Caught In A Dream: A Dream Theater Exclusive Interview
By
Robert Kreutzer,
Contributor
Monday, January 7, 2002 @ 1:54 PM
Dream Theater Axe-Grinder John
Dream Theater proves that art cannot only be fun but it can blow out your speakers, too.
Where too much of the metal/hard rock gaggle serves up radio-friendly bits of sameness that lasts no longer than a fast-food radio spot on one of the gazillion "X" or "power" radio stations dotting the dial, Dream Theater proves that hard rock can be downright high-falutin'.
OK, the idea of combining rock with classical music and, in Dream Theater's case, jazz, is nothing new, and the band has never been bashful about naming the likes of Yes, Pink Floyd and Rush as sources of inspiration. But where those bands got a little too artsy fartsy for their -- or our -- own good, Dream Theater manages to have their art and rock it, too. According to John Petrucci, who handles the axe duties for the band, attitude saves the band from the snooty tedium to which art-rock has too often drifted.
"It's not just a matter of gluing a bunch of complicated riffs together," explained Petrucci, on the telephone from a studio in New York. "It's a matter of making a song that's a good piece of music."
"As songwriters, it has always been very much an effort of ours to write good music, regardless of style, or how long the songs are," explained Petrucci, taking time out from a recording session for an upcoming solo project. "We wanted the messages to be good, the melodies to be good, and just for the songs to stand on their own. We also want it to be heavy, not too wimpy. As long as we keep a focus on that, we'll be able to keep putting out quality music."
Quality is no short supply on Dream Theater's upcoming Elektra records release, Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence, a double CD slated to hit the streets in late January, with a tour to follow soon thereafter. The other players in Dream Theater are singer James Labrie, bassist John Myung, drummer Mike Portnoy and keyboardist Jordan Ruddess.
An FM or MTV hit ditty is clearly the furthest thing from the band's mind, as most of the songs on the disc one check in somewhere near the 10-minute mark. Stretched-out solos from Petrucci and Rudess bear the influence not only of classical music but also branch out into bebop-like spells, reflecting the band members' jazzy inclinations. Slight hip hop touches also tint things just a teeny a bit.
The second CD is the 42-minute title track, a tale of mental instability divvied up into eight movements ranging from straight philharmonic interludes and runs of almost pure jazz. Think John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme" meets Guns 'n Roses Appetite for Destruction with some Chopin and Yes' "Closer to the Edge" thrown in.
While some things are extended further than they really should be, listening to the CD is anything but a nightmare. All in all, it is the band's most ambitious undertaking to date, and Petrucci said the band standing pat wasn't really an option.
"The last album we did (1999's Scenes From a Memory) was a concept album, which is a pretty big undertaking," said Petrucci by telephone from a studio in New York, taking a break from recording music for a solo project. "After that, we were kinda like, 'what can we do now?' We didn't want to do just a collection of songs. We wanted to do something a little different."
"It's not just a matter of gluing a bunch of complicated riffs together," explained Petrucci, on the telephone from a studio in New York. "It's a matter of making a song that's a good piece of music."
A strong emphasis by band members on musicianship was natural, as they hooked up as students at the prestigious Berklee School of Music in Boston in 1985. Despite those credentials, aside from some ethereal keyboard runs the sound wasn't too far removed from the 1980s mousse-and-spandex standard.
Dream Theater released one album for MCA records in 1989 which established for them a healthy cult following but didn't much dent the charts. Some accounts say that the label dropped the band, but Petrucci said it was the band's idea to move on.
Finding a home with EastWest Records, the band began to hit its stride. The 1992 release, "Images and Words" went gold and yielded MTV hits like "Pull Me Under" and "Another Day" and is still regarded by some as Dream Theater's best. The band, though making adjustments in its lineup, would put out a series of well-received albums through the '90s.
The 1999 concept CD Scenes From A Memory, proved a breakthrough for the band. The creative signatures and all-around musicianship once and for all cemented the band's credentials as a technical force to be reckoned with, but also saw the band thud at its balls-out rockin' best and the lyrics, weaving a flowing tale of mental imbalance, proved the band could tell a good story, too. According to Petrucci, the arrival of Ruddes helped the band show what it was really made of.
"Once he joined the band, it was like we found the missing link," Petrucci recalled. "I felt like the first album he did with us was only the beginning. I thought we would be writing our best music ever."
The CD was a favorite both with critics and fans. More important than the many props they garnered, though, came the confidence-- and with that, the liberation - the band to needed to finally dicate the terms in which it made its music.
"Psychology, the mind, religion, these are the things that make you think deeply. This helps us create lyrics that are interesting, that help us decide what words to use and what kinds of imagery we create."
"Before Scenes, before we even went to the studio, we would bring in demos to the record company, we had them listen to the songs, and then we'd pick a producer. For 'Scenes,' we didn't have an outside producer, we didn't show the label any songs and we didn't do any demos. We just went into the studio and did everything ourselves."
"It ended up being really successful. It showed what we were capable of doing, and that we knew our own audience and our own style better than anyone."
Unlike most bands built on instrumental virtuosity, Dream Theater takes lyrics just as seriously. Where many prog-rock bands' lyrics sound like a speech at a vegetarian poet meeting, politics, religion and especially psychology figure heavy in Dream Theater's written lines. While not a concept album in the strictest sense of the word, the songs do have a natural flow almost suggesting a story.
"Psychology, the mind, religion, these are the things that make you think deeply," said Petrucci. "This helps us create lyrics that are interesting, that help us decide what words to use and what kinds of imagery we create."
A few months ago, the band found itself to be prophetic in ways they would have preferred not to be. The live CD, Live Scenes From New York, was released September 10th, with cover art depicting the NYC skyline in flames. With the terrorist attacks the following day, the band wasted no time in asking the CD be pulled from the shelves to be given a new cover.
"With what was happening in the world," said Petrucci, "this thing was a matter of 'we're just not comfortable with this. We need to pull the CD and change the artwork."
Most of the band members also record a fair number of solo projects. Petrucci assured that these serve needs and purposes completely aside from Dream Theater and pose no threat to band unity.
bijitbora - 2/11/2006 4:37:28 PM I heard DT first in 1992. I am a musician (guitarist) and I play and teach guitar.I am in India. Heard Images & words and never looked back since then. There are no words to describe this band. They are a boon to mankind. There are 3 chord playing shitheads with more attitude than you can ever imagine and here are the masters...more humble than anyone can ever imagine, with not the slightest of airs... better musicians than most jazz players i ever heard. They have redefined music. A passionately bent, twisted and vibratoed note from Petrucci's guitar makes my hair stand on end.. It's not about malmsteen like speed... it's not all about aimless complexity... they are communicating with us and I can feel the bonding with them (along with all the other DT fans in the world). They are humble enough to pay tribute to the guys who have influenced them by playing their covers and to try and play it exactly the same so that a tribute sounds like a tribute. In fact some of them are even better than the originals.. They reinforce the faith in letting us know that it's cool to play covers apart from your originals. I am picking up the intro of Overture 1928 right now just to feel the passion in the way it is compoded and played. I have played guitar for about 19 years now, but I still gave myself a couple of hours to pick it exactly the way he has played it just to try and enter his mindframe. John ... you are the best (Alongwith Eddie Van Halen)... Will you guys ever come to India?? You have no idea what a fan following you have here, specially in the North - East of India. Please come here and perform in Mumbai (where I currently reside). If Bryan Adams, Mark Knofler and Tull can come by, I'm sure you guys can.. Rest assured the concert will be house full. All fans in the country will come together come hell or high water... Please please come here... That is my life's dream. I do not have words for DT.. I just hope and pray you guys read this and give it a thought... Sincerely your fan forever... I am going to post this wherever I can, just in case you may read it some day and fulfill our (the fans')dreams.Sincerely yours... Bijit Bora
woocash_p - 3/23/2002 1:23:08 PM I've been listening to Dream Theater since the commencement of their career. Meanwhile I'm an ardent fan of jazz. Because of the fact I have been resigned to dispose of many other prog bands as the hadn't lived up to my expectations. The exception was Dream Theater(a melting pot of various styles),which virtuosity of each member come up to or even excel many jazz artists. It is hardly found in prog metal. The very thing, which stands out among many others musicians is a fact they compose music for their satifaction, not churn out twee music but do it with passion. Their music is top-notch and deserve for a chapter in history.
dennis22 - 2/17/2002 10:52:44 AM Hi there! I've seen DT two weeks ago in Amsterdam and it was really great!!! I also saw the band-members after the show,because I won the CD-contest(from the live scenes from New York CD).So I now have real signatures from James,John,John and Jordan,who I liked the most during that meeting. A bit disappointing was John Myung,because he did'nt talk to anyone. I think he was very tired. However it was a great experience!!!
metaldownunder - 2/14/2002 6:58:45 PM I agree 100% with feedback71 and so do many others.
feedback71 - 2/7/2002 1:28:47 PM To all of you a little confused on the interviewer's comments regarding "slight touches" of hip hop in Six Degrees, here's what I thought of when he mentioned that. In [i]The Glass Prison[/i], there is a part where John Petrucci is using something(a drill?) to make a sort of record scratch sound. It definitely doesn't sound like someone actually scratching a record but, something similar. I think that is where this interviewer got that idea.
Oriental,
You are entitled to your opinions and I'm not gonna try and tell you what you should think or belittle you or cuss at you. However, I think it is sad that this is your only view of Dream Theater. If you actually sit down and listen to one of their cds with no distractions(no tv, no kids, no spouse bitching, no nothing), you'll get a good idea of what DT is about. Their music is so incredibly diverse. They are not robots or Yngwie Malmsteen trying to spit out the fastest solos possible. They are much, much more than that. Their music creates moods, illustrates, challenges the intellect. Same with the lyrics. Their lyrics are very interesting and complex. They're definitely not playing stuff mechanically. Their music is from the heart and they explore their instruments like no other band can do. Like others have said, you can listen to a DT song 30 times and on the 31st time, you can hear something that you didn't notice before. I guess all I'm saying is that you should really listen to some of their music before you post comments like 'music should not be from a school, it should be from the heart. That comment tells me you really have never [b]listened[/b] to Dream Theater. At least not with an open mind.
furrball316 - 2/2/2002 12:11:21 AM Seems I spoke a little prematurely. One Way has already put a Dream & Day remaster in the works, to be released March 12, 2000, but there's no bonus tracks on it, so it would still probably be a good idea to write them if you want to see the Majesty demos released.
Eddieshead - 1/30/2002 4:11:34 AM Just saw them Monday night in Copenhagen. Un-f**king-believable. Caught the end of the "Pain of Salvation" set (opening act). Wish I had been earlier to see the whole thing. DT introduced two new songs from the SDOIT cd. All in all, best concert experience of the Millenium.
diamondstar - 1/29/2002 9:12:25 AM Luckily DT can now play larger venues and WILL play in CT. I consider myself lucky to be able to see them live and to have met them numerous times in the past. They are wonderful musicians and wonderful men and we are EXTRAORDINARILY BLESSED to be able to enjoy their sounds and share their lives with them. Pass the word on to anyone who doesn't know who they are and I guarantee you that person will be forever changed. Long live Dream Theater in our hearts,memories and ears. Happy and safe new year to all.
furrball316 - 1/27/2002 6:58:40 PM Hey sniper, just thought you might want to know that a company called One Way Records (www.onewayrecords.com) has had the rights to When Dream & Day Unite for a while now, although the sound quality is a little lacking because it wasn't remastered. They just recently started a new remaster series however and it looks promising. GTR is one of the more recent remasters I've seen from them. Anyway, they are taking suggestions from the fans for new album releases. Maybe if enough of us write to them they'll reissue Dream & Day as a remaster. The person to email is Eddie Wilner at eddwil@aent.com Hopefully we'll be seeing a remastered Dream & Day soon. One more thing about One Way, I picked up a remaster of Zebra's No Tellin' Lies & 3.V albums (packaged together on one disc) from One Way and the sound quality is absolutely incredible so I'm positive they'll do Dream & Day justice! Maybe if we mention the Majesty demos to One Way there's a chance those will see the light of day too, possibly all on the same disc as Dream & Day seeing as how they released the two Zebra albums together on one disc.
yyzyyz - 1/26/2002 9:47:48 PM It's finally nice to hear true musical fans. Why must MTV and most radio stations feel the need to corrupt the minds of all of it's listeners with nothing but three-cord playing, no talent, money hungry freaks. Can you believe that I once was one of the corrupted youths that I have just mentioned? That is until about eight years ago when a friend of mine mentioned about this band he raved about. That song happened to be "Metropolis pt. 1" off of "Images and Words." Can their be a better introduction to Dream Theater? Since then it's been all Dream Theater, all the time. I have all of their CDs, videos, and have seen them three times (not including G3 with JP and MP) Its finally nice to see and hear that there are more devoted fans out there. I find it hard to listen to anything other than Dream Theater. I think that now that Jordan is in the band, all the pieces are together, and we can all expect many more years of great DT music. Because if they were not around, what the hell would I listen to?
wicken - 1/26/2002 6:05:36 PM Hi i just wanna say that DT is a really great band and that i am very tired of all this talk about genres, what the fuck does it matter if there are hip hop influences as long as you like the music. Soon (Jan30) i am gonna see DT here in stockholm(sweden) and i expect a hell of e ride. Shred on!
Dino - 1/24/2002 5:33:34 AM Sorry "Robert Kreutzer", there is no "Slight hip hop touches" on this album. Why can't contributing editors listen to the music before they review it?
It is, however, a fantastic piece of work. Maybe their best!? Need to listen more.
zaheenj - 1/19/2002 2:20:00 AM Hi, I'm a DT fan from Bangladesh(A tiny country near India).First of all I would like to say that Dt is the best band in the world,ever!As a guitarist I owe a lot to JP specially to his instructional video which changed my life.DT without a doubt is the biggest metal/prog band in Bangladesh and Petrucci is definetly the biggest guitarist here.Every new guitarist wants to pick up his work and as far as drummers go here they say "If you can't play Portnoy you can't play the drums".My only wish is that DT comes to Bangladesh at least once and satisfy the cravings of there fans here.Unfortunately as most of you know Bangladesh is an extremely poor,corrupt and polluted country but at least for many of us we have joy brought by DT's music.Thanks to DT and Its fans for keeping some sanity in this world.
rocketdiver - 1/18/2002 9:16:58 AM DT goes easily to the top of my most admired bands, I thought that Scenes was nearly too good to be equaled anymore, but damn I was wrong... Six Degrees is amazing!
Btw, just a note to some of you here, grow up if you cant accept that people have different tastes on music, hope you know what I mean. Cheers!
Tom3885 - 1/17/2002 10:34:48 AM From the first time I saw DT.(headbangers ball) I knew they were different.I ran out bought Images...They are the BEST. I own a Petrucci Ibanez but I can't make it scream like him. Got everything from them and will continue to buy whatever they come up with in the future. Top 40 or awards who cares! They play cause they CAN. Tell a friend about them and let them see what real music is supposed to be. Can't wait for the new CD. Got my money "Burnin My Soul"til I get it!!!!
I want lessons from John!!!!Anybody know if gives them?
"As songwriters, it has always been very much an effort of ours to write good music, regardless of style, or how long the songs are," explained Petrucci, taking time out from a recording session for an upcoming solo project. "We wanted the messages to be good, the melodies to be good, and just for the songs to stand on their own. We also want it to be heavy, not too wimpy. As long as we keep a focus on that, we'll be able to keep putting out quality music." 
While some things are extended further than they really should be, listening to the CD is anything but a nightmare. All in all, it is the band's most ambitious undertaking to date, and Petrucci said the band standing pat wasn't really an option. 
The 1999 concept CD Scenes From A Memory, proved a breakthrough for the band. The creative signatures and all-around musicianship once and for all cemented the band's credentials as a technical force to be reckoned with, but also saw the band thud at its balls-out rockin' best and the lyrics, weaving a flowing tale of mental imbalance, proved the band could tell a good story, too. According to Petrucci, the arrival of Ruddes helped the band show what it was really made of. 
A few months ago, the band found itself to be prophetic in ways they would have preferred not to be. The live CD, Live Scenes From New York, was released September 10th, with cover art depicting the NYC skyline in flames. With the terrorist attacks the following day, the band wasted no time in asking the CD be pulled from the shelves to be given a new cover. 
