Dream Theater Wakes Up to Derek Sherinian

How did you get into playing keyboards?

I started off playing classical when I was five and then I got into Elton John and listening to pop records. I thought it was really cool that the music had so much piano in it and that Elton had a personality. I’ve been playing for about 25 years.

I started off in junior high, playing in garage bands with my friends, doing cover songs and talent shows. In high school, I graduated to keg parties and eventually did high school proms. After my junior year of high school I got a scholarship to Berklee College of Music. So I took my G.E.D., left school and moved to Boston. While I was there I met some great players: ex-Living Colour drummer, Will Calhoun and Al Pitrelli, a great guitar player. we used to jam all the time in school.

Do you feel that music education is important to reach the type of status that you currently hold in this industry?

I think that if you prepare yourself, have a basic understanding of music theory and get a lot of the ground work done before you go to Berklee, you’ll get a lot more benefits from it. Treat it as a finishing school, as opposed to trying to get a grasp of it while you’re there.

It was very helpful for me because it put me in situations where I was playing with great players every night. I definately wouldn’t have been able to do that if I had stayed in Santa Cruz. But there are great successful people in the business who can’t read music and have never gone to school and things have worked out for them, so I guess it’s up to the individual.

How did you come to join Drean Theater and the Waking Up the World tour?

I was playing with Alice Cooper and we had just recorded his album, The Last Temptation. The tour that was scheduled didn’t go through. So, basically, I was sitting there with no work for the year. Then I heard about this Dream Theater opportunity, so I acted quickly.

They had a tour scheduled for October 1994 and around the beginning of the month, my friend, Jonothan Mover, (drummer for Joe Satriani), heard about this opening for the keyboard slot. I called up the management and told them who I had played with and set up an audition. I went out and played that week, and they called me and said I had the gig.

You just went to South America with Alice Cooper. How was it playing with him?

It was great. It was the Monsters of Rock Festival Tour with Ozzy Osborne, Megadeth, Faith No More and a couple of other bands. Playing with Alice is like putting on a pair of old shoes. It was very comfortable. With Alice I don’t have to think or warm up before I play, because I’ve played those songs so many times, that I just go on cruise control.

How you feel about writing for the new Dream Theater album?

I love to write and this is going to be the first opportunity that I’ve been an actual band member and participating composer, so I’m really looking forward to the new Dream Theater record. The great thing about playing for this band as opposed to other bands is that these guys encourage me to actually play the keyboard, not just hold down pads.

When you compose, do you usually piece sounds together like a puzzle or do you just dive in and explore until you find out what you’re looking for?

No, I like to write in sections. There are some people who can sit at a keyboard or guitar and write a whole song with lyrics in 20 minutes. I, unfortunately, haven’t been blessed with that gift.

Do you think the new album is going to sound different from Awake, Dream Theater’s last album?

Most definately. I think my style is somewhat different from Kevin Moore’s--I have more of an American approach. A lot of his solos and his approach have a European flavor to them, and that’s cool. But I’m more based off of Hammond organ and guitar sounds.

This album is going to be a little less dark than Awake. We’re going to write songs that are more radio friendly, in the vein of “Pull Me Under,” but at the same time, try to get more progressive.

This summer they officially announced you as a permanent member of Dream Theater. How did you feel when that happened?

The fans have been very receptive to me since I joined the band. There was a lot of skepticism at first. I wa reading the internet a couple weeks after I joined and some Dream Theater fans wrote, “Oh, Kevin Moore has left the band and there’s no one who can fill his shoes!” And then they found out that I played with Alice Cooper and Kiss and said, “Oh, he doesn’t understand progressive rock, he’s just a heavy metal keyboard player.” And this was before people had even heard one note out of me or seen me or talked to me or anything! But I kind of expected it. Whenever an original member a band leaves, the fans are always kind of uneasy. So, whoever comes in to fill their shoes has pressure on them to deliver the goods.

Dream Theater has a very progressive sound with complex, out front, keyboard leads. Do you consider this a challenge?

It took me a while to get used to it because I’ve always been into progressive music, but I’ve never been in a band that had so much complexity. So it was a challenge, but once I got the hang of it, it was fine.

You and guitarist John Petrucci seem to really complement each other.

I’ll say this about John: He has a precise, complex, musical mind and I’ve really learned a lot from him. Just by playing with him, having to be in this situation and having to learn his solos, it really pushes me.

Tell us about your new Korg Prophecy.

I’m very excited about it. It’s so fat sounding and I will be using it on 90% of my solos. I like the fact that there is so much control over all the little nuances with the ribbon and the touch sensitivity. You can really into it and add a lot more personality to your playing, whereas before you were limited. It’s like with guitar players. There are a few players that if you hear them on the radio, you know it’s them immediately. It is difficult for keboardists to have that personal brand, but I think the Prophecy is going to help me here.

I’m ready to roll on it! And for the next album, I’ll be trying out the new Korg Trinity. I’m looking forward to getting into that! I’m always into expanding my sounds, going into different territories and being current.

You have some other Korg gear too?

Yes, I have a Korg 01/Wfd, and I have a Korg CX-3, the old Korg organ. I use that thing probably 50% of the show.

I am very excited that I’ve hooked up with Korg. I’ve been approached by a lot of companies in the last year since I’ve joined this band and I’ve used Korg for the last ten years or so in some capacity. I’m looking forward to a fruitful relationship.