A Chat with Michael Romeo of Symphony X

Join Pete Pardo for an interview with guitarist/songwriter/founder of progressive metal titans Symphony X, Michael Romeo. #michaelromeo #symphonyx
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[@sparkle123494]

Great interview. Michael Romeo is such a down to earth guy. No pretense at all. It's so true that not only are they complex and super talented musicians, the know how to write great tunes.

[@YsAbTones]

Freakin' legend here, this amount of work behind his compositions is just terrific

[@soubrierjean9853]

Michael is a nice ,easy going, humble person. Fantastic player, now I love the guy too.

[@allornadaaccordingtojack7601]

I met a few times in the past, he really is!!

[@alessandroneri8929]

Great Interview Pete! Michael Romeo is a fucking Genius! Symphony X rules. So good to hear from him about a lot of stuff... I'm from Rio, Brazil, and Just can't wait to see SX once again down here and once again it's going to be Just insane. Long live Michael Romeu and SX!

[@theamitar4001]

Drove 5 hours to Salt Lake to see Symphony X. After the show they hung out on a balcony and talked with the fans! Great show. Michael's new album kicks ass too.

[@kamikazekrush3758]

Michael has meant everything to me as a music fan, my all time favorite, can't wait to see what theme they choose for the next CD, so much stuff through history to write about, I'm sure they will blow us away with what they choose!

[@vectorvinnie]

Maybe a theme of being in a nursing home because by the time they record it they'll be in one

[@kamikazekrush3758]

@@vectorvinnie Haha, yeah hopefully something coming in the next year, Russell seemed to get really distracted with his other bands, and of course the terrible accident, Romeo's solo CD'S were great, but its definitely time, right now, for some new Symphony X

[@garyjoyce2160]

As usual. PETE knocks it out of park. TREMENDOUS interview with a super talented nice guy !!! 👍💯

[@musicmandan4857]

Amazing interview, Pete! Michael is a legend. I'm so lucky to have caught pick from him last tour. Can't wait for more Symphony X material from him!

[@timelkins3537]

Michael Romeo is a class act. Very genuine, laid back guy- great interview! 👍

[@mikeruppert6762]

What a great interview! Love to hear the process of how songs/records come about for Symphony X. Always look forward to new music from these guys!!

[@luisrosales1771]

Amazing guest, Michael Romeo, congratulations Pete

[@joedolenza7944]

Michael Romeo and Pete Pardo well said. Us fans care because we can tell that you guys still care. Michael seems very cool and humble...great interview.

[@joejohnson-vv6ip]

War Of The Worlds Pt. 2 is amazing!!! Killer work!

[@CYON4D]

Great chat, Michael is such a cool guy to talk to and I am a huge fan of him. Thanks for making this interview.

[@tomastextor]

Great interview, thank you! I also hope for more Romeo solo albums, the last one was great.

[@gordy3714]

Great stuff Pete I love the V album, there is something just great about it.

[@armoredghost6180]

Can’t wait for more Symphony X albums. They’re super.

[@tonesfreeman1769]

War of the Worlds part 2 is a great album. Thanks and appreciation.

[@mikeryanmikeryan4740]

Hi Pete. Fantastic interview. I will be looking forward to a new album and subsequent US tour.

[@markdodds6141]

Thanks Pete It’s due to sites like yours that I have gotten into Symphony X. I loved their show this year when I saw them in Orlando. Michael is an amazing musician.

[@briankhall9963]

Greatest show ever I loved it. My kids and I were at the Overkill show in Clifton Park, NY in 2015. Literally right against the stage.

[@EdwardBox]

One of the greats. What a player!

[@gravesplendour3481]

Great interview! Such an important band, I love how laid back Michael is!

[@208414]

In my opinion, Symphony X is the band that best blends melodic lines, heavy riffs, complex musical genius, and compelling lyrics out of any band on the scene today. I can clearly see the influence of Kansas in their style.

[@robnykulaik7337]

Once again you bring an awesome interview Pete, and of course thanks Micheal. You guys both rule!! I love War of the world pt 2 and would love to see it live!!?? Keep up the great work and see you in 2023!!

[@allornadaaccordingtojack7601]

Excellent interview as usual, Pete!!

[@martingimenez339]

Dang! I love Michael, Russ, SX is one of my favourite bands of all time...they can do no wrong...totally amazing music and musicianship. Long live SX!!! Great interview btw.

[@ronnelson1979]

man, I would've loved to have seen The Odyssey live. I had tickets to see em live right before the pandemic, but they eventually got refunded, since the tour had to be postponed so much. damn covid. awesome band though. I met them after their set when I saw them play Gigantour years ago. great guys. looking forward to some new stuff, especially a live DVD including some of that live Odyssey footage. great guest choice Pete.

[@arnaudb.7669]

Great interview!

[@coreycrossman3447]

Underrated guitar hero

[@jhar26]

Great interview, Pete.

[@747jono]

Great interview Pete ,Michael is such an interesting guy thoroughly enjoyed it Thank you so much.

[@linkanddrink7880]

I'm loooking forward to a European tour in autumn 2024!! Hopefully!

[@NickYousoufian]

Nice insight from Michael about the logistics of traveling and the crown virus and touring with Haken. Pete always makes his guests comfortable.

[@Vbnklll]

This guys seems complete I mean with the skills he posesses have I mean superhuman looking cool relaxed this dude has everything!

[@208414]

War of the Worlds Part 2 is a slammin' record. Dino was the perfect pick for the vocals.

[@747jono]

This is going to be awesome 👌

[@paulburrows7908]

Saw them on the recent 25th anniversary tour in Vancouver BC, what a killer show. Got to meet Mike Lepond after for a picture.

[@DistantEarlyWarning]

Such an underrated guitarist! Legend!

[@garyjoyce2160]

At this stage of PETEs SOT popularity/ there would be no “guest” that would shock me. Tremendous job PETE 👍💯

[@kenwhite8103]

Gary, I second that. It's to the point now where I look forward to watching Pete's channel more than anything else.

[@robertleven4449]

Just saw SX in SF. even my daughter liked u guy's. Can't wait for a new album. New solo cd kicks ass with Dino!

The most brillant guitarrist of all time.

[@mwmann]

I'm glad I found your channel Pete. Like your reviews and guest interviews. The 4 corner discussions too. Here in Oklahoma and Texas where I travel back and forth to and from on a fairly regular basis checking up on my few properties and collect rent here and there. Rambling to end it by saying the obvious. It's been hotter then a witches tit down here. July. Not climate change. Good day

[@robmlisanti]

Really looking forward to this one Pete hmmm Feels like I just saw him recently😂😂

[@TABL3SIX]

Wow!!! First guitar I bought back in high school was a used black Kramer Pacer. The neck was something special. Loved that guitar. I just didn't have the talent to go with it. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@Vaggelis68]

Ohhh ... very special guest!!! Pete ask Michael please...why they don't play some pre Odyssey songs? Only the "Evolution (The Grand Design)" and "Sea of Lies" is on the setlist in 2022. is there any particular reason why this is happening?

[@ArisaJuega-wy4fu]

One of the most underrated players ever

[@michaelsneade31]

What a nice guy.

[@MetalAsylumNJ]

Next tour my vote goes to a couple new songs, rest of the set is all pre Odyssey stuff.

[@ronlussari]

I live SY but I wish they didn't play long song like the Odyssey. Anyway I'll be seeing them on the end of the month here in Brazil

[@briankhall9963]

We need a new album.

[@gordy3714]

I would love to see Symphony X do a thrashy album(a bit like what would it be like if Michael was in Testament) I would love them to do a cover of Seventh Son of a Seventh Son, and maybe a Stargazer song type album, along the lines of V but slightly different.

[@haroldpramhas9807]

Nice interview. Will there be an album box set in the future?

[@scipug3048]

Did i miss it or did you not ask about plans for the next album or a date etc?

[@MrZenkman]

Pete…can you please ask Michael why Twilight in Olympus and V have never been released in vinyl format. And does he have any power to make that change? Saw them a month ago in the West Coast. Great show!!

[@robertdendooven7258]

Most likely pre-recorded so questions from the comment section won't happen.

[@tyleragnew]

Yes please - need both of these albums on vinyl badly. Just spent 200 on Divine Wings haha

[@MrZenkman]

I found Divine for $40 Cdn. just 2 years ago. Amazing how much vinyl is still going up in value.

[@laurannpelletier]

Dino.,Yessssss

[@franciskocher200]

SUPER...

[@tylerpatterson4787]

Hey Pete you should do a rant about Pantera? Apparently they are back, but it doesn’t seem right without the brothers? Why can’t bands retire for good?

[@seaoftranquilityprog]

Yep, did that this morning!

[@tylerpatterson4787]

I absolutely watch it, Thank you for the rant

[@silverstone3228]

Please ask him why he ‘s not composing neoclassical stuff anymore in the vein of the older albums

[@kamikazekrush3758]

I saw him answer that question in another interview, he said maybe just got a little bored with it, and I think maybe the whole band kinda liked going heavier

[@ClifftopTragedy]

I think artists like Romeo often feel like the music chooses them and not the other way round. I remember Vai saying something like that. It sounded a bit pretentious at first as if he is channeling God but I've written some music that really felt like it was coming through me instead of from me. It's a rare feeling but I tried to do the parts again and no other parts ever felt right. Like it wasn't up to me. It just HAD to be that way. I found SmyX at Paradise lost so I prefer the more metal sound but I'll happily take anything from the masters.

[@quasipseudo1]

MR = GOAT

[@Poser_Metal_Records]

One of the first metal bands I ever heard. I got exposed to a gamut of metal styles all at once. Black, prog, death, thrash, etc.

[@Ennello]

Funny you ask who "his guy" was, cause Michael Romeo is mine

[@dbassir87]

He needs to be in G3

[@ArtGuitarLTX]

Dream Theater had/has the exact same problem 😅

[@Vbnklll]

Yngwie and him should be best friennds! Why the fuck not

[@notarookie1]

"pandemic *WEAK." profanity is fear and conformity by the damned.

[@coreycrossman3447]

I own underworld I need more fantastic band

[@xulphyte]

14:03 Michae's solo album sounds like a new Symphony X record? You're SO wrong there. It doesn't sound like Symphony X at all. Mike's reaction says it all.

[@rorke47]

it basically is the new symphony x record much in the same way TCV is basically a Queens album as Josh Homme wrote all the music. Romeo can act like everything he does is new and innovative but the reality is that he's been recycling the same riffs, solo's and arrangements since PL and uses them in the solo albums. His formula for writing music hasn't changed at all and that's why it just sounds like symphony x.

[@xulphyte]

@@rorke47 no it is not. He's not recycling riffs. How would you know? MR solo is much darker and heavier than Symphony X. If you can't hear that, you're probably not a musician.

[@xulphyte]

2023. New album. Nope.