Jordan's career before DT

Peter1965 · July 04, 2012, 01:42:58 PM

I don't know if this topic has ever been raised before - apologies if it has.

Whilst listening to Jordan's "The Road Home" recently it occurred to me – why did someone with such an immense talent never join a major band in his twenties / thirties, or become a session musician ? It is incredible to think that he joined DT, his first "proper" band, as such, if you exclude the RM Project, when he was over 40.

Consider the situation. You are an exceptionally talented keyboard player, and you live in New York City, one of the leading centres of music in the world. It is the 80's. Why did some major band or musician not snap him up ? Alternatively, why did he not become a session musician, a la someone like Steve Lukather on the west coast, who is actually younger than Jordan ? A city like NYC would surely have provided loads of work in the 80's and 90's, so why did Jordan never become part of this scene ?

Reading Rich Wilson's book, I note that Jordan became involved in some business venture in the 80's which never really took off, and after meeting his wife he then became a product specialist with Korg and then Kurzweil. I hesitate to say that he "wasted" his talent but he certainly didn't make the most of it, and he only (deservedly) came to the forefront when he joined DT. In the meantime, other, probably infinitely less talented musicians were making a good living in NYC whilst Jordan languished beneath the radar.

Has this topic ever been raised with Jordan himself ? Obviously, if he had become a session musician, with the monetary rewards that it brings, he may never have joined DT in the first place. Or, he might have formed / been approached to join a band that ultimately became successful in their own right.

I would be interested to hear other peoples views on this subject.

MoraWintersoul · July 04, 2012, 10:49:35 PM

I've been asking myself that same question and I have no idea. We could ask Jordan I guess

BlobVanDam · July 04, 2012, 11:01:59 PM

Never really thought about it, but all in all, I'm glad things turned out the way they did, because JR ended up exactly where he belongs.

Adami · July 04, 2012, 11:04:41 PM

Well he's been busy since the late 80's. Wasn't he a programmer or something? Like a technical worker for a keyboard company?

Madman Shepherd · July 04, 2012, 11:34:43 PM

Some people really don't like the idea of being in a band and touring and not have stability.

Take me for instance, if any one of you offered me to be in a band that would tour and make a relatively good chunk of money I would turn you down because I like having control over my schedule...

...and I would hate to read all the message boards stating I have no talent and I'm the weakest link in the band....because it would be true.

BlobVanDam · July 04, 2012, 11:38:45 PM

Quote from: Madman Shepherd on July 04, 2012, 11:34:43 PM
Some people really don't like the idea of being in a band and touring and not have stability.

I believe this is part of why JR turned down being in DT back in 1994, isn't it?

black_biff_stadler · July 05, 2012, 12:07:36 AM

No it was because they had recently made their weakest album to date.accordingtoblob

BlobVanDam · July 05, 2012, 12:10:49 AM

Quote from: black_floyd on July 05, 2012, 12:07:36 AM
No it was because they had recently made their weakest album to date.accordingtoblob

What, are we forgetting that WDADU exists now?because that would be just fine by me. accordingtoblob

black_biff_stadler · July 05, 2012, 12:28:10 AM

Oh blobert.

Bertielee · July 05, 2012, 04:39:06 AM

Quote from: black_floyd on July 05, 2012, 12:07:36 AM
No it was because they had recently made their weakest album to date.accordingtoblob

Are you speaking of Awake?!?!? Get outta here, you unbeliever...

B.Lee

snapple · July 05, 2012, 08:45:11 AM

Quote from: black_floyd on July 05, 2012, 12:07:36 AM
No it was because they had recently made their weakest album to date.accordingtoblob

me, johnson
foyle, the bird

Orbert · July 05, 2012, 09:41:19 AM

He was in a band back in the 80's, wasn't it? Fastway? Something like that. I remember seeing a video of them where they were all stoned off their asses and didn't even bother trying to synch to the audio.

Maybe Jordan got the idea from that experience that being in a rock band wasn't as much fun and glory as it was cracked up to be, and having a steady gig programming patches for Kurzweil was a decent use of his talent. Not everyone wants to be in a touring rock band, especially if you're the most talented and the rest of them are all stoner losers. But after joining DT, a serious band with an actual following, he found that yes, it can actually be pretty cool. Just my theory.

BlobVanDam · July 05, 2012, 09:43:28 AM

Quote from: Orbert on July 05, 2012, 09:41:19 AM
He was in a band back in the 80's, wasn't it? Fastway? Something like that. I remember seeing a video of them where they were all stoned off their asses and didn't even bother trying to synch to the audio.

SPEEDWAY BOULEVARD!!

Great album too. Check it out.

Orbert · July 05, 2012, 09:51:15 AM

Is it available online for illegal download? Wait... I can't ask that here. That would be illegal. Please send me your copy. I'll send it back if I don't like it.

MrBoom_shack-a-lack · July 05, 2012, 09:51:51 AM

Quote from: BlobVanDam on July 05, 2012, 09:43:28 AM
Quote from: Orbert on July 05, 2012, 09:41:19 AM
He was in a band back in the 80's, wasn't it? Fastway? Something like that. I remember seeing a video of them where they were all stoned off their asses and didn't even bother trying to synch to the audio.

SPEEDWAY BOULEVARD!!
Great album too. Check it out.

Yeah that's right, i remember JR tweeted something about that and linked us to a certain video!

BlobVanDam · July 05, 2012, 09:55:22 AM

That video is amazing.

Quote from: Orbert on July 05, 2012, 09:51:15 AM
Is it available online for illegal download? Wait... I can't ask that here. That would be illegal. Please send me your copy. I'll send it back if I don't like it.

I only have a digital copy, sent to me by JR himself. Not sure how easy it is to get otherwise...

Nekov · July 05, 2012, 10:00:37 AM

JR is freaking stoned!

Orbert · July 05, 2012, 10:02:05 AM

Yep, that's the video. Ridiculous stuff. I mean, I'm sure they were having a great time, but the band didn't end up going anywhere, and I could see Jordan (or any of the others) being a bit disenchanted with the whole rock star thing.

MoraWintersoul · July 05, 2012, 02:46:35 PM

Jordan used to be a dorky (albeit crazily talented) kid too! I have hope for the rest of my lifetime!

Not sure if I wanted to see him stoned out of his mind, but, um, yeah. Can't be unseen now anyway.

Nekov · July 06, 2012, 06:00:45 AM

This one is way funnier

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EQHZQ1hHms

Kwyjibo · July 06, 2012, 06:02:09 AM

Also keep in mind that being good in playing an instrument is the least factor for success in the music business.

Stef1 · July 06, 2012, 09:09:08 AM

Not sure exactly when this is from but well pre dates Jordan joining Dream Theater.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJpIQ3dituE

Orbert · July 06, 2012, 11:06:36 AM

Wow, that's a blast from the past! I think I may have seen that performance on TV originally. If not, then one from the same era. I remember when the Miami Vice theme was hot, and there were still TV variety shows where artists would show up and play their hit. I specifically remember being surprised that The Jan Hammer Group had a second keyboard player. I always figured it was Jan plus a rhythm section.

Needless to say, I had no idea who the second keyboard player was at the time. Pretty cool.

MoraWintersoul · July 07, 2012, 12:52:08 AM

Quote from: Orbert on July 06, 2012, 11:06:36 AM
Needless to say, I had no idea who the second keyboard player was at the time. Pretty cool.

I remember seeing Mike Mangini on Warp Speed or whatever that show's name was and having no idea who he is. And having no idea he'll be an important figure in my DT-fan-life a year or so afterwards

rumborak · July 07, 2012, 07:51:23 AM

I love Jan Hammer's Theme, but damn talk about a song that doesn't translate live.

rumborak

GasparXR · July 08, 2012, 10:08:54 PM

Quote from: Nekov on July 05, 2012, 10:00:37 AM
JR is freaking stoned!

I thought it was particulary hilarious, because I was in the same position as him, jamming out blazed, except instead of playing awesome keyboards I was playing decent guitar. All the while I had the exact same face on as him XD

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Jordan's career before DT