Keyboard players audition to replace KM

[JediKnight1969]

Hi everyone. I don't know if this topic was treated here before but I always wanted to know who were the musicians who actually auditioned to become DT's new keyboard player after KM departure. Thank you very much in advance.

[robwebster]

Jens Johanssen, Derek Sherinian, Jordan Rudess, and some guy who died ("what, right there at the audition!?") are the only ones I could tell you off the top of my head. I'm sure someone with Lifting Shadows to hand could give you a much better list than me, though.

[TheGreatPretender]

some guy who died ("what, right there at the audition!?")

That's what happens when you try to follow Jordan.

[JediKnight1969]

Jens Johanssen, Derek Sherinian, Jordan Rudess, and some guy who died ("what, right there at the audition!?") are the only ones I could tell you off the top of my head. I'm sure someone with Lifting Shadows to hand could give you a much better list than me, though.

Thank you very much for your reply, Rob. I was wandering... Jordan actuallt auditioned? I knew they wanted him from the beggining, in fact he replace KM during the tour but I thought he declined the offer to be an official member of the band at that point.

[robwebster]

I think he auditioned! He might've gone straight to the gig, they played that first Awake show with him, possible that was his sort of "trial run" and the auditions started when he declined the offer to join full time. As I said, no books or references to hand right now, I'm just going off the top of my head, so... many pinches of salt! As I said, I'm sure a lot of people with far better memories will be able to answer the question more thoroughly than I could. Jens, Derek, and, er, someone who died, definitely. Really should find a name for the poor fellow.

ETA: Yes! Jordan did audition, cos he was auditioning for the Dregs at the same time.

[Orbert]

Rob, I think it's hilarious that you can't think of the guy's name, and all you can remember is that he died.  That just strikes me as funny.

[robwebster]

Rob, I think it's hilarious that you can't think of the guy's name, and all you can remember is that he died.  That just strikes me as funny.

I'd like to think it's how he'd have wanted to be remembered.

[Madman Shepherd]

Rob, I think it's hilarious that you can't think of the guy's name, and all you can remember is that he died.  That just strikes me as funny.

I'd like to think it's how he'd have wanted to be remembered.

I hate to be the spoiler but rob lifted this hilarious quote from the audio commentary for the 5 Years in a Livetime video

[LCArenas]

Does anybody know the name of the guy that died?

[robwebster]

I'm 99% sure it was Morty O'Deatherson.

[TheGreatPretender]

Morty De'Ath.

[LCArenas]

Morty De'Ath.

Why would anyone even be nam-Oh. You crazy robwebster you.

[robwebster]

Morty De'Ath.

Morty De'Ath.

Why would anyone even be nam-Oh. You crazy robwebster you.

Ha! Everyone caught my early draft.

I clearly need to get quicker on the edit button!

[TheGreatPretender]

Ha! Everyone caught my early draft.

I clearly need to get quicker on the edit button!

I like De'Ath better. Makes him sound Scandanavian.

[BlobVanDam]

Rob, I think it's hilarious that you can't think of the guy's name, and all you can remember is that he died.  That just strikes me as funny.

When DT mentioned it on the commentary (5YIALT?), did they actually mention a name?
It was a funny bit of banter though.

[Big Hath]

this thread reminds me of Spinal Tap's many drummers:

John "Stumpy" Pepys - Died in a bizarre gardening accident, that the authorities said was "best left unsolved."
Eric "Stumpy Joe" Childs - Choked on vomit of unknown origin, perhaps but not necessarily his own, because "you can't really dust for vomit."
Peter "James" Bond - Spontaneously combusted.
Mick Shrimpton - Inexplicably exploded onstage.
Joe "Mama" Besser - Claimed he "couldn't take this 4/4 shit"; according to an MTV interview with Spinal Tap in November 1991, he disappeared along with the equipment during their Japanese tour. He is either dead or playing jazz.
Richard "Ric" Shrimpton -  Allegedly sold his dialysis machine for drugs; presumed dead.
Sammy "Stumpy" Bateman - Died trying to jump over a tank full of sharks while on a tricycle in a freak show.
Scott "Skippy" Scuffleton - Fate unknown.
Chris "Poppa" Cadeau - Eaten by his pet python Cleopatra.
Plus 9 other drummers at various times, all of whom are dead.

[Setlist Scotty]

I think he auditioned! He might've gone straight to the gig, they played that first Awake show with him, possible that was his sort of "trial run" and the auditions started when he declined the offer to join full time. As I said, no books or references to hand right now, I'm just going off the top of my head, so... many pinches of salt! As I said, I'm sure a lot of people with far better memories will be able to answer the question more thoroughly than I could. Jens, Derek, and, er, someone who died, definitely. Really should find a name for the poor fellow.

ETA: Yes! Jordan did audition, cos he was auditioning for the Dregs at the same time.

Don't have my copy of LS handy at the moment, but if memory serves me correctly, both Jens and Jordan auditioned for the keyboard slot at the same time (not sure if there were any others then), and then Derek, the unnamed guy who died (I don't think his name was actually ever given) and a handful of others auditioned after Jordan backed out.

[MoraWintersoul]

They said Jordan played TTT with them when he auditioned, also.

[?]

They played TTT, Pull Me Under and Caught in a Web with Jordan, and he played a Rudess/Morgenstein song called Over the Edge by himself: https://mikeportnoy.com/aboutmike/faq/answers/38.aspx#398

Derek's audition songs were the same (except Over the Edge, obviously): https://mikeportnoy.com/aboutmike/faq/answers/38.aspx#402

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

this thread reminds me of Spinal Tap's many drummers:

John "Stumpy" Pepys - Died in a bizarre gardening accident, that the authorities said was "best left unsolved."
Eric "Stumpy Joe" Childs - Choked on vomit of unknown origin, perhaps but not necessarily his own, because "you can't really dust for vomit."
Peter "James" Bond - Spontaneously combusted.
Mick Shrimpton - Inexplicably exploded onstage.
Joe "Mama" Besser - Claimed he "couldn't take this 4/4 shit"; according to an MTV interview with Spinal Tap in November 1991, he disappeared along with the equipment during their Japanese tour. He is either dead or playing jazz.
Richard "Ric" Shrimpton -  Allegedly sold his dialysis machine for drugs; presumed dead.
Sammy "Stumpy" Bateman - Died trying to jump over a tank full of sharks while on a tricycle in a freak show.
Scott "Skippy" Scuffleton - Fate unknown.
Chris "Poppa" Cadeau - Eaten by his pet python Cleopatra.
Plus 9 other drummers at various times, all of whom are dead.

Yes, classics! 

[Setlist Scotty]

They played TTT, Pull Me Under and Caught in a Web with Jordan, and he played a Rudess/Morgenstein song called Over the Edge by himself: https://mikeportnoy.com/aboutmike/faq/answers/38.aspx#398

I doubt we will ever hear it, but I'm betting there's a recording of the band working out the DT arrangement of Over the Edge that is referred to in that FAQ. Nonetheless, I'd love to hear a DT version of that song, as it's a good one!

[phantom]

AFAIK, Jordan wasn't able to tour worldwide at that time, so he joined the Dregs rather than DT.
There's a great audio/video recording of a one-off gig the guys did with Jordan before Awake's release.
You were probably referring to that, right?
Anyway, I'm also curious about the poor dead fellow's identity.
Who's gonna shed some light about it? 

[phentalmyst]

hoping this is allowed...?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpEx7pDIq8A

[SjundeInseglet]

AFAIK, Jordan wasn't able to tour worldwide at that time, so he joined the Dregs rather than DT.

Jordan never actually joined the Dregs. He just filled in for T. Lavitz during a couple of gigs in 1994. That was the offer back in the day, as far as I know.

[VincentMDO]

They played TTT, Pull Me Under and Caught in a Web with Jordan, and he played a Rudess/Morgenstein song called Over the Edge by himself: https://mikeportnoy.com/aboutmike/faq/answers/38.aspx#398

Derek's audition songs were the same (except Over the Edge, obviously): https://mikeportnoy.com/aboutmike/faq/answers/38.aspx#402

Thanks "?" for the Over the Edge facts!

[YtseJamittaja]

They played TTT, Pull Me Under and Caught in a Web with Jordan, and he played a Rudess/Morgenstein song called Over the Edge by himself: https://mikeportnoy.com/aboutmike/faq/answers/38.aspx#398

Derek's audition songs were the same (except Over the Edge, obviously): https://mikeportnoy.com/aboutmike/faq/answers/38.aspx#402

Thanks "?" for the Over the Edge facts!

[?]

They played TTT, Pull Me Under and Caught in a Web with Jordan, and he played a Rudess/Morgenstein song called Over the Edge by himself: https://mikeportnoy.com/aboutmike/faq/answers/38.aspx#398

Derek's audition songs were the same (except Over the Edge, obviously): https://mikeportnoy.com/aboutmike/faq/answers/38.aspx#402

Thanks "?" for the Over the Edge facts!

No, thanks to MP's FAQ for the facts!

[ddtonfire]

Rob, I think it's hilarious that you can't think of the guy's name, and all you can remember is that he died.  That just strikes me as funny.

I'd like to think it's how he'd have wanted to be remembered.

I almost spit my drink all over my keyboard.

They played TTT, Pull Me Under and Caught in a Web with Jordan, and he played a Rudess/Morgenstein song called Over the Edge by himself: https://mikeportnoy.com/aboutmike/faq/answers/38.aspx#398

Derek's audition songs were the same (except Over the Edge, obviously): https://mikeportnoy.com/aboutmike/faq/answers/38.aspx#402

Thanks "?" for the Over the Edge facts!

Clever