Hypothetical: James Is Unable To Tour. Best Singer To Replace Him, If Any?

[adamack]

Let's say, hypothetically of course, that DT has a tour booked. However, James is unable to tour because he's broken his leg. Or, for any other reason you wish. Let's also say that DT HAS to go on without him for this tour. As DT fans, we are all hugely disappointed and we are faced with 2 options:

Let's say they could either:

1. Find a replacement singer, or...
2. Play all of the instrumentals without a vocalist.

If you choose option 1, which singer do you think would fit best?

It can be any singer from any band, and you can even choose a deceased or retired singer from any era of music. I know that nobody else can represent DT the same way James has, and does.  But I'm just curious to know who could come CLOSEST to helping DT have an entertaining and successful tour.

Or, if you choose option 2, feel free to elaborate. Should the tour consist mainly of their songs which are already instrumentals to begin with? Should they create new "Instrumedlies" which combine the instrumental sections of songs like Endless Sacrifice and TCoT? Should they have JR play the vocal melody lines using a voicing on his keyboard?

I think I would choose option 1. Many will disagree with this, but I think I'd choose Russell Allen. He has a powerful voice, is ALWAYS on pitch, he can sing metal songs as well as ballads, and he can sound modern without sounding too operatic unlike someone like Charlie Dominici. I've always loved Russell's voice.

Who, if anyone, do you think would give DT the best chance at a successful tour? Or would you just like to hear the instrumentals?

[JiM-Xtreme]

Bruce Dickinson.

Obviously, it would never happen, but since we're being "hypothetical..." 

[adamack]

Bruce Dickinson.

Obviously, it would never happen, but since we're being "hypothetical..." 

Not with that attitude it won't! 

Nice pick though. While I've never been a Maiden fan and am not too familiar with his music, I've heard enough of him to know that he has the chops and showmanship to make it a success. I think someone like him would sound WAY better performing DT's earlier material (WDaDU until Awake) than he would on the FII and beyond era stuff. I think I would actually prefer Bruce over Dominici if he were to sing songs from WDaDU!

[hefdaddy42]

Going without a vocalist is not a realistic option.

So I volunteer.

[RoeDent]

I can't help but think of Ted Leonard. Not too sure if he could hit the extreme notes (F# in LtL, for example), but his voice is amazing!

[TheGreatPretender]

This guy, Lance King.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbyJ64kVaaw


But let's not.

[adamack]

Going without a vocalist is not a realistic option.

So I volunteer.

Man, how amazing would that feel?

I can't help but think of Ted Leonard. Not too sure if he could hit the extreme notes (F# in LtL, for example), but his voice is amazing!

WOWW I totally forgot about him!! I actually never knew his name until I Google'd it, but I've loved every Spock's Beard singer (Neal, Nick, and Ted). Not sure if he could hit the extreme notes either, but he may be able to work with what he has. Even if he had to change some of the high notes to lower ones which work (as James does from time to time), that could be cool.

[The Letter M]

I can't help but think of Ted Leonard. Not too sure if he could hit the extreme notes (F# in LtL, for example), but his voice is amazing!

I like this idea. Ted has some good range and he's not a stranger to the metal side of prog.

If no vocalist, they could do a small tour and call it the DREAM THEATER INSTRUMENTOUR!!!

It'll be especially special.

-Marc.

[hefdaddy42]

Going without a vocalist is not a realistic option.

So I volunteer.

Man, how amazing would that feel?

Painful, probably.  I can sing most of LaBrie's stuff, but singing that much of it in one sitting - pretty taxing.  He gets a lot of respect from me.

But yeah, that would be awesome.

[JayOctavarium]

Myles Kennedy is the only correct answer

[rumborak]

Wait, what? This thread has how many replies at this point, and nobody suggests...


Nicky?

I'd watch that. Like, seriously. Once and then never again, but fuck I'd watch that.

[TAC]

Wait, what? This thread has how many replies at this point, and nobody suggests...

Nicky?

It was the first thing I thought of when I opened the thread a couple hours ago, but I just couldn't bring myself to type his name.

[King Postwhore]

Wait, what? This thread has how many replies at this point, and nobody suggests...


Nicky?

I'd watch that. Like, seriously. Once and then never again, but fuck I'd watch that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txuWGoZF3ew

[Anguyen92]

Myles Kennedy is the only correct answer

As much I really love this guy (he is one of my top two real-life heroes of all time, the other being Mark Tremonti), I don't know if he can/wants to pull off this kind of touring style of 2.5+ hour shows that DT does (believe me, I would love nothing more for him to do 2.5 hour shows with Alter Bridge).  Also, I'm sure some people would be really picky to his approach of singing DT songs as much as a scenario of AB fans are picky to JLB's approach if he sings AB songs.

As for the actual question, I have no idea.  I wouldn't mind DT doing instrumentals without a vocalist for a couple of shows.  I mean if there was an instance where a tour has been announced four months in advance and JLB had something happen to him where he can't do the shows with a few days before the tour began, the show must go on and paying fans, who went through a decent amount of commitment so that they can see their favorite band, needs to feel happy that they came.  Everyone else is great enough to come up with something on short notice that can make the fans happy.

[BlobVanDam]

Going without a vocalist is not a realistic option.

So I volunteer.

I'd pay double to see that.

[Grizz]

Chris Collins, and all they play is Your Majesty repeating those four measures for 3 hours straight.

[Madman Shepherd]

Ronnie James Dio

[Rodni Demental]

Myles Kennedy is the only correct answer

Pretty much. Although Russell Allen also crosses my mind.

[Prog Snob]

Ray Alder

[The Presence of Frenemies]

John West.

[hefdaddy42]

Going without a vocalist is not a realistic option.

So I volunteer.

I'd pay double to see that.

I love you.

[BlobVanDam]

Going without a vocalist is not a realistic option.

So I volunteer.

I'd pay double to see that.

I love you.

[King Postwhore]

Going without a vocalist is not a realistic option.

So I volunteer.

I'd pay double to see that.

I love you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5HOt0ZOcYk

[hefdaddy42]

[Art]

Since Russell and Bruce have already been mentioned, how about Jorn Lande? Or maybe Michael Kiske?

I think they could do it.

[the_silent_man]

How many times has this kind of thread been done before?

Personally, I'm not sure I'd see them without LaBrie. He's part of what makes DT so iconic and they'd be fucked if he ever left.

[Siddhartha]

Michael Kiske

[Bertielee]

Michael Sweet or Tony Harnell. No kidding.

B.Lee

[Infinite Cactus]

Young Sammy Hagar.

[adamack]

How many times has this kind of thread been done before?

Personally, I'm not sure I'd see them without LaBrie. He's part of what makes DT so iconic and they'd be fucked if he ever left.

I wasn't around the forums for the longest time (a big chunk of the last year), so I likely missed similar threads.

[adamack]

I can't help but think of Ted Leonard. Not too sure if he could hit the extreme notes (F# in LtL, for example), but his voice is amazing!

I like this idea. Ted has some good range and he's not a stranger to the metal side of prog.

If no vocalist, they could do a small tour and call it the DREAM THEATER INSTRUMENTOUR!!!

It'll be especially special.

-Marc.

The Instrumentour idea is awesome! Love the name too. It would DEFINITELY be what they would call it.

As you noted, the tour could be smaller (from a standpoint of number of shows), and the sets could probably stand to be a bit shorter themselves too.

Between Erotomania, EM, Eve, FAS, Hell's Kitchen, TDoE, Overture: 1928, SoC, and Ytse Jam, that would be roughly 50+ minutes of music, which is a solid start.

From there, I would absolutely love it if they could throw in a few Liquid Tension songs. My favs are Biaxident, Acid Rain, When The Water Breaks, State of Grace, and Paradigm Shift. So maybe 2-3 of those to fill out the show.

[TheGreatPretender]

Well DT's music in general is very interesting instrumentally, so they could even play some songs simply without JLB. Songs like Metropolis, Fatal Tragedy, etc, where there are long instrumental breakdowns. Heck, they could even add some extra noodling on the parts where the vocals would be, or simply shorten those parts to make the songs a bit tighter, and I think they'd go over great.

[Dublagent66]

How many times has this kind of thread been done before?

Personally, I'm not sure I'd see them without LaBrie. He's part of what makes DT so iconic and they'd be fucked if he ever left.

Too many times.  How bout a "hypothetical JP unable to tour" thread.  Hmm...let me think.  Mick Mars?  

[Bertielee]

How many times has this kind of thread been done before?

Personally, I'm not sure I'd see them without LaBrie. He's part of what makes DT so iconic and they'd be fucked if he ever left.

Too many times.  How bout a "hypothetical JP unable to tour" thread.  Hmm...let me think.  Mick Mars?  

CC Deville? 

B.Lee

[nikatapi]

Tommy Karevik is a great option, incredible singer.
Also, Daniel Dildenlow would be beyond awesome, but different.