Dream Theater

Dream Theater visited Denmark this spring and delivered a great concert. The music café was packed, and as singer James LaBrie put it: “This is the biggest rehearsal room we’ve ever played in”. This made the concert more intense and personal. Things will be different on October 29 when Dream Theater moves across the country again. It happens in Pumpehuset, where they will hardly disappoint any of their fans. In Musikcafeen, people were standing on each other’s necks, but what a concert. In fact, one of the best I’ve ever experienced.

The band was formed by Mike Portnoy (drums), John Petrucci (guitar) and John Myung (bass), all former Berklee College Of Music students. They bumped into their former schoolmate Kevin Moore (keyboards) and Majesty was born. The first demo was released.

The name now had to be changed as another band had the copyright on Majesty. At the same time, a new singer had to be acquired. The old one had said “goodbye”. When Dream And Day Unite was released with Charlie Dominici on vocals on the MCA label. A very unsatisfactory deal. As the band itself explains, MCA had a lot of ideas, but nothing was done with them. Once again, the singer had found the exit sign and over 200 vocalists were tried out. The four musicians did not just want another member of the band, but someone who fit both mentally and musically to their level. Dream Theater had already started working with a singer when James LaBrie’s tape dropped through the mail box. But there was no doubt – James was the new man on the throne.

I was supposed to talk to either Mike or John, but John was out for a walk and Mike was busy with another interview. We woke James LaBrie from his nap and after a trip to the restroom he was ready...

Metalized: I know the name Dream Theater comes from a theater in California.

James LaBrie: Yes, it was actually Mike’s dad who came up with the name. Dream Theater was originally called Majesty. Mike’s dad called him and told him about the name of the theater. The other members of the band thought it was a good idea, so that’s why we were named Dream Theater.

M: You’re the third singer in the lineup...

JL: Yes, in Majesty it wasn’t very serious, so the singer chose to go one way and the others the other. With Charlie Dominici, he was no longer what the band wanted as a vocalist. They were looking for a certain sound and charisma that he couldn’t deliver. He had a good voice but it was limited. Then the age between him and the band also meant that they were/became too different. Different personalities, attitudes, etc. So it wasn’t a good match, they had to move on.

M: But Dream Theater has also been through a bit, and as far as I understand, the song ‘Take The Time’ from Images And Words is autobiographical?

JL: Yes, it talks about what we/they have gone through. About reaching yourself to get the energy to keep going. You have to look inside yourself and not at your surroundings to get energy.

M: In other words, it’s not society and your surroundings that determine whether you feel good?

JL: No, you shouldn’t let society/environment decide. You have to look inside yourself and believe in yourself. Then things will succeed much more easily.

M: Does this mean that you have to be a bit of a selfish person?

JL: No, it’s not about being selfish, it’s about believing in yourself and what you do. You have to be positive about your situation, otherwise you won’t achieve anything. If you believe strongly enough in what you do and believe/know you have something to offer, then it’s not a question of selfishness, but a form of self-awareness.

M: In the song ‘Take The Time’ you have the lyrics “I can see much clearer now I’m blind”; that’s pretty much what you’re trying to explain there, right?

JL: Yes, exactly. You’ve reached the point where you don’t need an experience to see what’s happening or necessarily need to know what’s going to happen. In many cases, you can see better if you’re blind.

M: Then of course we would like to hear about the album Images And Words, do you have a favorite track?

JL: Yes, it's definitely ‘Surrounded’ because it represents me well vocally. That song is also very emotional. I get energized when I sing it.

M: When you hear the song, do you get the feeling that the lyrics are very spiritual?

JL: Yeah, exactly. Kevin wrote the lyrics, so I wish he was here to talk about ‘Surrounded’. It’s about working with the spiritual aspects of life.

M: The cover is also quite interesting to sit and study...

JL: Yes, because in general the cover contains all the themes that we cover on the CD, which actually has one main theme, which is a sense of loss and learning to live.

M: Surely the lyrics must have some significance for you?

JL: They are at least as important as the music, if not more important. If you feel that the music has a certain standard, then the lyrics have to live up to that standard too. Our fans also listen to the lyrics a lot. People sing along to practically all our lyrics, whether we’re in Japan, the US or here in Europe, so the lyrics must mean something to the fans.

M: But it also has a lot to do with the fact that your fans are diehard fans?

JL: Definitely, but people are also willing to learn more now than before. People want to try to understand the music and the lyrics.

M: In one of your videos you pose in a Napalm Death shirt, but I can’t really make sense of it because you once said that you were into the softer music.

JL: I’m good friends with Barney. I actually met him the other day in London. I’ve heard Napalm Death and appreciate what they do for that style. But generally I don’t listen to that kind of music, not even thrash. It’s more heavy metal and bands like Aerosmith, Van Halen, U2 and Journey. My taste is very broad. Mike Portnoy is into the harder stuff. He listens to death metal and thrash, but I’ll pass on that.

M: Even though it’s great for you, you must have been surprised that this album has done so well.

JL: Yeah, but I think people are starting to listen more. People are really looking for different music. They want the music to say something to them. People demand more from musicians today than they did a few years ago.

M: You’ve reached sales of over 350,000 in the US alone; can you expect/demand more?

JL: Of course we’re thrilled, because we definitely didn’t expect that. We thought it would be a long and arduous process to get here. Especially in the US, but we’ve been more than lucky.

M: Is it more important for you to go on club tours where you really connect with people, or do you prefer a support slot with a huge band like Metallica?

JL: It really depends on the situation; if it’s a band we like we’ll probably jump on it right away. If it was Metallica it wouldn’t be bad either, because they’ve hit the nail on the head. Besides, I’ve always respected what they’ve done, long before they became as big as they are today.

M: But they’ve changed a bit; hopefully that won’t happen to you.

JL: No, we stick to the roots. If people can’t accept our music, that’s their problem. For us, it’s more important to stay true to our roots than to only think about selling records. You shouldn’t lie to yourself.

M: When Dream And Day Unite must have gotten a boost in sales after the release of Images And Words.

JL: Yes, it has been reissued in several places, but not in the US yet. They are now starting to think about it because Images And Words is selling as well as it is. People are asking for it in the US, but it’s impossible to find.

M: There goes the half hour that I had available. Look forward to October 29th.

—Kirsten

Original text

Dream Theater

Dream Theater besøgte Danmark i foråret og leverede os et brag af en koncert. Musikcafeen var stuvende fuld, og som sanger James LaBrie udtrykte det: “Dette her er det største øvelokale vi nogensinde har spillet i”. Det gjorde at koncerten blev mere intens og personlig. Anderledes ser det ud den 29.10 når Dream Theater igen bevæger sig ind over landets grænser. Det sker nemlig i Pumpehuset, hvor de næppe vil skuffe nogle af deres fans. l Musikcafeen stod folk på nakken af hinanden, men hvilken koncert. Faktisk en af de bedste jeg nogensinde har oplevet.

Bandet blev sammensat af Mike Portnoy (trommer), John Petrucci (guitar) og John Myung (bas), som alle i sin tid gik pa Berklee College Of Music. De stødte på deres tidligere skolekammer at Kevin Moore (keyboards) og Majesty så dagens lys. Det første demo blev udgivet.

Navnet måtte nu ændres, da et andet band havde copyright på Majesty. I samme tidsrum måtte en ny sanger anskaffes. Den gamle havde sagt “goodbye”. “When Dream And Day Unite” blev udgivet med Charlie Dominici på sang på pladeselskabet MCA. En meget utilfredsstillende deal. Som bandet selv forklarer så havde MCA en masse ideer, men der blev intet gjort ved dem. Endnu en gang havde sangeren fundet exit skiltet, og over 200 vokalister blev prøvet af. De fire musikere ønskede ikke blot endnu et medlem af bandet, men en person som passede både mentalt og musikalsk til deres niveau. Dream Theater havde allerede startet et samarbejde med en sanger da James LaBries bånd dumpede ind af brevsprækken. Men der herskede ingen tvivl - James var den nye mand på tronen.

Det var meningen at jeg skulle have talt med enten Mike eller John, men John var på strøgtur og Mike var optaget af et andet interview. Vi vækkede James LaBrie fra hans middagslur og efter en besøg på toilettet var han klar...

Jeg ved at navnet Dream Theater stammer fra et teater i Kalifornien?

Ja, det var faktisk Mike’s far der fandt på det navn. Dream Theater hed jo oprindeligt Majesty. Mike’s far ringede til ham og fortalte om navnet på det teater. De andre medlemmer i bandet syntes det var en god ide, så derfor blev vi døbt Dream Theater.

Du er den tredje sanger i rækken...

Ja, i Majesty var det ikke særlig seriøst, så sangeren valgte at gå den ene vej, de andre den anden. Med Charlie Dominici var det således at han som vokalist ikke længere var det bandet ville ha’. De ledte efter en bestemt sound og karisma som han ikke kunne leve op til. Han havde en god stemme men den var limiteret. Så gjorde alderen mellem ham og bandet også at de var/blev for forskellige. Forskellig personlighed, attitude o.s.v. Så det matchede ikke så godt, de skulle videre.

Men Dream Theater har jo også været udsat for lidt, og så vidt som jeg kan forstå er nummeret “Take The Time” fra “Images And Words” selvbiografisk?

Ja, den fortæller om hvad vi/de har gået igennem. Om at nå sig selv for at få energien til at blive ved. Man skal kigge ind i sig selv og ikke på omgivelserne for at få energi.

Det vil sige at det ikke er samfundet og dine omgivelser der bestemmer om du har det godt?

Nej, man skal ikke lade samfundet/omgivelserne bestemme. Man skal kigge ind i sig selv, og tro på sig selv. Så lykkes tingene meget lettere.

Vil det sige at man i virkeligheden skal være lidt af en egoist?

Nej, det er ikke et spørgsmål om at være egoist, men derimod om at tro på sig selv og det man laver. Man skal være positiv overfor sin situation, ellers opnår man ikke noget. Hvis du tror stærkt nok på det du laver, og tror/ved du har noget at tilbyde, så er det ikke et spørgsmål om egoisme, men derimod en form for selvbevidsthed.

I sangen “ “ finder man teksten “I can see much clearer now I’m blind”, det er vel nogenlunde det I prøver at forklare der?

Ja, netop. Der er man nået til det punkt hvor man ikke behøver en oplevelse for at se hvad der sker eller nødvendigvis behøver at vide hvad der skal ske. Du kan i mange tilfælde se bedre hvis du er blind.

Så vil vi selvfølgelig gerne høre lidt om albummet Images And Words, har du et favorit nummer?

Ja, det er helt sikkert “Surrounded” fordi den sangmæssigt repræsenterer mig godt. Den sang er envidere meget følelsesladet. Jeg får energi når jeg synger den.

Når man hører sangen får man en fornemmelse af at den tekstmæssig er meget spirituel?

Ja, lige præcis. Kevin skrev teksten, så jeg ville ønske han var her til at fortælle om “Surrounded”. Den handler om at arbejde med det spirituelle omkring livet.

Coveret det er jo også ganske interessant at sidde og studere...

Ja, for generelt indeholder coveret alle temaer som vi behandler på CDen, som faktisk har et hovedtema, nemlig en følelse af tab, og lære at leve.

Teksterne ma da også have en vis betydning for jer?

De er mindst lige så vigtige som musikken, hvis ikke de er vigtigere. Hvis man føler at musikken har en vis standard, så skal teksterne også leve op til den standard. Vores fans lytter også meget til teksterne. Folk synger med på praktisk taget alle vores tekster, hvad enten vi er i Japan, USA eller her i Europa, så noget må teksterne også betyde for fans’ne.

Men det har vel også meget at gøre med at jeres fans er die hard fans?

Afgjort, men folk er også villige til at lære mere nu end tidligere. Folk vil gerne prøve at forstå musikken og teksterne.

I en af jeres videoer poserer du i en Napalm Death trøje, men jeg kan ikke rigtig få det til at passe for du har engang udtalt at du var til den blødere musik?

Jeg er gode venner med Barney. Jeg mødte ham faktisk forleden i London. Jeg har hørt Napalm Death og værdsætter det de gør for den stil. Men generelt lytter jeg ikke til den slags musik, heller ikke engang thrash. Det er mere heavy metal og bands som Aerosmith, Van Halen, U2 og Journey. Min smag er meget bred. Mike Portnoy er inde i det hårdere. Han lytter til death metal og thrash, men det springer jeg fra.

Selvom det er fedt for jer, så ma I alligevel være blevet overrasket over at det er gået så stærkt med denne skive?

Ja, men jeg tror folk er begyndt at torlange mere. Folk kigger sig virkelig om efter noget anderledes musik. De vil have at musikken skal sige dem noget. Folk kræver mere af musikerne idag end for nogle år tilbage.

I har nået et salgstal som hedder over 350.000 alene i USA, Kan I forvente/forlange mere?

Vi er selvfølgelig overlykkelige, for det havde vi absolut ikke ventet. Vi troede det ville blive en lang og træng proces at nå hertil. Specielt i USA, men vi har været mere end heldige.

Er det så vigtigere for jer at tage på clubtour hvor I virkelig har kontakt med folk, eller foretrækker I et supportjob hos et kæmpeband som f.eks. Metallica?

Det kommer helt an på situationen, hvis det er et band vi godt kan lide springer vi nok til med det samme. Hvis det var Metallica ville det heller ikke være dårligt, for de har skudt papegøjen. Desuden har jeg altid respekteret det de har lavet, længe før de blev så store som de er idag.

Men de har alligevel ændret sig lidt, det sker forhåbentlig ikke for jer?

Nej, vi holder fast ved rødderne. Hvis folk ikke kan acceptere vores musik, så er det ene og alene deres problem. For os er det vigtigere at blive ved roden fremfor kun at tænke på at sælge plader. Man skal ikke lyve for sig selv.

“When Dream And Day Unite” må også have fået et skub fremad salgsmæssigt efter udgivelsen af Images And Words?

Ja, den er genudgivet flere steder, men endnu ikke i USA. De er nu begyndt at tænke på det fordi “Images And Words” sælger så godt som den gør. Folk spørger etter den i USA, men den er umulig at opdrive.

Der gik den halve time som jeg havde til rådighed. Glæd dig til den 29.10.

—Kirsten