So... if a drummer audition is held

[The Letter M]

Just because MP is gone doesn't necessarily mean they're going into a more proggy direction. JP is a huge metal fan, as well. 

This has been bugging me with people saying the metal side is going to go just because MP is gone...

Well if anything, the movement toward ROROROROROROR vocals might go...because JLB won't do them, and I'd like to see anyone else in the band try them... especially JMX 

-Marc.

[SystematicThought]

JP always struck me as being more diverse and less hell bent on leaning towards metal. I mean, the last song he wrote solely himsef had obvious Queen references

[SnakeEyes]

Just because MP is gone doesn't necessarily mean they're going into a more proggy direction. JP is a huge metal fan, as well. 

This has been bugging me with people saying the metal side is going to go just because MP is gone...

Read my post again.  I said.... IF they go in a more proggy direction.  "IF"

I was just describing a possible scenario. 

[perfey]

How much time do you think the band will spend on the auditions?

[WDADU]

They'll keep going until they find the drummer they want/need. But they said that they wanted to go into the studio in January. That is less than four months away. I don;t think that's happening at all. That would mean that they would have to hold auditions, have their replacement learn their catalogue, write and arrange new material (which on average takes months to do) then they have to record it. Right now, James is busy with the release of his album and I'm sure a tour will follow. I think there's a new Jelly Jam thing coming out, so John Myung will be busy with that. I think they are just sitting on this situation right now and figuring out just what in the hell they're going to do. Once they all agree on something, that;s when the auditions will start. And as I said earlier; they will keep audioning until they find the player that they feel that best suits the band and that could take weeks, months, who knows? I think because of Mike's departure, the band just may involunteerly go on a year long hiatus because of the drummer auditions alone.

Just my two cents...

[Zydar]

I don't think the new drummer will have to learn their back catalogue before they go into the studio, but before they head off on a tour.

[hefdaddy42]

They'll keep going until they find the drummer they want/need. But they said that they wanted to go into the studio in January. That is less than four months away. I don;t think that's happening at all. That would mean that they would have to hold auditions, have their replacement learn their catalogue, write and arrange new material (which on average takes months to do) then they have to record it. Right now, James is busy with the release of his album and I'm sure a tour will follow. I think there's a new Jelly Jam thing coming out, so John Myung will be busy with that. I think they are just sitting on this situation right now and figuring out just what in the hell they're going to do. Once they all agree on something, that;s when the auditions will start. And as I said earlier; they will keep audioning until they find the player that they feel that best suits the band and that could take weeks, months, who knows? I think because of Mike's departure, the band just may involunteerly go on a year long hiatus because of the drummer auditions alone.

Just my two sense...

They will go into the studio in January, with a drummer.  They write and arrange in the studio.  JP said they are auditioning drummers next month.  And there is no reason that the new guy will have to learn the entire catalogue.  The only stuff he would need to learn immediately is whatever they want him to audition on.  Then, once they decide the master setlist for the tour (way after recording the new album), he would have to learn those songs. 

[Pierced Brosnan]

What Hef said. Also, JP said on his forum that it doesn't matter to him whether someone in in place once they've begun writing or not, or something to that effect. I think they'll find someone in time anyway though.

[GuinnessSteve]

I'm not familiar with how the musical world works, (IE behind the scenes) but would a musician trying to join a band have to know that band's material before auditioning? I thought they'd basically say "look what I can do" and play a selection of their own choosing, maybe jam a bit with the band. But an aspiring member of a band learning a whole bunch of that band's material only to be shot down? Seems like a lot of wasted work and effort. Especially since with new blood comes new ideas. Why would you want him/her too heavily influenced by their predecessor? Wouldn't it be enough to be familiar with the band on a listening level or a "I've jammed in my free time to these guys on my stereo" level?

Again, I'm pretty much what I like to think of as a "professional listener". I don't know the business, I don't play instruments (at least, not since Jr High) so my technical knowledge of the subject is limited. I'm probably way off, but it's just my $.02 FWIW.

[Dream Team]

No matter who they end up with, my guess is that the opening track of the new album will come out with drums blazing to allay any of the fans' apprehensions right off the bat.

[wolfking]

No matter who they end up with, my guess is that the opening track of the new album will come out with drums blazing to allay any of the fans' apprehensions right off the bat.

I don't that's going to happen.

[ReaPsTA]

No matter who they end up with, my guess is that the opening track of the new album will come out with drums blazing to allay any of the fans' apprehensions right off the bat.

I don't that's going to happen.

I don't think it will necessarily be as literal as how 6:00 opens Awake, but for the last few albums DT's gone with pretty energetic and technical openers. There will be something interesting for the drums to do.

As for what songs to audition with, essentially the list should to be something like this (these categories can be merged as necessary in the interest of time):

An intensely physically difficult metal song
Think The Glass Prison or This Dying Soul.

A song that requires a lot of memorization to get right
The Dance of Eternity is a good example of this.

Something really proggy
Count of Tuscany, In the Presence of Enemies Part One. Maybe Metropolis.

A song that isn't tough to just play, but is tough to really play well.
Think something like Lifting Shadows Off a Dream. Hitting the cymbals in time is easy, using the cymbals to add to the feel of the song takes a special drummer. Or Octavarium. Not especially complicated on drums, but there's a lot of subtle things going on in terms of feel. Or Voices.

Basically, I think a lot of drummers can play something like Panic Attack and do fine. But there are certain signature elements MP brought to the band, and while the new drummer doesn't have to handle them the same way (in some cases, this is literally impossible, since I doubt most drummers have Staxx cymbals and the sheer variety of drums), they still need to be able to make those signature DT drumming moments sparkle on stage. Sorry, I didn't have a better word. And of course, there's feel. However technically proficient, listening to drummers on YouTube playing MP's work usually just isn't the same. The new DT drummer needs to bring a feel to the beats that meshes with the old music and brings something unique to the table. It's a tough, tough job.

I guess at some point, yeah, there will be a jam session. But unless NewDTDrummer can not just play but elevate the old material to MP's level, then what's the point?

[hefdaddy42]

^Listen to this man, he's a genius.^

[ReaPsTA]

Well then, with that encouragement, I'll float this idea too.

Look what happened when DS and JR joined the band. ACOS has some of Derek's stamp in it, but it's very true to the parts KM wrote for the original version. Then on FII he really went in his own direction stylistically.

Same thing with Scenes. While some of the JR stylistic markings were there (mainly when it comes to the piano parts), a lot of it was simple pad and melodic backing work that you'd find in KM's playing. (Listen to Home live, during the chorus, he does that kind of melodic ding sound that KM used a lot). Then on Six Degrees he really came into his own and found his voice in DT that he keeps sticking to.

I have a feeling the drumming will be the same way. DT 11 will be a change in drumming, but not probably not a super radical one. DT 12 will be when the new drummer has become really integrated into the new version of DT and either he's become fully morphed into the sound or the sound has morphed around him more.

[El Barto]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the prototypical ACoS devoid of the B3 that DS added?  I think he contributed a great deal to his first effort with the band, and IMO, their finest work. 

I've been thinking that the next album will be a great deal like Awake. One of the reasons is that I suspect they do start off with a 6:00-like tune.  Another similarity would be Nicko's first recorded bit with Maiden; as I understand it, that's what really drove home his place in the band. 

[hefdaddy42]

First single: a cover of In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida.

[ReaPsTA]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the prototypical ACoS devoid of the B3 that DS added?  I think he contributed a great deal to his first effort with the band, and IMO, their finest work.

You are not wrong.

I've been thinking that the next album will be a great deal like Awake. One of the reasons is that I suspect they do start off with a 6:00-like tune.  Another similarity would be Nicko's first recorded bit with Maiden; as I understand it, that's what really drove home his place in the band. 

Awake is one of those unique and special moments in music history that has a 99% chance of never being recreated. Why bother hoping?