Derek Sherinian

sneakyblueberry · July 26, 2009, 02:21:59 PM

Curious to know how people view him here and his work in DT. I for one think he's a fantastic musician and showman, but I'm a little biased as OIALT was the first DT album I ever got and I loved it from the get go. I think, generally, he tends to be over-looked due to the old 'hired-gun' chestnut and the fact that he was around when the band was probably at its lowest point.

I've been listening to Scarred a lot and I have to say I prefer his performance of that on OIALT over any other version by JR and KM.

This thread is awesome.

PlaysLikeMyung · July 26, 2009, 04:04:00 PM

He's fantastic, both with DT and without. He added that little extra that made FII more bearable/awesome, and he is indeed an awesome showman. Nicky Lemons and the Migraines, anyone?

And solo-wise, he writes fantastic stuff. His solo albums are all outstanding, and with Planet X he's outstanding as well. Nobody should ever overlook him

robwebster · July 26, 2009, 04:09:38 PM

The man's a total legend. Mythology is my favourite instrumental album I think - it's one of that rare breed of prog-metal instrumental albums that prioritises making amazing music over showing off. Every song is brilliant on its own merits.

I interviewed him earlier this year and I was essentially a gibbering wreck, he's one of my heroes. Such a legend.

ehra · July 26, 2009, 04:18:07 PM

To be honest, I had no idea FII didn't have KM on it until I actually checked after my third listen. Can't say I know any of his work outside of DT.

antigoon · July 26, 2009, 06:55:26 PM

Quote from: PlaysLikeMyung on July 26, 2009, 04:04:00 PM
He's fantastic, both with DT and without. He added that little extra that made FII more bearable/awesome, and he is indeed an awesome showman. Nicky Lemons and the Migraines, anyone?

Agreed. From watching videos and such it seems he gave the band a greater sense of style and "rock".

I love his work on Falling Into Infinity

Dublagent66 · July 26, 2009, 06:59:18 PM

I really liked Derek's playing a lot. His work on ACOS and FII was great. I've also heard some of his solo material. Really good keyboard player.

brakkum · July 26, 2009, 07:03:56 PM

great player, seems like a nice guy. would love to meet him/see him sometime.

wasp2020 · July 26, 2009, 07:32:46 PM

That solo in the Summer section of ACOS is one of my favorite DT keyboard solos ever.
And that synthy tone of his on FII is just plain awesome

Great player, really adds a lot to the music, shame he wasn't on board for longer.

PlaysLikeMyung · July 26, 2009, 07:49:54 PM

Quote from: ehra on July 26, 2009, 04:18:07 PM
Can't say I know any of his work outside of DT.

If you can, try to pick up Black Utopia or Mythology (by Derek Sherinian) and Moonbabies by Planet X at some point. Great stuff there

Setlist Scotty · July 26, 2009, 08:42:23 PM

I liked him in DT, except he used the Hammond Organ patch way too much, and I didn't really like his silly, flamboyant choice of style.

hefdaddy42 · July 26, 2009, 08:49:24 PM

I thought he was great.

tbw2445 · July 26, 2009, 09:47:17 PM

His work with DT i thought was great stuff. Can't say anything on his solo work because i've never listened to it, but i bet it's good.

BlobVanDam · July 26, 2009, 10:27:18 PM

Easily DT's worst keyboardist. He's fine on FII (which is one of my favourites), but live I've never thought much of him.

Funny story-
Back when I was first getting into DT and didn't know DT's history, I remember getting a copy of OIALT and at the time I thought it was JR in the band, and I remember thinking "geez, he's playing awful here, yet only a few years later he manages to play absolutely flawlessly on LSFNY. How could he play this bad after 4 years in the band, then suddenly be awesome 2 years later?". Then someone brought over 5YIALT, and I discovered this other dude inbetween called Derek, and I was relieved that JR's record was untarnished. True story.

tri.ad · July 26, 2009, 11:09:45 PM

Great keyboardist, I like his playing on ACOS and FII very much.

reneranucci · July 26, 2009, 11:27:46 PM

He was good on FII, but his live playing was awful IMO. And I think he didn´t have much to add to the band had he continued with them.

KM and JR are superior in every aspect.

rumborak · July 27, 2009, 08:06:02 AM

I loved what he added to DT.

rumborak

Chino · July 27, 2009, 08:12:19 AM

I liked what he did, and I think he was a great keyboard player. I do not think he was what DT needed though.

BlobVanDam · July 27, 2009, 08:14:42 AM

Quote from: reneranucci on July 26, 2009, 11:27:46 PM
He was good on FII, but his live playing was awful IMO. And I think he didn´t have much to add to the band had he continued with them.

KM and JR are superior in every aspect.

Correct with all of this.

AcidLameLTE · July 27, 2009, 08:15:14 AM

Derek Sheriainiain

KevShmev · July 27, 2009, 08:29:37 AM

I loved his playing. Even though Kevin Moore is my favorite DT keyboardist, Sherinian had my favorite keyboard lead ("Lines in the Sand") and my favorite DT keyboard solo ("Trial of Tears"), so I gotta give him mad props for that.

lordxizor · July 27, 2009, 09:02:53 AM

I liked his sound the best of any of DT's keyboardists.

Fuzzboy · July 27, 2009, 09:32:52 AM

Quote from: lordxizor on July 27, 2009, 09:02:53 AM
I liked his sound the best of any of DT's keyboardists.

SeRoX · July 27, 2009, 11:27:32 AM

He is so talented musician and he did awesome works in DT; Can't deny the awesomeness of Trial Of Tears and Lines In The Sand.

Respectable

lordxizor · July 27, 2009, 11:50:30 AM

Quote from: SeRoX on July 27, 2009, 11:27:32 AM
Respectable

Awesome. We bow down to merely respectable work these days.

LudwigVan · July 27, 2009, 11:55:47 AM

I wouldn't be surprised if serox meant to use the word "respect", which has a whole different connotation.

SinisterMinisterX · July 27, 2009, 11:58:59 AM

Awesome player, and he did some great things with DT ... but in the end, he wasn't the right guy. Jordan was the right guy; all they've done with him proves that.

I think being with DT helped Derek become a better musician (he even said something like this himself on the Score doc).

By contrast, I think JR helped the rest of DT become an even more awesome band.

emindead · July 27, 2009, 12:12:23 PM

His work in ACOS was really good.

goo-goo · July 27, 2009, 12:28:28 PM

He's my favorite keyboard player ever! I love this tone, and love his solo stuff. I personally think his solo stuff is way better than what he does with Planet X (no offense to any of the PX fans). I'd rather listen to his solo stuff than PX. I like how he writes with guitars in mind....

Anyways, DS rules!

perfey · July 27, 2009, 01:36:44 PM

Quote from: tri.ad on July 26, 2009, 11:09:45 PM
Great keyboardist, I like his playing on ACOS and FII very much.

Quote from: rumborak on July 27, 2009, 08:06:02 AM
I loved what he added to DT.

+ his live playing, very fun and flamboyant guy.

Orbert · July 27, 2009, 02:00:22 PM

Quote from: SinisterMinisterX on July 27, 2009, 11:58:59 AM
Awesome player, and he did some great things with DT ... but in the end, he wasn't the right guy. Jordan was the right guy; all they've done with him proves that.

I think being with DT helped Derek become a better musician (he even said something like this himself on the Score doc).

By contrast, I think JR helped the rest of DT become an even more awesome band.

Mostly this. The "right guy" thing has been debated forever, and will still be undecided when the Earth is cold and grey.

Had they kept Derek, it would have been a very different band, but I don't necessarily think that's a bad thing. A Change of Seasons and Falling Into Infinity are two of my favorite DT albums, so whatever came next, with Derek a bit more fully integrated into the songwriting and sound of the band, it could have been really great. We would've missed out on some of the great stuff they've done with Jordan, but in this hypothetical alternate reality, we'd never know that.

People who say "easily the worst" or "easily the weakest"... okay, maybe. But look at the competition. People still cry about Kevin Moore leaving, all these years later, and Jordan definitely has the greatest chops. How he chooses to apply them is still subject of much debate, though most would agree it's gotten better. Black Clouds & Silver Linings has much more a feel of actual playing and composition and less total wankery.

sneakyblueberry · July 27, 2009, 02:11:00 PM

Quote from: goo-goo on July 27, 2009, 12:28:28 PM
He's my favorite keyboard player ever! I love this tone, and love his solo stuff. I personally think his solo stuff is way better than what he does with Planet X (no offense to any of the PX fans). I'd rather listen to his solo stuff than PX. I like how he writes with guitars in mind....

Anyways, DS rules!

Derek? Derek, is that you??

SeRoX · July 27, 2009, 02:13:38 PM

Quote from: sneakyblueberry on July 27, 2009, 02:11:00 PM
Quote from: goo-goo on July 27, 2009, 12:28:28 PM
He's my favorite keyboard player ever! I love this tone, and love his solo stuff. I personally think his solo stuff is way better than what he does with Planet X (no offense to any of the PX fans). I'd rather listen to his solo stuff than PX. I like how he writes with guitars in mind....

Anyways, DS rules!

Derek? Derek, is that you??

NO, He is KEVIN MOORE

goo-goo · July 28, 2009, 06:59:19 PM

Quote from: SeRoX on July 27, 2009, 02:13:38 PM
Quote from: sneakyblueberry on July 27, 2009, 02:11:00 PM
Quote from: goo-goo on July 27, 2009, 12:28:28 PM
He's my favorite keyboard player ever! I love this tone, and love his solo stuff. I personally think his solo stuff is way better than what he does with Planet X (no offense to any of the PX fans). I'd rather listen to his solo stuff than PX. I like how he writes with guitars in mind....

Anyways, DS rules!

Derek? Derek, is that you??

NO, He is KEVIN MOORE

LOL

I wish I was Derek. Would love to have his talent and equipment.

ddtonfire · July 28, 2009, 07:14:13 PM

I'm glad he got kicked out of DT. We have that to thank for Planet X

popol · July 29, 2009, 12:29:43 PM

OIALT is an awesome live album. Derek improved a lot during his time with DT. And when it comes to live playing, I think he totally owned Kevin. He also owned Jordan Rudess on the "when dream and day re-unite" cd/dvd. But overall I think Jordan is much better. What's cool with Derek is that he knew how to take a step back and leave some room to the guitar, unlike Jordan who's always trying to be the 2nd rythmn guitar player.

News:

Derek Sherinian