Ayreon - And The Druids Turned To Stone (Ayreon Universe) reaction

[@frank1963]

The keyboard player is Sir Joost van den Broek , he is a personal friend of Arjen and does a lot of the production for the live shows. He is also the producer for several bands like Epica and Blind Gardian to name just a few. He was awarded the title Sir from the Dutch Royals for his contribution to music.

[@VocalCitizen]

Lovely... Thank you.

[@frank1963]

@@VocalCitizen Fun fact about Damian he is an old school rock singer, meaning he doesn’t work with in ear monitors and so he doesn’t work with a click track. I met him in person at the last Ayreon concert and he is a really nice, friendly and down to earth person.

[@chriso6719]

@@frank1963 👋🤘🎶🎶

[@frank1963]

@@chriso6719 👍👋

[@TheMateriaalkunde]

Joost is a genius in rhythm experiments. He played in Floor's band After Forever, together with the guitar player Mark Jansen (no family..) who is guitarist, composer and vocal growler in Epica. You can see Joost And Arjen And Irene Jansen And Floor Jansen And Damian And Russell Allen And Robert Soeterbock in a 2003 Star One gig. Joost and Floor were only 19 by then... kzbin.info/www/bejne/rXXWoWCMepuSpbssi=i4lp3Zq_ioqRtl9G

[@oldman3319]

I can see that you are impressed with Damian's voice. He has been a long time favorite of mine. Finally shook his hand last september. A very charismatic singer and person.

[@aidanumpherson]

Damiens vocals are just on another level. I know him for his work in the band Threshold and working with Arjen for as long as I can remember. Voice of an angel

[@VocalCitizen]

He's amazing. You can tell he's got his breath control on lock.

[@chriso6719]

Sir Joost van den Broek on keys. He is basically Arjen's right hand man. He does a lot of the work for the live shows. Played wit hFloor in her first band ,After Forever. Plays with Arjen a lot, and is a producer himself. He 's produced bands like Blind Guardian and EPICA (you've seen their lead singers here, Hansi Kursch and Simone Simons). Arjen ,affectionately , calls him LUL, which apparently means d!*k in Dutch. lol Damien Wilson (Headspace/Arena/ex - Threshold) sang the studio version of this song too, which came out on the 2000 album, Universal Migrator Part 1: The Dream Sequencer. I didn't know who he was either , until I found Ayreon.

[@VocalCitizen]

Thank you for being (once again) my fountain of info. I DO TRULY appreciate you, Chris.

[@joslauwers7960]

The drummer here is Rob Snijders husband of Anneke van Giersbergen the Godmother of Dutch Heavy Metal (ex The Gathering a.o.)

[@VocalCitizen]

He's got his timing on lock... that's all I'm saying. It's brain-scrambling.

[@thecaptainmarko]

And the bassist Is Johan Van Stratum husband of Marcela Bovio ;-) . Also on guitar the magnificent Marcel Coenen arguably one of the best of the best.

[@mandje2002]

@@thecaptainmarko was the husband !!!

[@glenngunnis6642]

Damian Wilson (born 11 October 1969) is an English singer-songwriter and musician. Wilson works in the progressive metal genre and was the lead singer of Headspace and Threshold. He sang and toured with bands and projects for Star One, Ayreon, Landmarq, Praying Mantis and with Rick Wakeman's English Rock Ensemble.🎸🤘

[@erickvermeulen9734]

Damian Wilson also makes albums with Adam Wakeman (son of Rick) who among other things has been keyboard player with Ozzy and Black Sabbath.

[@VocalCitizen]

I know Wakeman! That's a Sabbath shirt I'm wearing in the vid. LOVE Ozzy/Sabbath.

[@VocalCitizen]

Very cool. Thanks for informing me.

[@danielmuller8115]

You forgot to mention he is the "new" lead Singer of Arena

[@jaapblaauw3735]

On keyboards Joost van den Broek. He joined Arjen on the Star One tour back in 2003. He was just 19. Arjen was looking for a keyboardplayer that could do all the complex parts too. Joost told him that he could do that and so he did! He played also in After Forever and Sun Caged and became a teacher at the conservatory of Amsterdam. One of his students played on The Theater Equation where Joost was musical director( the very first Ayreon live show where Arjen himself was only sideways involved). Nowadays Joost is a producer, mixer arranger etc.

[@VocalCitizen]

Joost has a masterful grasp on finger-dancing. His chord choices are fascinating. His using the keyboard to elicit subtle mood changes within the story is FRIGHTENINGLY DELICIOUS. The keys are his playground. I am here for it.

[@mrwomby5007]

I was in the line for one of the Ayreon concerts last year and Damian was walking along, chatting to everyone and posing for selfies. He’s a great guy.

[@VocalCitizen]

So cool...

[@pancentricism]

Damian was a singer with Rick Wakeman (mainly known as the keyboard player with a prog rock band called Yes - sorry, I'll type that again mainly known as the keyboard player with THE prog rock band called Yes), and currently sings with Adam Wakeman, (one of Rick's sons). He used to be a singer in the stage production of Les Miserables and played Jean Valjean. His "Bring Him Home" always brings tears to my eyes. Sadly he doesn't play it that often anymore as he sang it at his father's funeral, so it has too many memories for him.

[@PittDaddy]

Joost is also featured on Simone Simons' new album Vermillion which she made with Arjen. Arjen also worked with Dianne van Giresbergen on her solo work. The cross-pollination of the Euro Metal world is special. I'm also amazed by how many of the musicians in the European metal scene are married to another musician. Simone Simons to the Oliver Palotai of Kamelot Floor Jansen to Hannes van Dahl of Sabaton Melissa Bonny of Ad Infinitum to Morten Løwe Sørensen of Amaranthe. She can be seen in the crowd at the wedding of Amaranthe's guitarist Olof Mörck in the Amaranthe video of the song Endlessly. Olof married Cătălina Popa, the singer of the band Haggard. I'm sure the list is longer.

[@PHDarren]

Damian Wilson is one singer who you never need subtitles for the lyrics, his diction is always so clear.

[@VocalCitizen]

You are right about that!

[@MrWo-qj2yh]

at the two gates from this concert the whole band is introduced by Irene (sister of Floor)

[@VocalCitizen]

noted.

[@diedzjeeoudshoorn7726]

Never ever underestimate Joost. He is the driving force behind a lot of epic music that we all enjoy!! And a fabulous keyboard player.

[@VocalCitizen]

He does know his ways around those keys... His timing is impeccable.

[@TheMateriaalkunde]

Floor did a cover of Heart's Alone... Without knowing aforetime it was clear that Joost accompanied her on the piano.. Great work. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z5fYXqyGa9Zpfc0si=bWpz6YixKtF1hNlW

[@VocalCitizen]

Oh.... that's goin' on the list, for sure!

[@RolandDeschain1]

Damien Wilson played Jean Valjean in LES MISERABLES on the West End for years. His vocal technique is immaculate.

[@VocalCitizen]

I'm quite impressed by Damien Wilson.

[@PHDarren]

Ps. the change of drummer here from Ed Warby to Rob Snijders who is Anneke van Giersbergen's husband (from Valley of the Queens) and someone who's deserved of a long trip down the rabbit hole. From The Gathering, The Gentle Storm, Vuur and all the collaborations with Aryeon, Within Temptation, Devin Townsend. As a start to hear her talent I would recommend the acoustic duet she did with Arjen Lucasson called "The Gentle Storm - Endless Sea (unplugged) @Linea Rock" on here.

[@VocalCitizen]

I love all the information! Thanks for the suggestion. I love it.

[@stephenhood1516]

I recently flew over from Inverness in Scotland to the Netherlands to attend two gigs and Damian Wilson performed at both of these. His voice is fabulous, his stage craft wonderful and his personality on another level; he even came out before both shows and shook hands and chatted to all the fan's waiting to enter the venue. At the second gig in Zwolle, I had the good fortune to have a nice chat with him after the show and I told him that this performance with Ayreon was one of the finest vocal performances I'd ever seen and I'll be 70 year's old next month, so I've seen a few! I'm now looking forward to seeing Damian perform again in November, this time a little closer to home in Glasgow.

[@VocalCitizen]

Well, your experience mirrors my perception. His vocal approach to the character showed his ability to melt into the MOOD of the song. That's what touched me the most.

[@uueyeam6398]

Joost van den Broek !! keyboards and Producer of a lot of metal bands (Epica, Blackbriar, Powerwolf) and other projects i.e. Sabaton. I think he is one of the most underrated musician.

[@JWS-66]

Arjen Lucassen the founder and composer of Ayreon he and Joost v/d Broek (keyboards) are friends and working togheter for over 20 years with many other music projects as a producer/ arranger and writer💜I love Arjen's music especially the live shows... Great reaction Vocal Citizen thanks///greets from The Netherlands

[@VocalCitizen]

Thank you so very much. I love Arjen as well.

[@hermenw.huiskamp8555]

Damian = Awesome One of the 'household singers' of Arjen (Ayreon, Star One) - he opens the Live version of 'The Day that the World breaks down'

[@hermenw.huiskamp8555]

💜

[@VocalCitizen]

💙

[@VocalCitizen]

I know... that's a reaction you should check out. 😉

[@CatharinaMargarina]

His voice is so unbelievably pretty, such a great singer

[@VocalCitizen]

My Ayreon journey has only just begun. I will cover it all. Go check out my Ayreon Reactions playlist. Thanks for watching. 💃🏼❣️

[@eddybulk1992]

Not sure if it is important but Joost is pronounced yoast and he was also in a band called After Forever with a little singer called Floor Jansen greetings from The Netherlands

[@VocalCitizen]

LOL she's not a little singer. ❣️

[@Skarn73]

This song is part of the album "The Universal Migrator". The storyline behind the album is the following one: In 2084 the only human being survived to the human extinction is living on mars. He uses the machine called "the universal migrator" to reincarnate himself in many persons of the human history (including a young Arjen Lucassen witnessing the moon landing in 1969 in the song "One Small Step"). In this particular song, he is reincarnted in the druids that turn themselves to stone to create Stonehenge. In the second part of the album he tries to reincarnate himself before the big bang.

[@VocalCitizen]

I'll have to check the whole thing out. Thanks for the heads up.

[@fabrizio_prina]

The keyboard player is Joost Van Den Broeck and he is a very skilled keyboard player, composer and arranger and a very good long time friend and collaborator of Arjen Lucassen

[@Paul_C]

He also worked on a few Epica projects...

[@VocalCitizen]

Awesome. thanks.

[@VocalCitizen]

🤘🏻

[@fredyprogger3214]

If you wanna see a better performance from Wilson you should react to Ayreon - Twisted Coil Live

[@VocalCitizen]

It is on my list... climbing to the top.

[@JCMacLeod555]

The keyboardist is Joost Van Den Broek...SIR Joost, that is...he used to play in a band called After Forever that featured a young vocalist named Floor Jansen ...who you are of course familiar with. He is now a big time producer and is Arjen's music director for these live shows. He also still works with Floor on some of her solo material. A few months ago Floor posted a bunch of old After Forever videos on her personal KZbin channel...Energize Me (kzbin.info/www/bejne/pInNc3ice7SGjKssi=OdoQ4IV4Pzui303x) is a favorite...might check that one out one of these days. Damien Wilson used to sing in a band called Threshold...currently sings in a band called Headspace. ☮

[@VocalCitizen]

I appreciate the info (and the link). Thank you so much for watching.

[@julianne_warren]

All the songs from Ayreon and other Dutchie A.L. projects are great. I also like the ones that have a bit of coldness in them like this song by Damian Wilson. It's hard to explain. If you are interested in the similar sound, I suggest: - the most chilling, heartbreaking and haunting duet in Ayreon "Comatose", a musical expression of two voices, first one giving into and the second one not giving into depression/hopelessness (it has even deeper meaning in the context of the story, but it can easily stand alone by itself) - dream-like beauty of "Waking Dreams" (both sang by two singers - Jonas Renkse of Katatonia - great Swedish band and the legendary Anneke Van Giersbergen) - and also "Computer Eyes" with another beautiful slide guitar and two awesome Dutch (of course! :-)) singers, that are unfortunately mostly unknown outside of Netherlands (Edward Reekers and Robert Soeterboek).

[@VocalCitizen]

I appreciate the suggestions. Thank you!!!

[@roblaw4554]

Wow, you're getting it more and more! Arjen is the epitome of a mad-scientist-genius ringleader. And, I think, the best way to become more familiar with Damian is to KEEEP WATCHING Universe and Live Beneath the Waves and especially Star One. Please keep up your sharing...

[@VocalCitizen]

I won't quit until I'm ash or I finish the journey.

[@normora5857]

I hadn't known Damian Wilson before I found Ayreon, and that was during the pandemic. What a shame... After diving into the Ayreon rabbit hole I also checked a lot of the different vocalists. I absolutely love Damians voice. So maybe try his former band Landmarq and the song Solitary Witness.

[@alexdoorn234]

I second Solitary Witness! One of my favourite songs! I was at one of his One Knight Only shows and he played Solitary Witness I was immediately captivated by the song.

[@VocalCitizen]

You absolute PEACH. Thank you.

[@VocalCitizen]

I love it. Let's go.

[@ioaKouts]

💜💜💜💜

[@VocalCitizen]

💕💕💕

[@Bonovin]

💟 Greetings from Sweden

[@VocalCitizen]

And to you... hälsningar till dig.

[@marjoleinzaagman]

💜

[@VocalCitizen]

💓

[@alexdoorn234]

Okay I am a big fan of Damian Wilson he is my absolute favourite vocalist with his soft but powerful voice. He has been involved with a lot of bands and projects here are some beautiful songs I know with him. Threshold: Clear, Forever, Eat The Unicorn, That's Why We Came I don't know if you can find any live clips and yes 3 out of those songs are from the same album, it is the album I have at home (Extinct Instinct, it is signed by Damian). Landmarq: Solitary Witness, it is all I know from Landmarq sadly. I also do not know a lot from Headspace or Arena but I know there is a great live version of Time Machine with Damian on vocals. Ayreon: The Castle Hall (Electric Castle live), River Of Time (01 live beneath the waves), Comatose (01 live beneath the waves), Twisted Coil (Electric Castle live) I have put the specific show the song is from because some have multiple versions with different vocalists. Star One: Digital Rain, Bridge Of Life, Songs Of The Ocean (star one live on earth, that is the best version of Songs Of The Ocean in my opinion.) You thought I was done? Nope he has sung on an album by fellow Ayreon guest vocalist Edward Reekers the album is called The Liberty Project songs with Damian are Never Again and Good Citizens. That is all the songs I personally have on my playlist with Damian not even everything I know, he also has some solo albums I still should check out. I have seen Damian live three times (once with Ayreon, once solo with a band and once with Edward Reekers Progproms it is funny he was the only non Dutch musician at that show.) Oh and there is also the band Headspace, I think this is enough info? Others can add onto it because I know I am leaving out a lot.

[@VocalCitizen]

I just took a screenshot of your whole comment. You're a doll. Thank you.

[@anitabons6034]

and Floor Jansen and her sister Irene Jansen sang with Ayreon many times...

[@VocalCitizen]

I've heard some... Still digging down the rabbit hole.

[@thecaptainmarko]

Im quite sure you will get a kick out of "guilt machine" live. Also with Ayreon

[@VocalCitizen]

Written down and sealed with a 💃🏼

[@dominicmain4626]

Damien was the singer on the previous ayreon you did. INTERGALACTIC SPACE CRUSADERS

[@VocalCitizen]

Yes.. he's amazing.

[@felipecampos3045]

check out waking dreams from the same show next, it is amazing, if you want more Damien listen to twisted coil from ayreon 😉

[@VocalCitizen]

I will do that. And Twisted Coil is also on my list. Thank you.😊

[@user-VeryoldGeezer]

Is he the same player on some Floor,s covers,,??😎

[@patverum9051]

Yes, "Alone"and the Disney covers...

[@VocalCitizen]

🤷🏼‍♀️

[@VocalCitizen]

I love answers.

[@R---66---R]

This is how music should always been made by everyone who claims to be making music...

[@VocalCitizen]

Control the emotion flowing through the ears and move the body and spirit in rhythm. That's what he does.

[@corneliusantonius3108]

Joost Van Den Broek

[@VocalCitizen]

🤘🏻

[@corneliusantonius3108]

Are you Single ?

[@VocalCitizen]

In perpetuity. p.s. no person ever hates that question 🌸 thx.

[@corneliusantonius3108]

@@VocalCitizen I am brunt when I like what I see

[@markclements-bs3mb]

💜

[@VocalCitizen]

💜 back atcha... 💃🏼

[@moniquedevos3519]

💜

[@VocalCitizen]

💜

[@anthonycragg451]

💜

[@VocalCitizen]

💜