Redhead Reaction to Ayreon - The Day That The World Breaks Down - The Source (2017)

[@jpdemer5]

Now that you've heard Ayreon, "Everybody Dies" _has_ to be next. It continues the story that starts here ... but it's a live performance, not bits of studio tracks. Mostly a different set of performers, but he still manages to fill a stage with European metal royalty - and Michael Mills gets to really show you what he can do. Put it on your "to do" list!

[@elvwood]

I concur!

[@572Btriode]

I concur !

[@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"

[@scifimonkey3]

A whole new set of bands for you to check out Red………… and some inspiration to do more EPICA and Nightwish too hopefully. Arjen truly is the Tony Stark of rock music bringing together the singing avengers.

[@stephanwendler8781]

Hansi Kürsch is the singer of Demons and Wizards too

[@TimoArula]

Ayreon is a musical project by Dutch songwriter, singer, musician and record producer Arjen Anthony Lucassen (That lovely tall hippie dude in this video). 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. 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" (Also a massive project by Tobias). 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". Be prepared, This rabbithole is MASSIVE !!!!! NWSU/FloorFan/Epican/Ayreonaut/TWA/PauFan🤘😎🤘.

[@marcusblackwell2372]

I thought Ayreon was Symphonic Metal

[@jamescurfman3284]

@@marcusblackwell2372 Ayreon is whatever Arjen Lucassen is in the mood to be on whatever day he writes.

[@pancentricism]

Now that you know how impossible it would be for them to perform this live, watch the live version!! It featured last year at an Ayreon concert and was released on DVD, Blue Ray and youtube earlier this year. You'll find it on Arjen Anthony Lucassen's youtube channel. BTW, Arjen, like Floor, is Dutch so pronounces the "J" as if it was a "Y". It is actually a coincidence that the name of the Ayreon project is similar to the pronunciation of his name. The lead character on the first album was intended to be called Aries, but the name didn't have enough syllables to fit the tune, so he extended it to Ayreon. Arjen has several other projects similar to Ayreon, most notably Star One. He also wrote most of, and played most instruments on Simone Simons recent solo album "Vermillion". Once you've dived a bit deeper into the Ayreon Universe and want to fall further into the related rabbit holes (warrens?), you will love Epica (perhaps start with "Rivers" with Epica and Apocolyptica), and then Simone's solo stuff (perhaps start with "Aeterna".

[@ronaldakkermans8166]

Arjen Anthony Lucassen is a musical genius who does not like to perform or speak for a large audience. On the great Ayreon Universe - The Best of Ayreon Live concert (with 16 vocalists) he is on stage for only three songs and an 11-minute speech. The Amazing Flight he refers to is a song from another music project of his called Star One and is also in this concert. Joost van den Broek (on the piano) was the keyboard player in Floor Jansen's first band After Forever. He is the co-producer of the Universe concert.

[@Bonovin]

Yeah! At last you get to Ayreon . Great start . Greetings from Sweden

[@mandje2002]

Recommended Video’s Ayreon - Everybody Dies (Ayreon Universe) kzbin.info/www/bejne/b3KkiaeLmbJqrqc Ayreon - Star of Sirrah (Universe) kzbin.info/www/bejne/aZWoeYSEdr-mf9E Ayreon - Intergalactic Space Crusaders (Universe) kzbin.info/www/bejne/o3XNoKCraJiLsMU Ayreon - The Eye Of Ra (Universe) kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZXGgGOJmM6Hi7s Ayreon - Twisted Coil (Electric Castle And Other Tales) kzbin.info/www/bejne/nZSrn2OheMygd9U Ayreon - And The Druids Turned To Stone (Ayreon Universe) kzbin.info/www/bejne/ooOQl6J9gNioqZI Ayreon - Valley of the Queens (Anneke van Giersbergen, Floor Jansen, Marcela Bovio) kzbin.info/www/bejne/ipPIk4Jrd7-cY6s Ayreon - The Sixth Extinction (01011001 - Live Beneath The Waves 2023) kzbin.info/www/bejne/fnKtYa2KgrF2orMsi=G195amAeDnYt-PrS

[@mikedown3219]

Arjen Lucassen recently took a break from his own projects to write the music for Simone Simons first solo album, Vermillion. There are four videos on KZbin from Vermillion… Aeterna is the most Ayreon like, the others are In Love We Rust, Cradle to the Grave and R.E.D. All very different and well worth checking out.

[@MisterJ56]

And to complete the list: INSTRUMENTALISTS: Joost van den Broek (ex-After Forever) - grand piano and electric piano, Maaike Peterse (Kingfisher Sky) - cello, Ed Warby - (Gorefest) drums, Ben Mathot - violin, Jeroen Goossens (ex-Pater Moeskroen) - flute and wind instruments, Arjen Anthony Lucassen - electric and acoustic guitars, all other instruments

[@zag7165]

Along with being a brilliant musician, Arjen is very down to Earth and has been known to pop by various reactions of his music to say "hi" as well.

[@Columbasta]

Hi RHN, Ayreon fan here.. Another piece of fun trivia: the violin guy at 2:55 Ben Mathot, was concert master at Epica's latest show(s) in the Netherlands. You did one reaction to them when Floor featured at their previous concert in 2013, "Retrospect" with a full live orchestra. This 2024 concert was called, "Symphonic Synergy": live symphonic metal, choir & orchestra and an über-cool conductor from Mexico who goes by the name of Dante Diaz to top it all off. Epica recently posted their live performance of "The Ghost In Me", which is their metal version of Camille Saint-Saëns' well-known "Danse Macabre". I have a hunch, you might like that one (hint.. hint..) 😁 EDIT: as to Ayreon, you just have to see their amazing live performances. Like this one: "Ayreon - Everybody Dies (Ayreon Universe)" 🤘🤘

[@erikleenhouts834]

Welcome to the wonderful and amazing musical world of Arjen Lucassen! So much great music that guy produces 🥰

[@JWS-66]

glad youre liked this Masterpiece...Arjen is a great composer, there is also a stellar Live version from 2023 in Tilburg Netherlands with some other and the same singers and musicans...loved your reaction Redhead😁💜thanks

[@AndrewinAus]

First time I have heard you really nerd out about gear Red, I am totally up for that. I am going to have to go back now and listen to Ayreon and Arjen's other projects again now...... down the rabbit whole I go again. It still makes me laugh and smile to hear Michael Mills singing in binary code as TH-1 especially as a fellow Aussie. Great seeing you get really getting into this piece of musical art as I did, especially the moment Floor made her appearance. Arjen got some absolutely top talent in for this collaboration.

[@elvwood]

Hee hee, we'll have to rename you Gearheaded neighbour! 😜

[@hermanvanwissen2660]

Next Everybody Dies live, Amazing Flight live with Thijs van Leer, Age of Shadows live, Valley of the Queens and the official video 2023 The Sixth Extinction live.

[@williamadkins2170]

If you go back & react to all the bands from each vocalist, it's a never-ending rabbit hole.

[@Wyl7]

Considering the ones she’s done before now, most likely the next logical choice is the famous Wacken 2016 Blind Guardian “Bard’s Song / Valhalla” combo.

[@zbygniewprlwytzkofsky6614]

The first singer, James Labrie, is from Dream Theater, you reacted to them several times😘

[@OMG_so_Nerdy]

The dream pair really is the Hammond organ with the Leslie speaker. You can see him play the Hammond in the video. The Prophet 5 is a classic synth. You can buy one new again this day! They started making them again some years ago. Most people wouldn't even know what a synth actually is, so I love that you caught that.

[@danjmcs]

Such a wonderful deep dive of Ayreon and Arjen! A true craftsman of a musician... this entire album is brilliant, great concept top to bottom but I love all of his work and projects, just a fanstic musician.

[@texassendero4901]

This was awesome 💯💯💯💯 #redheadedneighbor #bestreactor #redsarmy #beautifulfuncountrygirl #heartofgoldwithmetalinhersoul #bestbadjokes #36K

[@damianvc31]

Ayreon is a journey, it's challenging because there's too much of everything, but it's well worth it Besides the studio albums which are conceptual and tell a story (one of them continues for several albums) Arjen and team do some special shows in the Netherlands every couple of years Those are recorded professionally so they can be watched and are some of the most amazing music events out there For a sample of that I think Everybody Dies live from Ayreon Universe is the best display Btw Amazing Flight is another Ayreon song, that one is also very nice live

[@JCMacLeod555]

Interesting tidbit...Joost Van Den Broek, the guy playing grand piano, is a big time producer now, but way back in the old days he and Floor were both "discovered" by Arjen for one of his other projects, Star One. At the time, Floor was recording the first After Forever album. She and Joost hit it off and he later joined After Forever as their keyboardist. They have remained friends and still work together.

[@572Btriode]

Now, now. Sir Joost Van Den Broek. He was knighted by the Dutch king.

[@jfw413]

I think you're the first person I saw that made note of the synth and speaker stuff and dayumn, did you make note. Something reminded me today of someone (i.e. you) noticing recently and I had to check who it was and whether I had liked that. Luckily I found it and fixed the situation. When your reaction makes that much of an impression it deserves the like. Also rewatched your reaction while back here.

[@diedzjeeoudshoorn7726]

Arjen Lucassen is one of the greatest contemporary master composers. He is the God of Prog. He writes scifi stories, convert them into progressive music, and then finds the appropriate singers and instrumentalists to perform and record it. I witnessed a show from him in 2023. It was a life changing event. His shows are sold out in five minutes, if it takes that long. Up to 60 nationalities in the audience ( yes, the guy is adored the world over), and up to 25 main singers ( amongst them the worlds best) on the podium. This is the Mekka of progressive music. The worlds greatest artists are honoured if they are asked by him to participate ( if it is not the other way around). Please, please do yourself a favour and discover the Rabbit Hole of Ayreon and Arjen Lucassen. 30 years of fan-tas-tic music. In my opinion Nightwish level. Arjen and Tuomas are at the very top.

[@erickvermeulen9734]

Great finally see this video, late last year there was also a live performance of this song, with a few different vocalist. Nope,,Arjen does not use Leslie with Prophet 5, only with the Hammond as it should be.

[@mattmid7012]

I've heard one other Ayreon song a while back but that's all. This was brilliant and the added information on the song, artists and background info was an excellent addition. I was wondering if Floor was in this one as I know she's done some with him. There were a lot of singers I didn't know there. I thought that Michael Eriksen sounded very much like Joey Tempest of Europe. Simone Simons is a great singer too.

[@MattLv5.6]

That was great. Loved your nerdiness over the instruments. A side we don’t see much. 🎉🔥

[@ericavantilburg6252]

Thank you ! Nice reaction as always!❤

[@grahambatchelor3576]

Hi Red.... Great reaction and yes Ayreon is a special talent. 'Everyone Dies' is a must now you've been introduced. I'm looking forward to your reaction to that already!......

[@RonniePeterson]

Beware this is a massive hole to go down! But well worth it!!

[@mikeyeo940]

Thanks

[@redheadedneighbor]

Thank you!

[@Socalpatriot799]

You are so adorable when you get excited about a topic you get so passionate about it.for me it was a first so I’m glad I had my first experience with you 😆.you rock red

[@barryadams-d3x]

That was awesome!! Loved it❤❤

[@PomLimey]

Never had there been so much talent on one recording, and to top it off we had Floor! The highlights for me were Arjen’s stunning guitar work and vocally, Tommy Karevic, Michael Erickson and the amazing multi tracking of Michael Mills.

[@mandy-miracle334]

Next: "This Human Equation" with Simone Simons from Epica.

[@mikedown3219]

You pronounced it correctly. It is the brainchild of Dutch composer Arjen Lucassen. He uses a lot of guest vocalists for his projects. The most notable being Floor Jansen of Nightwish and Simone Simons of Epica so you will see a lot of crossover between fans of those bands and others in the genre of European metal bands.

[@572Btriode]

The binary is extended ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) and the correct translation of this is in your comments. NWOBHM - New Wave of British Heavy Metal. Arjen discovered Floor Jansen as a 16yo and had her sing on some of his much earlier albums, he probably was the one that kick-started her career. He is also an admitted Sci-Fi nut, so you will have these themes in his music, as here.

[@Aussiecris214]

Thanks Red❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@MrFrikkenfrakken]

Have some fun with this project. What’s another rabbit hole huh?

[@leeblack3335]

BTW Mr Lucassen is the man that discoverd ..... Floor Janssen!!!

[@justitia257]

Amazing...senza parole

[@jancrommenacker9556]

"Amazing Flight" (in space is another Ayreon song, a great live version you find here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qGasmqele72Wbac

[@utubberize]

Different elements of old school and new school rock/prog music

[@goodehands5388]

I've been trying to get you play Ayreon for weeks!!!!!! 🌹🌹

[@joeturner1181]

Dammit Red, that's two new rabbit holes in one day! That was really good, and now I've got to track down more. I really enjoyed the pop-ups as well, and they helped a lot with understanding the song. This was kind of like listening to 2112 for the first time; it's going to take a couple of repeats to soak in. On a semi-related note, Post Modern Jukebox has a pop-up version of All About That Bass: kzbin.info/www/bejne/anWrYZWuo6iZqZI

[@MisterJ56]

Arjen is talking about the guitars as in "Amazing Flight" so why not doing *_”Amazing Flight In Space”_* : kzbin.info/www/bejne/qGfGeIOpepZpbsU (Arjen singing & Jay van Feggelen) as a starter for more AYREON live !! Note: Arjen himself as guitarist and singer.

[@glenngunnis6642]

Red you just opened up an extra deep and wide rabbit hole! I hope spelunking is a hobby for you! So many great artist to check out! Enjoy! Arjen is master musician and composer, at the same level as Tuomas!🎸🤘

[@jamesanderson5268]

The binary coded decimal spells "Trust TH-1" That's his character who is a computer or robot. Arjen is one hell of a guitar player.

[@Haldau]

and a reference to Michael Mills' band Toehider, Michael also sings the role Trust TH-1 on the album and live

[@Mars-is4un]

🤗🍒🤘🏻😘 Great Job Red And yes this is also a pretty fine piece of music don't you think

[@Rackelhane]

Arjen Lucassen is the nicest and coolest guy on the planet. You should check out som interviews with him. Cheers from a finn in Sweden.❤🎉

[@richardthresh3587]

Ayreon's music is such a wonderful rabbit hole to fall down. I'd suggest a couple of tracks to try: 'Into the Black Hole' live from Ayreon Universe ( kzbin.info/www/bejne/gnrZn6upl51mhNE ) and 'Intergalactic Space Cusaders, again a live track from Ayreon Universe ( kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4CZhZypeK16nqM ). Both are outstanding and you're sure to enjoy. If you feel you're ready, then there's always 'Everybody Dies' ( kzbin.info/www/bejne/b3KkiaeLmbJqrqc ) which could blow your socks off! Plan B might be 'Isis and Osiris' ( kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGe8d5Wdgt-ekLs ). Enjoy!

[@felipecampos3045]

check out the sixth extinction livr, it has even more crazy singers

[@crossloanstudio]

Good review, not many girls know prophet!!!

[@damienmaynard8892]

Aussie! Aussie! Aussie! Mike Mills! TH-1! The binary code of his "lyrics" spell "Trust TH-1" which is Michael's character. Toehider - how do you hide toes? Kick a$$ really hard! Arjen Lucassen is really tall too - makes Floor appear "normal" sized! "Everybody Dies".... also check out "Transitus" earlier than this!

[@youaremysecretstream]

❣️🤘

[@joeyc630]

Definitely check out Ayreon The Electric Castle Live show and Other Tales live shows in series, awesome 😎 request 😁

[@LouisA-q3r]

Check out "the theory of everything" album

[@mikeyeo940]

Hi red, ❤❤❤ your reaction 👍👍👍

[@albertkassenaar7735]

Arjen Lucassen home/studio is a school so Ed can play in the gymnasium rooms enof

[@deathworlder100]

@6:38... I'm in love... No creep. ... Where in Arkansas? I'm in 72758. ...

[@DerHerr-ni2wr]

🤘🤘

[@darkiee69]

I think the Leslie is hooked up to his Hammond organ, not to the prophet.

[@stefanfuchs1974]

Cool, you are a gear-Nerd!

[@derekpetersen7571]

Hello my beautiful talented Red headed neighbor will at least react to Dan Vascs O holy night please I don’t know what else to do but keep asking love ya

[@marcusblackwell2372]

I just found your channel while scrolling for Harry Mack reactions (specifically the video where Ren reacts to his freestyle, and from the extra miniscule amount I've seen, you definitely seem like someone who I will check out again. Unfortunately, most of the videos you react to now don't strike my fancy, but I'm sure that will change. After all, I like the wholesome, Southern Hospitality vibes you give off. Are reaction requests allowed?

[@duncanwyer2460]

Live version next please