think I should get it!
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Yea, it is truly both Portnoy and Petrucci that make Dream Theater so spectacular, not that the others are slackers or anything. Admittedly though, more people would probably have heard of Petrucci over Portnoy, as unfortunate as that is.
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I don't believe this article is completely accurate. He seems to over emphasize Petrucci and under emphasize Portnoy. While Petrucci is absolutely amazing and extremely influential within the band and outside, no doubt, Portnoy is the front man. He skews it to seem as if Petrucci is the main reason why the band has any fame and again Portnoy's (and of course the other's) influence is totally overlooked. I think the technically proficient playing of all the members of the band elevated the band.
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Every lp is f-n great. they never fail to put out great stuff, I like AWAKE the best, but they have so many good albums, it's hard to pick just one. The Liquid Tension Experiment is damm good also.
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Falling into infinity reawakened my love for music after I had lost a taste for anything of this sort.
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and to Ben Jones...don' t like what you hear?...THEN STOP F**KING LISTENING AND QUIT B**CHING ABOUT IT!!! It's not that hard to compile your own playlists and mixes....peo p l e have been doing it for a long time.
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tiptip1 is a damn retard. Their lyrics are amazing...ma s t e r f u l , just like the rest of their music. Just about all of their songs tell a story, if not the whole freakin' album. Also have to agree with just about everyone who said just about anything on here, since there's nothing bad you can say About Dream Theater. Beautifully addicting music, that will change your ideas of what "good music" is. And they put on a kick-a** show. I just wish I could have seen them with the orchestra... t i m e l e
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Someone needs to change the profile picture for Dream Theater. It is way out of date.
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pull me under, i can't get enough of that song. this band has awakened in me a desire for metal that not many other metal groups can satisfy.
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May the world welcome all that is sickening perfection!! ! ! No one will EVER touch their contribution s to progressive creativity .
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