Personalities | John Petrucci | Dream Theater to G3 | Guitar Heroes
The guitarist in Dream Theater, John Petrucci (b. 1967) brought his virtuoso style – lengthy syncopated lines, complex rhythmic variations and grinding tones – into the progressive-metal scene. In the past decade, he has been involved in several extracurricular projects, often with other members of Dream Theater.
Raised in Long Island, New York, Petrucci started playing guitar at the age of 12 and assiduously practised and emulated his heroes, working his way through the acknowledged masters, from Steve Howe to Randy Rhoads. At 18, he attended Berklee College of Music in Boston with his school friend, bassist John Myung. There, they met drummer Mike Portnoy and formed the basis of Dream Theater.
Recruiting keyboard player Kevin Moore and singer Charlie Dominici, they released When Dream And Day Unite (1989). Images And Words (1992) with new singer James LaBrie broke them to the MTV audience with the epic ‘Pull Me Under’. Live At The Marquee (1993) and Awake (1994) consolidated their following, with an emphasis on lengthy but concisely written pieces. Metropolis Part 2: Scenes From A Memory (1999) was a concept album that featured new keyboard player Jordan Rudess. Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence (2002) balanced heavy, experimental songs with progressive pieces. Train Of Thought (2003) had an underlying theme of anger, Octavarium (2005) was fixated around the number eight, and Systematic Chaos (2006) was dramatic and aggressive.
Petrucci’s first side project was Liquid Tension Experiment (1998) with Portnoy, Rudess and bassist Tony Levin. Its success resulted in Liquid Tension Experiment 2 (1999). In 2001, Petrucci joined the G3 tour of North America with guitarists Joe Satriani and Steve Vai. He toured with them in 2005, playing music from his solo album Suspended Animation (2005).
Dream Theater signed with Roadrunner Records in 2006, and their releases since then include Systematic Chaos (2007), Black Clouds & Silver Linings (2009), A Dramatic Turn Of Events (2011) and Dream Theater (2013).
Petrucci mainly plays Ernie Ball Music Man guitars and has two signature models; he also plays a seven-string guitar. His complex stage rig is based around Mesa Boogie amps and speakers.
Essential Recordings
1992
Dream Theater: Images And Words
1994
Dream Theater: Awake
1998
Liquid Tension Experiment: Liquid Tension Experiment
2005
Solo: Suspended Animation
Personalities | Chris Poland | Master of Megadeth | Guitar Heroes
AUTHORITATIVE
An extensive music information resource, bringing together the talents and expertise of a wide range of editors and musicologists, including Stanley Sadie, Charles Wilson, Paul Du Noyer, Tony Byworth, Bob Allen, Howard Mandel, Cliff Douse, William Schafer, John Wilson...
CURATED
Classical, Rock, Blues, Jazz, Country and more. Flame Tree has been making encyclopaedias and guides about music for over 20 years. Now Flame Tree Pro brings together a huge canon of carefully curated information on genres, styles, artists and instruments. It's a perfect tool for study, and entertaining too, a great companion to our music books.
David Bowie
Fantastic new, unofficial biography covers
his life, music, art and movies, with a
sweep of incredible photographs.