MP Interview on Backstage Axxess makes me nervous!

[ariich]

Oh yeah, I didn't mean to single out this forum as though it was any worse than fandom in general, or indeed the public in general (quite the opposite in fact).

[FabiotheIguana]

Where did Blob go?!

There was a good 5 months where I was never on here...

[Zook]

He got eaten by a Kangaroo.

[MetalManiac666]

Indeed, it was a tragic event.

@OP: I extremely doubt MP would leave DT.  As other people (including MP himself) have said, DT is his baby.

[setrataeso]

Where did Blob go?!

There was a good 5 months where I was never on here...

He lost the game. Permanently.
And now you did too.

[Dream Team]

The 3rd time someone has asked:

In reference to the OP, what were these comments by JLB?

I'm pretty sure he was referring to MP's comments about JLB in a recent interview. It was practically nothing, MP just explained that he isn't as into big waily vocals as he used to be, but that JLB was absolutely the right voice for DT. But you know what this forum is like, people somehow took that to mean that MP doesn't like JLB's vocals and would replace him if he could.

But the thing is, JLB DOESN'T do "waily" vocals anymore; they won't let him. So why is he still saying he doesn't care that much for "that style" of vocals anymore? And just to emphasize again, "that style" includes guys like Halford, Dickinson, Plant, Gillan, etc . . . all horrible vocalists  .

[ariich]

Well done for proving my point.

He mentioned it because he was asked about it. And no, JLB doesn't really do waily vocals anymore, which is kind of the point. Have you listened to his solo albums? He barely does any in those anymore either.

And, once again, MP didn't say that he dislikes that style of vocals, just that he isn't AS INTO THEM AS HE USED TO BE. Are you telling me that you expect to have exactly the same tastes in 20 years as you do now?

[bosk1]

I'd say they're pretty bad.  If I have difficulty listening to songs due to the sheer retardedness of their lyrics, I would classify them as bad.

GP, you've been around long enough that you should know that while I allow a LOT of leeway in terms of what constitutes "constructive criticism," calling something "retarded" definitely crosses the line.  Watch it.


And along those lines, ITNOG, consider this your first and final warning on the subject.  Posts like this cross WAY over the line, and given that this is only a small sampling of what I've seen you post recently, anything more from you that even slightly smacks of bashing the band or forum members, and you are out of here for good.

This.

I can only listen to the opening and closing segments of The Best of Times.

The lyrics are just unbelievably bad. Shocking really. (although I respect what the song is about)

I would consider TCOT a great song if only the lyrics didn't look like they came from a 10 year old boy.

Maybe it was intentional (I am aware of the story behind it), but I can't take the song seriously with lyrics like that. It's laughable.

DT's past 2 albums have had very poor lyrics, IMO. There are one or two exceptions of course, but they have the ability to do much better.

DT are a pompous band and they seem to strive for musical perfection. I see no reason why they can't take more time with the lyrics, as they'd be an almost different band entirely. And change is good. If (and it's a big if) they can get much worse for the next album, I think i'll be calling it a day with DT. I want to see something a bit different.

[LKap13]

I don't think JLB's not doing "waily" vocals has as much to do with a change in preference as a lack of ability due to his vocal chord injury. I mean, he hasn't really done too much high-pitched stuff since Awake.

[tri.ad]

Nope. Check any performance of I&W and Awake songs he's done during the last two tours. His voice is in very good shape.

Also, keep in mind that JLB is 47 now. And for a man his age and regarding his history with vocal chords and stuff, it's amazing that he can belt out these high notes.

[LKap13]

I've been to 4 shows of the last two tours: PN09 Asbury Park, PN09 NYC, One-off Worcester, Maiden MSG. His vocal performances have been awesome. Still, I don't think he's quite hitting the high notes of I&W and Awake.

Off topic, but the Worcester one-off show that DT did in July was hands down the best show I've been to since Radio City. It was amazing.

[ariich]

He wasn't as strong on the SC tour, particularly with the high notes, not sure why that was. But he was great on the Octavarium tour and IMO even better on the BC&SL tour, certainly when I saw them.

[bosk1]

I've got copies of a number of shows from the SC tour, and he was as good at some shows as he has ever been, and was off at others.  I think for the most part, it was a great tour for him, but perhaps just a bit inconsistent.  Unfortunately, the CiM disks seem to have culled more of the bad than the good.

[Birch Boy]

I've been to 4 shows of the last two tours: PN10 Asbury Park, PN10 NYC, One-off Worcester, Maiden MSG. His vocal performances have been awesome. Still, I don't think he's quite hitting the high notes of I&W and Awake.

Off topic, but the Worcester one-off show that DT did in July was hands down the best show I've been to since Radio City. It was amazing.

PN10?

[LKap13]

PN09... my fault, I'll edit that.

[Birch Boy]

No worries. And they played New York on Progressive Nation 2009???

[LKap13]

Yup. Beacon Theater. Dweezil Zappa came out and played with JP during the Metropolis instrumental section.

[InTheNameOfGod]

And along those lines, ITNOG, consider this your first and final warning on the subject.  Posts like this cross WAY over the line, and given that this is only a small sampling of what I've seen you post recently, anything more from you that even slightly smacks of bashing the band or forum members, and you are out of here for good.

How is anything i've said 'over the line'? And what do you mean by 'small sampling of what i've seen you post recently'? And how does that instantly result in a final warning? Are you actually being serious?

Is it against the rules to criticize DT?

If it is, then that's pathetic, really. In no way was I being insulting to anyone else, nor even to DT, who are a band I respect and still admire. The comments i've made, I stand by. If I get banned for something as little and meaningless as that (giving my true opinion), then I guess this forum wouldn't be worth coming back to again, so no need for a ban. I'll do it myself.

Jeez, you need to lighten up, dude. It's as if you think Portnoy himself comes on this forum and inspects each and every single post. We're all DT fans, we have all seen them play live and supported the band in our own ways. If I can't stress my opinion on the current DT here, where can I?

I respect the fact that you're the boss and you must draw the line, but I wasn't under the impression I was crossing the line. At all.

[SnakeEyes]

It would be a shock if he left DT, for sure.  However, I don't think for a second that DT wouldn't be able to go on with a new drummer.  I think the only person in the band that ISN'T replaceable is Petrucci.  Then, LaBrie just for his unique tone.  But, you could find someone with his range.  Petrucci isn't replaceable, though.  No JP = no DT.   JP would still be JP with another drummer who plays similarly to MP. 

[Perpetual Change]

It would be a shock if he left DT, for sure.  However, I don't think for a second that DT wouldn't be able to go on with a new drummer.  I think the only person in the band that ISN'T replaceable is Petrucci.  Then, LaBrie just for his unique tone.  But, you could find someone with his range.  Petrucci isn't replaceable, though.  No JP = no DT.   JP would still be JP with another drummer who plays similarly to MP.  

I think Dream Theater could go on with a different drummer. "Could" being the key word. I doubt the motivation would be there.

At any rate, if they were to go on with a new drummer, a lot of things would change. No more Prog Nation and Mike's promotion and general ambassadorship, and hence no more DT staying "relevant" to the new generations of prog. No more Ytsejam. No more custom setlists. Likely no more album every 2 years schedule either. Yeah. I'm thinking a lot would change.

[bosk1]

And along those lines, ITNOG, consider this your first and final warning on the subject.  Posts like this cross WAY over the line, and given that this is only a small sampling of what I've seen you post recently, anything more from you that even slightly smacks of bashing the band or forum members, and you are out of here for good.

How is anything i've said 'over the line'? And what do you mean by 'small sampling of what i've seen you post recently'? And how does that instantly result in a final warning? Are you actually being serious?

Is it against the rules to criticize DT?

If it is, then that's pathetic, really. In no way was I being insulting to anyone else, nor even to DT, who are a band I respect and still admire. The comments i've made, I stand by. If I get banned for something as little and meaningless as that (giving my true opinion), then I guess this forum wouldn't be worth coming back to again, so no need for a ban. I'll do it myself.

Jeez, you need to lighten up, dude. It's as if you think Portnoy himself comes on this forum and inspects each and every single post. We're all DT fans, we have all seen them play live and supported the band in our own ways. If I can't stress my opinion on the current DT here, where can I?

I respect the fact that you're the boss and you must draw the line, but I wasn't under the impression I was crossing the line. At all.

You might get away with calling something the band did "unbelievably bad" and "laughable" if it is clear the post is trying to also be constructive in your criticism.  Yours was not.  And then calling the band pompous on top of that?  If you can't see that that crosses the line, you are right, you really don't belong here.

[InTheNameOfGod]

And along those lines, ITNOG, consider this your first and final warning on the subject.  Posts like this cross WAY over the line, and given that this is only a small sampling of what I've seen you post recently, anything more from you that even slightly smacks of bashing the band or forum members, and you are out of here for good.

How is anything i've said 'over the line'? And what do you mean by 'small sampling of what i've seen you post recently'? And how does that instantly result in a final warning? Are you actually being serious?

Is it against the rules to criticize DT?

If it is, then that's pathetic, really. In no way was I being insulting to anyone else, nor even to DT, who are a band I respect and still admire. The comments i've made, I stand by. If I get banned for something as little and meaningless as that (giving my true opinion), then I guess this forum wouldn't be worth coming back to again, so no need for a ban. I'll do it myself.

Jeez, you need to lighten up, dude. It's as if you think Portnoy himself comes on this forum and inspects each and every single post. We're all DT fans, we have all seen them play live and supported the band in our own ways. If I can't stress my opinion on the current DT here, where can I?

I respect the fact that you're the boss and you must draw the line, but I wasn't under the impression I was crossing the line. At all.

You might get away with calling something the band did "unbelievably bad" and "laughable" if it is clear the post is trying to also be constructive in your criticism.  Yours was not.  And then calling the band pompous on top of that?  If you can't see that that crosses the line, you are right, you really don't belong here.

Perhaps I go a bit too far with some of the words I use, but i'm only giving my opinion. I'd do the same to any other band. Even with my favourite bands (and DT are infact one of them)

I'll calm down a bit. Apologies if I offended anyone.

[SnakeEyes]

I didn't think you went too far at all.  I mean I wouldn't have gone any further than what you said, but I personally didn't think you crossed the line.  But, it's not my forum and I don't make rules. 

[Perpetual Change]

Hm. See, I think Dream Theater are pompous, too. But I don't necessarily consider pompous a bad thing.

[SnakeEyes]

Yeah, I agree. 

[LKap13]

I don't think the band is pompous in the least. They're courteous, and can laugh at themselves. As for their music, I've never seen it as being pretentious or pompous mainly because the band members all play within their abilities. It never feels like they're writing something to show-off or prove that they're amazing musicians. And anyway, if they didn't write complex stuff it would be a huge waste of talent...

[InTheNameOfGod]

Hm. See, I think Dream Theater are pompous, too. But I don't necessarily consider pompous a bad thing.

That's the thing, neither do I.

bosk must see it differently, however.

[TAC]

OK...back on topic...

The other thing that MP says in the interview is that he hopes the A7X fans discover Dream Theater though his involvement.

I just hope that DT doesn't take too long of a break and lose any momentum from the Maiden & A7X tours. There is going to be a lot of new fans with their eyes on DT's next album.
This break may be good musically because they need to hit it out on their next album. I found SC and BC&SL very "standing in place" albums.

[ariich]

I agree, but I'm sure it won't be a problem, MP seems keen to get cracking with DT again next year.

And regarding itnog's posts, I also didn't see a problem with the word 'pompous', but I did see a problem with 'laughable' and 'like it was written by a 10-year old'. Feel free to say "I don't like the lyrics", but the way you belittled them was at least toeing the line into bashing, if not actually over it.

[hefdaddy42]

I've never seen anyone in DT as being pompous.  They actually seem to be really down to earth.

[Arch Benemy]

I've never seen anyone in DT as being pompous.  They actually seem to be really down to earth.

I think, in musical terms, pompous can be used in much the same way as 'bombastic.' If you use the word 'pomp' to describe something larger than life or greater than the norm, then it is indeed perfectly reasonable to refer to DT as pompous, just not in a derogatory way.

[hefdaddy42]

Ah, OK.

[Perpetual Change]

I've never seen anyone in DT as being pompous.  They actually seem to be really down to earth.

I think, in musical terms, pompous can be used in much the same way as 'bombastic.' If you use the word 'pomp' to describe something larger than life or greater than the norm, then it is indeed perfectly reasonable to refer to DT as pompous, just not in a derogatory way.

Yeah, I was gonna post that. But then I got lazy, and then I forgot about it.

[nakedman]

It's cool to hear about Peart's e-mailin' style!

[bosk1]

I've never seen anyone in DT as being pompous.  They actually seem to be really down to earth.

I think, in musical terms, pompous can be used in much the same way as 'bombastic.' If you use the word 'pomp' to describe something larger than life or greater than the norm, then it is indeed perfectly reasonable to refer to DT as pompous, just not in a derogatory way.

Well, yeah, I guess you could use the word that way.  You could also use the word "red" to mean "cow."  I mean, just because the meanings of the two words are completely different doesn't mean it's not perfectly reasonable to use them interchangeably.