Dream Theater Artistfacts

Dream Theater song list

Dream Theater Artistfacts

1988-
John PetrucciGuitar
John MyungBass
Mike PortnoyDrums1988-2010, 2023-
Charlie DominiciVocals1988-1989
James LaBrieVocals1989-
Kevin MooreKeyboards1988-1994
Derek SherinianKeyboards1994-1998
Jordan RudessKeyboards1998-
Mike Mangini Drums2010-2023
Core members John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy met at the Berklee School of Music in Boston. The band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty, but changed to the name Dream Theater in 1988. Portnoy was generally the band's main spokesperson until his departure to join Avenged Sevenfold. He commented that he found this odd considering that he has a tendency to talk about anything and everything EXCEPT Dream Theater. >>
Suggestion credit:
Ashley - Leeds, England
Their 1992 single "Pull Me Under" the album Images And Words was released as a single and a video. It received substantial airplay on MTV and reached #10 on the Billboard rock charts.
Petrucci and Portnoy joined with session bassist Tony Levin (famous for his work with Peter Gabriel and King Crimson) and keyboardist Jordan Rudess for an instrumental project entitled Liquid Tension Experiment, which would release two albums. Rudess later joined Dream Theater.
They consider themselves a "progressive metal" band. In a Songfacts interview with Mike Portnoy, he said, "We're a cross between progressive rock and heavy metal. We have the progressive side, which grew up with Rush, Yes, Pink Floyd and Genesis, and then there's the metal side which grew up with Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Metallica and Black Sabbath. And if you put it all in a blender, that's exactly what Dream Theater is."
Portnoy has obsessive compulsive disorder, which leads him to take a profound interest in every band, film maker and TV program he comes across. He also struggled with alcoholism and speaks openly about how Alcoholics Anonymous helps him manage his condition.

The band's "Twelve-step Suite" is a set of five songs with one track featured on each Dream Theater studio album from 2002's Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence to 2009's Black Clouds & Silver Linings. Portnoy wrote the lyrics to each song about his battle with the bottle and how the AA helped him become sober. Each track represents a certain number of the Twelve Steps, starting with "The Glass Prison," then "This Dying Soul," "The Root of All Evil," "Repentence," and The Shattered Fortress."
James LaBrie was one of the candidates to replace Bruce Dickinson when he left Iron Maiden in 1993. >>
Suggestion credit:
Tom - Trowbridge, England
Myung started playing bass at 15 after having previously played the violin. One of his school friends asked John to play bass in his band. He figured it would be easy for him to play, since it has 4 strings like a violin. John has never played the violin since.
Some of their songs are very long. "We're not afraid to write 15-20 minute songs if that's what it takes to fully express the idea," Portnoy told Songfacts.
On September 8, 2010, Mike Portnoy announced he had left Dream Theater. Auditions to find a new drummer were begun the following month. Seven world-class drummers were auditioned; Mike Mangini, Virgil Donati, Marco Minnemann, Peter Wildoer, Thomas Lang, Derek Roddy and Aquiles Priester. On April 29, 2011, Dream Theater revealed that they chose Mike Mangini as Portnoy's replacement.

Massachusetts native Mangini has also played for Extreme, Annihilator, James LaBrie, and Steve Vai and toured the world on numerous occasions. He's also spent many years teaching percussion at the Berklee College of Music in Boston.
After performing a full live set, Dream Theater did an encore cover of Metallica's entire Master of Puppets album during 2002 gigs in Barcelona, Chicago and New York City.
LaBrie's first album with the band, Images And Words, was their breakthrough, but he had to refuse doctor's orders to promote it. In 1994, after the North American leg of their tour, he got food poisoning that was so bad it bled into his vocal cords. Doctors told him to take six months off, but he soldiered on. "We didn't have that luxury - it probably would have broke the bank," he said in a Songfacts interview. "Unfortunately, I had to go back singing, probably when I shouldn't have. It took its toll, and it took several years to even feel that I was back to where I was comfortable as a singer."
John Petrucci used to give guitar lessons in Long Island. He says that he would often learn from his students. "Because I was teaching, I was constantly playing and reviewing and learning new things to teach," he told Songfacts. "My chops and my knowledge was really at a high point because I was in that mode. So, having all these different students and having them impart knowledge and being on top of things really kept me in good shape. A lot of the players were really good and we formed friendships, and I learned things from them as players."

Comments: 7

Nick from Cairns, AustraliaOne of THE best progressive rock bands ever. my fav songs at the moment are: take the time, pull me under, as I am, this dying soul, constant motion and metrolis pt 1: the miracle and the sleeper, and the root of all evil. lets hope john petrucci keeps it up with his g3 concerts, rock on!!! and dont get me started on the keyboards, its just insane..
Ashley from LeedsIn September 2006 "Score: the 20th Anniversary Tour DVD" debuted at number 1 on the Billboard Music DVD chart.
Arturo from Mexico City, MexicoDream theater very impressive and brilliant band, I like it a lot
Maya from San Francisco-ish, CaDon-- I've heard a Dream Theater song or two and I have to agree. Their instrumentals are incredible, but James LaBrie's voice detracts just a bit from the experience. Still, they are an excellent band and show that prog rock isn't dead yet. :)
Don from Pittsburgh, PaWhile "Images and Words" is arguably this bands best release, IMO "Awake" is a 10 star album, and their best. I've heard it said that progressive rock musicians play with such technical proficiency that the emotion or soul of the music is missing. Not on this disc, they combine their instrumental prowess with great emotion. And that makes for the 75 minutes of musical paradise on this wonderous effort. It's been in my player for a month, and I can't seem to take it out. For 10 dollars you get alot of bang for your buck. The only drawback is the singer James Labrie. He does sound good at times, but for me his vocals could have been deleted and that would have been fine. At the top of the progressive rock mountain you have: King Crimson, Pink Floyd and Dream Theatre. Some pretty awesome company. Peace.
Can from Ankara, TurkeyFor most of the musicians Dream Theater is the most gifted group in the world. John Petrucci is the most technique guitar player in the world, also Portnoy is the best rock drummer and Myung is the fastest bassist. I recommend you to listen Jordan Rudess.(Unbelievable!)
Anders from Faaborg, DenmarkThree of the bandmembers' wifes (Rena Petrucci, Marlene Portnoy and Lisa Martens Myung) played in the same band before marrying three guys all playing in Dream Theater!! The band was called Meanstrak and was a thrashy-metal band. I think they split up in '93 (Not sure though)

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