Songs Used in DT Drummer Auditions

[RaiseTheKnife]

Been meaning to post this for a while.  What songs do you think DT used in the audition, and why?  Here are 5 songs I think would have made for a comprehensive test:

1) A Nightmare to Remember:  I figure they would want to start with something familiar from the new album, and the 4 guys feel comfortable playing.  Its heavy, proggy and a good way to find out if someone is a monster behind the kit.  Its length is a bit of an endurance test (some of these drummers may not be used to 14 mins of non-stop brutal playing). 

2)  Metropolis - this is the litmus test.  If this classic DT standard doesn't fire on all levels, then it simply isn't the right guy behind the kit.  'Nuff said.

3)  Raise the Knife - not only is it my namesake, and favorite DT song, but it is the perfect test for a drummer's skillset.  Odd meters, numerous polyrythms, the song's a friggin' obstacele course (and I luv it!)  Also, any formidable drummer could play Learning to Live in there sleep by now, they've had 20 years to get it right. But give someone a few days to learn a challenging rare song from the back catalog-- now that's a test of memory, and something quite vital to this brand of music.  Plus, think of the irony if DT were to perform this song live without MP. Oooohhh, the sweet irony. (alternatively, Another Dimension could be a great out-of-the-box audtition song in lieu of RTK)

4)  The Spirit Carries On:  I think this would be good way to demonstrate soulful groove.  Sometimes it is just as important to be able to "hold back", as it is being a complete animal.

5)  Imrpov Jam - best way for them to "feel" if they click with the prospective drummer is to just let it all flow, and see what they end up with.  Besides memorizing their catalog, i think the DT guys want to know that they have a drummer who can just spontaneously jam.  Otherwise, where's the fun?

What 5 songs do you think would make an ideal cross-section audition?

[JayOctavarium]

SPOILER


MARCO MINIMMAN GOT THE JOB TROLOLOLOL

[tjanuranus]

nice choices. The Dance of Eternity i think would have to be in there too. If you can learn and play that your pretty good!

[RaiseTheKnife]

Absolutely, Dance of Eternity is a great song to audition.  Plus, DT played it fairly recently, so its fresh with them.

[Mladen]

The Dance of eternity
A Nightmare to remember

If a drummer can play these two songs all the way through, he can play anything.

[jsem]

The Glass Prison.

[tartarus250]

hay everyone this is my first post on here i think the test that stumped them all would be a realy good way to test the chops of any drummer. at 23 mins i think a change of seasons would be a great test of memory and dynamics

[Philawallafox]

Hoopefully Take the Time.

[Chino]

ACOS. They need to make sure the guy has endurance.

[RaiseTheKnife]

Hopefully someone writing an article (Voices or Rich Wilson) can ask what songs were used in the audition.  We MUST know this, lol.

They might have even thrown in a cover, like Iron Maiden, Metallica or the like just to keep it fresh and fun.

[MetropolisxPt1]

nice choices. The Dance of Eternity i think would have to be in there too. If you can learn and play that your pretty good!

I learned to play TDoE pretty fast actually on the difficulty level of dream theater songs their are many more songs harder to play then TDoE.

My list would be

Surrounded
Learning To Live
6:00
Stream of Consciousness

I don't think they will audition anything much easier because they already know that every drummer they audition has restraint imo.

[Ħ]

I think Charlie Zeleny said that the songs he covered on his youtube account are the songs they are using for auditions. 

Those are:

A Nightmare to Remember
The Spirit Carries On
Metropolis Pt. 1
The Dance of Eternity

So...three of those.  I'm guessing ANTR, TSCO, and TDOE.

[Jamesman42]

When did he say that?

[Ħ]

Facebook, around the time when we all thought he was the new drummer.  A month ago, maybe?

[Jamesman42]

He actually said that though? As a status?

[Ħ]

Maybe it was Twitter.  He may have just said, "Hey everyone, check out my DT songs on youtube", but I remember it being sort of obvious that those were the audition songs.

[Jamesman42]

"Hey everyone, check out my DT songs on youtube"

He definitely said that, but that was it AFAIK

[Birch Boy]

I always wondered something. Do bands tell audition-ees what songs to learn, or are you expected to learn every single song or just get lucky or what?

[Global Laziness]

"Hey everyone, check out my DT songs on youtube"

He definitely said that, but that was it AFAIK

I don't remember where exactly he said it, but definitely did say at some point that those were the audition songs.

[tri.ad]

I always wondered something. Do bands tell audition-ees what songs to learn, or are you expected to learn every single song or just get lucky or what?

Depends on the band; many bands don't even rely on existing songs they've written, they just go by how well the chemistry is and how well they can jam with the member-to-be.

[Daso]

In case they used any, I hope they used A Fortune in Lies or Only a Matter of Time and Caught in A Web or 6:00. Although it seems very unlikely.

And, if he didn't audition, how would Charlie know what songs where used? Unless he asked...

[JediKnight1969]

1- Metropolis pt. 1: the new guy must be able to play this eternal classic perfectly.
2- The dance of eternity: If he can play this one, he can play anything.
3- 6:00: I want to feel the same thrill I felt the first time I listen to that song.

[?]

And, if he didn't audition, how would Charlie know what songs where used? Unless he asked...

IIRC, he and Jordan are friends, so maybe he's asked that from him.

[heather]

They just need to announce the new drummer SOON. This is getting ridiculous 

[ricky]

Most definitely something from Awake.

[heather]

Metropolis is the best song for auditioning the new drummer

[FretMuppet]

I always wondered something. Do bands tell audition-ees what songs to learn, or are you expected to learn every single song or just get lucky or what?

I guess its the more the merrier sort of situation, like what happened with Gavin Harrison when he auditioned for PT and basically learned every song beforehand. That's how you know the drummers a keeper I think DT might have specified what songs to play like Charlie said...

[Birch Boy]

I always wondered something. Do bands tell audition-ees what songs to learn, or are you expected to learn every single song or just get lucky or what?

I guess its the more the merrier sort of situation, like what happened with Gavin Harrison when he auditioned for PT and basically learned every song beforehand. That's how you know the drummers a keeper I think DT might have specified what songs to play like Charlie said...

Yeah. When Metallica auditioned bassists after Jason Newsted left, they seemed to play a few core songs, and then some that the audition-ee himself would ask to play. I think that's a pretty good way to do it, because if anything it shows that the potential new member learned more than he had to and showed genuine interest in the music.

[LTE3]

3)  Raise the Knife - not only is it my namesake, and favorite DT song, but it is the perfect test for a drummer's skillset.  Odd meters, numerous polyrythms, the song's a friggin' obstacele course (and I luv it!)  Also, any formidable drummer could play Learning to Live in there sleep by now, they've had 20 years to get it right. But give someone a few days to learn a challenging rare song from the back catalog-- now that's a test of memory, and something quite vital to this brand of music.  Plus, think of the irony if DT were to perform this song live without MP. Oooohhh, the sweet irony. (alternatively, Another Dimension could be a great out-of-the-box audtition song in lieu of RTK)

Raisetheknife, so true about this song. When I saw it live at Radio City I recall hitting the guy next to me as I couldn't contain my excitment as to what MP was playing is was killer. This would be a great test.

[clinks63]

the whole SDOIT or SFAM..this will not only test his technical skills but endurance as well..

[Accelerando]

Space Dye Vest









What??

[Birch Boy]

the whole SDOIT or SFAM..this will not only test his technical skills but endurance as well..

It will also take four years to learn.

[Ħ]

the whole SDOIT or SFAM..this will not only test his technical skills but endurance as well..

It will also take four years to learn.

How dare you defy his holyness!

[Birch Boy]

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

Space Dye Vest









What??

They actually had to learn the spoken samples and recite them. It was also an endurance and memory test.