When Dream Theater Returns To The Stage...

[Tick]

Do you think when DT puts out there next album, it will sell as many copies?  I kind of think it will but I'm not sure.
I was also wondering if the loss of Mike will change the size venues they will play on the next tour? Do you think they will have to play smaller venues or will they remain status quo? Some might think this is stupid, but Mike brings many fans to the table so his departure will no doubt take some of them out of the picture. How many is the question. Will it impact the size rooms they play? I just asked the same question twice but you only have to answer once.
I think they will stay the same in the same sized venues initially based on the curiosity factor but who knows?  The next tour and album could certainly make or break the band, imo. What do you all think?

[Perpetual Change]

Yeah. Somehow, I wonder if Nightmare would have got number one if it weren't for all the interested DT/MP fans. Seriously, a DT member's involvement in anything means at least a couple thousand more copies in sales.

[darkshade]

in terms of selling albums, i think they'll hit #1

why? because theyve been steadily becoming more popular over the last 11 years, their albums have been peaking on the charts higher every album (BC&SL hitting #6 here in the USA), and because of Portnoy leaving, even people who havent paid attention to DT since Train of Thought are going to be curious as to the kind of music they're making. so there's big hype surrounding DT (both with MP's departure, and with their ever-growing fanbase) and i guarantee the big news of MP's leaving probably got around to some people to check out Dream Theater, who would not normally have because they didnt know DT before Mike quit the band.

who they get on drums might also be a factor for the album being a success, financially

They toured with Iron Maiden. That alone probably picked up a few thousand fans

also some Avenged Sevenfold fans, who never knew DT before "Nightmare" came out, may be interested (though ironically not featuring Portnoy)

as far as live shows go, i dont think they'll play smaller venues. It'll either be similar to what theyve been doing, or maybe even bigger venues. i do wonder if they'll continue to do 3+ hour shows again...

MP does have the fan interaction and loyalty, but i think those fans will still support the band (i would hope)

[Tick]

Yeah. Somehow, I wonder if Nightmare would have got number one if it weren't for all the interested DT/MP fans. Seriously, a DT member's involvement in anything means at least a couple thousand more copies in sales.

Do you really think a lot of DT fans bought the latest A7X album? I sure had no interest in it.

[darkshade]

Yeah. Somehow, I wonder if Nightmare would have got number one if it weren't for all the interested DT/MP fans. Seriously, a DT member's involvement in anything means at least a couple thousand more copies in sales.

Do you really think a lot of DT fans bought the latest A7X album? I sure had no interest in it.

some might have just because Mike was on the record. i know people who dont own any of their other albums. A7X fans might check out DT's back catalog though, if they like Portnoy

[TAC]

Tick, I bought the A7X album because of MP's involvement. Now I don't buy everything MP is in. I have zero interest in TA or the Neal Morse stuff.
I had copies of the 2 previous A7X albums and didn't think it was that special. But they are a pretty good band and this new album is way more focused and directed and mature. I think they played up to MP's ability. Him just being there raised their game.
BTW, Nightmare reminds me a lot of GnR's Illusion albums. If you liked those you should check out Nightmare.

[AwakeFromOctavarium]

in terms of selling albums, i think they'll hit #1

why? because theyve been steadily becoming more popular over the last 11 years, their albums have been peaking on the charts higher every album (BC&SL hitting #6 here in the USA), and because of Portnoy leaving, even people who havent paid attention to DT since Train of Thought are going to be curious as to the kind of music they're making. so there's big hype surrounding DT (both with MP's departure, and with their ever-growing fanbase) and i guarantee the big news of MP's leaving probably got around to some people to check out Dream Theater, who would not normally have because they didnt know DT before Mike quit the band.

who they get on drums might also be a factor for the album being a success, financially

They toured with Iron Maiden. That alone probably picked up a few thousand fans

also some Avenged Sevenfold fans, who never knew DT before "Nightmare" came out, may be interested (though ironically not featuring Portnoy)

This.

[MykeHavoc]

It will heavily rely on their pre-release promotional work, from videos to trailers and preemptive shows perhaps.
I think they have a good chance of doing even better...But I'm not sure if they'll quite hit number 1. Even Maiden doesn't hit number 1 in the states. I think Final Frontier hit number 4, right? I think that's reasonable. I could see the next release charting a bit higher (BC&SL was 6 if I'm not mistaken).

[AwakeFromOctavarium]

Well, I think DT's fanbase is steadily growing, unlike Iron Maiden.

[Tick]

Tick, I bought the A7X album because of MP's involvement. Now I don't buy everything MP is in. I have zero interest in TA or the Neal Morse stuff.
I had copies of the 2 previous A7X albums and didn't think it was that special. But they are a pretty good band and this new album is way more focused and directed and mature. I think they played up to MP's ability. Him just being there raised their game.
BTW, Nightmare reminds me a lot of GnR's Illusion albums. If you liked those you should check out Nightmare.

I'm the opposite, TAC. I love Transatlantic and Neal Morse. I own every album and love them all. I have checked out A7X and don't like what I've heard. Not a big G&R guy either. Its an Axl thing.

[MykeHavoc]

Well, I think DT's fanbase is steadily growing, unlike Iron Maiden.

Not to be rude, but that's asinine. Iron Maiden's legion of fans grows quite steadily. Every new generation of adolescents is rife with new heavy music fans.

[Tick]

Well, I think DT's fanbase is steadily growing, unlike Iron Maiden.

Not to be rude, but that's asinine. Iron Maiden's legion of fans grows quite steadily. Every new generation of adolescents is rife with new heavy music fans.

I felt the same way reading that. I just didn't feel like ripping him.

[rumborak]

I listened to three A7X songs by now, and found them utterly uninteresting. To be honest I was always surprised that Mike was interested in playing this stuff live.

rumborak

[?]

I listened to three A7X songs by now, and found them utterly uninteresting. To be honest I was always surprised that Mike was interested in playing this stuff live.

I have heard a few songs by A7X too and I agree. Sorry to all the A7X fans here.

I think DT will stay as popular as they've been or maybe gain more new fans. But I don't think they'll ever top the Billboard.

[EPICVIEW]

sometimes NEW for a musician = FUN.
so for Mike this might be more exciting then we all think..

Its like a marriage.. somtimes one thinks the grass is greener after 25 years , sometimes the grass is truly greener , sometimes its not and you ruined a great relationship..

[TL]

I think they'll have gained more than enough fans since BC&SL's release to offset anyone who doesn't buy the new album because of the lack of Mike. Many newer fans may not even be aware of the change, and even if they are, not having been a fan of DT for that long, the lack of Mike won't be a factor for them. They may get fewer curious A7X fans buying the new album, but a smaller increase is still an increase.
I think the vast majority of established DT fans will be at least as likely to buy the new album. There are also those fans who haven't been as fond of recent DT output who may actually be more inclined to check out the new album.

To sum up, I think there's a definite possibility that the next album will have better first week sales than BC&SL.

[blackngold29]

It seems DT has been gaining fans for a few years now. The diehards will continue to buy every album no matter what and the moderate fans may or may not pay enough attention to know that there even is a new drummer. I have much faith in Roadrunner as far as promotion goes.


And as for AX7 I wouldn't have even known who they were, let alone bought Nightmare, if MP didn't do the drumming for them.

[Norwood]

I listened to three A7X songs by now, and found them utterly uninteresting. To be honest I was always surprised that Mike was interested in playing this stuff live.

rumborak

Couldn't agree more.

I just don't see it.

Like I said before, he moved from a band that pushed the boundaries of compositional writing, exploration and innovation to a band that seems to get their inspiration from the word "Fuck".

It's such filler.  It's listless, unintuitive & generic in its writing and style, boring & repetitive in its hearing and frankly plain & uninteresting in its production. 

I expect to hear it in the next Michael Bay/Transformers movie.

[blackngold29]

I listened to three A7X songs by now, and found them utterly uninteresting. To be honest I was always surprised that Mike was interested in playing this stuff live.

rumborak

Couldn't agree more.

I just don't see it.

Like I said before, he moved from a band that pushed the boundaries of compositional writing, exploration and innovation to a band that seems to get their inspiration from the word "Fuck".

It's such filler.  It's listless, unintuitive & generic in its writing and style, boring & repetitive in its hearing and frankly plain & uninteresting in its production. 

I expect to hear it in the next Michael Bay/Transformers movie.

Other than a few songs like A Little Piece of Heaven this is the conclusion I also reached after purchasing Nightmare. Not that I'll complain, because he can do whatever the hell he wants, but it seems like much wasted potential if MP were to join them and they kept writing the same kinds of songs.

[glaurung]

Well, I think DT's fanbase is steadily growing, unlike Iron Maiden.

They have more fans now than they ever have. 

[Tick]

Well, I think DT's fanbase is steadily growing, unlike Iron Maiden.

They have more fans now than they ever have. 

No, they don't. I was seeing shows in the mid eighties. They were bigger then for sure. They are still popular, but not even close to what they once were.

[moffatt]

Why has this thread turned into a burn on A7X thread?

Anyway I definately think they will reach higher first weeks sales then BC&SL, but I can't see them getting #1 in the US.

[M.C]

Ill be buying... I have a feeling that next album will kick ass.

[MykeHavoc]

Tick, maybe you worded it wrong, but DT were not bigger in the 80's

[Tick]

Tick, maybe you worded it wrong, but DT were not bigger in the 80's

Were they not talking about Maiden? That's what I thought. Anyhoo, Maiden was bigger in the 80's then now. Dream Theater I would imagine are more popular than ever.

[rumborak]

I for one will be sitting on the edge of my seat, In curiosity of what the new drummer will do to the sound. If they're smart, they will not leak a single note of the new album before release, to maximize the anticipation.

rumborak

[Octavawake]

We may see them slip back underground? Who knows for sure! But yeah, with MP leaving it'll be interesting to see where they play. Marquee Club anyone?

[MykeHavoc]

Tick, maybe you worded it wrong, but DT were not bigger in the 80's

Were they not talking about Maiden? That's what I thought. Anyhoo, Maiden was bigger in the 80's then now. Dream Theater I would imagine are more popular than ever.

oops, my bad

I should've known you couldn't be that drunk...yet. But I guess it's happy hour somewhere.

[guysullavin]

I want DT to play Copps in Hamilton. Small-ass venue, but man that'd be awesome, being able to WALK to the venue that a band like Dream Theater is playing. My biggest complaint is that I wont get to see Portnoy playing with Dream Theater live unless Portnoy changes his mind.

[emindead]

but it seems like much wasted potential if MP were to join them and they kept writing the same kinds of songs.

There are some people at other forums that are mad because the members of DT are really good but they are wasting their potential with DT.

If they're smart, they will not leak a single note of the new album before release, to maximize the anticipation.

rumborak

It's not that if they are smart, it's that it is almost impossible to not have a leak now-a-days.

[Gorille85]

I for one will be sitting on the edge of my seat, In curiosity of what the new drummer will do to the sound. If they're smart, they will not leak a single note of the new album before release, to maximize the anticipation.

rumborak

Yeah, It's not their fault if the album leak...And besides, they'll probably release a single before the album's release anyway.

[MetalManiac666]

All I know is that I'll still be buying the album, merch, and concert tickets and I'm sure a lot of other fans feel the same way.

[Tick]

Tick, maybe you worded it wrong, but DT were not bigger in the 80's

Were they not talking about Maiden? That's what I thought. Anyhoo, Maiden was bigger in the 80's then now. Dream Theater I would imagine are more popular than ever.

oops, my bad

I should've known you couldn't be that drunk...yet. But I guess it's happy hour somewhere.

I'm quite sober thanks, and pissed off at the horrible Jets offense!!!!

[AwakeFromOctavarium]

Well, I think DT's fanbase is steadily growing, unlike Iron Maiden.

Not to be rude, but that's asinine. Iron Maiden's legion of fans grows quite steadily. Every new generation of adolescents is rife with new heavy music fans.

Maybe. But I think (personally) DT's sound is more appealing to the newer generation than IM's. SC and BC&SL, the latter being higher, were among DT's highest charting albums and that ought to have something to do with fan base growth. I'm not sure what IM's new album's charted ranking was, probably high, but that was probably because of their older fans.

[MetalManiac666]

No, IM's fanbase is constantly growing.