John Petrucci Melts My Face CLEAN OFF

[@garrettm1813]

"I get it, I get, okay. But you're also wrong. Like... and you know that too." might be the most relatable thing you've ever said. LOL. Love it Michael.

[@ConnorHammond]

My thoughts on anyone who says Petrucci is just an arpeggio machine.

[@johntnguyen1976]

I WAS THERE! I'm not kidding...there were people in tears. As blazingly amazing as his crazy stuff is...Petrucci puts a gargantuan amount of feeling and soul into his playing.

[@weefek]

That must be such a great memory. I was there for the 20th anniversary Metropolis pt2 which was incredible

[@hayalaln2302]

I would’ve definitely been in tears

[@ctcm]

I believe you. I remember vividly listening to this solo for the first time. For some reason I had forgotten about this release and bought the 3 CD album in August 2005. I was 20 at that time and had just put my headphones to sleep. The concert was going great until Hollow Years. Once the solo hit, I couldn't stop crying. It's the only time something like that has happened to me. This is probably my favorite solo of all time.

[@hiruzenshin8679]

always gets me every time i watch this live. There is this finest and miracle that mesmerized my emotions.

[@weefek]

lucky bastard, i would kill to be there then. I got lucky and attended the 20th anniversary tour of metropolis pt 2 and it was pretty fucking great.

[@lucenarennan]

What amazes me the most is that it's freaking technical, it's freaking fast and yet it is so melodic and soulful. JP is on another level of guitar playing. It's shockingly good.

[@JonClemence]

I agree. I'm not into technical for technical's sake, but to be so technical and still so musical...wow.

[@Reaper_Edge]

the technique in service of the melody and emotions

[@Lola_Santoro]

Right! I'm watching this and the first thing I can think of is - this is a guy who REALLY knows the guitar!

[@weefek]

he's not called Guitar Jesus for no reason. He is literally Guitar Jesus.

[@dreadbull5039]

JP is the complete package. One of the best to ever do it

[@markst.martinii9635]

This is why John Petrucci will always be my favorite guitarist of all time. He is just seriously unbelievable. Great video

[@paulventura9939]

I admire your candor, Michael: “ah, I can’t do it.” For an excellent guitarist like you to recognize another’s talent like JP’s is rare. Kudos to you.

[@garysanders3193]

Dream Theater made everyone step up their game! I have been playing bass for 30 years and I still have no idea what Myung is doing most of the time. I catch riffs here and there, but that is about it. Thanks for showing this!

[@Chris_Nouvelli]

When Live at Budokan came out on DVD, I asked my girlfriend at the time to watch Hollow Years with me as I couldn’t get over this solo. It was at that moment I realised I love John Petrucci. I don’t remember her leaving. I just kept shredding.

[@markuslarsson81]

Haha in my mind I just read "It was at that moment I realised I love John Petrucci more than my girlfriend.." 🙂.

[@Chris_Nouvelli]

@@markuslarsson81😂😂 Could’ve been a Freudian slip!

[@erikrevier4053]

This solo gets me every time, not originally on the record either, he started improvising this during the tour which culminated to this performs for the Budokan DVD. This DVD of theirs is probably the greatest live show DVD i've ever seen, this song, Beyond this Life with the improve middle section, In the Name of God with the added outro solo, Instrumedley?!?!?!, it's just absolutely incredible. It's been inspiring me for years. And now I have the joy of introducing it to my kids. Life is good. Cheers brother.

[@matthewdrews]

I watch Instrumedley every once in a while and just laugh at my instruments

[@Schmorgasblab]

Yeah when this DVD came out it rocked my understanding of what I thought was possible. I think this recording and the train of thought record just made me a MEGA dream theater fan almost overnight.

[@chrislandrum62]

Lol love it. John is the man. Super nice humble guy too. He'll take time to talk to anyone.

[@RogueA.I.]

Man, this is so true. He’s so awesome to meet in person.

[@Ghozt.141tf]

They don't call it a guitar god for nothing 😂 he's on a Divine level

[@justinfalzon1613]

Sure, there are a million G3 shredders out there who can play as fast or faster. But something about JPs phrasing, tone, feel etc. has always elevated him above the rest for me.

[@koleratliff4527]

toan is in the JP

[@J-Allen19]

Also the fact that he plays in the band he does, they play the long tours they do, and the shows are long. JP has endurance.

[@justinfalzon1613]

@@J-Allen19 100%. They've been touring 3 hour shows and releasing massive albums non-stop for over 30 years. Truly incredible.

[@MusicFan1967]

He’s the reason the rest that came after him can even do what they do. (.)

[@samnmaxforever]

Next Time, "lines on the Sand solo" 😉 such soulful one as well

[@zefarmer]

Watching these guys live, playing at this level for three hours straight was one of the highest musical blessings of my lifetime

[@cbeaumont0011]

“Try it… for 22 years… then tell me if you even get close!” 😂

[@LifeHawkeye]

Thanks for doing this video. Petrucci has been amongst my favorite all time guitarists for about 30 years now. He is one of the only virtuoso guitarists that hasn’t seemed to lose technique and playing ability as he’s aged. I’m not sure what’s happened to some other of his guitar peers (I won’t name names) but they seem to regress in their playing after they get into their 40’s, 50’s and beyond. Not Petrucci. He remains a standard for metal guitarists to this day.

[@KilroyKilroy-t6e]

J.P has it all. People say he has no feel. I think he's probably the most complete Guitar player he has all the skill not to mention he's humble as hell about it.

[@silverspork86]

People who say he has no feel are jealous of him, like boomer blues guys lol. Blues is boring af to me.

[@DanielBobke]

John Petrucci is a legend. You can't watch him play and not have your jaw drop open. He is my absolute favorite player - technical skill, tone, style, emotion, and raw power. They DEFINE and OWN the progressive metal genre. I have been seeing him live for almost 20 years and he gets better every time - it is incredible. Thanks for your professional perspective on his greatness.

[@jameslane9537]

First, and most importantly, your twisted guitar strap is driving me nuts. :P At 1:20, I loved how he seamlessly went from Santana to Yngwie. I get so weary of the "hE's gOt nO sOuL!!!" people. Petrucci crafts some incredible melodic moments. "At Wits End", The Best of Times", "Octavarium" and this are examples of how he can be melodic and "shreddy", sometimes simultaneously. The guy is just a straight up monster player.

[@eskilseter]

"That's some serious top of the mountain, legendary [...]" And this was 20 years ago, and he ain't been slowing down!

[@scottcampbell8841]

Huge DT and guitar virtuoso fan here.. I have never seen a solo with a better combination of speed, musicality/feel and precision as this one. Staggering really.

[@marvinzimmermann_]

John Petrucci has so much emotion in his playing. 🥹

[@ryant3600]

Next to Dave's solo on comfortably numb from the Pulse live dvd/cd This is my second favorite of all time. I got spinal meningitis it was pretty bad I was in ICU for nearly a week. Anyway, as a welcome home present my wife got me this dvd. I remember by the time I could actually watch tv without getting sick, I put it in, and when he got to the part where you said, "That was shockingly clean, even for john" that's why I started to tear up. When he hits the melodic part after that going up the scale, I remember i had tears just running down my cheeks. I don't recall ever hearing a blistering shred fest of a solo have this kind of emotion coming out of it. incredible. . That's when you know it's a great solo. When the emotion in it can bring a pretty manly man to tears.. Thanks for reviewing this. Thing is, is the song is what builds up to the emotion to that solo.. just hearing the solo is good, but the song is what helps make it great.

[@plectrumura]

Dude I absolutely agree. Comfortably numb pulse solo is the greatest piece of music ever recorded.

[@JasonD0550]

(Whispers)"Spec-f*cking-tacular" Classic

[@GabeSegura801]

So bummed you didn't watch the begining solo... It's so good

[@robbiegarnz7732]

What makes it so tough is the seamless transition between positions and the flawless string hopping. Few players can do this.. it’s like he’s playing with a bow instead of a pick.

[@jeemtheater]

Your reaction facial expression progression is more impressive than any chord/solo progression John Petrucci can ever come up with! Great video!

[@danielthornton9876]

Holy smokes, that oh yeah opening lick was so smooth!! Thank you for keeping the dream alive❤

[@jonbigg7385]

After a 15 year hiatus from playing guitar this was the guy that I found my inspiration from after getting back into it around 2006. He's just so damn good!

[@alexandermonahan6446]

This solo was my introduction to John Petrucci. 4 years later and he is my favorite guitarist.

[@dancrunk1063]

What's this song called bruv?

[@EraAnibra]

@@dancrunk1063hollow years

[@A_WaLLinger]

I have waited for more than a decade for someone to react to this masterpiece.

[@deadewok02]

i will forever LOVE JP solos. the tech is there...but it's so musical. i am so glad i got to catch a G3 tour back when i lived in myrtle beach. John's set was absolutely mindblowing. i am SO stoked to hear their new stuff with Mike back in the band again.

[@Cmoore718]

John will always be my favourite. All the other guitar greats are great. But John has speed, precision, bluesy licks, everything. I dont believe there isn't a genre he can't absolutely crush

[@BaconIsNotBiceps]

Been watching these dudes for over four decades and am always blown away by the musicality. It's ridiculous.

[@NovembersDooom]

I don't care what anyone says. This is the best live guitar solo ever performed. I dare someone to show me better. He will always be the goat in my eyes.

[@juanonthemove]

Derek trucks - midnight in Harlem Ariel Posen guitar color on that live video lol

[@berniegus]

Many of SRV's solos. Show me anyone who has it flow out them like Stevie.

[@KingXanadu]

Stop thinking of music in terms of "best." We all have our favorites , but it's not a competition

[@umineacra8294]

Shawn Lane Paul Gillbert let it be.

[@smudge1619]

"he will always be the goat in my eyes" That is why you fail. There are many, many, many superior live solos to this.

[@TrueVanguardhasterribletakes]

JP is the perfect blend of technicality, writing, and feel. He's my favorite of all time.

[@carlosnascimento9269]

Easily my favorite guitarist. Love him so much.

[@robvanhalen9696]

Used to play that version of the song, including the solo, many years ago and it's very challenging just speed-wise. But it's a great way to learn scales since this is exactly that at lightning speed all over the fretboard. It really helps to slow it down and see what exactly he's doing. Even if I couldn't come anywhere close to JP's performance here, it was enough to wow the crowd and a great learning experience for me.

[@zachbailey5260]

Petrucci is just a cybernetic freak of nature, man. All we can do is bow down and appreciate his greatness while he's making music. He's just on another level.

[@RobertEMuir]

I had that concert on DVD, it was epic. And there were multiple moments like that.

[@monaroq1]

I would happily spend my time watching your face reacting to JP, it would never get old. Thanks so much.

[@silverspork86]

Best living guitarist imo. He's been number one for me ever since I was using his rock discipline vhs tapes as a teen.

[@SamuraiFingers]

For me this was the PEAK of DT's live performance prowess. Everything came together SO RIGHT on the Train of Thought Tour. I saw them front row in Toronto on this tour and it's was absolutely STUNNING. You can actually see a variation of this solo from that night on the internet. Look up Dream Theater - Hollow Years (Live in Toronto 2004) You can actually see me and my brother front row (stage left, right in front of John) - my brother is the kid with the long hair that brought his drumsticks and air drummed along with Mike ALLLLLL night. Anyway - My point in saying that is this was not "off the dome" (or off the top) as they say. Petrucci wrote/worked this out every night of the tour and perfected, and perfected and perfected until you get his absolutely BEAST of a live version. You also can see his hands quite clearly in that version to work out what he's playing! ;) That doesn't take away the prowess and the power...but it does give us mortals a "glimpse" of hope? (maybe?)

[@KT-rx8ux]

Love Petrucci and Dream Theater ❤️🥳

[@CharlestonMolina]

This solo worth all the concert. Tears drop to my eyes....beautiful ever

[@mirkecWii]

THE BEST. EVER.

[@coachalramly6659]

John petrucci is collected all things that guitar and music needed ❤❤❤❤❤

[@agnosandre]

This is the best live solo of all time for me!!

[@lukestates1382]

iv never replayed solos more by anyone else, absolutely fantastic

[@jared8324]

John put more feeling in that shred than any blues guitarist I’ve ever heard

[@los_blancos4499]

Have you heard Gary Moore?

[@jared8324]

Ok you may have one there ha but Gary Moore couldn’t shred near to the level of this, but yes Gary was a feeeeeeling guy so much pain there

[@los_blancos4499]

@@jared8324 Yeah of course be can't shred quite like Petrucci but he's no slouch, he's still a monster on the instrument

[@weets69]

Oh my. That speed and so clean with a cleanish tone, man.

[@jonbigg7385]

I also have to thank you Michael. In recent months you've reacted to my my 3 favorite musicians...JP, Mark Tremonti and Myles Kennedy. Thank you brother!

[@bonniemiller4041]

Beautiful!

[@Kipex]

Bought the Budokan dvd as a blind purchase around 2005, not really knowing anything about Dream Theater. JP's playing on the DVD and on this track and solo in particular, opened my eyes and DT became my favorite band since. This is that one solo I always go back to. It has it all and it's largely improvised and extended over the original much shorter acoustic solo.

[@DSephi]

I really enjoyed your video. I love JP ❤

[@jima6545]

Acid Rain-Live in LA is my favorite Petrucci's solos

[@randyhenderson6166]

I love that one, too. Also check out his solo from Lines in the Sand from Bucharest in 2002

[@TinkMcGathy]

Been watching and subbed for a while. I always enjoy your videos but I don’t think I’ve told you that enough. John P is one of my favorites so this video hits home for me.

[@anggiesurya7377]

"Ouuww shitt, one more time 🙂" It makes me laugh 🤣

[@alucard0712]

I love that one guitarist can apriciate another with open mind, without judging!!

[@bryancabrera876]

Petrucci is a BEAST! No matter what anyone says. Guitar legend

[@billwell9266]

seen Dream Theater live 5 times with 3 of those times being in first few rows. It is so cool to be that close and just watch them play.

[@Capykiller]

My favourite DT solo. Technically and melodicwise. The reason why I also adore Symphony X.

[@yuualex0812]

I was in this Budokan that day. I cried for the first time when I listened to the guitar solo. It's so technical, but it's so emotional!

[@HangDh]

This is my most favourite solo ever. Had listened to it a hundreds of times and it was this one which made me pick up guitar again after selling my bass some years ago ;)

[@frantic299]

I remember when this came out watching this with my brother and us just looking at each other laughing the whole time.

[@matthewdrews]

I'll recommend Breaking All Illusions solo from them. Super bluesy, super clean solo that might not be the same blistering speed, but still delivers a fantastic ending.

[@tr-austin]

There is no 'best' in guitar playing. Having said that, John Petrucci is the best. 🎸

[@martyayy]

If you think he’s the best you are totally correct 👍

[@YEM_]

JP jazz III guitar picks are great. Only pick I use.

[@matthewarms3786]

Is this solo overwrought and wankalicious, yes. Is it still tasty, organic, completely in the pocket, and meshes perfectly to the melancholy vibe of the song, yes. I'd normally say bursts of 32nd note arpeggios and scale runs over the whole neck have no place in a ballad, but when you're Petrucci, it's Tuesday.

[@davidgroll-cook7125]

The whole concert is just amazing, watch “In the Name of God”. Perfection

[@BrokenWingman]

I remember being like 15-16 or something and I'd bought the Live at Budokan DVD. This solo blew my young guitarist mind. Still does 20 odd years later. haha

[@q_Drako]

even the most relax plaing from petrucci make time to learn it, he is my favorite guitar player ever, and can do a decent solo cover, speed, tech. emotional and clean player i ever see

[@srh3trinity]

My teenage years were a steady diet of Dream Theater and Rush with a side of Yngwie. You go through that phase and find Tommy Emmanuel later in life. People like Petrucci and Emmanuel were put on this earth to play guitar and we are all better for it.

[@Rondinelli94]

I think the best part is: that solo is 70%improv, including the runs

[@DelKshares]

5:02 reminds me of his brilliant tuition video Rock Discipline. He was pushing the envelope with his chromatic runs. Then he applied the technique to his solo. All those years later he sounds even better than he did then. JP is such a maestro on the guitar.

[@rizqydhanyazsa390]

But the guitar solo before intro, just so amazing!

[@martyayy]

I started listening to Dream Theater 20 years ago and ever since I have difficulty listening to anyone else for very long without going back to them

[@LostPlectrum]

Short hair Petrucci = best version of himself

[@weefek]

He's Guitar Jesus for a reason. The Steve Vai vs John Petrucci video is 100% in Guitar Jesus's favor for a reason. He's the absolute best.

[@SnappyJCM800]

You should do John’s solo stuff. Like Glasgow Kiss from the G3 tour. Awesome song

[@jonathananderson3897]

Check out liquid tension experiment, and a song called rhapsody in blue. It's a classical peace, made into a prog metal. There is some astonishing guitar on it ✌️

[@plotevil5884]

One could say 99% of every Petrucci solo is his best solo ever. They just get better and better. This is what happens when you don't party and just focus on your music and practice.

[@Guitargate]

So much truth to this

[@NoName-ql1wk]

And he's not even in the top 10.

[@chanceroberson7517]

I love the giddyness when you’re trying to replay it.

[@Pallioscan]

1:11 Santana's secret lick!

[@colincampbell3849]

Spec fu**in tacular - I fully agree Micheal! ❤

[@lee70ns]

Jeff went to my High School a few years before me. Kings Park, NY in the house!!!

[@BourbanAces]

John wrote this song when his father passed away if i remember correctly so it always comes across as more emotional when he plays it.

[@doomcue]

I think you're thinking of Take Away My Pain - same album and same timeframe, though.

[@pmatfitz]

AND, they're currently in the studio with Mike Portnoy back on drums...can't wait to see them back out on the road!

[@nicholasvinen]

Can't wait to hear their new album!

[@chadmorral1326]

I use JP jazz 3 picks and they are very thick compared to what you are using. I used the fairly thick green tortex picks for a long time and after switching I found that I could emulate John's three note per string stuff better. Not saying I'm good at it, but I can get closer than I could before. 😅 but I think the pic thickness helps.

[@thebrysmith3]

Not that I’ll ever get anywhere close to his chops, but switching to his signature Dunlops has made a big impact on my playing.

[@stefistefistef]

That sound @6:12 coming from Michael's mouth explains it all lol

[@davelospinoso9022]

I always go back to this solo... It's the best ever. Gary Moore the Messiah will come again #2

[@HeimburgerMusic]

Damn, I gotta watch that DVD again. Been a while.

[@Roylevis]

His Purple Rain is so amazing

[@MrScrofulous]

Yep....not quite as unrelenting fast, but so emotional and expressive.

[@AttilaHun-p9e]

Haha man you are amazing and so talented! and I %100 Agree wiyh what u said.! and btw to the people who say no soul in shred?!: yeah many players can shred but only JOHN PETRUCCI ( and a few other players)CAN MAKE YOU CRY WHILE SHREDDING IN LIGHTING FAST.. THATS WHY he is one of the greatest of all time..

[@francisladouceur3819]

By far his best solo ever!

[@rtrooperw8115]

I forgot how incredible that solo was. TY!!!!

[@outdoorsandstuff1744]

Lol…yeah man…we all know. He’s amazing. 👍🏻

[@LOVEtheMuse59]

What makes it even more mind blowing is that he plays it completely different every night! 😬 🤯

[@randyhenderson6166]

Also check out his Lines in the Sand solo from their 2002 concert in Bucharest.

[@fuadmhnr]

05:39 - "Shit! One more time" it always got me hahaha

[@quietinterlude770]

Dude nearly melts the fretboard

[@matthewarms3786]

Pretty sure the neck needed a full body massage and the rest of the guitar a cigarette after having such sweet love made to it

[@quietinterlude770]

@@matthewarms3786 coming from a Matthew to a Matthew, I wholeheartedly concur!

[@wesparkerguitar]

"IT'S DREAM THEATER...." hahaha YES