Covers of Dream Theater songs by successful bands?

[Perpetual Change]

I've always thought it was odd that not many exist. DT have covered so many bands, and influenced many as well, but it is very difficult to find videos of other bands playing Dream Theater songs.

I'm not talking about stuff like Bad Salad either, but more legit successful bands who are commercially successful and recognizable to some extent.

Anyway, if any DT covers exist, I'd like to see them. So post them here.

[wolfking]

I've actually thought of this a couple of times.  DT are pretty successful and very influential, and covers are rare, which is strange.  Perhaps they are just too hard to cover properly or bands choose not to put a lot of time into such a complex song to cover.  Because really, even DT's easiest songs would be pretty difficult for a lot of bands.

[SeRoX]

I've always pictured that Anathema would make a cover CD of DT songs, especially DT's ballads.

But again, as Wolf pointed out I think that DT is one of the band out there hard to be covered.

[puppyonacid]

It's a funny one.

A well known band could lose a lot of kudos by trying to cover a DT song and failing. If a band chose an "easier" song then I can hear a lot of people saying "oh yea they only chose that cos they couldn't play a real DT song!"

The reward for pulling it off would be minimal i.e. we talk about it here and enthuse but so what?

[SuperTaco]

I imagine most bands trying to cover Dream Theater would sound a lot like Linkin Park trying to cover "Sweet Child Of Mine". The skills required to play it are not something you can quickly rehearse before a tour, like a lot of bands do. It requires everyone in the band to be able to reach that high level. How many popular bands are out there that, from top to bottom, can safely be compared to DT skill wise? Maybe my musical scope is limited but I can't think of any. If there is a group out there, they'd also have to be DT fans.

[TheGreatPretender]

The only one I know of is Empty Tremor doing a cover of Another Day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqMjJ-_Xls8

And this is precisely why bands don't do DT covers. Because usually, if the musicians are skilled enough to play Petrucci and Rudess parts, then they probably don't have a vocalist with a range high enough to sing LaBrie's parts, as is in the video. It's just... Painful to listen to for me.

On the other hand, bands where the vocalists have an appropriately high range (especially these days) are not only rare, but usually play Alternative Rock and don't have the musical chops to play stuff like that.

[Jaq]

I do have to admit, I find it odd that some prog metal label hasn't done one of those tribute albums to DT yet. You'd think that'd be a natural, especially in Europe where you can throw a rock and hit five or six bands heavily influenced by Dream Theater, and get a higher number than that in Italy.

Also think that if a band was going to cover DT and not be a prog metal band, they'd wind up so extensively re-working the song that it would barely resemble the original anyway to make it work for their skillset. Far easier to cover a song more in your wheelhouse.

[ZKX-2099]

I'm always hoping BTBAM will do a cover of Metropolis. Add their own flair like they did with Blackened.

[Raise the Drum]

Here is a Another Day cover by Vision Divine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67V78qvX3wY

I don't know the band so much but this cover seems to be Ok.
The recording is good and they even add a saxophone (i think) at the end, so it proves that they put time to prepare this one.

[The Stray Seed]

I know them cause they're italian but I had never heard of this cover. I've just listened to it and it sounds good! Amazing vocals by Luppi =)

[kirksnosehair]

Vision Divine is a great band. 

[emtee]

I always figured there would be a day when a bunch of prog metal bands would do a DT tribute album but so  far that day has never
come. With recent up and coming bands like Between The Buried And Me & Haken, along with established bands like Pagan's Mind
& Riverside (just to name a few...there are many others) I think it would be a well received project and I would love to hear bands
covering DT material.

[Another_Won]

Does this count?

https://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=11237

I don't know any of those bands so I certainly can't say if they are considered "successful."

[Perpetual Change]

Thing is, covers of DT by cookie-cutter bands aren't that interesting. With stuff like Vision Divine and Pagan's Mind, these bands are way too similar to do a good cover. I mean, the Vision Divine cover of "Another Day" sounds exactly like the original, with an Italian singer. In a way, these bands sort of already blatantly play tribute to DT through their original material 

Props to them for mastering their instruments to play that style of music, but I wouldn't want to listen to a whole CD of that. What'd be more interesting is covers from DT's peer bands, who are similar and maybe have the same influences but also very different and do their own thing. Opeth and Anathema would be good choices, as would more recent bands like Between the Buried and Me and Scale the Summit. And of course the classic peers, like Queensryche and Fates Warning - covers from them would be awesome.

But a CD full of typical DT-mold prog metal? No thanks  Sounds pretty awful to me.

[Prog Snob]

Here is a Another Day cover by Vision Divine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67V78qvX3wY

I don't know the band so much but this cover seems to be Ok.
The recording is good and they even add a saxophone (i think) at the end, so it proves that they put time to prepare this one.

It was alright.  Nothing special. 

[TheGreatPretender]

Thing is, covers of DT by cookie-cutter bands aren't that interesting. With stuff like Vision Divine and Pagan's Mind, these bands are way too similar to do a good cover. I mean, the Vision Divine cover of "Another Day" sounds exactly like the original, with an Italian singer. In a way, these bands sort of already blatantly play tribute to DT through their original material 

Props to them for mastering their instruments to play that style of music, but I wouldn't want to listen to a whole CD of that. What'd be more interesting is covers from DT's peer bands, who are similar and maybe have the same influences but also very different and do their own thing. Opeth and Anathema would be good choices, as would more recent bands like Between the Buried and Me and Scale the Summit. And of course the classic peers, like Queensryche and Fates Warning - covers from them would be awesome.

But a CD full of typical DT-mold prog metal? No thanks  Sounds pretty awful to me.

I don't see how Scale The Sumit isn't DT-mold prog metal. Don't get me wrong, they're awesome, but I'd definitely put them in that camp. Very Petrucci-influenced guitar style.

[orcus116]

Their style of playing is nothing like Dream Theater's.

[Perpetual Change]

Their style of playing is nothing like Dream Theater's.

This.

For people more interested in the idea here, what about something like this:

Queensryche - A Fortune in Lies
Scale the Summit - Erotomania
Haken - Forsaken
Mastodon - Burning My Soul*
Anathema - This is the Life
Between the Buried and Me - Beyond this Life
Riverside - Disappear
Protest the Hero - Panic Attack
Blackfield - Beneath the Surface
Fates Warning - Pull Me Under

I don't love all the bands listed above, but the following would cover the gamut of prog metal and wind up being a tribute without veering at all into "DT clone" territory. Obviously, each band would kinda make each song "their own".

*I don't love this song, but I think Mastodon could actually make it really interesting.

[TAC]

Here is a Another Day cover by Vision Divine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67V78qvX3wY

I don't know the band so much but this cover seems to be Ok.
The recording is good and they even add a saxophone (i think) at the end, so it proves that they put time to prepare this one.

I was going to post this.

Vision Divine is a great band. 

[TheGreatPretender]

Their style of playing is nothing like Dream Theater's.

Their style reminded me a lot of JP's solo album, Suspended animation.

Queensryche - A Fortune in Lies
Scale the Summit - Erotomania
Haken - Forsaken
Mastodon - Burning My Soul*
Anathema - This is the Life
Between the Buried and Me - Beyond this Life
Riverside - Disappear
Protest the Hero - Panic Attack
Blackfield - Beneath the Surface
Fates Warning - Pull Me Under

Replace Erotomania with A Dance of Eternity or Enigma Machine, and it's a solid track list.

[orcus116]

Their style of playing is nothing like Dream Theater's.

Their style reminded me a lot of JP's solo album, Suspended animation.

I can see that but JP's solo album is quite a tangent from his DT stuff IMO.

[Prog Snob]

Their style of playing is nothing like Dream Theater's.

Their style reminded me a lot of JP's solo album, Suspended animation.

I can see that but JP's solo album is quite a tangent from his DT stuff IMO.

The vocal style reminded me of something you'd hear in a cock rock band like Steelheart or something.

[senecadawg2]

I've always pictured that Anathema would make a cover CD of DT songs, especially DT's ballads.

That's an interesting thought, but I don't think I would be a big fan of Anathema covering DT. Anathema are best when they are doing Anathema, and DT is a very different animal (even their ballads). Plus, a lot of DT's stuff would probably be a bit too difficult technically for Anathema. They've never been virtuosos, which is quite alright for me because I prefer their more emotionally-infused stuff over almost all of DT's music these days anyways.

[?]

I doubt the members of Anathema are DT fans...

[SeRoX]

I've always pictured that Anathema would make a cover CD of DT songs, especially DT's ballads.

That's an interesting thought, but I don't think I would be a big fan of Anathema covering DT. Anathema are best when they are doing Anathema, and DT is a very different animal (even their ballads). Plus, a lot of DT's stuff would probably be a bit too difficult technically for Anathema. They've never been virtuosos, which is quite alright for me because I prefer their more emotionally-infused stuff over almost all of DT's music these days anyways.

Yeah, they are clearly not at the same level but again hearing Disappear or TSCO from Anathema could be amazing with their own "depressing" style.

[MoraWintersoul]

Dudes dudes dudes. Youtube Kalisia's cover of A Fortune In Lies.

[Perpetual Change]

Dudes dudes dudes. Youtube Kalisia's cover of A Fortune In Lies.

I have no idea who this band are, they certainly aren't successful, but looking them up and, yup, they sound exactly like Dream Theater.

[wolfking]

Here is a Another Day cover by Vision Divine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67V78qvX3wY

I don't know the band so much but this cover seems to be Ok.
The recording is good and they even add a saxophone (i think) at the end, so it proves that they put time to prepare this one.

Hmm.....I didn't know about this cover either.  Good cover and Luppi is a great vocalist, but his accent here is a bit off putting.

[erik16]

It would be awesome to see Haken cover DT. I'm interested in seeing what could they do with their additional guitar/keyboard player.

[jingle.boy]

Does this count?

https://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=11237

I don't know any of those bands so I certainly can't say if they are considered "successful."

Was coming to post this.  I've had it forever.  It's ok, but I rarely listen to it.

Vision Divine is a great band. 

Damn straight!

[King Postwhore]

Joe, I'm curious, why is it important for the band to be successful?

[wolfking]

Joe, I'm curious, why is it important for the band to be successful?

Probably just the novelty of a band people know covering the band.  Makes it a bit cooler I suppose if you actually know them.

[Perpetual Change]

Joe, I'm curious, why is it important for the band to be successful?

Joe, I'm curious, why is it important for the band to be successful?

Probably just the novelty of a band people know covering the band.  Makes it a bit cooler I suppose if you actually know them.

This. Also, a successful band does a cover merely to give props to influences. Likewise, a upstart band is more likely to cover an influence just to poach their fanbase. I mean, look at the Dream Theater "tribute" above - sure, it's full of DT covers, but there's also another CD included of each band's original material. It's like they're saying, "Hey! We love DT! We sound just like them, see! Check out our original stuff!" To me, that's a lot less interesting and less valid as a genuine tribute.

That said, we all know DT are the kings of Youtube cover artists.

[The Stray Seed]

Haken - Forshaken

Fixed.

[Lolzeez]

Queensryche - A Fortune in Lies
Scale the Summit - Erotomania
Haken - Forsaken
Mastodon - Burning My Soul*
Anathema - This is the Life
Between the Buried and Me - Beyond this Life
Riverside - Disappear
Protest the Hero - Panic Attack
Blackfield - Beneath the Surface
Fates Warning - Pull Me Under

Oh my god. Just thinking about those is making my brain dance. Especially BTL and BTS. (BTS WITH SW HOLY SHIT.)