How Dream Theater became the Face of Progressive Metal

In this episode, we'll look into the turbulent first decade of Dream Theater - the band that came to redefine progressive music.
Support us & get our videos early: / razbenari
Channels featured in the video:
Loudwire: / @loudwiremusic
Cooper Carter: / @coopercarter
Follow my socials!
Facebook: ​ / razguitar
Twitter: ​ / razbenari
Instagram: ​ / raz_benari
Discord: ​ / discord
My music is available on:
Bandcamp (lossless) ► razbenari.bandcamp.com/
Apple Music ► / artist
Spotify ► open.spotify.com/artist/3UUJ3...
Hello! My name is Raz and I am a heavy metal enthusiast & guitarist from Israel. On this channel I normally post music videos, and discuss the topics of music & being an artist.
Credits
Written & Narrated by Raz Ben Ari
Edited & Produced by Simon Kopp
Archive footage by James Russell "The Hustle" Larson
Special thanks to Patrick Roach
If you'd like to email me about business inquiries or other important topics, check out the about section of my channel.
0:00 Intro
0:39 Part 1: Pulled From Under
6:18 Part 2: The Silent Man
9:52 Patreon Segment
10:03 Part 3: Falling into Obscurity
14:30 Part 4: One Last Time
20:27 Conclusion

[@RazBenAri]

If you're as passionate as us about the stories behind famous Rock & Metal bands, and wanna help us create these videos, you're more than welcome to join our Discord server here: ​discord.gg/9hqX4hw Or send me a message on any of my social media links (in the description). We're looking for writers, researchers, video editors and more! Feel free to send me a message even if you're not sure what you could do. Thanks for watching!

[@stevebauer3727]

Would love to see you do one of these on Chris Poland of Megadeth fame and all the stuff he did since which many do not know about...damn the machine, etc.

[@Roddrummer]

Isn't it interesting how both Rush and Dream Theater's entire careers were saved by an ultra-ambitious concept album that went dead against their respective record company's desires, and needs for radio singles etc etc....

[@alphawolf8503]

Fuck the hawks but praise dream theater

[@dommguard]

Just shows you how those buisniessmen know nothing about music and as much as an oximoron it is, about buisness either.

[@TheBlackQueen]

Except 2112 isn't a concept album, but I get your point.

[@Roddrummer]

@@TheBlackQueen You are absolutely, 100% correct, and as a 40 year fan I should have known better...

[@austinsatterfield4981]

It shows that everything is in the middle. Where you make art that's sellable, not art that's so unique it doesn't reach people, not radio where it reaches everyone but not art. The goal is to make art that is liked by a large few

[@Strings-jg2to]

And now they got a Grammy for their latest album. They deserve it.

[@MAGAMAN]

Their latest album was shit.

[@Strings-jg2to]

@@MAGAMAN it's all subjective.

[@Anonymous-mu5bl]

@@MAGAMAN you’re the shit

[@GoldenfoxxPrime]

@@MAGAMAN Yeah, I've been a DT fan since '94, and the last two albums just haven't really done it for me. I'm happy for them in the extreme if they got the Grammy, though, even if I prefer the atmospheric and melodic approach to albums like Awake to the wall-to-wall, non-stop notes of recent DT. But then, I'm one of the five people on the planet who adores The Astonishing, so what do I know. 😂

[@Goku-vb2nx]

Music taste is subjective overall.

[@damienmartin9398]

A documentary so good, john myung actually talk !

[@captainflamson]

Haha, I was going to say the same thing!

[@smlkgitaris]

🤣you're right

[@UlfhedinnNorsk]

Never knew he talked 🤨

[@Ibenk5]

No, he just a paid actor as John Myung.

[@Peanuts76]

Damn, this joke never gets old, hahahaha

[@mpandunky]

Metropolis Pt. II was, for me, one of the best albums ever made. Every song was good, and I love the idea of a persistent story

[@eberaliagahernandez2326]

the best conceptual album ever made, better than " the wall"

[@hatujemeletsplayeryheskyce6460]

@@eberaliagahernandez2326 no

[@feralkitty9378]

@@eberaliagahernandez2326 yes, IMO the wall is pretty bad.. second closest is marillion misplaced childhoood

[@Drizzt_Do_Entreri]

@@eberaliagahernandez2326 First is Metropolis part 2, second imo is Ayreon The Electric Castle as far as concept albums go.

[@AnotherDay-ce6th]

yessssssssssss@@hatujemeletsplayeryheskyce6460

[@AshwinSivakumar]

Change of seasons 23 minute version brought me to Dream Theater in early 2000s, imagine what success they could achieved if they released it as originally planned

[@RanLavi]

Same here. First DT song I heard, and I wasn't even a prog fan then, nor did I play any instrument. Until this day, it's my favorite 10+ minutes song from them, and among my favorites overall. But the original version they played live before the album was about 17 minutes, so if they released it earlier, we might not have gotten the exact masterpiece we have today.

[@rtrooperw8115]

The MASTERS!!! Great job on this documentary! A part 2 would be fantastic, hint hint…👍🏻🤟🏻😁

[@bassimprovjams3772]

Jordan saved DT!! He was the perfect option! I’ll never forget seeing when he was going into the band and scenes was coming out, I was sooo stoked for that album!! Scenes is one of the best albums of all time!! “The spirit Carries on” from live scenes from NY still chokes me up to this day when James and Theresa sing together and the extended outro is just so passionate and emotional

[@clearjet]

Gonna forgive your misspellings, because it's an awesome song.

[@bassimprovjams3772]

@@clearjet lmao good catch damn now I gotta change it lol

[@Sclonez]

I kinda like the irony that the labels messing with the band is what finally got us such amazing music. First the denial to let them record ACOS in 1992, then the petition to record a heavier album got us amazing heavy music and subsequent comercial failure, which lead to the band being pressured to record something, so they recorded a reworked version of ACOS while they figured out what to do. Then FII came with all the drama and the record label not accepting 1997's version of Metropolis part II due to the length, what in the end worked up for the best because DT demanded to be left alone, do whatever they wanted, so they turned the long song por Metropolis part II into the masterpiece that all fans know and love.

[@dubenstein6347]

In a documentary on Netflix the label was adamant R.E.M. trash the song Losing my Religion because to them "no way would a song using a mandolin be radio friendly." R.E.M. had to fight to have it in the album and it's their biggest hit.

[@giorgio_matraxia]

Wow, this documentary is very well done, good job!!🔝🎶

[@jamesgoldman6942]

Absolutely FANTASTIC. I cant describe how much I enjoyed this. You did a fantastic job. Dream Theater will always be my favorite band. I'm about to see them for the 13th time in Dallas, TX. March 19. Thanks again, you did a great job with this.

[@RazBenAri]

Thank you so much James! That's very nice of you :)

[@dragongamer4753]

I thought their tour was canceled. I need to see their schedule.

[@EM-vd6wi]

Going to the same thing, I'll see them for the first time ever, I'm gonna cry out of immense joy 😭😭

[@TimothyHuffGuitar]

How was it?

[@jamesgoldman6942]

@@TimothyHuffGuitar - Believe it or not I couldnt go. I'm a Head High School Baseball Coach @ Longview, High School, in Longview Texas. This was a rescheduled Dream Theater concert date. I had my original hard ticket from the original date and kept it. We had a scheduled afternoon game that day and with the two hour drive to Dallas I still had plenty of time to make the show. Unfortunately in the 4th inning that day my Sr shortstop got hit in the face (eye and nose )with a really good fastball. After the long game ended where we somehow battled back from a 10 - 0 deficit to win 12 -11. After the game ended I had to go to the hospital to be with my shortstop and his family. By the time he was finally discharged it would have been 9:30 or later til I made it to the venue in Dallas. I still do though have the unused ticket.

[@marsanmarsipan]

Nice storytelling, Raz. Metropolis pt.2 was awsome when it came out.

[@RazBenAri]

Thanks Marius! It really was. I remember my first playthrough, it was mesmerizing.

[@rvs55]

Images and Words, still the best DT album out there in terms of melody/composition.

[@RickLilShore]

I dunno man, 'Atoma' is pretty darn good... Wait, sorry, wrong DT.

[@igooog]

Pull Me Under, Metropolis I, Under a Glass Moon, Wait for Sleep and Learning to Live are all in my top 10. There's a bit here and there from SfaM, Train of Thought and Systematic Chaos that I really dig but I don't think they've ever topped Learning to Live. Also When Dream and Day Unite is criminally underappreciated.

[@squonk2902]

Been a fan since I heard Pull Me Under on the radio in '92. Was always a big Rush fan and always looking for something new. This was it. Saw them at a smallish bar here in Milw., for Images and Words, was one of those stages that was only about a foot high off the floor. Talk about an intimate show, that was incredible.

[@saiyanjinx8063]

The one and only " SYMPHONY X "

[@Kenji.1ChessPiece]

“Images and Words” - The bar by which all Prog Metal albums are measured! 💯🔥❤️🎸🥁🎤🎹

[@JoolsGuitar]

And fall short.

[@Kenji.1ChessPiece]

@@JoolsGuitar I hope DT or other bands can make “another” Images and Words album.

[@Bloorgusgoorge]

@@Kenji.1ChessPiece legit a dramatic turn of events is like images and words part 2

[@deantalbotdrums]

Nope. Excellent, but doesn’t hold a candle to Metropolis PT II; Scenes from a Memory.

[@captainzeppos]

@@Bloorgusgoorge lol what? not by a trillion light years. i'll make another attempt to listen to it now though i'm pretty sure i'll quit again after the first few minutes of each song. the last bearable album was six degrees. the last good album was metropolis 2.

[@TheMidgardViking]

Awesome. Best in depth documentary on Dream Theater I've seen. Thank you!

[@iespianboi]

I love the video . From this video i finally know what happened to the band when they worked each albums : the struggle, expectation from the label, and how hard it was to make a song that people would recognize and love to hear. However scene from a memory came to a final stage for me, with “spirit carries on” this song carried the band to the new level. if i had to ask my friends, what DT’s song they like it must be the spirit carries on. And from that song people would try to listen another song from DT, even they are not rock or even metal music listener. That happened to me. Btw we would like to hear your documentary part 2 : six degrees album, portnoy departures from band, the drummer audition, labrie’s future in band, etc. Very well video. Thank you

[@RazBenAri]

That's not a bad idea, I might do that at some point. Thanks for the support!

[@jebroz4810]

my first song from dream theater was Instrumedley and it was super weird song through my ears, then I heard Metropolis Pt. I and remind me of that medley, I was bit addicted to their songs, everything sounds cool, harmonic and heavy.

[@miahthorpatrick1013]

Thank you for that shout out to Ayreon at 20:31. The Electric Castle in '98 & Metropolis Pt 2 in '99 pretty much kept Prog Metal afloat in the late 90's and into the 2000s and beyond where it was able to sustain life without being on life support.

[@MegaRecRoom]

The new Star One - Revel in Time is amazing! If anyone here doesn’t know who Arjen Anthony Luccasen / Ayreon / Star One is you need to research this, it will lead you to some of the best prog, musicians and vocalist’s you’ve ever heard!

[@miahthorpatrick1013]

@@MegaRecRoom Always nice to hear from a fellow Ayreonaut! Still waiting on my Revel in time earbook to show up in the mail. Every prog fan should know about the magnificence of Arjen Lucassen!

[@EduardoWalcacer]

Prog is my favorite genre, but I can't get into DT, it's not really my thing. However, I do appreciate what they've accomplished in the musical industry. Great documentary.

[@TheAxe4Ever]

Just curious, what is it about Dreams Theaters music, their brand of prog, that doesn’t connect with you. I have a couple of friends that are prog fans that say that too but they never really say why. And that’s absolutely fine. Music is such a personal choice that of course not everyone is going to like a certain band. I’m just curious.

[@Sylarleft]

@@TheAxe4Ever I have the same opinion as Eduardo. For me, it's mainly the vocals, which are a pitch too high for me. But it's also the overall melodies/rhythm. They're good, but they don't hook me like ,for instance: Haken, Soen, Devin Townsend, Opeth, Tesseract, Ne Obliviscaris...

[@konteros9850]

@@Sylarleft you're gonna hate rush then...

[@brockbaldridge7620]

@@Sylarleft I definitely disagree, I especially don’t think Haken brings anything more special musically than dream theater

[@Gevoltful]

They are great band , but it is mainstream , also I don't really understand the word "prog" , I think it is a word for "not so musically advanced people" . I mean , they brought elements of so called art rock to masses . Not a bad thing , but confusing as well.

[@jamesgoldman6942]

Just watched this for a second time. FANTASTIC!!! Welcome back Mike Portnoy

[@colbs237]

Great work Sir! This is very well done and your narration was enjoyable :)

[@RazBenAri]

Thanks a lot Colby!!

[@davidnicknicholson6426]

Hey Raz, great doc.. Thanks for getting the full story out. Also, I’ve followed your great music for years now And love it all. Thanks for everything and continued success from this 70 year old rocker. Regards, Nicky - Far Past Dark

[@GES8215]

My GTR player was pettruccis student we used to hang with portnoy and Myung at Rush concerts. When DT was looking for a singer they sent my friends band a bunch of singer audition tapes . Portnoy called us up from Japan once when pull me under video came out and said they were going crazy for them there. Great bunch of guys. One gig at Sundance on Long Island they were trying out a new guy singer that looked like Geoff Tate. He was horrible

[@RazBenAri]

How awesome!! Thank you for sharing that!

[@allencollins6031]

@@RazBenAri fun fact: John Myung grew up one block over from MLB Hall of Fame player Craig Biggio. Biggio a year older.

[@jessendicter1549]

And now a Grammy win! Congrats to the band!

[@captainzeppos]

for one of their worst albums. Grammys aren't in for quality, they're in for connections, mainstream, discrography corporations etc. Hail piracy

[@edzkymunoz3837]

That was very well put together. I would love to see more and see the next phases the band goes through. I cant have a favorite band since there are so many great bands but DT is in the top tiers with the other all time greats and will always be there.

[@Paolo8772]

I 1st heard Dream Theatre in 1989 in Vancouver as a 19 year old living at my mother's place listening to the Monday Midnight Metal Shop in the summer or 1989. on C-Fox. The best Dream Theatre albums IMO are the 1st three starting (in chronological order) with the 1st: When Day and Dream Unite through Awake but also Train of Thought.

[@shaylelinger5304]

Great delivery! Keep 'em coming!

[@rebelmetal4233]

Very well done...looking forward to part 2!

[@virgoaraaf557]

Really good short documentary video, well done, man! \m/

[@jeremythornton433]

I hope you can make a continuation of this. I loved it! Thanks!

[@michaelwelk8124]

That was a great presentation. Thank you for that!

[@suchitgangurde3514]

Great video! I got to meet them and watch them live in Stockholm in January 2020 during their Distance Over Time tour where they played Metropolis Part II in its entirety. It was an amazing experience!

[@glaubermarcius]

Man! Outstanding work! Congrats!

[@mvunit3]

Rest in Peace Charlie Dominici . . . . He was part of the reason I LOVED the debut album soo much. You can tell whenever LaBrie sings anything from WDADU, its a "mouthful" of words to sing, yet Charlie did it effortlessly. I really loved his voice and played that album (on Lp, which I still have) over and over. Its my "3rd" favorite DT album. His 2 solo albums are awesome too, may not be as prolific lyrically as DT, but great singing and musicianship nevertheless. Will miss you sir 😥.

[@mocool13]

Awesome video! Like others mentioned part 2 would be amazing as well

[@brolsonmusic]

I received Images and Words from the label when a friend and I put out a music fanzine called Moribund back in the early 90s. The tape never left my stereo. Been a lifetime fan ever since! Almost never missed a tour when they come through.

[@FrancescoDiMauro]

I enjoyed this video very much, thanks! I rememeber when Scenes From a Memory came out, and the font for the band name was again the one they had been using from Images and Words to A Change of Seasons... we all knew we were in for a treat! Time to get to Strange Deja Vu and my face was already melting, what a masterpiece of an album!

[@BillyN31]

Images and words is an absolutely amazing album.

[@hungryguitarstudent]

Thanks for the history lesson Raz! Hope you guys cover the next 23 years of DT history! My main takeway: screw label oversight.

[@dreadbull5039]

Great documentary on my all time favorite band! Well done!

[@edusszfx]

Wow! What a fantastic video! Great job man!

[@lucho.upiachihua]

Very grateful video, man!! Greetings from Trujillo Perú!!! 🇵🇪

[@whitesandsaikat9712]

Very informative.Thanks❤

[@Synchedin]

Awesome video dude! Really fascinating how the first 5 albums were so heavily influenced by the label and external factors, thanks for sharing!

[@chrisporter7200]

Thanks for making this. Great work!

[@TheDrummingXbox360]

Hopefully DT plays into their 80's and make a Six Decades of Inner Turbulence album. That would be cool.

[@davidwaller2218]

Really good documentary! Thanks! 😎👍

[@pissectomy5660]

i eagerly await part 2. well done.

[@nixneato]

Fantastic documentary, thank you

[@victormontielpiano]

Maaaaaan I love you, thank you so much for your time on doing this amazing video ❤️ Dream Theater Will always be my favorite band. P.D. please make 2 more, one from Metropolis part 2 until Portnoy's departure, and another one for the Mangini era

[@valuedhumanoid6574]

If only Petrucci could grow a decent beard I would be a fan. lol

[@ibenimages]

Great documentary thanks for making this video! 🤟

[@Peanuts76]

But yeah, thank you for this documentary, it definitely took a lot of times to collect all those old footage, what a work man, thanks....

[@franzfleur7472]

Great work Raz!

[@teeple1877]

Great video!

[@KevinSmith-em7zk]

great video dude loved it!

[@ChrisHollandGuitar]

Great documentary, well done!

[@nads9223]

Nice doc. Well done!

[@galgrunfeld9954]

Hey Raz, סרטון נהדר, ממש נהניתי! לא הכרתי את Dream Theater כ"כ אז זאת הייתה חשיפה מעולה בשבילי להיסטוריה שלהם. Could you please do a deep dive on Symphony X as well? And maybe something a bit more general on bands that are both prog and neo-classical.

[@MaxLeGrand33]

Good work. Thanks.

[@shimonnygaard2265]

Great video!!! כל הכבוד

[@codyburgess7034]

I just remember discovering DT with the Scenes from a Memory DVD…must have watched it a million times

[@freakbiker]

Awesome group of guys. I worked at the Guitar store with John and John before they were signed. I remember the record release show at Sundance when Images and Words came out, just an awesome show with Charlie singing. I also saw their second album release show in Deer Park, I think it was at Sparks with James. They also did a show either before or after that show under the name "Ethel Mertz" and I believe Al Petrelli played with them. He was also working at the guitar store at the same time in the early 80s.

[@nicholastotoro7721]

Derek got hosed. Portnoy is talking from both sides of his mouth in that regard and is making it sound like everyone wanted to boot Derek except him. They all wanted Jordan to begin with, but he had already dedicated himself to the Dregs. The keys have sounded like circus music ever since Jordan joined.

[@JasperLevi]

Agree wholeheartedly, both about Portnoy talking from both ends, AND Rudess single-handedly ruining the DT sound with his playing.

[@nicholastotoro7721]

@@JasperLevi Exactly, thanks. Mike could at least say “Man… I’m sorry and I was wrong,” but now he’s making it sound like he wanted to keep Derek the whole time LOL!

[@animabranding7989]

Amazing documentary ..thanks

[@UlfhedinnNorsk]

Weird! 🤨 AWAKE is my favorite album of theirs. “Mirror” has to be one of their heaviest/darkest sounding tracks.

[@nathanaelethan]

Just got back from seeing a DT show in Toronto and it was so good!

[@_Only_Zuul]

"awake" is the best dream theater album which should have had the most popular radio appeal but it didn't, not that it matters still my favorite DT album.

[@mayoorannjayamohan446]

Thank you so much for making a documentary like this. I know you have taken a lot of effort to obtain all those rare clips from the internet. Don't care about views. It matters that you have made a person smile. Love, from India.

[@CompleteProducer84]

Thank you for this! Ever since I went to Best Buy in '99 and picked up Scenes, DT has been my absolute favorite band, and the only band I have never stopped listening to. Something about their music just matches up with my tastes perfectly. Scenes, Images, Awake, Six Degrees, and Train of Thought are certified prog metal essentials. A Dramatic Turn of Events is also among my favorites.

[@afghaninurrma6617]

Thank you thank you thank you a bunch brother for this 🙏👍❤️

[@AlejandroIrausquin]

Many thanks for this! I first learned about the band with Scenes from a Memory around 2001. The guy in the records store at the mall me and my wife also worked was always paying attention to the kind of music I listenee there and looked up, so he approached and told me "I am quite sure you will enjoy this". I have been in debt with since...

[@clockmaker1]

Great video, thank you!

[@RazBenAri]

Thanks for watching Julio!

[@user-hx8vv9hk4p]

I love the liquid tension stuff too❤❤❤

[@agusjunaidi1991]

Nice documentary, love it

[@sportsvid189]

This documentary professionally written, and great!

[@Peanuts76]

That song paradigm shift, it was put me into progressive scene, mind blown after hearing that song, what a masterpiece!!!! As a teen hearing that song, i wonder who the hell write that song, while i never heard LTE before, i know Dream Theater already, kind a funny how things goin back before internet was norm....

[@alu.304]

Have listened and enjoyed DT since 1991. They still bring it and continue to stay relevant in their genre. For up-n-comers that were influenced to just play their style, Ne Obliviscaris is a great one too. It's a lot like watching a progression of Rush-King Crimson-DT-NeO. All incredible acts.

[@orororor100]

רז יא רז איזה סרטון מעולה אני הולך לחרוש על התוכן שלך

[@j800r_aswell]

Seeing Jordan with hair takes some getting used to. 0.0

[@claudioquintanilla4965]

great documentary. Hello from Mexico

[@jamesajohnson7283]

As a writer and long-time fan of ALL of DT's music, I was actually pleased to watch this. They are, after all, one of my all-time favorite bands and I loved watching this...they are clearly masters of their domain!!!

[@slickx1339]

God I love it all. I hope they do another amazing one.

[@nevessl998]

To me personally, theres never been a better DT album than Awake. Such a beautiful sounding album, nice well written catchy songs, outstanding solos etc. Its from 1994 but it sounds so nice and fresh in 2023!

[@mvunit3]

Although I enjoy the other albums of the Portnoy era (some better than others), my FAVE album is "Awake". I like LaBrie's "rougher" vocals with his melodic, it was very unique on this album, and enough "Metal" and Progressive Rock to make truly "Prog Metal". And the more _ethereal_ tracks were freakin' awesome.

[@troywest]

loved this !!!

[@305Lfx]

Voices.... is such an important song.. God thank you for everything DT

[@Tminus89]

Great video :)

[@carlosramos1109]

gran trabajo, good job

[@user-hx8vv9hk4p]

Love dream theater saw them two times in concert ❤❤❤❤

[@tattoofred]

Gracias por tus geniales videos. saludos desde España :)

[@ialone7487]

Great job.

[@Psyggie]

Love it!

[@juned_syafitra]

so Mr Kevin Moore went from the band because of the very very much intense and pressure while working' on Awake? wow, it is new to me

[@krj15489]

YEEEE, nice work Jimmy Jams

[@SD-kp1yk]

Love the Kings Park Football Jerseys toward the end. Go KP & DT !!!!

[@dyllicarray2266]

We love DT and kudos to them for having the guts to carry on! 👏🎵🎸

[@frankerock5317]

Charlie Dominici lived on my street. He was working at the local music store giving music lessons and selling his Cds on the corner.

[@Rodrigo_Holanda]

Great video.

[@hugorodrigozapata514]

Para mí Scenes from a memory, metrópolis 2, es el mejor disco de rock de los 90. Hubo grandes discos en los 90, pero creo ni uno superior a éste. Y nunca aparece en los listados de favoritos, creo que mucha gente se ha perdido esta obra de arte, y por cosas de la vida afortunadamente, fue el último gran concierto que pude disfrutar en diciembre de 2019 en Santiago antes que comenzara el covid, en la celebración de los 20 años del disco.