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

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

Greg Puciato is the obvious choice.

[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.

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.

And they could always make up a new Instrumedley. They've had 5 new albums since the last Instrumedley, with a LOT of extended instrumental sections they could pull from.

-Marc.

[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.

And they could always make up a new Instrumedley. They've had 5 new albums since the last Instrumedley, with a LOT of extended instrumental sections they could pull from.

-Marc.

Absolutely. I'd love to hear an Instrumedley with TCoT, BAI or Outcry, ITPoE (Part 1), TMoLS, and Sacrificed Sons. That would be worth the price of admission alone!

[Calvin6s]

Mike Portnoy

[TheGreatPretender]

Mike Portnoy

I was just thinking about that.  I was remembering that one Metalocalypse episode where their rhythm guitarist Toki joined a cover band of themselves, but he joined AS their lead guitarist.
It would be pretty funny if Mike Portnoy joined a Dream Theater cover band as James LaBrie. 

[YtseJam]

Eric AK

[daykrush]

This guy, Lance King.

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


But let's not.

Holy crap, never heard of this band.......thanks...

[daykrush]

I can't think of DT without JLB but if .......Micheal Sweet of Stryper would come close for me...

[jjrock88]

Russell Allen

[Flacracker]

Russel Allen is obscure enough that DT would be a step up and he sings like a beast.

[TheGreatPretender]

Holy crap, never heard of this band.......thanks...

No problem man! Yeah, he's an amazing vocalist, and he's done several bands since he actually owns his own record label which basically promotes obscure prog and power metal bands. https://www.nightmarerecords.com/

Apparently, according to him, he actually used to know JLB back in the day, before DT, and according to him, he actually inspired JLB's style... I don't know how true that is.  But he's still got a great voice, and a great taste for classic prog metal stuff.

[wolfking]

Mike Portnoy

I was just thinking about that.  I was remembering that one Metalocalypse episode where their rhythm guitarist Toki joined a cover band of themselves, but he joined AS their lead guitarist.
It would be pretty funny if Mike Portnoy joined a Dream Theater cover band as James LaBrie. 

JP: *rings MP* "Hey Mike, It's John."
MP: "Whoa, hi John, how are you, what up?"
JP: "Look man, James is out of the tour but we don't want to let the fans down, I thought you handling the vox would be a great thing for everyone, what do you think?"
MP: "Holy shit, yeah man, absolutely, I've waited years for this day, you won't remember James' name after I'm done.  Man, I'm so excited.  Send me through the setlist and I'll get ready."
JP: "Sending it through now man."
MP: *opens email and reads setlist*

The Crimson Sunrise
Stream of Consciuosness
The Dance of Eternity
Enigma Machine
Overture 1928
Erotomania
The Darkest of Winters
Ytse Jam

False Awakening Suite
Eve
Hell's Kitchen

MP: "Hey John, where's the rest, this is just all instrumentals?  Am I playing drums or something?"
JP & JLB:

[TAC]

 
That's cruel, brother.

[JayOctavarium]

Mike Portnoy

I was just thinking about that.  I was remembering that one Metalocalypse episode where their rhythm guitarist Toki joined a cover band of themselves, but he joined AS their lead guitarist.
It would be pretty funny if Mike Portnoy joined a Dream Theater cover band as James LaBrie. 

JP: *rings MP* "Hey Mike, It's John."
MP: "Whoa, hi John, how are you, what up?"
JP: "Look man, James is out of the tour but we don't want to let the fans down, I thought you handling the vox would be a great thing for everyone, what do you think?"
MP: "Holy shit, yeah man, absolutely, I've waited years for this day, you won't remember James' name after I'm done.  Man, I'm so excited.  Send me through the setlist and I'll get ready."
JP: "Sending it through now man."
MP: *opens email and reads setlist*

The Crimson Sunrise
Stream of Consciuosness
The Dance of Eternity
Enigma Machine
Overture 1928
Erotomania
The Darkest of Winters
Ytse Jam

False Awakening Suite
Eve
Hell's Kitchen

MP: "Hey John, where's the rest, this is just all instrumentals?  Am I playing drums or something?"
JP & JLB:

[NotePad]

Michael Kiske. Or the Sonata Arctica guy

[lonestar]

Hmmmm, Lance King would be good, and Tommy is an excellent suggestion, he's an amazing frontman as well as vocalist.


For a twist, how about Floor Jansen, cause I'd watch her sing anything...

[RaiseTheKnife]

They would either play an all instrumental set like the late 80's or they wouldn't tour at all.  I'm sure an instrumental set would be fun and successful, with lots of jams.

[rumborak]

You know ... given that they play to click these days ... they wouldn't need a replacement singer. They could just pipe in the album vocals.

[MetropolisDLX]

I think Michael Eriksen from Circus Maximus would be fantastic.

[BlobVanDam]

You know ... given that they play to click these days ... they wouldn't need a replacement singer. They could just pipe in the album vocals.

But they still need a frontman to mime along. I second Nicky either way.

[TheAtliator]

Lawrence Gowan would be my choice.

[rumborak]

You know ... given that they play to click these days ... they wouldn't need a replacement singer. They could just pipe in the album vocals.

But they still need a frontman to mime along. I second Nicky either way.

How glorious would that be.

Another option would be that fake 3D technology onstage that was used a few years back for showing MJ and 2Pac.

[Anguyen92]

^^ Wow, do we really want DT go to the route of using holograms?  How about getting JLB (if the injury is not voice-related) to sing from the threshold of his own house via Skype or something?

[Moor]

 

Mike Portnoy

I was just thinking about that.  I was remembering that one Metalocalypse episode where their rhythm guitarist Toki joined a cover band of themselves, but he joined AS their lead guitarist.
It would be pretty funny if Mike Portnoy joined a Dream Theater cover band as James LaBrie. 

JP: *rings MP* "Hey Mike, It's John."
MP: "Whoa, hi John, how are you, what up?"
JP: "Look man, James is out of the tour but we don't want to let the fans down, I thought you handling the vox would be a great thing for everyone, what do you think?"
MP: "Holy shit, yeah man, absolutely, I've waited years for this day, you won't remember James' name after I'm done.  Man, I'm so excited.  Send me through the setlist and I'll get ready."
JP: "Sending it through now man."
MP: *opens email and reads setlist*

The Crimson Sunrise
Stream of Consciuosness
The Dance of Eternity
Enigma Machine
Overture 1928
Erotomania
The Darkest of Winters
Ytse Jam

False Awakening Suite
Eve
Hell's Kitchen

MP: "Hey John, where's the rest, this is just all instrumentals?  Am I playing drums or something?"
JP & JLB:

[JediKnight1969]

Serj Tankian.

[contest_sanity]

Matt Smith from Theocracy

good introduction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lF5x2XzLSzk

Then listen to the scream to open this track (unreal!!!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B24j9fnkxo4

[Tick]

I think Michael Eriksen from Circus Maximus would be fantastic.

This.

[El Barto]

Well, DT is rapidly dropping towards the "ignore" category for me, and LTE is on my "see at all costs" list, so I'd be all kinds of up for an instrumental set.

Another option would be that fake 3D technology onstage that was used a few years back for showing MJ and 2Pac.

Who would notice?

[Stadler]

Man, there are some interesting (and not necessarily in a good way) suggestions here.    Still amazed at the love for Russell Allen; haven't heard it yet. 

The only two named so far that I would pay to see are Bruce and Myles (and he did a 2hr and 15 minute set with Slash, so I'm pretty sure the durability is there). 

[Kotowboy]

Justin Hawkins from The Darkness. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSGa1dW_KoE

[James Mypetgiress]

I don't think he would suit, but, just because DT and Green Day are my all time top fave bands, Billie Joe Armstrong.
I also think he would jump at the opportunity, as he's having a go at loads of different genres ATM!

[Art]

 

I don't think he would suit, but, just because DT and Green Day are my all time top fave bands, Billie Joe Armstrong.
I also think he would jump at the opportunity, as he's having a go at loads of different genres ATM!

 

[JayOctavarium]

Oh god ^

[jjrock88]

I don't think he would suit, but, just because DT and Green Day are my all time top fave bands, Billie Joe Armstrong.
I also think he would jump at the opportunity, as he's having a go at loads of different genres ATM!

The backlash would be off the charts

[bl5150]

Six Degrees of American Idiot