DreamTheaterForums.org Dream Theater Fan Site

Dream Theater => Dream Theater => Topic started by: Pragmaticcircus on November 26, 2015, 08:16:01 PM

Title: The What If? Thread
Post by: Pragmaticcircus on November 26, 2015, 08:16:01 PM
As a newbie here of 1 week now, this will be my first thread  ;D

Anyway, while we're still waiting for the Astonishing, why not do a what if thread?  But let's keep it moderately serious! (and discuss our thoughts?)

What if DT released Metropolis Pt 2 on Falling Into Infinity? Where do you think their 5th album would have gone?
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Nomaniac on November 26, 2015, 08:28:58 PM

What if DT released Metropolis Pt 3 on Falling Into Infinity? Where do you think their 5th album would have gone?

You mean Metropolis Pt. 2, right?  ;)

Well I personally think (maybe I'm wrong) they still would have went for a Rock Opera, but about something else. It was about time in their career for it anyways . . .

Cool thread idea btw  :smiley: I'll try to think of one!
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Nomaniac on November 26, 2015, 08:31:24 PM
Okay how about this . . . what if Dream Theater had kept the line-up of LaBrie-Petrucci-Myung-Moore-Portnoy all the way until today? How specifically do you think their music would be different and how would it be similar?

Sorry if that's too far out there for this thread  :lol
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Pragmaticcircus on November 26, 2015, 08:36:35 PM
Well all I know about Portnoy if he stayed was that DT would have released a concept album of some sort in 2011. (because I heard him mention it in an interview)
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Pragmaticcircus on November 26, 2015, 08:39:32 PM
Haha, if you follow Portnoy's trend in the 2000's(gettin' darker and heavier), they probably would have replaced James with a growling singer  :rollin
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Nomaniac on November 26, 2015, 08:44:20 PM
Well all I know about Portnoy if he stayed was that DT would have released a concept album of some sort in 2011. (because I heard him mention it in an interview)

Really? Wow . . .

Me and another person were joking Yesterday about "what if" The Astonishing idea went back to Portnoy and he has some credit with it. Maybe it's not so far off afterall . . . still pretty unlikely though  :lol

Haha, if you follow Portnoy's trend in the 2000's(gettin' darker and heavier), they probably would have replaced James with a growling singer  :rollin

 :lol :rollin Probably would of got the guy from Meshuggah eventually! I wonder how that would sound like with the music of DT xD
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: porcacultor on November 26, 2015, 08:54:32 PM
/\ Funny you should mention meshuggah, I was actually wondering how interesting DT's version of Bleed would sound like. Of course, they'd have to invite Jens to sing over it, but I think it would sound pretty cool. With weird Rudess solos, of course!

What if... the final version of Nightmare to Remember actually had the real "cookie monster" vocals by MP on the final version? I think that would've alienated people from that part of the song more than it already did (for my money I think MP actually sings great in that part. Really!)
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Pragmaticcircus on November 26, 2015, 08:58:20 PM
Oh no, mentioning Meshuggah, I can just imagine them doing a Dream Theater/Meshuggah big band (like Fantomas/Melvins) can you see all 9 of them on stage looking confused  :mehlin
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Darkstarshades on November 26, 2015, 09:20:10 PM
What if JP left instead of MP?
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Nomaniac on November 26, 2015, 09:23:32 PM
What if JP left instead of MP?

Then it would be a full-on black metal band  :lol :rollin

But seriously that's a good question!
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Nomaniac on November 26, 2015, 09:26:27 PM
BTW, not to say the only thing MP does is heavy stuff . . . because I did go see Flying Colors in my home town of Torrance last year, and that was pretty mild compared to DT - though also very awesome  :metal
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Stadler on November 27, 2015, 08:18:07 AM
The "Portnoy = Thrash" trope is tired.  More of his stuff after DT is NOT metal than is, and in fact, he has released some of the proggiest material of his career.

So, my "what if" is, "what if Portnoy didn't leave; what was the next album covered?" and a follow up, "what was the next batch of Ytsejam releases?"
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Enigmachine on November 27, 2015, 09:23:24 AM
What if JP left instead of MP?

I think that DT would cease to exist at that point. MP was important but JP is the main songwriter and really defines the sound of the band.
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Nomaniac on November 27, 2015, 10:17:14 AM
The "Portnoy = Thrash" trope is tired.  More of his stuff after DT is NOT metal than is, and in fact, he has released some of the proggiest material of his career.

So, my "what if" is, "what if Portnoy didn't leave; what was the next album covered?" and a follow up, "what was the next batch of Ytsejam releases?"

Yeah sorry man, just joking around, don't mean to offend anyone  :smiley:

Well we'll move on from that then . . . well I think if Portnoy stayed they would have gone in a more ambitious direction, since there would be more stability - perhaps . . .

Well all I know about Portnoy if he stayed was that DT would have released a concept album of some sort in 2011. (because I heard him mention it in an interview)

. . . we would have had something like "The Astonishing" much earlier (but that's all speculation)  ;D
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: KevShmev on November 27, 2015, 10:21:28 AM
The "Portnoy = Thrash" trope is tired.  More of his stuff after DT is NOT metal than is, and in fact, he has released some of the proggiest material of his career.

 

With bands he was already in prior to his departure from DT (Neal Morse, Transatlantic).

I think it's fair to say that the majority of his new projects (featuring new material) since leaving DT have been way more hard rock/metal than prog (A Mob - shit metal; Winery Dogs - hard rock; Flying Colors - catchy rock with a slice of prog).
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Stadler on November 27, 2015, 10:22:06 AM
The "Portnoy = Thrash" trope is tired.  More of his stuff after DT is NOT metal than is, and in fact, he has released some of the proggiest material of his career.

So, my "what if" is, "what if Portnoy didn't leave; what was the next album covered?" and a follow up, "what was the next batch of Ytsejam releases?"

Yeah sorry man, just joking around, don't mean to offend anyone  :smiley:


I'm sorry too; I wasn't trying to single you out.  A lot of people believe that, and they aren't joking.
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Nomaniac on November 27, 2015, 10:24:50 AM
The "Portnoy = Thrash" trope is tired.  More of his stuff after DT is NOT metal than is, and in fact, he has released some of the proggiest material of his career.

So, my "what if" is, "what if Portnoy didn't leave; what was the next album covered?" and a follow up, "what was the next batch of Ytsejam releases?"

Yeah sorry man, just joking around, don't mean to offend anyone  :smiley:


I'm sorry too; I wasn't trying to single you out.  A lot of people believe that, and they aren't joking.

No prob  ;D
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Setlist Scotty on November 27, 2015, 12:54:47 PM
So, my "what if" is, "what if Portnoy didn't leave; what was the next album covered?" and a follow up, "what was the next batch of Ytsejam releases?"
First answer: Moving Pictures.

Second answer: he himself answered that on his forum quite some time ago. Off the top of my head, the only thing I distinctly remember was the 12/30/98 show. And I think he was also planning on releasing a compilation of the Rush songs they had covered, since at that point it didn't look like they were gonna be doing any more cover shows in the (then) near future.
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Nomaniac on November 27, 2015, 01:01:50 PM
Oh he was asking what album they would cover . . . dumb me I looked over that part  :lol

I'd go with you, Moving Pictures seems like the most likely
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: CharlesPL on November 27, 2015, 02:01:46 PM

what was the next batch of Ytsejam releases?"


SDoIT demos also :metal
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: paulstfu on November 27, 2015, 02:35:07 PM

what was the next batch of Ytsejam releases?"


SDoIT demos also :metal


Actually it was to be the Making of 6DOIT, the last show with DS and a cover series of Rush.
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Pragmaticcircus on November 27, 2015, 02:41:28 PM

what was the next batch of Ytsejam releases?"


SDoIT demos also :metal

I've always been fascinated by a SDOIT making of, why do you think Portnoy skipped to releasing the TOT demos instead?
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Setlist Scotty on November 27, 2015, 03:08:32 PM
what was the next batch of Ytsejam releases?"
SDoIT demos also :metal
I've always been fascinated by a SDOIT making of, why do you think Portnoy skipped to releasing the TOT demos instead?
Probably because it would take far less time to compile 7 demos (whole songs) than many bits and pieces of 6 (mostly) long songs in various states of being completed, mixed, etc.
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: TAC on November 27, 2015, 03:11:56 PM
So, my "what if" is, "what if Portnoy didn't leave; what was the next album covered?" and a follow up, "what was the next batch of Ytsejam releases?"
First answer: Moving Pictures.

Second answer: he himself answered that on his forum quite some time ago. Off the top of my head, the only thing I distinctly remember was the 12/30/98 show. And I think he was also planning on releasing a compilation of the Rush songs they had covered, since at that point it didn't look like they were gonna be doing any more cover shows in the (then) near future.

He did answer it. Wasn't one of the shows going to be a DVD of one of those last BC&SL shows from Japan.
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Setlist Scotty on November 27, 2015, 03:22:34 PM
So, my "what if" is, "what if Portnoy didn't leave; what was the next album covered?" and a follow up, "what was the next batch of Ytsejam releases?"
First answer: Moving Pictures.

Second answer: he himself answered that on his forum quite some time ago. Off the top of my head, the only thing I distinctly remember was the 12/30/98 show. And I think he was also planning on releasing a compilation of the Rush songs they had covered, since at that point it didn't look like they were gonna be doing any more cover shows in the (then) near future.
He did answer it. Wasn't one of the shows going to be a DVD of one of those last BC&SL shows from Japan.
I think you're right. Actually, I think it was gonna be one of the last 2 Japanese shows, as well as one of the summer Euro festival gigs.
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: wolven74 on November 27, 2015, 03:23:12 PM
What if JP left instead of MP?

Likely DT would be no more.
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Pragmaticcircus on November 27, 2015, 03:50:33 PM
What if Derek Sherinian stayed? (and Jordan didn't join)
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Kotowboy on November 27, 2015, 03:51:49 PM
what if cliff burton didn't die ?
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Train of Naught on November 27, 2015, 03:53:32 PM
what if cliff burton didn't die ?
We wouldn't have this pic:
(https://assets.rollingstone.com/assets/images/story/metallica-reunite-with-bassist-jason-newsted-at-30th-anniversary-kickoff-20111205/rectangle.jpg)
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Pragmaticcircus on November 27, 2015, 05:22:54 PM
What if there was a sequel to The Killing Hand?
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Nomaniac on November 27, 2015, 05:43:37 PM
What if there was a sequel to The Killing Hand?

It all makes sense now!

Metropolis Pt. 3 Outcry Pt. 2 The Killing Hand Pt. 2: The Astonishing!!! :lol

Seriously though, I'd love to hear that! I'm one of those DT fans that really likes WDADU . . .
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Nomaniac on November 27, 2015, 05:46:16 PM
Here's one . . .

What if Charlie Dominici stayed with the band to record IAW? Do you think it would have had the same success? Less? More?

And what would their career be like? Would most of us even know about them?
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Nomaniac on November 27, 2015, 05:46:50 PM
No offense meant to JLB though, he rocks!!! :metal :yarr
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: CDrice on November 27, 2015, 05:51:03 PM
Here's one . . .

What if Charlie Dominici stayed with the band to record IAW? Do you think it would have had the same success? Less? More?

And what would their career be like? Would most of us even know about them?

WOAH AH AH! WOAH AH AH! WOAH AH aaaaaaaaaaaah!
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Nomaniac on November 27, 2015, 05:56:53 PM
Here's one . . .

What if Charlie Dominici stayed with the band to record IAW? Do you think it would have had the same success? Less? More?

And what would their career be like? Would most of us even know about them?

WOAH AH AH! WOAH AH AH! WOAH AH aaaaaaaaaaaah!

I'm new to the forums, still don't know what and what not to say (as you will see if you look at my activity) :lol
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Pragmaticcircus on November 27, 2015, 06:05:09 PM
Here's one . . .

What if Charlie Dominici stayed with the band to record IAW? Do you think it would have had the same success? Less? More?

And what would their career be like? Would most of us even know about them?

WOAH AH AH! WOAH AH AH! WOAH AH aaaaaaaaaaaah!

I'm new to the forums, still don't know what and what not to say (as you will see if you look at my activity) :lol

..and you joined a day before me,  so where kindred spirits  :biggrin:

But seriously, even though I've followed DTF for months on the sidelines without signing, I'm still learning this stuff too  :eek
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: CDrice on November 27, 2015, 06:05:33 PM
Here's one . . .

What if Charlie Dominici stayed with the band to record IAW? Do you think it would have had the same success? Less? More?

And what would their career be like? Would most of us even know about them?

WOAH AH AH! WOAH AH AH! WOAH AH aaaaaaaaaaaah!

I'm new to the forums, still don't know what and what not to say (as you will see if you look at my activity) :lol

Oh no I wasn't meaning to anything negative to you. And I'm relatively new too. I think I joined in june, but I don't post a lot, so I'm also still learning things  :)

I was just poking a bit of fun at how Charlie sings the ending of The Killing Hand where he switch to falsetto (I am the Killing haaaaaaand). Except that to answer your ''what if'' question, I applied the same idea to Learning to Live instead. Sorry for the confusion  :lol
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Pragmaticcircus on November 27, 2015, 06:08:27 PM
Could you imagine Dominici singing the Canadian rap or TDEN?
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Nomaniac on November 27, 2015, 06:11:54 PM
Here's one . . .

What if Charlie Dominici stayed with the band to record IAW? Do you think it would have had the same success? Less? More?

And what would their career be like? Would most of us even know about them?

WOAH AH AH! WOAH AH AH! WOAH AH aaaaaaaaaaaah!

I'm new to the forums, still don't know what and what not to say (as you will see if you look at my activity) :lol

Oh no I wasn't meaning to anything negative to you. And I'm relatively new too. I think I joined in june, but I don't post a lot, so I'm also still learning things  :)

I was just poking a bit of fun at how Charlie sings the ending of The Killing Hand where he switch to falsetto (I am the Killing haaaaaaand). Except that to answer your ''what if'' question, I applied the same idea to Learning to Live instead. Sorry for the confusion  :lol

 :lol No, no, not your fault . . . leave it to me to misinterpret (that's one of my great talents) xD

I see now . . .  :lol :rollin

Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Nomaniac on November 27, 2015, 06:12:41 PM
Could you imagine Dominici singing the Canadian rap or TDEN?

. . . Maybe my idea wasn' t so great *shivers* . . .  :lol
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Pragmaticcircus on November 27, 2015, 06:18:01 PM
Could you imagine Dominici singing the Canadian rap or TDEN?

. . . Maybe my idea wasn' t so great *shivers* . . .  :lol

I'd love to hear that though!  :lol
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Pragmaticcircus on November 27, 2015, 06:20:28 PM
What about this DT lineup?: (for fun)

Guitar - John Petrucci
Bass - John Myung
Drums - Mike Mangini
Keyboard - Derek Sherinian
Vocals - Charlie Dominici

 :corn
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: BlobVanDam on November 27, 2015, 07:58:46 PM
Here's one . . .

What if Charlie Dominici stayed with the band to record IAW? Do you think it would have had the same success? Less? More?

And what would their career be like? Would most of us even know about them?

With no offense to Charlie Dominici, I think the answer to that is pretty obvious.
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Train of Naught on November 27, 2015, 11:56:33 PM
What if.. we live in a world where CDrice's jokes aren't justified?
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: MirrorMask on November 28, 2015, 06:35:49 AM
So, my "what if" is, "what if Portnoy didn't leave; what was the next album covered?" and a follow up, "what was the next batch of Ytsejam releases?"
First answer: Moving Pictures.

THANKS! Now I finally now, always wondered that.

Well, not really "always" but I really wanted to know at some point.
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: CDrice on November 28, 2015, 07:37:05 AM
What if.. we live in a world where CDrice's jokes aren't justified?

Is it not the world where we already live in though?
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Train of Naught on November 28, 2015, 07:57:19 AM
Oh my bad, looped it around.
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Agalsed on November 28, 2015, 01:34:45 PM
Okay how about this . . . what if Dream Theater had kept the line-up of LaBrie-Petrucci-Myung-Moore-Portnoy all the way until today? How specifically do you think their music would be different and how would it be similar?

Sorry if that's too far out there for this thread  :lol

This was my first thought. Moore had such a different place and effect on the band than Jordan does. I think the biggest thing would be that the lyrics may have stayed more philosophical, poetic, and introspective than they are now. I love Jordan, so I am glad I didn't see this happen but it is a very interesting thought. Moore was a fantastic lyricist and songwriter. I would have enjoyed seeing how the band evolved with his continued input. We also would have seen SDV played live a lot sooner ;)
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Agalsed on November 28, 2015, 01:36:32 PM
/\ Funny you should mention meshuggah, I was actually wondering how interesting DT's version of Bleed would sound like. Of course, they'd have to invite Jens to sing over it, but I think it would sound pretty cool. With weird Rudess solos, of course!

What if... the final version of Nightmare to Remember actually had the real "cookie monster" vocals by MP on the final version? I think that would've alienated people from that part of the song more than it already did (for my money I think MP actually sings great in that part. Really!)

Ah I wish this what if were true! When I heard that clip of the death growls in ANTR I almost crapped. Those vocals sound SO much better than MP's final vocals. Then again, I am very into death and black metal, so I'm sure that keeping those vox would have alienated plenty of fans.
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Agalsed on November 28, 2015, 01:38:23 PM
What if JP left instead of MP?

I think that DT would cease to exist at that point. MP was important but JP is the main songwriter and really defines the sound of the band.

I agree. I've always thought that if Petrucci left, the band would collapse. Honestly, as much as some might disagree, I think MP was only the third most important member of the band when he left. Most devastating would be JP leaving; next would be James leaving. I couldn't Imagine DT with anyone but JLB singing  :eek
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Pragmaticcircus on November 29, 2015, 10:32:07 PM
What if SDOIT was released as a single Cd? Would that have improved the album or made it worse? (not sure how to word that)
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: BlobVanDam on November 29, 2015, 10:34:49 PM
What if SDOIT was released as a single Cd? Would that have improved the album or made it worse? (not sure how to word that)

It's already perfect from start to finish, so removing any material would have been less perfection and thus worse. :biggrin:

MP did say what songs they would have removed to make it a single disc. Pretty sure it was Disappear and something, maybe Blind Faith?
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Train of Naught on November 30, 2015, 02:35:58 AM
What if SDOIT was released as a single Cd? Would that have improved the album or made it worse? (not sure how to word that)

It's already perfect from start to finish, so removing any material would have been less perfection and thus worse. :biggrin:

MP did say what songs they would have removed to make it a single disc. Pretty sure it was Disappear and something, maybe Blind Faith?
Hey waddya know, my bottom 2. But it would still be a tragedy not to have them.
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: IDontNotDoThings on November 30, 2015, 02:49:19 AM
What if SDOIT was released as a single Cd? Would that have improved the album or made it worse? (not sure how to word that)
MP did say what songs they would have removed to make it a single disc. Pretty sure it was Disappear and something, maybe Blind Faith?
I think Disappear & Misunderstood, but I think he just said that because they were the two shortest songs.
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: BlobVanDam on November 30, 2015, 02:52:56 AM
What if SDOIT was released as a single Cd? Would that have improved the album or made it worse? (not sure how to word that)
MP did say what songs they would have removed to make it a single disc. Pretty sure it was Disappear and something, maybe Blind Faith?
I think Disappear & Misunderstood, but I think he just said that because they were the two shortest songs.

I just found this on MP's FAQ, which is probably what I was thinking of-

"MP: That's a question I didn't want to have to come up with an answer for when we finished the record, and luckily we were able to sidestep having to come up with a solution. I did lay awake a few nights pondering that thought, and the problem was that we had 95 minutes of music. I think off the top of my head that Blind Faith or Disappear would have been the first to go. But either of them by themselves would still not be enough to bring the album down to 80 minutes, so we would have been stuck in the position of having to cut *two* songs if Six Degrees wasn't one of them. It would have been a horrible puzzle to try to figure out, and I'm glad that I didn't have to come up with a solution to that one."
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: AboutToCrash on November 30, 2015, 06:19:47 AM
What if Dream Theater had stayed with EastWest?
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Stadler on November 30, 2015, 07:37:21 AM
Here's one . . .

What if Charlie Dominici stayed with the band to record IAW? Do you think it would have had the same success? Less? More?

And what would their career be like? Would most of us even know about them?

Honestly, no knock on Charlie specifically, because I don't think he sucks or anything, and in my experience, he's been a classy guy, but I can say for me, I would not be a DT fan.  I heard "Pull Me Under" when it was first released in the summer of '92, and went out and got the record, and was BLOWN AWAY by James LaBrie.  I couldn't believe someone was singing like that.  I warmed to the rest of the band pretty quickly, but I don't know that I would have given them the attention I did if it wasn't for James.
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: MajorBoobage on November 30, 2015, 11:25:27 AM
What if JP let his beard grow even longer and they became ZZ Top?
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Nomaniac on November 30, 2015, 11:45:14 AM
What if JP let his beard grow even longer and they become ZZ Top?

You sir, just won the internet for today :lol :rollin
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Setlist Scotty on November 30, 2015, 05:00:43 PM
What if JP let his beard grow even longer and they become ZZ Top?

You sir, just won the internet for today :lol :rollin
Too late!
https://youtu.be/VXTp2pFj9dg?t=196
:-p
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: V_R11 on December 01, 2015, 02:06:49 AM
What if John Myung left?
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: CDrice on December 01, 2015, 06:27:31 AM
What if John Myung left?

It wouldn't matter since we can never hear his bass anyway. :neverusethis:
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Art on December 01, 2015, 08:59:04 AM
What if FII was a HUGE commercial hit, with a nş 1 single? How would it affect the band? Would they keep Derek? Would they try to make the next album even more radio-friendly? Would Desmond Child write more songs with them? Would SFAM exist?
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Nomaniac on December 01, 2015, 10:50:48 AM
What if FII was a HUGE commercial hit, with a nş 1 single? How would it affect the band? Would they keep Derek? Would they try to make the next album even more radio-friendly? Would Desmond Child write more songs with them? Would SFAM exist?

You know I think that's the best question we've had so far . . . interesting!

I honestly think it would have changed the band's direction . . . I think they would still be DT and awesome like that but they would have also tried to pander to their "newer fans." I think they would have still released "SFaM" but it perhaps might have been a bit different, maybe even with Desmond Child on some songs (oh no  :lol ).

I think eventually though, as the limelight faded away, they would have gone back into their normal style ;)
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: MirrorMask on December 01, 2015, 11:47:03 AM
Portnoy would have quit then, the frustation of seeing that he was "wrong" in trying to stick to their guns and Petrucci (and the others) were "right" in giving in would have drove him away I believe.

He's the one that suffered the most from the FII sessions so I'm not sure he would have stuck around with the label telling him "See? we were right, here's Desmond Child, make him your new best friend".
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: OleMP on December 01, 2015, 12:35:09 PM
What if DT added a second guitarist? Who would you guys want? I would personally chose Andy James. He is talented enough, and his style would fit perfectly along John Petrucci.
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: MirrorMask on December 01, 2015, 12:42:38 PM
Derek Sherinian  ;D
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: OpenYourEyes311 on December 01, 2015, 02:10:39 PM
"what was the next batch of Ytsejam releases?"

I realize this has been answered already, but wanted to share the link to where MP said it: https://www.mikeportnoy.com/forum/fb.ashx?m=2782918

EDIT: It really breaks my heart that these were never released.

The acoustic show is an amazing show, with all four unreleased tracks that they had played at the time (excluding Raise the Knife), plus a bunch of cool covers. Having a great version of that would be fantastic.

The BC&SL shows would be really cool, especially since the Japan show would have five tracks that have not been released on DVD anywhere else (4 from BC&SL and Prophets of War)

The Six Degrees CD would be great since that's my favorite album, I'd love to hear it come together. I actually sometimes go back and listen to the other Making of CDs. They're pretty fun.

And the Rush disc would be great. I enjoy Rush a lot and would love to hear DT cover some of their stuff. Interested to know if the Rush Medley from the acoustic show would have made this disc as well, or if it would be a different version from another night, or included at all.
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Pebsie on December 02, 2015, 04:58:24 AM
Okay how about this . . . what if Dream Theater had kept the line-up of LaBrie-Petrucci-Myung-Moore-Portnoy all the way until today? How specifically do you think their music would be different and how would it be similar?

Sorry if that's too far out there for this thread  :lol

It might've just been the 90s but I've noticed them get more and more cinematic following Rudess' arrival. As much as I love Jordan, I think that I preferred Moore's somewhat strange sounds, same with Sherinian.
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Darkstarshades on December 23, 2015, 08:52:58 PM
I'm resurrecting this thread, it's such a good idea.

What if Jordan had agreed to join DT when he was first given the chance to? This way we wouldn't have had Derek, and vertainly not the same FII we had.

However, pretty sure that wouldn't have changed the record company's idea of making commercial songs, so I can't really tell what would have been of SFAM.
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Prog Snob on December 23, 2015, 09:18:21 PM
What if Jordan had agreed to join DT when he was first given the chance to? This way we wouldn't have had Derek, and vertainly not the same FII we had.

That is vertainly a valid visualization and I vociferously agree with your vivacious and vivid postulation.

(https://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/y393/Prog_Snob/vendetta_07_zpsogd1zama.jpg)
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Darkstarshades on December 24, 2015, 12:01:43 AM
What if Jordan had agreed to join DT when he was first given the chance to? This way we wouldn't have had Derek, and vertainly not the same FII we had.

That is vertainly a valid visualization and I vociferously agree with your vivacious and vivid postulation.

(https://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/y393/Prog_Snob/vendetta_07_zpsogd1zama.jpg)

I dress up as him every Halloween and recite all of his phrases, as well as his intro speech, lol, big fan of that dude.
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: gabeh1018 on December 24, 2015, 05:40:05 AM
I am surprised no one else has suggested this what if yet...
but what if dream theater had gone with a more  accessible singer than James Labrie? Would they be more successful? Don't get me wrong, I've loved james from the minute i heard him on under a glass moon, but the most common thing I hear from other musicians or fans of this type of music is "the music is good, just not a fan of the singer" so on and so forth
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: MirrorMask on January 16, 2016, 07:54:09 AM
Another resurrection for another What If no one asked so far:

What if James never had that fateful food poisoning accident? is it safe to assume that for all his prime he would have sang like on Live at the Marquee, would people (the one, see post above, that don't love him anyway) be more receptive of him had he stayed a live war machine rather than taking 10 years before fully recovering his whole range?
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Darkstarshades on February 02, 2016, 09:12:32 PM
Another resurrection for another What If no one asked so far:

What if James never had that fateful food poisoning accident? is it safe to assume that for all his prime he would have sang like on Live at the Marquee, would people (the one, see post above, that don't love him anyway) be more receptive of him had he stayed a live war machine rather than taking 10 years before fully recovering his whole range?

I actually like his singing in FII, can't imagine how would have he sounded.
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: erwinrafael on February 03, 2016, 03:25:49 AM
Another resurrection for another What If no one asked so far:

What if James never had that fateful food poisoning accident? is it safe to assume that for all his prime he would have sang like on Live at the Marquee, would people (the one, see post above, that don't love him anyway) be more receptive of him had he stayed a live war machine rather than taking 10 years before fully recovering his whole range?

I actually like his singing in FII, can't imagine how would have he sounded.

For some reason, I think it benefited him in terms of longevity because they might have kept on pushing his vocals with songs ala Another Day and Innocence Faded.
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Vlasto on February 03, 2016, 03:58:13 AM
right thread for a lot of random ‘ what if ‘ questions floating in my mind as listening TA …
… what if this album was released by other known band …
… what if this is album was released back in 1991 …
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Pragmaticcircus on October 28, 2016, 06:18:14 AM
Man, OP had the right idea but wasn't he a bit of a hippie type?

"what if Octavarium is just us experiencing our existence through ourselves and our reality is merely just like, a dream bro?"
 :mehlin

What was OP on?  :corn
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Pragmaticcircus on November 06, 2016, 11:55:56 AM
Man, OP had the right idea but wasn't he a bit of a hippie type?

"what if Octavarium is just us experiencing our existence through ourselves and our reality is merely just like, a dream bro?"
 :mehlin

What was OP on?  :corn

I find that I have to agree with this statement, unfortunately
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: King Postwhore on November 06, 2016, 02:16:47 PM
Who are you Dave Mustaine sweating bullets?
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: Ben_Jamin on September 21, 2017, 05:04:00 PM
What if Honor Thy Father had different lyrics? The music is awesome in that song I'd say the best on ToT but is ruined by these lyrics. Id like to hear it live one day.
Title: Re: The What If? Thread
Post by: MirrorMask on September 22, 2017, 01:02:58 AM
What if Honor Thy Father had different lyrics? The music is awesome in that song I'd say the best on ToT but is ruined by these lyrics. Id like to hear it live one day.

I personally don't like the music. Good for you and for anyone else who digs the song, I don't really care for it, it's not my type of heaviness.

And generally yes, if it didn't have such specific lyrics, probably it would have had more staying power live.