R.I.P. Dream Theater 1985-2010

For those who don't know, Mike Portnoy (founding father, producer, lead songwriter, and drummer) of Dream Theater has left. Like many others, this band had an immense influence on my life, musical taste, and own songwriting. Hopefully he eventually chooses to go back and continue to revolutionize progressive metal and music as a whole.
Article here- http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/gen ... eater.html

Good riddance.

I don't see what your problem is. They had the best drummer of the past 30 years, and still have the most underrated guitarist and bassist, the best keyboard player of the past 30 years, and a singer that fits them perfectly. Their music is some of the most well written and well thought out in the world; I really don't see what's not to like.

My mate insisted on always playing me dream theatre telling me i 'should' love it.

Didnt ever get on with it.

I just listened to a few of their songs and I wasn't impressed

It is difficult to appreciate their music. They use lots of complex time signatures and it is hard to "understand" what they are playing sometimes if you have no musical background. The dedication and appreciation of their fans is unparalleled to any other band though.

And if you do have a musical background, it will likely seem like pretentious masturbation.

I never got into them too much although, I did like a couple songs. I am more into Symphony X. Sad to see this happen, though. Good luck too all the band members.

Saw them first time live opening for Iron Maiden this past Summer and wasn't that impressed with the live show. I have enjoyed them before on CD though

First off I will say that I was never a big fan of Dream Theater but I have always had the most respect for what they do and did. Being a musicians myself for 15+ years I see the excellence in their members.

Mike Portnoy! I mean come on if you know anything about music you would know Mike is probably the most respected drummer. John Petrucci! A living Guitar god. That's it.

Berklee College of Music is the best musical college in the nation and members of DT attended the school.

So yea it might not be your style of music but this band is still one of the greatest songwriting wise. If you understand complex time signatures and odd timings then their music is well worth looking into. As I said I am not a big fan but they have a bunch of songs that are simply amazing.

Only music nerds like dream theater.

Only if you're looking at it as a composition at a technical level.

DT's music reads like it was composed specifically for a class, an attempt to exercise certain techniques and even time signatures. While it might be technically complex, no amount of complexity makes a song automatically "good." or makes the songwriting strong in any sense that should be applauded.

Not like they were terrible, but they seem to have no goal other than to make songs that go on too long and have little value outside technical or critical study.

I agree that music nerds love them and they aim to create technically advanced songs. But you can't honestly say that they don't make good music. They have some of the most melodic material I've ever heard and they are very diverse.

The Ramones > Dream Theater

I dunno. I mean, I like the Beach Boys Lite, but I'm not sure they're better per se.

And yes, I certainly do listen to Dream Theater. I think they can be enjoyable, but would be moreso if they paid more attention to making music rather than clinical studies. I sort of wonder whether you could replace DT's composition with a program written to do the same thing.

Fine, then Rush > Dream Theater or Primus > Cream Theater.

Do you remember me talking about psych stalker chick?

She HATE HATE HATED Rush. And Melissa Etheridge, but that's a completely different story.

Though I think I do enjoy Rush more than Dream Theater.

Dream Theater does have the benefit of being influenced by Queen. :ugeek:

Dream Theater is my favorite band, and I love pretty much anything Mike is involved in. I really could not believe the news. I hope it blows over after he takes a break. He's certainly earned one.

Not many DT fans on here, I see.

They certainly have their musical wankfests, but they have written some absolutely brilliant stuff. The Concept album Metropolis Part II: Scenes from a Memory is for my money, one of the most brilliant albums ever written.

(Other absolutely amazing compositions include (the tracks): A Change of Seasons, Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence, and Octavarium, which are all breathtaking compositions, but are not easily accessible to most because they all are 20+ min songs (or 40+ in 6doit's case.)

I'm a huge fan of the Twelve Step Suite (the metasong that they have released one part of over their past 5 studio albums) but most people find it too "metal" to listen to.

My absolute favorite track of theirs has always been "Home," which does not get that much love from DT fans (at least in my limited exposure to other actual DT fans, though SFAM is usually listed as their best or second best album by many fans).

I like Slayer

I will always love the 12 step suite. Mike said in a later interview that the band made it clear that the door is always open to him if he decides to come back, and he said he is thinking about it. DT will most likely record 1-2 albums with a new drummer and then he'll come back. At least we all hope.