If member "X" left the band, who'd be a suitable replacement?

[Sycsa]

Everyone from PSMS would be suitable, except switch out MacAlpine with Paul Gilbert.

[Jaq]

Keith Emerson would be my assumption, often referred to as the "Jimi Hendrix of keyboards".

Oh I'm aware there were plenty of soloing keyboardists in prog and hard rock, but I was talking metal

Jens was pretty much the king of that sort of thing, but David Rosenthal from Rainbow was a pretty decent shredder back in the 80s. You also never really knew who had that kind of talent-after all, someone who knew DS as "the guy who played keyboards backstage for Kiss" wouldn't think he had the chops to join DT. But really, keyboard solos in metal were largely in neo-classical and bands working any sort of Deep Purple angle.

[Sycsa]

Keith Emerson would be my assumption, often referred to as the "Jimi Hendrix of keyboards".

Keith is one of my all-time favorite musicians and was one of the biggest virtuosos at his prime, but nowadays his right hand is basically paralyzed.

[The Presence of Frenemies]

When it comes to keyboard work I love Andre Andersen's stuff. Royal Hunt is right up there near the top of my favorite non-DT bands. He doesn't solo a ton, but he obviously has a ton of chops.

[TheGreatPretender]

If James LaBrie ever quit the band, I'd be pretty damn devastated. But if someone had to replace him, I think Lance King would be a respectable substitute. He has the range and his vocal quality is very pleasant.

[Ice9ine]

For everyone saying replace JR with Sherninan, Derek would not have a hope in hell of playing JR's parts.

You would need someone like Michael Pinella or jens Johansson to have any hope.

[MoraWintersoul]

For everyone saying replace JR with Sherninan, Derek would not have a hope in hell of playing JR's parts.

You would need someone like Michael Pinella or jens Johansson to have any hope.

Have you ever heard Planet X?

[Ice9ine]

Yes, I have heard planet X.

I am also a keyboardist. Rudess is so far above sherinian in technical ability its astounding.

[King Postwhore]

Igor Khoroshev would be a good replacement that will never happen.  NEVER!



But he is a good keyboardist.

[Cedar redaC]

I think that PelleK would be a good vocalist, although I would never want James to leave the band in the first place.

[KevShmev]

For everyone saying replace JR with Sherninan, Derek would not have a hope in hell of playing JR's parts.

You would need someone like Michael Pinella or jens Johansson to have any hope.

If Rudess can make some of Moore and Sherinian's keyboard parts more technical than they originally were, I don't see why Sherinian or someone else couldn't do the opposite with his.

[TheGreatPretender]

For everyone saying replace JR with Sherninan, Derek would not have a hope in hell of playing JR's parts.

You would need someone like Michael Pinella or jens Johansson to have any hope.

Although if that was to happen, I'd love to hear how Sherinian would reinterpret Jordan's parts in order to be able to play them. I mean we might end up with something familiar, yet new and refreshing that way.

[wolven74]

For everyone saying replace JR with Sherninan, Derek would not have a hope in hell of playing JR's parts.

You would need someone like Michael Pinella or jens Johansson to have any hope.

The problem with trying to replace JR with someone like Jens Johansson isn't so much ability as it is creativity and innovation and style. Jens style is flashy but it lacks finesse and subtlety. I don't see Jens working with software companies and computer companies to come up with sounds. I have a hard time seeing Jens working in odd time signatures too.

[?]

Jens style is flashy but it lacks finesse and subtlety.

Stratovarius' Winter Skies would like to have a word with you.

I don't see Jens working with software companies and computer companies to come up with sounds. I have a hard time seeing Jens working in odd time signatures too.

The former point might be true, but Jens does introduce some new sounds on every new Stratovarius release, so I can't see why he wouldn't be doing it in DT. As far as time signatures go, I haven't heard his solo stuff, but he has recorded jazz fusion and that kind of music can be pretty crazy in the time signature department.

[MoraWintersoul]

The problem about replacing Jordan with anyone is that no one is Jordan. We'd have to think outside of the box for someone who could play it technically, or at least 90% of it, all but was a completely different kind of creative genius that still operates in the Dream Theater genre and I don't think I know such a keyboardist. The reason why I agree with people who suggested Derek is because a) he has advanced severely since leaving DT, and he was pretty adept to start with, I don't care what anyone says b) he's made some very good music with DT before.

That's all there is necessary, to be a good musician, technically capable (though I wouldn't mind DT going for less technical stuff in the future) and very creative and to mesh well with the rest of DT. I wouldn't expect of a replacement singer to have JLB's timbre and uniqueness and I wouldn't expect of a replacement keyboardist to work on new technologies like JR. We didn't expect of MM to oversee bootlegs, DVDs, be the public face of the band, sing backing vocals or write lyrics either.

[Lolzeez]

Dream Theater is:

Charlie Dominici (vocals)
Chris Collins (YAHHHHH and coke)
Derek Sheranian (Wankery)
Mike Portnoy (Drums)
Chris Collins again (Guitar)
Chris Collins AGAIN (...bass)
Kevin Moore (Keyboards)

It'd be called prepare for it...








CCDMCCK

which means Cover Curtains During My Camel's ... whatever.

[rush-signals]

Drums - Bozzio
Guitar - Gilbert
Bass - Sheehan
Vocals - Matt Barlow
Keys - Sherinian

[JediKnight1969]

LaBrie: Serj Tankian
Petrucci: Paul Gilbert
Myung: Steve Bailey
Rudess: Vitalij Kuprij
Mangini: Marco Minnemann

[Sycsa]

The reason why I agree with people who suggested Derek is because a) he has advanced severely since leaving DT, and he was pretty adept to start with, I don't care what anyone says b) he's made some very good music with DT before.

I always felt like Derek wanted to prove something after he was fired from DT, and if that's the case, he damn well proved it. Not really important, since it has nothing to do with music, but I always hated his stage presence and mannerisms while he was in DT. Nowadays, he's way cooler, looks great on stage with PSMS, especially because of the big beast Hammond B3. Would love to see one of those on a DT show. Yeah, it might not fit the image of the band, with Jordan's futuristic synth stand and the new Mike's even more excessive drum set, but since Jordan is using organ sounds more and more often, it would only make sense for DT to have the best sound possible in every department, which only a real Hammond/Leslie combo can provide. Bottom line, Jordan is fantastic, I wouldn't want to replace him, but I think I'd be excited if they decided to bring Derek back.

Mangini: Marco Minnemann

FU DT :-)

[Infinite Cactus]

Guitar:Paul Gilbert
Vocals:Sammy Hagar, John Corabi
Bass:Billy Sheehan
Drums:Andrea Vadrucci
Keyboards: Derek Sherinian

[joaquing84]

James LaBrie - Barry Manilow
Mike Mangini - Meg White AND Lars Ulrich
John Myung - Roger Waters
John Petrucci - Neil Young
Jordan Rudess - Billy Joel

Those two together doesn't make a finger tip of Mangini haha

[Kotowboy]

How about worst possible replacements ?

James LaBrie - Wayne Coyne or Kanye West

John Petrucci - Jack White or L'il Wayne

John Myung - Adam Clayton [ I don't think he'e shit - I just can't think of any really awful bassists...]

Jordan Rudess - Chris Lowe

Mike Mangini - Whoever plays drums for Spector

[Mindflux]

How about worst possible replacements ?

James LaBrie - Kotowboy

John Petrucci - Kotowboy

John Myung - Kotowboy

Jordan Rudess - Kotowboy

Mike Mangini - Kotowboy

[Pols Voice]

Oh good, the Wayne Coyne War continues.

[Cedar redaC]

You want the worst possible?

Drums- Justin Bieber
Guitar- Lil Wayne
Keyboards- Lady Gaga
Bass- Triggered sample
Vocals- T-Pain, plus all of the above.

[Kotowboy]

Oh good, the Wayne Coyne War continues.

Because i'm allowed to think he's a dreadful vocalist.

[Kotowboy]

How about worst possible replacements ?

James LaBrie - Kotowboy

John Petrucci - Kotowboy

John Myung - Kotowboy

Jordan Rudess - Kotowboy

Mike Mangini - Kotowboy

Oh totally ! 

I can barely play Green Day songs !

[AngelBack]

By degree of irreplacability (irreplacableness?)....

JP
JLB
JR
JM
MM

[reneranucci]

Who I would like to replace them (the only irreplaceable member is Rudess)
JP: Paul Gilbert
JM: Wooten
MM: Mike Portnoy
<------ James LaBrie