AYREON - The Day That The World Breaks Down Reaction!

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[@TimoArula]

Ayreon is a musical project by Dutch songwriter, singer, musician and record producer Arjen Anthony Lucassen (Arjen, My favorite Space Hippie 🥰!!!). Ayreon's music is described as progressive rock, progressive metal and power metal sometimes combined with genres such as folk, electronica, experimental and classical music. The majority of Ayreon's albums are dubbed "rock operas" because the albums contain complex storylines featuring a host of characters, usually with each one being represented by a unique vocalist. Each Ayreon album tells a different story, but all, with the exceptions of Actual Fantasy, The Theory of Everything, and Transitus, take place in the same fictional, science fiction universe; additionally, Lucassen's solo album Lost in the New Real is also set in the Ayreon universe. Ayreon's music is characterized by the use of traditional instruments in rock music mixed with instruments more native to folk and classical music. Lucassen writes the music and the lyrics, sings and plays most of the instruments on all of the Ayreon albums, alongside many guest musicians. His most regular collaborator is drummer Ed Warby and his right hand man Sir Joost van den Broek (Yes, he is an actual knight). The binary code means "Trust TH-1" The singers in order of appearance are: James LaBrie from Dream Theater Tommy Karevik from Kamelot, Seventh Wonder Tommy Rogers from Between the Buried and Me Simone Simons from th most epic Epica Nils K. Rue from Pagan's Mind and Eidolon Tobias Sammet from Edguy and here mentioned Avantasia Hansi Kürsch the „Bard from Walhalla“ from Blind Guardian Mike Mills playing a computer and singing binary from Toehider Russell Allen from Symphony X Michael Eriksen from Circus Maximus and last but not least the incredible Valkyrie Goddess Floor Jansen from Nightwish As for what next,... Best road to take is through Ayreon Universe Live (Best of Ayreon and Star One) ! Here is the link : kzbin.info/www/bejne/noHGdX-NqLeLZpY NWSU/FloorFan/Ayreonaut/Epican 🤘😎🤘.

[@pdutchie4924]

In 2 weeks I will be attending an Ayreon live concert, can’t wait❣️

[@jasonmarshall7572]

Ayreon Everybody dies live. Thank you

[@marcusfranconium3392]

Russel allen Floor jansen ( and her sister Irene ) all have been working with Arjen Lucassen since the 90s /early 2000s . Singers like fish ( marillion ) Davy townsend , Mike Baker . , Bruce dickinson ,Dee Snider, Thijs van Leer ( vocalist /flutist keyboard player of the band Focus) . a just few who worked with arjen lucassen. Hew quite a beloved figure in the prog metal /rock scene .

[@RolandDeschain1]

The Michael Mills part is the greatest thing I have ever seen a musician do.

[@billshaffer465]

FYI - Michael Romeo has done a couple of solos for Arjen. One is in Ayreon's "Dawn Of A Million Souls" with Russell Allen on vocals. The other is on Star One's "Fate of Man" with Brittney Slayes of Unleash the Archers on vocals.

[@timmypunt3565]

Not to forget, Terminator movie theme. Same with for instance Eye of Ra (Stargate), etc.

[@evilvolts]

The 1st live star one show in 2003 had Russell Allen and Damien Wilson as the main singers with Floor and sister Irene doing backing vocals

[@EmanueleCorsi]

"Fate of Man" is inspired by Terminator story as well, just to remain on the subject 🥰

[@JanneBernards]

They performed Fate of Man live with Brittney Slayes as an encore at the Live Beneath the Waves shows in Tilburg last week. Brittney was phenomenal live. What a powerhouse singer. She did all of Floor Jansen's parts of the 01011001 album during the main show as well and completely aced it.

[@paulchapman2569]

Aryeon rarely perform live, if you get a chance watch "Into the Electric Castle " , and the second half of the concert is "And Other Tales". Plenty of Simone Simmons, Floor, Anneke van Giersbergen and Marcela Bovio, the 4 Goddess's of metal. For more Ayreon watch live, "Universe" a sort of best of Ayreon. For more Simone watch Epica, Simone dueting with Floor. Sancta Terra with full orchestra and choir

[@robertsheeler321]

The singers in order of appearance are: James LaBrie from "Dream Theater" Tommy Karevik from "Kamelot", "Seventh Wonder" Tommy Rogers from "Between the Buried and Me" Simone Simons from the most epic "Epica" Nils K. Rue from "Pagan's Mind" and "Eidolon" Tobias Sammet "Avantasia" Hansi Kürsch from "Blind Guardian" Mike Mills playing a computer and singing binary from "Toehider" Russell Allen from "Symphony X" Michael Eriksen from "Circus Maximus" and last but not least the incredible Valkyrie Goddess Floor Jansen from "Nightwish" There song "Everybody Dies" is a live performance and a must see - kzbin.info/www/bejne/b3KkiaeLmbJqrqc&pp=ygUVZXZlcnlib2R5IGRpZXMgYXlyZW9u

[@chriso6719]

Ayreon is a prog rock/metal opera project of Dutch musician Arjen Anthony Lucassen (the tall hippie dude, lol). He writes the songs and invites guest singers and musicians to perform. It's mostly a studio project , they have done a few live shows, with another scheduled for next month. He writes concept albums, telling the story across multiple records. This is from the 2017 album, The Source, and is the first chronologically in the story arc. Each singer plays a different character. mike Mills character is a machine, the binary he sings translates to Trust Th-1, Th for his band Toehider. One of the people that works with Arjen often is Sir Joost van den Broek, a musician and producer himself. He was the keyboardist in After Forever (04-09) with Floor, played with and produced ReVamp(Floor's band before Nightwish), and has produced the last 3 EPICA albums just to name a few. He does a lot of work on the live Ayreon shows too. Images and Words is what got me into Dream Theater too, still my favorite of their albums. The 11 vocalists in this are: James LaBrie (Dream Theater) as The Historian Tommy Karevik (Kamelot, Seventh Wonder) as The Opposition Leader Tommy Rogers (Between the Buried and Me) as The Chemist Simone Simons (Epica) as The Counselor Nils K. Rue (Pagan's Mind) as The Prophet Tobias Sammet (Edguy, Avantasia) as The Captain Hansi Kürsch (Blind Guardian) as The Astronomer Mike Mills (Toehider) as TH-1 Russell Allen (Symphony X) as The President Michael Eriksen (Circus Maximus) as The Diplomat Floor Jansen (Nightwish, ex-After Forever, ex-ReVamp) as The Biologist For more Ayreon, try one of the live performance from the Ayreon Universe concert- Everybody Dies, Star of Sirrah, Valley of the Queens, Intergallactic Space Crusaders, or the show closer Eye of Ra with all 16 singers on stage. This show is pretty much a best of Ayreon and another of Arjen's projects ,Star One.

[@chriso6719]

Everybody Dies from the Ayreon Universe concert. kzbin.info/www/bejne/b3KkiaeLmbJqrqcsi=JucnCsojsvQJ1lrQ

[@clivematthews5296]

Well worth listening to some of Arjen Anthony Lucassen's Ayreon or Star One concert songs. Many are based on various Sci Fi films including Stargate, Terminator etc. An early Star One live concert in 2003 features only Floor and her sister Irene on female vocals plus a few great male singers. Later concerts feature several other male and female singers too. Try maybe The Eye of Ra for several singers !!

[@deborahfoster5520]

Another great song by Ayreon is “Everybody Dies”!

You might enjoy the Ayreon Universe live show from 2017. It was the first live concert after 22 years and is a best-of show with songs from man albums. The live band is amazing, there are a total of 16 singers featured and everyone is having a lot of fun on stage. Here is the link to the playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PLJGn3wi7b7b606GfoKAdOgm6rtX9OliRc&si=3Nbsbar9i8Uan4ss If you go through it in order, the name of every new singer is shown on the video wall. One of the backing vocalists is Floor's sister Irene. And if you had a look at Floor's band before Nightwish (After Forever, I assume), you have seen Joost before. He was the keyboard player for them, too. And is the current producer of a lot of european metal bands, including Epica, Ayreon, Blind Guardian and others.

[@Pit_Wizard]

Ayreon is like the Avengers of prog/power/symphonic metal. It's like Arjen is friends with everyone 😂 it's wild how he not only writes for all these guest musicans, but COORDINATES them as well!

[@reactionsaccount3955]

Musical tastes are weird, as I am a huge fan of Ayreon and Nightwish, but never been one of Dream Theatre or DragonForce. To me Ayreon and Nightwish are all about what the song calls for, what the song needs with no ego and DT or DF are all about the virtuosity and showing off, which does not appeal to me. I am not a trained musician though, so that may explain some of it. Here is a list of the composer and singers in order of appearance: Arjen Lucassen - Composer - Dutch singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist musician and record producer best known for his long-running progressive metal/rock opera project Ayreon. James Labrie - Lead singer for Dream Theater. Tommy Karevik - Lead singer of Kamelot and Seventh Wonder. Tommy Rodgers - Lead singer of Between the Buried and Me. Simone Simons - Lead singer of Epica. Nils K. Rue - Lead singer of Pagan's Mind and also worked with Eidolon. Tobias Sammet - Lead singer of Edguy & Avantasia. Hansi Kürsch - Lead singer of Blind Guardian and Demons & Wizards. Mike Mills - Multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and main songwriter for Toehider. Russell Allen - Lead singer of Symphony X and Allen/Lande. Michael Eriksen - Lead singer of Circus Maximus. Floor Jansen - Lead singer of After Forever, ReVamp & now Nightwish. Instrumentalists Joost van den Broek (ex-After Forever) - grand piano and electric piano Maaike Peterse (Kingfisher Sky) - cello Ed Warby - drums Ben Mathot - violin Jeroen Goossens (ex-Pater Moeskroen) - flute, wind instruments Arjen Anthony Lucassen - electric and acoustic guitars, all other instruments (composer) Next I would suggest reacting to the performances at Ayreon Universe concert, especially the following Intergalactic Space Crusaders, River of Time, Merlin's Will, Valley of the Queens, Ride the Comet, Star of Sirrah, And the Druids Turn to Stone, Age of Shadows & Everybody Dies.

[@black4pienus]

This is just a very fun one in every way. And Arjen is such a good egg. If you contact Arjen Antony Lucassen, I bet he'd do an interview with you. He has done interviews with some reaction channels before.

[@rnowak85]

Enjoyed your reaction. Ayreon is one of many musical projects by Dutch composer and musician Arjen Lucassen. Their albums are prog rock operas mostly written to the an over arching backstory of how humans came to be on Earth. Arjen is highly respected in the European rock/metal scene and being asked to sing/play on one of his projects is a huge honor. Given the large ensembles they rarely play live. They will be holding their third concert next month in the Netherlands. You should checkout something live from either the Universe or the Into the Electric Castle live shows. I would recommend Intergalactic Space Crusaders or Everybody dies from Universe or Amazing Flight from Into the Electric Castle. Since you love Floor and Russell you should checkout their duet from her band Revamp, Sweet Curse, from their first album. It is my all time favorite song across all her bands and guest spots that Floor sings. Russell is on the album version, kzbin.info/www/bejne/o4GTeoqFjJiehZYsi=yx2n9Tyc77qHMu19,and their are a few fan videos of them singing together at the CD release party, kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZ7cp6Nvadutmqcsi=OAguHp3-7im2S_-H. Russell has also been involved with a project with Nightwish's second singer Annette Olzen called Allen and Olzen. Checkout their song All Alone. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZpDdYaV5ftuNoLcsi=lyeEYn84MyigQliI. Annette's voice has matured and improved since leaving Nightwish. Also highly recommend another Arjen project Star One. Michael Romeo has done a guest solo on the recent Star One album on the song Fate of Man which also features Brittney Slayes of Unleash the Archers on vocals. Star One songs are inspired by sci fi movies or tv shows. Fate of Man is inspired by the Terminator movies and the music video has a very cool effect of appearing as though your are a terminator.

[@JanJvG]

"Everybody dies" is a nice next step. And another of my favorites is "Twisted Coil" both are live versions.

[@pekkakarppinen1608]

This is a true Masterpiece! Excellent casting of singers, and then there's Floor 💗👸. And the genius behind all of this is "The Tall Hippie Dude", Arjen Anthony Lucassen, the tallest known rock musician (203 cm). 😎👍

[@martinklaus2203]

If someone hasn't mentioned it yet, or translated it....the binary code spelled out Trust TH-1....the character (computer) that Michael Mills portrays. If you want to see Michael Mills at the top of his game, watch the Ayreon song performed live, Everybody Dies.

[@roykliffen9674]

Arjen already had Michael Mills in mind when he named the character; TH refer's to Michael Mills project "Toehider"

[@normora5857]

Arjen Lucassen, the man behind Ayreon (and other projects) is the composer of this amazing music. He has mastered the forgotten art of writing concept albums, thus creating his own Ayreon Universe, as the storyline expands across almost all albums. The vocalists are always the best of the best and also lead singers of their own bands. I recommend the song Amazing Flight from the Electric Castle live show or Into the black Hole (lyric vid) feat. Bruce Dickinson. Of course, to get the whole experience it would be best to listen to the albums in the correct order.

[@shoemaker688]

Nice reaction my friend. I'm not gonna tell to like this or that and you are for sure making up your own mind. Like that, but there's a giant rabbit hole here. The concerts by Ayreon are amazing. You might like to check something out. Keep digging and rock on.

[@fabrizio_prina]

This is an absolute masterpiece and Arjen is a musical genius and the guitar player in this song !! 🤟 New subscriber here 😉Greets from Nightwish Army Italian DIvision

[@calanor4130]

Wohoo, a reactor who actually picked up the Giger vibe! 👍It was the first that came to my mind when I saw the images, but I don't think I've seen any reactor comment on it. And you mentioned Saga, too - I feel that's unusual nowadays. Thanks for another great reaction/analysis!

[@YesYouCANPlayGuitar]

Hey! Thank you for the support, make sure to check out the Reading Your Comments video coming soon!

[@alancarter41]

Don't worry about stopping, it is after all a reaction. For those who want to listen to the song uninterrupted they should just listen to the original. Most of us are watching to see what you think so stop whenever necessary. BTW, great reaction, Ayreon is a huge rabbit hole. And if you love Michael Romeo, I second the suggestion that you listen to "Fate of Man" (bonus, it is about the Terminator) by Star One featuring Michael Romeo and Brittney Slays. Lots of amazing guitar riffs.

[@richardhall6034]

Hi from the UK 👋 🇬🇧 Ayreon is fantastic live you won't regret checking them out live Ayreon universe everybody dies live Ayreon universe intergalactic space crusaders live ( this song is a homage to the British sifi series blakes 7 from the 1980s Ayreon universe the eye of Ra live ( a tribute to the film 🎥 stargate) Ayreon universe the age of shadows live Enjoy 😊

[@johnhitchens2265]

I saw Saga in concert in the 80's - they were fantastic

[@JanneBernards]

There is an amazing Romeo solo on the Ayreon track Dawn of a Million Souls which is also sung by Russel Allen. There is a "lyric video" of the re-released version on Arjen Lucassen's KZbin channel.

[@trinadawn4166]

This is a great introduction to Ayreon by Arjen

[@roblaw4554]

Nice job dude, enjoyed. As for Ayreon, I suggest ABSOLUTELY anything from Universe to start. Great mix of styles and genres, a ridiculous wealth of talent on stage, and one of those rare opportunities to see long-term fans Finally seeing their hero's product live. Just dive in, recreationaly or for content, and freaking enjoy! Cheers rl 🤘👹🤘

[@judedornisch4946]

Arjen really likes to make his influences explicit in a very respectful way. Pink Beatles in a Purple Zeppelin did a whole era.

[@senacht]

This is a who’s who of top euro metal vocalists. And Arjen’s solo towards the end has one of the smoothest dismounts you’ll ever hear by anyone coming off their guitar solo. And yes, Dingwall basses are made in Canada!

[@dropshot1967]

Arjen Lucassen has other projects too. One of them is Star One. I am fairly sure you will like the latest Star One album, called "Revel in time" The songs are stand-alone and themed after different sci-fi movies that have some kind of time travel in it. Many different singers and musicians among which Britney Slayes and Michael Romeo in "Fate of man" (Terminator), Roy Khan and Tony Martin sing in "Lost Children of the Universe, with a guitar solo by Steve Vai, Ross Jennings and Michael Mills (binary man) in "prescient", Russel Allen in "28 days" and many others

[@kimfabritiusdetengnagel2038]

If you are such a big fan of Russell Allen, you should try to look into the duets Russell and Floor has done!!! (eg Sweet Curse & Phantom of the Opera) You might be surprised (some of us die hard fans with knowledge of their previous work, hoped that Russell would step in when Marko left Nightwish. Russell and Floor are exceptional together - and their chemistry are great. They go back a long time - I think they met through Arjen Lucassen (Ayreon), who have been working with Floor since 2000!! Arjen has been working with over 120 of the best musicians and singers from all over the world during the years.. Great reaction from you 👍

[@eckligt]

The other woman featured in this video is Simone Simons, the singer from Epica. Could you maybe do an analysis of some of their material? I'm gonna suggest one of their songs that includes a gutiar solo, namely Beyond The Matrix. The band actually published a new live version of that song on their own youtube channel just yesterday, so that would be my suggestion.

[@monicacarolina6480]

Thank you sir. Proud Dutchie here with all the Dutch muciscians on flute, cello, violin and piano. Ofcourse also Floor and Simone, our Dutch Metal Godesses. The other singers are freaking good too wow wow wow. ❤

[@evilvolts]

well also Simone Simon was in this video also she fronts the symphonic metal band Epica and is great friends with Floor

[@pauld6222]

Great reaction. I looked up your Saga reaction and gave that one a like too. Saga was a very good band back in the day! I never got to see them live, but watching the video you posted, Michael Sadler still has an amazing voice!

[@42earthling]

Though it is part of the album Transitus, i think you wil like this. Ayreon - Get Out! Now! (feat. Dee Snider, Tommy Karevik & Joe Satriani)

[@evilvolts]

Aryeon albums usually are like metal operas

[@peterang6912]

Hi from Amsterdam NL, if you watch closely you can say that Tommy Karevik sings with his hands in this video....

[@Tarkus_]

Been looking forward to this one. I've watched this video many times, and it never gets old. They don't perform live often (because of the obvious logistical issues), but when they do, it's awesome. I would like to see you check out "The Eye of Ra," which features Floor and her sister, Irene (as well as many, many other talents): kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZXGgGOJmM6Hi7ssi=Jnq7mxqIQOXh_AL9

[@jws6181]

a other project from Arjen is Star-one...Fait of Man is great, you like it...greets from the Netherlands👍🤘

[@erwinamesz7642]

Saga is great!!!!!!! But, Ayreon is a true rabbithole. You will hear so different styles, different singers etc etc. it's like a Space Metal Opera!

[@evergreendorneymahoning5435]

I saw Russell Allen live with Trans Siberian Orchestra this past November and he was fabulous!!

[@cheetor1010]

Theres a great interview with Arjen on The Charismatic Voice. The most interesting take away from that interview that i can remember is that Arjen does not believe himself to be a talented musician. He just feels that he understands how an instrument should sound on a track, and with trial and error and cooperation with other musicians, he can get the sound he wants. As other put though, he did do all of the guitars, synths, and organ for this track. He's wearing different clothes in each shot, as this video probably took a bit to fully make, but if you pay attention its all him.

[@majbrat]

Such an amazing gathering of awesome talent. Maybe next Everybody Dies live performance. Very cool. Arjen is very talented; he has been doing this type of thing for years. He first recorded with Floor when she was 16. Can you imagine the cluster F of legal b.s. if they tried to do something like this in North America. 😂

[@TheCyberMantis]

I've been into Symphony-X since 1995. Around the same time I also discovered Angra. Romeo has been my favorite guitar player for a long time. He is the best in this genre. "The Trooch" from DT is a wizard. Lots of top-tier players out there now. Before Symphony-X, Iron Maiden was my favorite. And now... I see the future belongs to LOVEBITES. Since you are Canadian, did you ever get into Annihilator? Jeff Waters is a riff machine.

[@fenrir6721]

Old Annihilator drummer Randy Black is on my personal top 5 list of drummers.

[@YesYouCANPlayGuitar]

More on Jeff Waters in my reading your comments video that I'm recording now and posting in the next few days...

[@obud3777]

Next Ayreon song: “Everybody Dies” Live! 🤘

[@Thorgrim247]

If you are a romeo fan, you should check out another project from Arjen Lucassen. He has a recent record called "Revel in Time" under the name Star One. Each song on this record is inspired by a movie about time travel. See if you can guess which movie influenced this song. I think you will love this one. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJ-agWali7Khr9U - Star One - Fate of Man (Brittney Slayes, Michael Romeo)

[@AntonNidhoggr]

Arjen is a genius. I love all his works. Btw I agree with you on Michael Romeo. I was blown away both by his technique and his style when I first heard Symphony X. And if I’m not mistaken he is also the main composer in the band. One of the best most technical guitarists for sure. I share your thoughts on Terminator 1 vs 2 too 😅

[@YesYouCANPlayGuitar]

Lol, thanks Anton! :)

[@Starman_67]

Love that we share musical interests. I'm more a Dream Theatre fan than Symphony X, though I really do love SX. I only have Paradise Lost. Want more. Where do you suggest I go next? 🤘😎🤘

[@basicguy5785]

Some suggestions from "The Electric Castle and other tales concert" - Amazing flight - Isis and Osiris - Garden of emotions Or you could simply pick a random song from the concert. They are all great.

[@Haukevind]

There are too many great songs by Ayreon to consider. One of the cuts that has flown a little bit under the radar is called "Into the Black Hole", where a certain Bruce Dickinson handles the lead vocals on the studio version of the track. And I believe both Floor and her sister are doing backing vocals for both the studio version and an older live version of the song that is out on KZbin.

[@roykliffen9674]

Ayreon is the name of a Rock Opera project of Arjen Anthony Lucassen telling over several albums a single Dystopian SciFi story with "The Source" actually being a prequel to previous albums. Another project of his is "Star One" which is a collection of songs each based on a SciFi movie. As you like guitars "Lost Children of the Universe" might be a song for you. It's based on the movie "Interstellar" and features Roy Khan and Tony Martin as main vocalists and has a great guitar solo by Steve Vai. ( kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHKnh2qEjqmZh9Usi=G7Gi4lbcm6U1n3T_ ) Another "Star One" song is based on "Terminator" and is called "Fate of Man" and features Brittney Slayes and Michael Romeo as vocalists ( kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJ-agWali7Khr9Usi=e4mpw5TSYj0vVcxs ) Finally I'll include "Prescient" featuring Michael Mills (the binary harmony guy you've just seen) and Ross Jennings simply for its prog metal weirdness. ( kzbin.info/www/bejne/fJeXlXmwgr2Mqa8si=sl19gPu8nzEDU643 ) [edit] Looking through the comments I've seen "Fate of Man" mentioned quit often and so many other great songs you'll be set for months. Arjen Lucassen has a build a great library of interesting music and there seems not to be a bad song within it. Sure, there are songs I don't really like, but that doesn't make the song bad; it's a question of taste. Plenty of Frank Zappa music I don't like, but I sure recognize the brilliance of it.

[@beldin2987]

Interesting, i also was a great fan of Yes, Genesis, Marillion, Renaissance and that stuff, and also really liked Saga. Have 3 albums from them i think. I also really loved the cover from "Images at Twilight". Dream Theater, i was never that much into them, but i really loved the "Metropolis, Scenes from a Memory" because it had for me such a big Pink Floyd feeling. Especially the song "The Spirit Carries On" Then in the 90s i listened to quite a lot different stuff, but at some point i also came back to Ritchie Blackmore with Blackmores Night .. and then somewhere in the late 90s suddenly Nightwish and Within Temptation came up. Then Edenbridge (very underrated band), Epica, Xandria, Visions of Atlantis .. and all that stuff. So in the end i went from symphonic rock to symphonic metal. Some just called it prog .. whatever ..

[@YesYouCANPlayGuitar]

Great post! :)

[@Beatz-he5xe]

This project rules. And btw Symphony X rulessssssssss!!!

[@Chris_Blackstock_Music]

I really enjoy a female rock/metal singer much better. Great reaction vid my friend.

[@erikmaronde2244]

I love Saga, too!

[@sopwithsnoopy8779]

Since you've mentioned you are/were big into Dream Theater, and then Symphony X, have you heard the German prog metal band Vanden Plas? Vanden Plas isnt as 'shreddy' as either Dream Theater or Symphony X, but they can shred. Either check out the official video to 'Stone Roses Edge' or any of their official live videos, 2 from ProgPower 2010, and 2 from their latest dvd. Vanden Plas have been around for years. There is a video from 1986 where they sound like 80s Europe 😊 and another video from 1988. They didnt release their debut album until 1994 though, after hearibg Dream Theater and then heading in a prog metal direction.

[@SergioSBloch]

Back in 85 Both Saga and Asia were touring around the same time and I only had enough money to see one of them... I saw Saga with Aldo Nova opening up - for some extra Canadian Content!! It was a great show - Saga was very underated in North America but they were huge in Europe - never got the success they deserved on home soil.

[@YesYouCANPlayGuitar]

Great post Sergio and I agree about Saga, please check out my reaction video to them, and make sure to watch the reading your comments video coming this week!

[@peterkeijsers489]

Well then, check this out: Arjen Lucassen (the brain behind Ayreon) actually was about to collaborate with Bruce Dickenson at the beginning of this project, years ago. But then Arjen dropped some bits and pieces from recordings they'd already done, and Dickenson's manager then had Dickenson withdraw from the project. This made Arjen decide to continue solo, with help from several other musicians and singers - which is now his trademark. And only now, this year 2023, Dickenson actually asked Arjen to rekindle that collaboration they wanted to start together 25-30 years ago! Meanwhile, Arjen can actually choose his collaborations from a rolodex filled with the biggest names in metal, hardrock, prog rock, etc. He even had Steve Vai play a 3-minute solo in a song for Star One - another project of his! And Arjen was the one who discovered Floor Jansen back in the day! Where Tuomas Holopainen (Nightwish) now has the nickname Metal Mozart, Arjen Lucassen has earned the nickname of Prog Rock Beethoven.

[@JanneBernards]

Ayreon was never planned to start out as a project with Bruce. Arjen had already released 3 albums under the Ayreon name before they ever met. The idea to start a project together came after Bruce sang on the 4th (or 5th depending on how you count them) Ayreon album Flight of the Migrator in 2000.

[@Mars-is4un]

🤗🍒🤘🏻 well done Yes!

[@MrWo-qj2yh]

if you like the first terminator movie do fate of man with michael romeo and Brittney Slayes from Star one (ayreon) or lost childeren of the Universe with Steve Vai,roy khan and Tony Martin also Star one

[@tomnagel5769]

Dude you need to check out EPICA pure symphonic metal you will love it

[@trinadawn4166]

Ill check out saga :) , i was a huge rush fan in the 80s

[@YesYouCANPlayGuitar]

Make sure to let me know what you think! :) Start with On The Loose or Wind Him Up!

[@trinadawn4166]

​@YesYouCANPlayGuitar as soon as I started playing on the loose I knew the song. Never knew the artist name. Reminds me of band Lover boy boo opened for many bands I saw like journey, thr who, rush.

[@metalviking6476]

You should make a reaction video on this band. If i remember right, it is a member from Symphony X here. One hell of guitarrists is it. I guess you have heard the band Racer X? ETERNITY'S END - HOUNDS OF TINDALOS kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpu4oaN4lLRkerc

[@trinadawn4166]

Stop all you like weve all heard this And if not can go listen ourselves if so inclined

[@tomaszzaraza9971]

why 'female fronted'? does she not rival Dickinson himself? and how great was Tommy from Kamelot?

[@Katharating]

influences … Uriah Heep sound likish, too ;)

[@paulriddle7818]

Queensryche is the first prog metal band and still the best classic prog band but i also love DT. I guess you arent familiar with most of these people.

[@YesYouCANPlayGuitar]

Unlike most people who love the Operation Mindcrime album, I always loved the EMPIRE album :)

[@jimGotland]

Who are you reaction to?

[@YesYouCANPlayGuitar]

I'm not really sure.... sometimes my own shadow... it's weird