Derek Roddy talks about his audition with Dream Theater

[Mebert78]

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxg2dPikx3g

[Prog Snob]

Nice... listening now!   

[emtee]

Interesting to hear his comments.

[puppyonacid]

ooooo that nugget at the end about Petrucci is very interesting. The cynic in me really wants to believe it's so. Wouldn't surprise me in the slightest.

[Sycsa]

I can't help but crack up when he starts talking about snakes. Enough is enough!

[ReaperKK]

Interesting interview. My only issue with Roddy is that if his life did take a left turn and he is making more money then why go at all? He has stated that you don't turn down an audition like audition that's fairly selfish. I mean they could've had someone else try out that did really want to be there, who isn't preoccupied with snakes all the time.

[BlobVanDam]

Very interesting interview. Thanks for posting it.

[Sycsa]

- That'll be 200 dollars, sir.
- How much is that in snakes?

[puppyonacid]

Venom band like dream theater snakes a call you scale back on everything and say "reptile be there".

[Kotowboy]

That bit about pushing the dramatic side of it primarily to have a reason to get Mangini in the band sounds like a Label thing to do and i'm sure a few people thought that it was just an excuse to hire Mangini with as much fanfare as possible.

[Madman Shepherd]

I kind of take issue with how Minneman and Roddy act like they didn't want it at all.  I mean, I can see them having huge reservations about accepting the gig if offered but I'm sure they would have to think long and hard about it.  Both of them won't just admit that. 

[rumborak]

Why? I frankly did a double-take when the documentary showed all these drummers who supposedly wanted to join DT.
I mean, if you look at the facts, DT was not really *that* great a gig: First of all, you find yourself having to learn 10 albums' worth of material of some other drummer. Even worse, you can't put your own label on it, you have to play it down to the T how MP played it. It's like joining a tribute band.
Secondly, I think most people agree that DT is on the home stretch of their career. A few more albums, sure, but their prime time is at this point a long time past.
So, frankly, Mike Mangini seemed the only person content with those kinds of constraints. Take Virgil Donati; you can bet your ass that he knew his "I'll try this really cool section during TDOE" and the different fills would immediately disqualify him for the job. And yet he did it.
I think quite a few drummers went to that audition because it's a) their job as professional drummers to do so and b) because it was free advertisement for them.

[RodrigoAltaf]

I think quite a few drummers went to that audition because it's a) their job as professional drummers to do so and b) because it was free advertisement for them.

Yes. And a friend of mine who´s in the music business said that it worked VERY well for all of them, even Achilles! Everyone who auditioned basically had a big bump in their profile.

[Ben_Jamin]

Was gonna post exactly what was said....They did it because they knew how much more exposure they'll receive, and it worked.

[KevShmev]

Why? I frankly did a double-take when the documentary showed all these drummers who supposedly wanted to join DT.
I mean, if you look at the facts, DT was not really *that* great a gig: First of all, you find yourself having to learn 10 albums' worth of material of some other drummer. Even worse, you can't put your own label on it, you have to play it down to the T how MP played it. It's like joining a tribute band.
Secondly, I think most people agree that DT is on the home stretch of their career. A few more albums, sure, but their prime time is at this point a long time past.
So, frankly, Mike Mangini seemed the only person content with those kinds of constraints. Take Virgil Donati; you can bet your ass that he knew his "I'll try this really cool section during TDOE" and the different fills would immediately disqualify him for the job. And yet he did it.
I think quite a few drummers went to that audition because it's a) their job as professional drummers to do so and b) because it was free advertisement for them.

While I agree with the last part there, I disagree about it not being a great gig, especially from a financial standpoint.  I don't know what Mangini makes a year now, but I'll bet it's more than enough for him to be more than comfortable, and I'll bet that's not the case for a lot of professional musicians who don't have a regular gig/job/band.

[bosk1]

@rumborak:  I largely agree with the general sentiment.  I think there's definitely something to that, but at the same time, it's hard to say how it applied to each of the drummers specifically.  I know what you mean about double-taking though.  I think it was kind of telling in the recent Bobby Jarzombek interview where he talked about being asked and said he wasn't interested, and according to him, Frank was shocked and didn't understand why he wouldn't want to do it.  Yeah, a LOT of guys would jump at the opportunity.  But a lot of others wouldn't.  It's not universally a great fit for everybody (although I disagree with you about why it wouldn't be a good fit).  But beyond a few of those guys that auditioned, it's hard to say specifically who would have fit well and who wouldn't.  My brief thoughts:

1.  Minneman:  Marco did it because of his relationship with Jordan, and because it was good exposure and the professional thing to do if asked.  He said as much.  And if you kind of read between the lines from what he said in the audition video and how he handled the audition, it was fairly obvious that he was VERY casual about the whole thing.  He was open to playing with the band, but wasn't really hungry to make it his full time thing.

2.  Roddy:  His feelings are pretty obvious.  It did not fit his goals.

3.  Donati:  I could be wrong, and this is just speculation on my part, but I think the gig would have fit him just fine if the band decided they wanted him.  I don't think he did that extra part to disqualify himself.  I think he did it to show off his creativity.  I just think it didn't work out.

4.  Priester:  He seems to have a good, stable thing going with Angra.  But it also seems like he was really genuinely eager to get the gig.  Despite that Angra probably regularly plays to bigger crowds in S.A., DT would have been a step up in terms of exposure as a whole, and it seems like he would have welcomed that.

5.  Wildoer:  He could have been hamming it up and playing along because of his relationship with James.  But both from the video and from his comments here, it seems like he would have taken the gig in a heartbeat too if it had been offered.  That is kind of baffling to me in some ways because he lives so far away and seems to have a pretty reliable stable gig of his own.  But maybe the bigger exposure would have been something he wanted as well.  I don't think the age difference would have been too much of an issue, because I think he would have looked at it along the lines of:  "Do this full-time for a decade or so, maybe slow down to part time for a decade after that, and then just rely on the reputation I will have earned to do other projects in my own twilight years after that."

6.  Lang:  He is the toughest to read.  I really have no idea.  He didn't seem all that enthusiastic.  But then again, I'm not so sure that just isn't a cultural/personality thing.  He hasn't looked outwardly very excited about anything from what I've seen of him.

[Mebert78]

Secondly, I think most people agree that DT is on the home stretch of their career. A few more albums, sure, but their prime time is at this point a long time past.

I would have to disagree with that.  The past two albums debuted pretty high and I think the band's fanbase is stronger than ever.  Even Derek said his phone was ringing off the hook after MP's departure, because it was a gig that lots of drummers wanted.  I do agree that it's probably quite a chore to learn such an extensive back catalog of music, but that's the price to pay if you want such a high-profile gig that gives you an instant mass following. 

[rumborak]

Why? I frankly did a double-take when the documentary showed all these drummers who supposedly wanted to join DT.
I mean, if you look at the facts, DT was not really *that* great a gig: First of all, you find yourself having to learn 10 albums' worth of material of some other drummer. Even worse, you can't put your own label on it, you have to play it down to the T how MP played it. It's like joining a tribute band.
Secondly, I think most people agree that DT is on the home stretch of their career. A few more albums, sure, but their prime time is at this point a long time past.
So, frankly, Mike Mangini seemed the only person content with those kinds of constraints. Take Virgil Donati; you can bet your ass that he knew his "I'll try this really cool section during TDOE" and the different fills would immediately disqualify him for the job. And yet he did it.
I think quite a few drummers went to that audition because it's a) their job as professional drummers to do so and b) because it was free advertisement for them.

While I agree with the last part there, I disagree about it not being a great gig, especially from a financial standpoint.  I don't know what Mangini makes a year now, but I'll bet it's more than enough for him to be more than comfortable, and I'll bet that's not the case for a lot of professional musicians who don't have a regular gig/job/band.

There's no question that *financially* just about every drummer in this world should have tried joining DT. But, at that point in time Marco and Thomas already had some pretty stable things going on, so they were in the nice position of not having the money thing weigh too heavy into it.

@bosk: For most in your list I agree, but I think in the case of Virgil you're off. Virgil is a fusion drummer, and so iconic in the craft, just about everything pointed against it. He might have been interested in one or two albums, but I'm pretty sure he wouldn't have been content just playing Mike Portnoy's (at his level) simplistic fills and beats. The guy puts a 7/13th beat under a 4/4 just so he doesn't get bored.

[gentaishinigami]

A bit off topic but the drums sound so much better during the documentary than on the actual albums since Mangini joined.  :/  Are they playing on Tamas or Pearl in the documentary?  Not a drummer so no idea.

[Setlist Scotty]

I kind of take issue with how Minneman and Roddy act like they didn't want it at all.  I mean, I can see them having huge reservations about accepting the gig if offered but I'm sure they would have to think long and hard about it.  Both of them won't just admit that.

I'll just have to go by what Roddy has said about his snake business and it's success, but why would the man lie about it? If he's pulling in bucketloads of cash, staying at home most of the time, why would he sacrifice spending large amounts of time away from home to play music that he admittedly is not really into?

As for Marco, if you look at the man's resume, it's all over the place. He strikes me as being a very free spirit in terms of the various gigs he gets involved with. If MP found it difficult staying committed to one band after many years, from what I've seen of Marco, it would be even that much more difficult for him! Also, I'm pretty sure that Marco's doing pretty good financially, as the man is living in San Diego, which is not the cheapest city to live in.

4.  Priester:  He seems to have a good, stable thing going with Angra.  But it also seems like he was really genuinely eager to get the gig.  Despite that Angra probably regularly plays to bigger crowds in S.A., DT would have been a step up in terms of exposure as a whole, and it seems like he would have welcomed that.

Actually I find Aquiles' willingness to audition more confusing. Maybe it was the exposure he'd get from it, because I don't know how willing he was to get the gig. Even before the audition happened, he had already left Angra on his own to focus on his own band Hangar, of which (I believe) he is the sole songwriter in the band. So it doesn't make sense to me of why he'd be willing to give up his focus on his own band to pursue DT in the hopes of getting that gig.

[Madman Shepherd]

I kind of take issue with how Minneman and Roddy act like they didn't want it at all.  I mean, I can see them having huge reservations about accepting the gig if offered but I'm sure they would have to think long and hard about it.  Both of them won't just admit that.

I'll just have to go by what Roddy has said about his snake business and it's success, but why would the man lie about it? If he's pulling in bucketloads of cash, staying at home most of the time, why would he sacrifice spending large amounts of time away from home to play music that he admittedly is not really into?

As for Marco, if you look at the man's resume, it's all over the place. He strikes me as being a very free spirit in terms of the various gigs he gets involved with. If MP found it difficult staying committed to one band after many years, from what I've seen of Marco, it would be even that much more difficult for him! Also, I'm pretty sure that Marco's doing pretty good financially, as the man is living in San Diego, which is not the cheapest city to live in.

I've never known anybody to interview for a job or audition for a role or audition for a band that would honestly turn it down flat if offered.  Even if you are not overly interested in the job, I doubt anybody would waste the time if there wasn't at least a part of them that would consider.  I'm not saying Marco or Roddy was dying for the gig.  It's obvious they weren't but if it came down to Dream Theater asking them to join the band I honestly doubt they would be like, "Nah."  In the end, they might in fact turn it down but they it would be ridiculous to think they wouldn't at least consider it.

Dream Theater doesn't make people millionaires but each one of them certainly lives a VERY comfortable lifestyle.  At the absolute least, I'm sure JP makes six figures and I wouldn't doubt it if each one of them makes at least close to that but probably all of them do.  I'm sure Marco and Roddy are doing just fine but I think it is very likely that DT at the very least would be a step up in pay. 

[Ħ]

I always get the impression from Roddy that he just whines and complains about the whole thing.

[El Barto]

Why? I frankly did a double-take when the documentary showed all these drummers who supposedly wanted to join DT.
I mean, if you look at the facts, DT was not really *that* great a gig: First of all, you find yourself having to learn 10 albums' worth of material of some other drummer. Even worse, you can't put your own label on it, you have to play it down to the T how MP played it. It's like joining a tribute band.
Secondly, I think most people agree that DT is on the home stretch of their career. A few more albums, sure, but their prime time is at this point a long time past.
So, frankly, Mike Mangini seemed the only person content with those kinds of constraints. Take Virgil Donati; you can bet your ass that he knew his "I'll try this really cool section during TDOE" and the different fills would immediately disqualify him for the job. And yet he did it.
I think quite a few drummers went to that audition because it's a) their job as professional drummers to do so and b) because it was free advertisement for them.

Your ideas are intriguing to me and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter.

As for Roddy (haven't watched the video yet) I can understand why he was put off by the whole "documentary" thing. Hell, I was and I wasn't even a part of it. It was essentially reality TV programming hyping up the audition process and since they already knew which way they were going to to, they had to steer the portrayals in that direction.


edit: damn, that boy is a redneck, ain't he. 

[Setlist Scotty]

Dream Theater doesn't make people millionaires but each one of them certainly lives a VERY comfortable lifestyle.  At the absolute least, I'm sure JP makes six figures and I wouldn't doubt it if each one of them makes at least close to that but probably all of them do.  I'm sure Marco and Roddy are doing just fine but I think it is very likely that DT at the very least would be a step up in pay.

But that's the thing - if they already are living comfortable lifestyles on their own terms, why would they want to submit to the terms of someone else, even if the pay is a step up? As hard as it is to believe, there are *many* people who would rather not submit to or work for someone else in exchange for more money. I'd wager that is even more true for highly skilled musicians and other people in the creative/arts fields who are (relatively) well known, than it is for most other people.

[rumborak]

edit: damn, that boy is a redneck, ain't he. 

Crap, yeah

[bosk1]

"But...mah reptahls!" 

[Perpetual Change]

Yeah, I remember being glued to the screen during auditions like most of us, but the reality-style thing just isn't something I'm really comfortable with. It always seems a bit scripted and disingenuous, and I get a lot of the same vibes from the Over the Edge documentary on Luna Park. As time passes, it becomes evident that there really wasn't a "contest" any more than applying for any job is a contest, and essentially Mangini got the job because 1.) he was a perfect fit and 2.) he wanted it most.

[El Barto]

Honestly, the good ole boy thing actually endeared me to him quite a bit. I thought he was perfectly reasonable and dead on in a few instances. Hell, he was probably doing them a favor by showing up to provide some footage to use, despite the fact that neither party were particularly interested in the other. I certainly never heard him say anything that came across as rude or insensitive.

[rumborak]

You know, I'd be the first to make fun of some redneck, but frankly, good for him. The guy has a kickass business of his own that seems to make him good money, and he still gets to play drums on records and give clinics. He'd frankly be stupid to give that up.

[bosk1]

...frankly, good for him. The guy has a kickass business of his own that seems to make him good money, and he still gets to play drums on records and give clinics. He'd frankly be stupid to give that up.

I completely agree.

But...

"But...mah reptahls!" 

[rumborak]

Yeah, I remember being glued to the screen during auditions like most of us, but the reality-style thing just isn't something I'm really comfortable with. It always seems a bit scripted and disingenuous, and I get a lot of the same vibes from the Over the Edge documentary on Luna Park. As time passes, it becomes evident that there really wasn't a "contest" any more than applying for any job is a contest, and essentially Mangini got the job because 1.) he was a perfect fit and 2.) he wanted it most.

Totally. I found myself in a very similar situation not too long ago. I got wooed so much by this company to apply with them, that I eventually caved and said "chances are quite low I'll take the gig, but at the very least I'll get more exposure in the industry". It didn't work out in the end, for the plain reason that just like Roddy I was very open about my aspirations and expectations.

[rumborak]

I completely agree.

But...

"But...mah reptahls!" 

Maybe those snakes are actually other "snakes" (*wink wink*). I think he's running a male brothel down there but doesn't want to admit to it.

[Perpetual Change]

Oh, the other thing the documentary did extremely well: it sold Mangini.

In retrospect it was probably a conscious decision to play things at that angle. But after watching the series, who wasn't pumped about Mangini? It was a very smart advertising move by DT which accomplished quelling most doubts about the band carrying on without MP.

[gentaishinigami]

Oh, the other thing the documentary did extremely well: it sold Mangini.

In retrospect it was probably a conscious decision to play things at that angle. But after watching the series, who wasn't pumped about Mangini? It was a very smart advertising move by DT which accomplished quelling most doubts about the band carrying on without MP.

Backfired on me and the wife.  We both liked Marco's personality and liked Lang's drumming the most (not to say Mangini was bad, far from it, just opinions and stuff). 

[rumborak]

@PC: Oh, absolutely. It was as much as an advertisement for Mangini as it was a documentary.
In fact, I'm pretty sure the reason they never released the other audition videos is because it would have made a lot of people say "oh. You know what, the others weren't all that much worse than MM".