James LaBrie interview (excerpts)

Igor Italiani: Hi James. So how are you doing right now?

James LaBrie: I’m doing great! You know, I’m back home, I’ve just finished recording and mixing the new Dream Theater album and ... yeah, it’s going great?

II: OK. So we can start the interview – obviously the first question I would like to ask, if you don’t mind, is what are your feelings right now regarding the tragic events that occurred recently in New York and Washington. Where do you think we are headed?

JL: Well, Igor, you know, it’s frightening. It’s tragic what happened ... I was in New York ... I just got back from New York last Friday, and I had flown to New York September 10, the day before [the attacks], so I was in New York when the tragedy happened. I have to tell you it was real frightening and it was very disturbing, because there were so many lives that have been lost and that proves that there are people that have no respect and no consideration for others. All that I can tell you is that this is a very precarious time for human beings right now, because I really don’t know where we are headed ... we could have a global war, but I don’t know. One thing is certain, however; terrorism must be eradicated, it has to be stopped. So I support the States and I hope that we succeed in our mission to stop terrorism. Innocent lives have been taken so immediately and so cowardly ... it’s just not right.

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II: Before the end, can I ask you something about the new DT album as well? Marco [Petrini, head of the Italian DT fan club] e-mailed me the title this morning, and, looking at the tracks, it seems like a suite-oriented album. Are you satisfied with the final results?

JL: Yeah, I’m extremely excited about the new DT album Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence. We’re just finishing the mixes right now, and it will be ready soon. The album will go out in January 2002 and it will be extremely progressive, but at the same time it will be extremely heavy, very aggressive music.

II: Much like Awake?

JL: Yeah, I think the people are really gonna be excited and I think the fans are going to love it! They are going to embrace it fully and I think it’s gonna make for real exciting live shows. Everybody in the band is real excited and we think it’s just incredible music. Yeah, we think it’s the best album we’ve done. It’s gonna be pretty intense. It’s real true blue Dream Theater.

II: DT will return to Italy early next year. It was mentioned that possible support acts would be Pain Of Salvation and ARK. Is this true, and what about other bands like Shadow Gallery, Dali’s Dilemma or Fates Warning?

JL: Yeah, it is true that we are considering Pain Of Salvation and maybe ARK as our support acts. At this time we’re still talking to them, and even if nothing is confirmed, yet, I think it will be in the next couple of weeks. Speaking of Shadow Gallery and Dali’s Dilemma, I know that they are great bands, too, but they are also the kind of bands that have never toured, so I don’t know how would be, if they can put time together and tour. I’m not sure to where they stand about it right now.

II: OK. That’s all. Thank you very much James. Hope to see you here soon, and let’s pray for a better tomorrow!

JL: OK, thank you Igor. I hope to see you, too. Well, we just have to keep praying and hope everything works itself out. Bye!