Dream Theater Interview

This was done by my good mate Kevin Ingham. It was originally for the bradford university magazine but students are fucking stupid so they didn't use it. I, of course, was more than happy to put the interview in Infinite Monkey.

Self indulgent, over the top, progressive heavy metal! To most, this type of music would send them running for lives, screaming. Not me though, I love it!Dream Theater, the undisputed kings of progressive metal, are in Manchester ready to play their first date on the UK stint of their world tour. OK, I¡Çll let you all in to a little secret now. This band were one of the main reasons I started to learn guitar. I was in the second year at High school and I met these guys who later become friends of mine called Dave and Rick. Rick would play loads of Metallica songs, which impressed me a lot, and Dave would always play this song, amongst others, called ¡ÈPull Me Under¡É by a band named Dream Theater. On hearing Dave play this, I knew that I had to play guitar so I could play songs that rocked this much! Ever since, Dream Theater have had a special place in mine, Dave and Rick¡Çs hearts, and today I am getting to interview two of the members, bassist and one of the founding members, John Myung, and new keyboardist, Jordan Rudess. I¡Çm not worthy, I¡Çm not worthy!
Dream Theater¡Çs new album, Metropolis Pt.2: Scenes from a Memory, is a concept album. It is also amazing. It carries on from a song on their breakthrough album, ¡ÈImages & Words¡É, called Metropolis Pt.1, which their huge fanatical fan base have wanted a follow up to, ever since. ¡È Well,¡É Jordan laughs, ¡È the band put themselves in a funny spot, as everyone was expecting to hear Pt2, so that¡Çs one of the reasons (to do Pt.2), especially since it became so popular and everyone wanted to hear it. So, we were kind of like ¡ÆOh, OK¡Ç.¡É Doing it for the fans, certainly something that Dream Theater are very conscious of. But where do the band think this fanaticism stems from? Jordan enthuses, ¡ÈPeople really do enjoy seeing musicians who know how to truly play their instruments. Who know how to play them technically, but who also apply some of that technical skill to playing heavy and progressive. Luckily it really does get appreciated, people latch on to it and continue to stay connected to it.¡É
And connecting with fans is what they succeed best at while playing live. That night in Manchester, I luckily met up with my two old friends, Dave and Rick, and we all had a blast. This wasn¡Çt about fashion or modesty, just about having a really great time. Dream Theater were amazing, playing as musically tight as they ever are on record. Everyone was blown away by the incredible musicianship on display. The night was hugely nostalgic, while at the same time being an excellent modern live show, all helped by the amazing visuals on display. In the interview, Jordan had described these as ¡ÈDream Theater expanding their presentation and art-form, which is helping to raise the level of the band.¡É Jordan achieved these via the use of modern Mac software and film footage, which add a totally new dimension to the live shows. Dream Theater played the whole of the Metropolis Pt.2 album start to finish, with the concept put in to visual form on the 4 monitors on stage. If this wasn¡Çt incredible enough, they then went on to play a small selection of their classic songs from yesteryear, including one song that hit me the most, sending shivers of excitement down my spine, and floods of nostalgia gushing through my brain. Obviously, that song was called ¡ÈPull Me Under¡É. What a great day, the 13 year old in me is still very much alive, and totally in love with Dream Theater. Kevin Ingham

* ATOMSMASHER * BOGDAN RACZYNSKI * CREATION IS CRUCIFIXION * DREAM THEATER * KNUT

* NEW IN * PAGE 99 UK TOUR 25th-30th September 2002 * GIGS * ZINE * DISTRO * LABEL * THE DEVILS * LOSING THE BATTLE * INTERVIEWS * PHOTOS * RECORD REVIEWS *ZINE REVIEWS * LINKS * FORUM * CONTACT *