Dream Theater

Keyboardist Jordan Rudess takes us through his 10 essential prog releases.

Emerson Lake & Palmer – Tarkus (1971)

“Although the way that keyboard player Keith Emerson used his instrument almost as a guitar has since become very commonplace in progressive music, Tarkus was a record of such power and overblown ambition, it blew me away the first time I heard it.”

Yes – Close To The Edge (1972)

“On Close To The Edge, Yes’s music was so grand that it was almost unreal. it was just glorious. With Dream Theater we have definitely tried to tap into the whole expansive scope of records like Close To The Edge and Trick Of The Tail by Genesis.”

King Crimson – Starless And Bible Black (1974)

“With his love of distortion, [guitarist] Robert Fripp’s music has always had a strong metal identity. His forward-thinking mentality has rubbed off on just about every album from Dream Theater and he definitely influenced the whole math-metal thing.”

Rush – Moving Pictures (1981)

“For a band with around 20 albums to their name, Rush have gone through lots of different phases. I don’t like all of them, but Moving Pictures is the album that really turned me onto them and influenced me the most. The songs on it are just incredible.”

Spock’s Beard – Day For Night (1999)

“It’s a shame Spock’s Beard are a fairly unknown name as anybody that is interested in King Crimson and Gentle Giant would appreciate them. Had those bands continued along their earliest, mighty paths they might have sounded something like Spock’s Beard.”

Opeth – Blackwater Park (2001)

“With the scales they use and their whole harmonic darkness thing, Opeth’s sound very much tips its hat towards King Crimson. Blackwater Park, which was produced by my friend Steve Wilson [of Porcupine Tree], is a record I have on my iPod.”

Porcupine Tree – Deadwing (2005)

“Though it was recorded before the band really broke through, this is the one of theirs that I probably listen to the most. I also like Lightbulb Sun [2000], which saw the band trying to get hit singles, but Deadwing is the album I always come back to.”

Tool – 10,000 Days (2006)

“I’m not the biggest Tool fan in Dream Theater; that distinction goes to John Myung [bassist], and he is the one who tends to write something that sounds like them, sometimes disturbingly so. Their use of hypnotic rhythms has definitely rubbed off on us.”

Symphony X – Paradise Lost (2007)

“Musically, rhythmically and harmonically Symphony X do the progressive metal thing so incredibly well. Russell Allen has a terrific voice and, like me, and Dream Theater generally, they are massively influenced by the whole classical side of things.”

Coheed And Cambria – No World For Tomorrow (2007)

“It’s great that Coheed And Cambria are bringing this form of music to a new, younger audience. Claudio Sanchez has an interesting voice that sounds like Geddy Lee of Rush, which I really relate to and it’s one of the reasons why I like them so much.”