“Everything that Dream Theater fans want!”: 5 highlights from their landmark London show Featuring the return of Mike Portnoy and an epic new track MusicRadar · Oct 21, 2024
"There are no reasons why brothers should not be able to resolve any trauma that they've been through": John Petrucci on the return of Mike Portnoy to Dream Theater With friends (and bandmates) reunited for Dream Theater’s 40th anniversary, it’ll be a special night for fans at Wembley Arena later this month Louder · Oct 11, 2024
Dream Theater share first new music since Mike Portnoy's return with nine-minute plus Night Terror Parasomnia, Dream Theater's first new album with Mike Portnoy for 16 years, will be released in February Metal Hammer · Oct 10, 2024
Everybody knows John Petrucci for his God-like shredding abilities, but the Dream Theater virtuoso’s next-level rhythm playing deserves more attention We examine the different approaches Petrucci takes for world-building with metal riffs – playing in different time signatures and executing them with on-point precision Guitar World · Oct 1, 2024
“He taught me how to play songs by Dream Theater, Iron Maiden and King Diamond… though I remember giving up on some of the John Petrucci solos!” Tor Oddmund Suhrke on guitar lessons with Ihsahn and casting musical illusions with Leprous Melodies of Atonement finds Leprous taking the complex and making it sound simple – and if that confuses prog purists then so be it, says Suhrke. There is no reversing the evolutionary wheel… Guitar World · Sep 27, 2024
“People will speculate that Mike Portnoy playing on my album means things are gonna change in Dream Theater. It’s not that at all”: When John Petrucci reunited with his old friend for solo album Terminal Velocity Three years before the reunion actually took place, the pair got together in the studio for the first time in a decade – and the guitarist got their first song wrong Louder · Aug 28, 2024
“I remember dissecting YYZ and learning all his different techniques… I use that stuff all the time with Dream Theater”: John Petrucci wouldn’t be John Petrucci without Rush’s Alex Lifeson Future prog metal master discovered his Canadian counterpart at just the right time in his life – and he soon had friends including John Myung joining in Louder · Aug 27, 2024
“Give me a break. Of course we’ve got frickin’ soul”: Dream Theater vs the haters In 2013, Dream Theater released their eponymous 12th album – but not everyone was onboard with their “soulless”prog metal Louder · Aug 11, 2024
“There is a legitimate straight line from me being intimidated by John Petrucci to picking up the acoustic guitar”: Mike Dawes names 10 guitarists who shaped his sound One of today’s foremost acoustic virtuosos names the players who inspired his awe-inspiring percussive style and changed the game – and offers his pick for “the most criminally underrated name in guitar” Guitar World · Aug 8, 2024
"It really feels like we’re 18 again!" Dream Theater's John Petrucci is fired up for upcoming 40th anniversary tour Dream Theater's 40th anniversary tour kicks off at London's O2 Arena on October 20 Metal Hammer · Jul 29, 2024
“A relentless speed and accuracy rarely heard before on the electric guitar”: Al Di Meola’s peerless alternate-picking style changed the landscape of guitar playing – just ask John Petrucci and Nuno Bettencourt The fusion master influenced a generation of players, and this lesson will show you why – and make you a cleaner, more accurate player in the process Guitar World · Jul 19, 2024
“Anybody that doesn’t get along with John Petrucci must be a really big asshole”: Why the Dream Theater guitarist is Steve Vai’s prog hero They met at college and watched each other’s careers develop as the decades pass – but Vai remains in awe of how much his friend’s playing has developed too Louder · Jul 12, 2024
“It’s almost like we’re so preposterously uncool that somehow we became cool”: the turbulent story of Dream Theater’s Images And Words, the album that changed the face of prog metal The turbulent story of Dream Theater’s Images And Words, the album that changed the face of prog metal Metal Hammer · Jul 11, 2024
“A wolf in sheep’s clothing”: Mesa/Boogie and John Petrucci celebrate 40 years of partnership with “the most aggressive” and modern Mark IIC+ ever made The Dream Theater virtuoso's limited-edition signature amp looks to take the Holy Grail metal and rock combo to all-new heights Guitar World · Jun 26, 2024
MusicRadar · May 2, 2024 “It’s like a T-Rex made out of chocolate cake”: John Petrucci issues update on new Dream Theater album, promising the “Mount Rushmore” of guitar tones – and a special treat for Tonemission users John Petrucci told the world that had finished up tracking guitars for Dream Theater’s 16th album, and there’s some very special studio gear secret sauce shaping his tone
Metal Hammer · Jan 29, 2024 “This is the next natural step in our evolution. This is a pinnacle moment for us. It’s something we had to do.” How Dream Theater made uber concept album The Astonishing With 2021's The Astonishing Dream Theater unveiled the daddy of all prog metal concept albums
Guitar World · Jan 27, 2024 NAMM 2024: “Some people were like, ‘That's the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen!’ It turns out it was the most successful instrument we ever could have imagined”: John Petrucci on the wild ride of his signature guitar, the Music Man Majesty Like many game-changing ideas, the Majesty (which wasn't the guitar's original name...) was not immediately welcomed with open arms, the Dream Theater man says
Guitar World · Jan 15, 2024 “If I’ve written a section for an epic ‘John Petrucci on a mountain’ solo, I’d rather do my best impression for the self-satisfaction”: Plini maintains he’s “still a greedy lead player at heart” – so why did he give a solo to Tosin Abasi on his new EP? Mirage is a welcome return from one of the most exciting guitarists on the planet, with some of Plini’s most daring arrangements yet. He explains why he can play ugly but not evil, and what prompted him to overhaul the pickups on his space-age signature model
Metal Hammer · Jan 9, 2024 "I was like, 'I've never heard any of these songs!'" Mike Portnoy almost drummed for Nickelback Prog metal legend and Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy almost bagged a very unlikely gig
Metal Hammer · Dec 30, 2023 "Within five seconds of seeing each other, it was hugs, kisses... the drama and bulls**t just melted away": Mike Portnoy on the meeting which led to his return to Dream Theater after 13 years How a 2022 meeting in New York paved the way for Mike Portnoy's surprise reunion with Dream Theater
Louder · Dec 26, 2023 “I can hear mistakes and imperfections, but spirit has transcended the years. When we play those songs live, they still work”: Dream Theater’s embryonic debut album When Dream And Day Unite undeniably lacks finesse, polish and songwriting maturity - but their only record with Charlie Dominici is loaded with thrills
Metal Hammer · Nov 24, 2023 Mike Portnoy explains Dream Theater return: “We’ve been reconnecting through the last few years.” Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy talked about his return to the band in October during a recent live event
Guitar World · Aug 7, 2023 John Petrucci and Zakk Wylde just shared the stage for the first time ever – and they shredded Black Label Society The two wizards of metal finally locked fretboards – and epic beards – during Trooch's Guitar Universe camp
MusicRadar · Aug 7, 2023 Watch John Petrucci and Zakk Wylde jam onstage for the first time ever as they dial up the shred on BLS’s Suicide Messiah A little bit of history was made this weekend at John Petrucci’s Guitar Universe 4.0
MusicRadar · Jul 28, 2023 Tosin Abasi declares John Petrucci the GOAT and gifts him an Abasi Concepts ēmi 8-string in a cult classic Picasso finish Classy player, classy guitar, classy gesture as the epic Dreamsonic tour featuring Dream Theater, Animals As Leaders and Devin Townsend comes to an end