Dream Theater Singer 'We're Not Just A Progressive Band'

Steve Newton of Straight.com recently conducted an interview with Dream Theater singer James LaBrie. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow:

On the prog-rock genre:

"I think that it's definitely trying to make a resurgence. There are bands that really care about the quality of music that they're writing, and that just don't want to go down the same avenue as most of the bands you hear on the radio today. Unfortunately, radio basically says to a lot of the listeners out there that what you hear is what music is. There's so much more to it."

On how his band has been pigeonholed somewhat by the length of its material:

"When a lot of people hear the name DREAM THEATER, they automatically think, 'Oh, that's a progressive band — they've got these long, very involved, meandering songs. Granted, we do have songs that are a little longer than most bands would even attempt to write, but at the same time, we're not just a progressive band. We're hard rock, we're heavy metal, we're classically influenced, we're pop-influenced. With that stylistic diversity, there's a lot more to offer, which gives us that potential to break into these 'hit' areas, but unfortunately they've eluded us."

On LaBrie's lyrics for the song "Prophets of War", a damning indictment of Dubya's disaster in Iraq:

"That song is about the frustration with the powers that be for having their ulterior motives create such a horrific, no-win situation. Basically the message there is that we really have to start questioning our politicians — no matter who they are, where they are, and what they're saying — because it is our right. I think people have forgotten that the power is in our hands, and that if there's enough voices behind it, we will see things change rapidly."

Thanks for the report to Blabbermouth.net.

Comments

[onthewaytohell]

Don't claim posts you arse...

2nd

Anyway, dream theater rock hard, and i hope petrucci stays on the G3 tour!

[Goblumich07]

Thank god that somebody from the band finally brought that up! I hate when people keep whining about DT's musical style. Nobody ever seems to realize that they're not just straight-up progressive.

[Oblivion_Rps]

so wat if ur 1st???:S :S... i dont get it..


anyways this is great.. and yeah i agree with goblumich

[BobChicken]

DT= Amazing.

[ordinary_story]

With that stylistic diversity, there's a lot more to offer, which gives us that potential to break into these 'hit' areas, but unfortunately they've eluded us."

Wow.. so true.. but its actually quite fortunate for DT because only true fans appreciate that... DT is probably the only band who's support is poser-free.

[Soundwash22]

I don't think DT gets the credit they should, every one of the members are a master of thier instrument, yet when you ask someone (not a musician) people go - "Who?" Shame, shame.

[jonnyharris1]

I really enjoyed reading that and James made some very good points. I dont understand how you can listen to DT and not have your jaw physically hit the floor
progressive music for life

[Retro Rocker]

BobChicken wrote:

DT= Amazing.

Word.

But isn't what LaBrie described them as basically progressive music anyway?

[Les Paul Ell]

You're just a progressive band to me.

[stumaster18]

Fantastic Band

[Ichimaru]

Decent band, but no more. LaBrie is a great singer. Petrucci is an insane guitarist but manages to kill loads of otherwise great solos with random, horrible sweeping licks. As much as I like shred.

[Auals]

ordinary_story wrote:

With that stylistic diversity, there's a lot more to offer, which gives us that potential to break into these 'hit' areas, but unfortunately they've eluded us."
Wow.. so true.. but its actually quite fortunate for DT because only true fans appreciate that... DT is probably the only band who's support is poser-free.

Hahaha so you're saying Dream Theater is so bad people can't even pretend to like them? Thought so

JOKING!

I have Scenes From A Memory and listen to it occasionally, it's good stuff. I just can't listen to a lot of it. The heavier stuff they do isn't stuff I normally listen to. However I accept that they're genii... anyway.

my two cents

[XHAIL]

Hahaha so you're saying Dream Theater is so bad people can't even pretend to like them? Thought so

NOT FUNNY MAN

[Martindecorum]

what a great band. if people dont appreciate them,they can go get F***ed and go back listen to their crap radios with crap music hehe

[XHAIL]

On a side note, as much as i love DT and hearing all about them and what not, Is this really news-worthy? I mean, hes not talking about a new album or Prognation or anything? i dont understand UG.

[Themaddoctor]

Dream Theater are awesome.

[Metal_Rich]

"We're Not Just A Progressive Band"
That's because they've lost most of their progressive sound.
Not that that's a bad thing, but they've definitely changed a lot since Images and Words.

[perilouspete]

oh great.....everyone always has to throw their 2 political cents in at the end. don't ****in tell me how to think. not everyone thinks the government is evil.

[perilouspete]

g-tarist wrote:

1st comment finally yes yes yes i can't believe it this is every members dream.....and to dream theater as well !!!!!
i would like to add the fact that dream theater is amazing
n yes i beat u all to first comment

what the **** is so cool about getting the first comment i honestly don't get it

[Axlthegreat]

what who cares if you're first? lol every members dream. Dream theater rock can't wait to see them again on the 18th in Albany along with Opeth and BTBAM.

[Smurfreak]

oh great.....everyone always has to throw their 2 political cents in at the end. don't ****in tell me how to think. not everyone thinks the government is evil.

its obviously his opinion and hes not trying to force it on anyone
dipshit

checked.

[stratupyourass]

DT should start going back to their roots..images and words style...i really dont dig their last 2 albums..they were ok but nothing classic

[which ones pink]

Axlthegreat wrote:

what who cares if you're first? lol every members dream. Dream theater rock can't wait to see them again on the 18th in Albany along with Opeth and BTBAM.

Lucky! I would kill to go to one of those shows, but they won't come to Anchorage, and I can't afford to fly to Seattle just for one show. *sigh*

Also for the record, I like all of DT's "long, very involved, meandering songs".

[broken fusion!]

i respect the playing abilities, but am i the only one on earth who finds them boring as sin

[Waterboy799]

the singer exactly what Geddy Lee said when Rush was looked upon as "progressive"

some amazing talent in DT but i don't like the singer's voice.

[recliner33]

perilouspete wrote:

g-tarist wrote:

1st comment finally yes yes yes i can't believe it this is every members dream.....and to dream theater as well !!!!!
i would like to add the fact that dream theater is amazing
n yes i beat u all to first comment

what the **** is so cool about getting the first comment i honestly don't get it

All the guys that go "1st" are nothing but idiots. It's not every members dream unless you are a immature 13 year old with nothing better to do. I have been first on so many articles in the past and not once have I mentioned or bragged about it. It's not hard to do, you just have to wake up early before everyone else and around the time they start posting new articles up. It pisses me off when people brag about it.

Anyways dream theater is a great band, probably one of the most talented out there. I'm not a huge fan of them but I respect everything they've done and they care more about their music then their popularity. I wish I could say the same for most bands but alot of them just get caught up in the fame which causes their music to suffer.

[MeTaLuPyouRaSs2]

John Petrucci will make all of you his bitch. HA.

[regrets&romance]

i like dream theatre, but i dislike when people base their judgement of a band on technical skill.

[shwilly]

The thing with the "progressive" is that it doesn't say much about the actual sound of a band rather than the complexity of their songs. Tool sounds nothing like Yes and Focus has very little in common with King Crimson, whereas "Punk" or "Reggae" often do give you an idea of the stuff you can expect from a band.

James is probably right but to be honest I do look for the 20+ minute stuff like A Change Of Seasons or Octavarium whenever I want to turn somebody on to this music because,

A) let's face it, ultra long epics chockful of twist and turns, tempo changes, scorching solo's, etc. are friggin' cool, and

B) tracks like "Seasons" actually showcase nearly all the elements that James mentioned: fast / slow, soft / hard, poppy / classical, etc. It kinda feels like Dream Theater in a nutshell...

[ValoRhoads]

i love DT but I do agree that a few more shorter songs wouldn't hurt!

[what??]

Dream Theater is great, thats all there is to it. They play different genres often better than the best bands in those genres. On a side note, anyone else think that Greatest Hit...and 21 Other Pretty Cool Songs is the best title for a greatest hits album ever?

[Guitar_Poet]

onthewaytohell wrote:

Don't claim posts you arse...

2nd

Anyway, dream theater rock hard, and i hope petrucci stays on the G3 tour!

lolol.

on another note... i guess this is partly why they released "greatest hit..." eh? showcase different, more accessible sides of their music...

i still think the guitar solo on "to live forever" is amazing.

as for labries voice... he sounds great (95% of the time) on record, but the couple times ive seen them live [and on the "scenes from new york" dvd!] he wasnt so good. =/

[jaggerbush320]

I was turned on to Dream Theater about 6 months ago by my coach/math teacher, and ever since I could never stop listening to them. He describes long songs such as DT's, as a grower not a shower. If you think Dt songs are boring it is because you haven't listened to them enough. The first time i listened to Octavarium I was like, "Hmm.. That's not bad", but now I think it's amazing. If you don't like songs that are long, well maybe you should make sure you don't have ADD. Unless you do, I can't see how anybody wouldn't like DT. Oh yeah, and Myung is the man.

[broken fusion!]

I've listened to them tons and own a bunch of albums, but I dunno why I just can't seem to be excited about much of their stuff (although under a glass moon pretty much owns it). For long songs I'd rather listen to 25 minutes of Pigs live by the floyd

[I Walk Alone]

I feel sorry for LaBrie. If UG posted an article on Petrucci or Portnoy saying anything, the title would read "(Petrucci/Portnoy) "We're Not Just A Progressive Band". But for LaBrie, they have to say "Dream Theater Singer".

Anyways, DT rocks.

[TDAJGuitarist]

"With that stylistic diversity, there's a lot more to offer, which gives us that potential to break into these 'hit' areas, but unfortunately they've eluded us."

Im sorry but they have nothing thats catchy enough to be on the radio...I mean...We all know that people listen to Dream Theater because they are amazing musicians...Not for catchy Melodys...And the losers that still listen to the radio want to hear songs are simple and catchy.....

I say...Thank God they are not on the radio...

[Beakwithteeth]

Wow.. so true.. but its actually quite fortunate for DT because only true fans appreciate that... DT is probably the only band who's support is poser-free.

lol, you are incorrect.

[undeaded]

Thanks for that.

Now back to your niche, Dream Theater.

[Retro Rocker]

undeaded wrote:

Thanks for that.

Now back to your niche, Dream Theater.

Failure to the Nth degree.

[Trynstopme]

undeaded wrote:

Thanks for that.

Now back to your niche, Dream Theater.

niche? these guys sell out so many shows so fast with almost ZERO advertising. wake up dude
Check your facts, cause they are going to be around for a long time.

[Gunpowder]

Axlthegreat wrote:

what who cares if you're first? lol every members dream. Dream theater rock can't wait to see them again on the 18th in Albany along with Opeth and BTBAM.

Agreed. I'm very, very excited for the Boston show. I love that they're playing in small venues - my seats are incredible.

[Dr. No]

Best band ever.

[myself101]

Hm, I like to think progressive rock mixes all those influences anyway.

Well, thats what I consider progressive rock.

[euan_soad]

what?? wrote:
On a side note, anyone else think that Greatest Hit...and 21 Other Pretty Cool Songs is the best title for a greatest hits album ever?

Nope. The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band's is called "The Best Iality of..."

Checked.

[shred745]

I think all those influences LaBrie listed is what makes DT a prog band, as much as long songs or complexity do.

[BlackSymphony6]

g-tarist wrote:

1st comment finally yes yes yes i can't believe it this is every members dream.....and to dream theater as well !!!!!
i would like to add the fact that dream theater is amazing
n yes i beat u all to first comment

haha by the time u wrote that someone else would already have posted. then you'd have felt like a moron.

[Cynoxx]

I think that even though the changed their musical direction since images and words, it makes things always fresh and interesting. Their music is so overwhelming, so musical, so utterly majestic (hah, DT pun right there)it's just breathtaking.

[Say Ocean]

"With that stylistic diversity, there's a lot more to offer, which gives us that potential to break into these 'hit' areas, but unfortunately they've eluded us."


Because you're bad song writers :o

[Octavarium666]

ValoRhoads wrote:

i love DT but I do agree that a few more shorter songs wouldn't hurt!

Let me list all their 5 minutes and less song:
-Status Seeker
-Another Day
-Wait for Sleep
-Surrounded
-The silent man
-you not me
-hell's kitchen
-regression (not realy a song but still)
-Overture 1928
-throught my words
-one last time
-war inside my head (even tho is part of a 46 min epic)
-About to crash ( Same)
-Vacant
-I walk beside you

That without counting evry song that are 5-6 minutes.


Dt is the best Band ever, I dont think theyre a single second I dont like from them.

[tjg92]

To be honest they're not actually "progressing" anything anymore. But that's not the criteria for progressive music, apparently.

Anyway, DT are pretty good. Really only for their older stuff, but they still write something good/really good every now and then. Awake is one of my favorite albums ever.

Checked.

[El Cumanés]

What i love about Dream Theater is their ability to play whatever style, mix them and still sound great. Every album is an entirely different sound, so you never get bored listening to them.

[TrippyLantern]

If I believed in giving labels like "progressive", I'd call DT a prog metal band. They:

- Have odd time signatures and rhythms
- mastery at their instruments
- classic influence
- refusal to conform to industry standards
- little radio or tv play
- strong cult fan base
- songs that are quite long that don't have the classic verse chorus verse structure
- and much much more

If they're not prog, they have a lot of prog elements

[browar]

TrippyLantern wrote:

If I believed in giving labels like "progressive", I'd call DT a prog metal band. They:

- Have odd time signatures and rhythms
- mastery at their instruments
- classic influence
- refusal to conform to industry standards
- little radio or tv play
- strong cult fan base
- songs that are quite long that don't have the classic verse chorus verse structure
- and much much more

If they're not prog, they have a lot of prog elements

That was prog definition 40 years ago.

[cheapassbassist]

Fuck technical skills. A lot of other bands who are worse technically make way batter music and add more soul to it than DT, to name Tool for example.

[b101]

cheapassbassist wrote:

Fuck technical skills. A lot of other bands who are worse technically make way batter music and add more soul to it than DT, to name Tool for example.

true quite a lot of the time, over the past few albums DT have definitely focused more on the technical side of things.

That being said however, when DT get it right, it's better than anyone else could even come close to. Outro in Learning to Live, Spirit Carries On solo and Surrounded for starters

[Moozze]

What I like about dreamtheater is the music and the fact my friend jammed with mike portnoy.

[Eirien]

Sounds like he's sucking up to get new fans, they should be happy with the thousands of mental fans they've got. He's right though; DT can play pretty much any kind of music better than anyone.

[its_sublime07]

I consider myself a fan of dream theater. At least the instrumental material. Why do prog metal bands feel the need to have the worst singers imaginable. OOOOO i can do straight quarter notes, hurray for me. It sounds so cheezy, and reminds me a lot of bad Elton Johns wasting the images of these otherwise great bands. When i hear that crappy singing, all i can think of is trans siberian orchestra...


enough said

[magic medicine]

Am I the only one who thinks James LaBrie is an awesome singer?

[GNR'n'A7X]

Retro Rocker wrote:

BobChicken wrote:

DT= Amazing.

Word.

But isn't what LaBrie described them as basically progressive music anyway?

Seriously! They are who they are. Unfortunately artists such as themselves or the likes of Buckethead, Mr. Bungle, or even Megadeth are simply too against the grain for proper radio success. The bottom line really is that pop rules today. Stairway to Heaven was requested hugely back in the day but lets face it, if that song became a single in this century it'd be shaved down to 3 min. It's sad but that just the way it is.

-DDP

[kryzay311]

Labrie's a pretty bright individual
Awesome band

[SpooneyMallard]

cheapassbassist wrote:

Fuck technical skills. A lot of other bands who are worse technically make way batter music and add more soul to it than DT, to name Tool for example.

Tool? LOL

[Megallica666]

great band i think i my like symphony x a little more but still DT is amazing.

[its_sublime07]

I've actually heard a 3 minute version of stairway to heaven made for the radio.

On a sidenote, I've found radio play antonymous with talent. I would take talent over the masses

[mhweaver]

I couldn't listen to DT until Systematic Chaos and now I am a fan. They are a band that you need to listen to a few times to appreciate and you would be hard pressed to find a more talented bunch in one band. If they were a little less technical and put a little more soul into it they would be killer!

[ironwolg]

magic medicine wrote:

Am I the only one who thinks James LaBrie is an awesome singer?

nope, LaBrie kicks ass! everyone seems to like to complain about him, but have they heard their other singers? terrible!!!!

[BurningTheLives]

Les Paul Ell wrote:

You're just a progressive band to me.

Listen to more of their songs before posting

[BurningTheLives]

magic medicine wrote:

Am I the only one who thinks James LaBrie is an awesome singer?

He is really good. I wish I had his range

[SORocker5678]

Yes, you are a progressive band. be proud of it. I don't understand why people seem to think being labeled as progressive is a bad thing. In my mind, being called a progressive band would be the highest compliment you could pay a band. Prog is the highest form of music and James is being silly trying to deny what made Dream Theater the best band out there.

[farfaraway]

James LaBrie is one of my heroes
He seems to be the one of the band who gets the lest recognition for what part he plays.

We also share the same birthday
MAY 5TH, THIS MONDAY!

[Travlembo]

I didn't read every post, so this may have already been said, but isn't prog rock a fusion of all of the genres that he mentioned... (plus more of course, but still)

[ShredderOmega]

Never got into these guys really, some of the stuff is good and I do like bands who spend the time to write long complex songs; but mostly I feel for them about the pidgeon holeing, must be damned frustrating.

[Xak]

Not a diehard fan, but gotta say, some of their heavy stuff is damn great.

[rockoutwithyour]

"'Oh, that's a progressive band — they've got these long, very involved, meandering songs. Granted, we do have songs that are a little longer than most bands would even attempt to write, but at the same time, we're not just a progressive band. We're hard rock, we're heavy metal, we're classically influenced, we're pop-influenced."

now forgive me if im wrong but is'nt that the whole point of prog!

[peaceonearth52]

yes you are

[Shread_6009]

perilouspete :
oh great.....everyone always has to throw their 2 political cents in at the end. don't ****in tell me how to think. not everyone thinks the government is evil.

the reason theyre telling you how to think is because YOUR NOT THINKING!!!.

the reason everything is so messed up in politics is because that we give people huge positions of power, most of them are rich to begin with, give them a huge paycheck and very little responsibility, exept to say yes or no every 6 months, then believe that because we give them all this, their never gonna do something stupid or commit a crime. and before you say that everyone has a chance to be president, not just rich white men, when wad the last time a woman won? or a minority? or even an independant?

got you their.

[Shread_6009]

^just to clear things up, i mean in america

[jpk6044]

Musically, DT is great. I love Liquid Tension Experiment as well. But DT's singer is absolutely horrible. He belongs in Journey or Loverboy. I think he is the reason DT doesn't have more fans.

[psilocyndreams2]

they're all great at their instruments, but i'm not a big fan even though i generally like progressive music. the singer's voice just annoys me and a lot of the songs seem too pretentious. it is possible to be a prog band that's not overly pretentious, and that's what i go for.

[thbeekk]

Dream Theater are all very talented, but not a good live band to see IMO

[domenic_665]

thbeekk wrote:

Dream Theater are all very talented, but not a good live band to see IMO

NO!!! Their live performances are very good and very clean, though they don't have much on-stage attitude, they're still great - after all, the sound is much more important than the attitude, though it's needed.

Checked.

[schnibbel666]

i actually do not like dream theater's vocals but i highly appreciate (as well as enjoy) their musicial work.

[that_1_dude24]

magic medicine wrote:

Am I the only one who thinks James LaBrie is an awesome singer?

No, but he isn't the greatest live.
He has a great voice on the albums though.

[Rational_Gaze]

Waterboy799 wrote:
some amazing talent in DT but i don't like the singer's voice.

+1

Plus I dont really care for Petrucci's a-million-notes-a-second passionless shredding...

[BrainScan]

Why did they pick the weakest link in the band for an interview?

[flame843]

Shread_6009 not just rich white men, when wad the last time a woman won? or a minority? or even an independant?

got you their.

There have been many third-party candidates who have come very clsoe to winning elections. H. Ross Perot was ahead of both Bush I and Clinton in the summer of '92, for example.

As for women and minorities, not many have ever even been in the running.

In any case Dream Theater are great.

[Jawshuwa]

Rational_Gaze wrote:

Waterboy799 wrote:
some amazing talent in DT but i don't like the singer's voice.


+1

Plus I dont really care for Petrucci's a-million-notes-a-second passionless shredding...

Shred is for those with a faster heartbeat (anyone that takes this literal, ugh, just ugh). If you don't like it, you don't have to like it, but as for bashing it, get over yourself.

I don't think LaBrie is trying to deny that they're a progressive rock/metal band, but trying to take the stress off of that label. He doesn't want people to think "progressive" when they hear "Dream Theater;" he wants them to think "great music."

I don't see why people complain about how technical they are. Yes, they are technical, so what ? They still make MUSIC, and they make GREAT music, that sounds MUSICAL. Catch ma'drift ?

[the_bear_shark]

Maybe there is a reason the potential "hits" were not a success, mainstream-wise.

[paquiquinho]

SORocker5678 wrote:

Yes, you are a progressive band. be proud of it. I don't understand why people seem to think being labeled as progressive is a bad thing. In my mind, being called a progressive band would be the highest compliment you could pay a band. Prog is the highest form of music and James is being silly trying to deny what made Dream Theater the best band out there.

If you are a girl I'll kiss you for writing what i thought when i read the article! :P If you're a guy, Ill just hug you...xD JK

[TheNERD250]

ordinary_story wrote:

With that stylistic diversity, there's a lot more to offer, which gives us that potential to break into these 'hit' areas, but unfortunately they've eluded us."

Wow.. so true.. but its actually quite fortunate for DT because only true fans appreciate that... DT is probably the only band who's support is poser-free.

that's what makes it badass

[SixString1989]

They are all masters of their instruments, Each one of them are so damn good its not even funny.

Im always just stunned how great the songs flow together, such great chemistry between them all.

[Rogue Hermit]

the genre dream theater is in doesn't matter all that much, does it? they make amazing music, with crazy good solos and singing, but so what if they are progressive or not? genres don't matter as long as they make really good music. their best song is the spirit carries on, by the way.

[otizeta]

i like "the spirit carries on" too.
and i think progressive music itself tends to include as many things as possible so i actually never care about whether DT stays progressive or not. they are always the greatest~

['Leviathan']

LaBrie is exactly right. The media only play what is going to appeal to the kids. There is so much more to music than just 'Gangsta bitches' and 'Fallout Boy'. There is a whole world of diverse music and there is something for everyone. Most people just don't accept that there is other music out there.

Dream Theater just show that you don't need to be making huge money or be advertised around every corner to be popular. DT has a huge fan base, and I've never seen them advertised anywhere. They are an incredible band, who are living proof that you can rely on your fans to support you, through thick and thin.

I just find it sad that most kids are already too mesmerized to see otherwise. If I could show them other music, I would, but sadly, it is near impossible now.

I'm just thankful that I've found music that is diverse and that doesn't hide in the shadows of the every day 'normal' thing. I'm also thankful to be a loyal fan of a band who will never give up on it's fans.

Keep doing your thing, DT, you rock.

[Cresspo]

I don't think they're hardrock or poplike, they rock though

[zeemonkey]

James has officially won my respect....again....

[Quinj]

i love Dream Theater. simple as. I hate it when others automaticly dislike them because of how long the avarage song is. They really push the boundries musiclly, and their songs are so diverse its amazing. A true group of musicians if there ever was one.

oh, and John Petrucci is second to none

[Quinj]

*musically

[frottage]

yes!! 100th post!! i r cool nao

they have a few songs that could be played on the radio, but i'd say for the most part, they're not radio material at all. just my opinion.