Dream Theater Shoots “Another Day”

Just back from the European leg of the road marathon they’d launched last September, Dream Theater convened at Cinema World studios in Greenpoint, NY to shoot the third video from their nearly gold Images and Words album, for the ballad “Another Day.” While director Chris Painter (who shot the previous clip, “Take the Time”) lensed footage of band members individually and in twos and threes, I had the chance to sit down with each of them for a one-on-one interview and capture the action on the set on film.

“We didn’t do any videos with our first record [When Dream and Day Unite]. That was one of the problems with our first record deal—no videos, no touring,” said guitarist John Petrucci, elated to be making up for it on both scores now. Even though Dream Theater has been together since 1985, this second record marks a new beginning for the Long Island, NY-based progressive metalists, who’ve fine-tuned their songwriting to produce accessible hits like “Pull Me Under” and “Take the Time,” and found the perfect voice to sing them in Canadian James LaBrie.

Dream Theater’s debut had been recorded with Charlie Dominici on vocals, “But we knew all along he wasn’t the ultimate guy,” and they began searching for a replacement in 1989. “We were looking for range, power, tonality and character, plus personality and image,” outlined John. “We didn’t want someone who was screaming, with no sense of melody, or wimpy falsetto, or too gothic and overly pompous.” Few tapes impressed, but they were working with one candidate when a tape arrived from James. The former Winter Rose frontman was about to ink a solo deal with Canada’s Aquarius Records when, he was told about the DT opening, and was intrigued when he heard they had a progressive sound and shared his influences. “I grew up on Rush, Yes, Pink Floyd, Genesis. I got the first Dream Theater album and was blown away by the musicianship, but it wasn’t song-oriented. But I got a tape of the new songs they were working on, and it sounded really cool.”

The band hadn’t heard James’ tape yet when he called and spoke to keyboardist Kevin Moore, who told him they’d found a singer. But a week later, drummer Mike Portnoy called back and asked James to fly down to New York. One jam session later, that was it—James was offered the job and accepted, confident it would work musically and personality-wise: “We all have the same sense of humor.”

Most of the songs on Images and Words were written before James came aboard, but he contributed to the melodies and put his personal stamp on the phrasings and emotional character of the songs. “James’ voice makes our music a lot more listenable for the average person,” said Mike, who believes that has contributed to Dream Theater’s growing popularity, with the help of radio and MTV. “Till ‘Pull Me Under’ came out it was a cult following, a lot of musicians and our fanatical fans. We’re the most unlikely candidate to be supported by radio and MTV, because our songs are long and complex. But I’m definitely not complaining!”

On the contrary, DT feels fortunate to have a second shot at all, considering the calamities they encountered the first time around. Having received no promotional support from Mechanic Records, “We wanted to get dropped, but they wouldn’t release us,” related John. “The only way was to buy out of it. It was a mess.” But adversity drew the band even closer. “When things are tough and you feel strongly about something, breaking up is not an option. That’s how we always felt.” Fortunately, Derek Oliver, a former journalist turned A&R man and a big fan of the band, offered encouragement and support and promised them a deal when they found the right singer. Once James joined and they were free of their old deal, DT inked with ATCO and entered the studio in October ‘91 at Beartracks in Suffern, NY with producer David Prater.

Compared with recording their debut, which was rush-completed in three weeks, on DT’s second studio experience “The sounds, the mix, and performances were so much better,” enthused John. “I feel our first record was like a demo,” added Mike. “We were proud of it musically, but we didn’t have the tools we needed.” James agreed that the debut was “amazing musically and instrumentally, but there was so much growth, such a maturing process in the writing sense for the second album.”

The Theaterites envision expanding their horizons even further, and are already working on song ideas for album #3. “It incorporates all the styles and influences and time signatures. I feel we’re maturing and growing and it will just get better, the longer we’re together,” said James. “It’s still going to be accessible, but it will have twists and turns you wouldn’t expect.” He believes that the changes in the music scene has worked in their favor. “Two or three years ago everything sounded the same, very formulated. Now it’s individuals doing their own thing, making statements. The public wants something a little deeper, with meaning to it. Now people are accepting experimental music.”

Mike looks to the examples of veteran bands like Pink Floyd, Yes, Metallica, Queensryche, Genesis, and Rush as role models for longevity they’d like to emulate, for their “substance lyrically and musically, talent, creativity. There’s growth from album to album. Each time, they widen their fan base.” Dream Theater’s own audience has been growing steadily, as evidenced by their expansion from clubs to theaters—they’re out through summer with Galactic Cowboys supporting. “We have our own sound and lights, so we can do more consistent shows,” noted John. So far, they’ve been cross-country several times, to Canada, Mexico, Europe, and Japan and plan to return to the latter two by year’s end. “It’s going really well, knock on wood,” said Kevin, and Mike agreed. “I love playing live and touring. You’re meeting fans, getting feedback, making friends. For me, Japan was the highlight. We were treated like gods. Fans waited at the airport and slept in the hotel lobby, gave us gifts. The show was at a huge, sold-out place. It sent chills up my spine,” he related, mentioning that meeting other rockers who came to concerts (Iron Maiden, King’s X, Sebastian Bach, and Poison, with whom they hung out in Glasgow) was another kick.

Dream Theater’s future slate will also likely include another single/video (probably “Surrounded”) and a home video, which may incorporate the camcorder footage Mike is constantly shooting. “From recording to touring to video to radio, we finally have the tools to further our career,” summed up John. “This is what we’ve always been shooting for,” nodded Mike. “It’s a dream come true no pun intended.”

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“This band will have longevity because of the kind of music we make, and because we get along really well,” says James. The two Johns were childhood friends in Kings Park, NY, met Mike at Berklee School of Music, and rejoined forces with Kevin (who’d gone to elementary school with John P.) after a year of college. They had two singers before James joined the band.

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“I like getting dressed up and watching everyone work. It’s exciting. I’m not bored yet,” said John P. (getting a makeup touchup here), noting that the budget for “Another Day” was larger than that of their first two clips combined. “If any song has commercial potential, its this one,” he commented, confident that the video would “come out really good. The lighting and mood look great and the attitude’s there. It’s a positive vibe.”

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“The only negative thing is it’s ‘Hurry up and wait.’ I’ve been here since noon and I haven’t shot at all,” said James at 6 PM. “You have to be patient. But it’s cool because it shows another side of the band and lets people get to know us.”

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According to James, “Kevin is the eccentric, a great imitator. John Myung is quiet, very at peace with himself, very Zen.” Mike’s the band diarist and videographer, and James and John P. “are the clowns.”

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“Another Day” combines performance with concept footage depicting a dying father and his son. “We’re trying to strike a balance between a literal interpretation of the lyrics and the mood of the song, so it’s not corny,” said John. We don’t want it to be depressing. It offers hope.” Andrea, the little girl featured on the Images and Words album cover, appears in the clip, as does Spyro Gyra’s Jay Beckenstein on sax solo.

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“You gotta keep your composure, be ready. You’re on constant standby,” noted John M., who played classical violin from ages 5-16, and picked up bass because a friend’s band needed a four-stringer.

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Though he’s seldom there, James still lives in Canada and doesn’t believe it’s good for bands to live together away from the road: “I’ve seen it end friendships. You need your space.” On tour, he rooms with Kevin, the two Johns share, and Mike rooms with his drum tech or the soundman.

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Except for a part in the second chorus, “Another Day” took one take for James to record. None of the songs gave him trouble, “but some needed time because of the emotions I wanted to project and the different characters of my voice, like ‘Take the Time.’” James, who doesn’t smoke and drinks rarely on tour, warms up for 40 minutes pre-show. “We’ve played six nights a week for seven months and I’ve had no problems at all,” he says, crediting his operatic training with teaching him to sing properly, “from the diaphragm.”

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John P. and his fiancée Rena, who plays guitar in Meanstreak, met in L.A. 31/2 years ago and will marry Sept. 19. Her bandmate Marlene, who plays bass, goes out with Mike, who has produced demos for the all-female outfit. “They’ve opened for us a few times,” Mike notes.

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John originally picked up the guitar out of jealousy: “My older sister was taking organ lessons and got to stay up later than me, and I was pissed. So I took guitar lessons but hated it and stopped. I got back into it at 12 and learned by myself,” he says, naming Steve Morse, Steve Howe, Alex Lifeson, Al DiMeola, Steve Vai, Allen Holdsworth, and Stevie Ray Vaughan as his favorite axemen.

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“I haven’t filmed anything and I’ve been here for five hours,” sighed Mike, calling video making “tedious, but so’s recording and so’s touring. But it’s another creative outlet.”

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James, from Midland, Ontario, grew up in a musical family. He sang in church, school and with his dad, uncle, and brother in a barbershop quartet. He got into rock at 14, and at 20, took private opera lessons for four years while doing session work and commercials. Eventually, he’d like to do a solo album and a musical play like Phantom of the Opera or Tommy. “As much as I love progressive music, I’d like to let people see another side of me. I love Journey, Van Halen, Aerosmith.” He also likes Alice in Chains, Nine Inch Nails, Ministry, Kate Bush, Tori Amos, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, T-Ride, and Metallica.

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Kevin started piano at five and wanted to quit, but his mom wouldn’t allow it. Influenced by Ray Manzarek, Rick Wakeman, Keith Emerson, then Chick Corea, Jan Hammer and Jens Johanssen, he “was in bands since 8th grade, playing cover songs.” New enough to video making to find it “still interesting,” Kevin nevertheless hates DT’s “Pull Me Under” clip. “It was obvious how low budget it was. ‘Take the Time’ was more professional.” The video for “Pull Me Under,” the last song written for the album, was lensed at a DT concert.

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“This was a stroke of luck, a dream come true,” says James of getting into Dream Theater. “It’ll just get better from here.” He plans to “definitely be more involved in the writing of the next album.” He enjoys creating in the studio, but loves performing live: “You get so much energy from the people. It’s such an incredible high.”

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“On the first day of school I’d always get asked, “Got any complaints?” (a reference to the Philip Roth novel Portnoy’s Complaint) noted Mike, who had the book at home but never read it. The son of a disc jockey, he grew up in a “very musical” household in Long Beach, NY, listening to Led Zeppelin and the Beatles. “I was the only 10 year old kid with 500 records. I was the rocker of my elementary school. I guess it was inevitable that I become a musician.” He tried piano, “didn’t get off on it,” and got his first drum kit for his 11th birthday. The Who and Kiss were early influences, then in high school he discovered Rush, “a band that had a big influence on all of us.” His current collection ranges from the Beatles to Pink Floyd, Public Enemy, the Beastie Boys, Jane’s Addiction, Fishbone, Pantera, Primus, Porno For Pyros, and Ministry. Outside music, his passions are boxing and films, “the stranger the better,” a la David Lynch. (He has a Twin Peaks tattoo on his right leg.)

Box

Originally called Majesty, the band couldn’t keep that name because the owner of the rights wouldn’t sell. Mike’s dad suggested Dream Theater after seeing a movie in a place by that name.