DT with a female frontman?

[rumborak]

I always thought that, given the range of the melodies DT writes for James, a female singer could easily have fit the spot very well. In fact, of the vocal covers I've seen of early DT material, the women were usually the only ones who could do it justice.
Two questions:

a) Did they consider a female singer in the early days when they were shopping for singers? (Is that mentioned in Lifting Shadows, or an interview?)
b) Who do you think could have done a good job?

[Zook]

Floor amirite?

Actually, having female guest vocals would be pretty cool I think.

[Kotowboy]

I'd rather they had a male frontwoman.

[JediKnight1969]

a) No idea.
b) Floor Jansen (After Forever / Revamp / Nightwish), or Skin (Skunk Anansie).

[hefdaddy42]

I don't think they ever considered it.

[MetropolisDLX]

A woman named Barbara Chiovelli was auditioned. She returned on a number of occasions to work on the song "The Ones Who Help To Set The Sun". They finally passed on her because they thought they wouldn't be as successful marketing-wise being fronted by a female vocalist. It says so on page 38 of Lifting Shadows.

I have a few favorite female vocalists, but I can't imagine them replacing JLB.

[TheGreatPretender]

Even if they did let JLB go, switching this late into their career is probably not something they'd consider.
But yeah, I could think of a few female vocalists who could probably pull off DT's songs pretty well. Kobra Paige comes to mind, although ironically, her voice is actually deeper than LaBrie's, haha.

[Setlist Scotty]

I don't think they ever considered it.

I don't remember where I read it (perhaps in the WDaDU demos liner notes) but I know I read that the guys *did* in fact give consideration to having a frontwoman. I don't recall exactly what the reason was why they didn't go with one, but they did give a reason.

[Aythesryche]

I could hear it. It would sound great, too. Wont happen, though. I'm content with that. Didn't JP say something along the lines that the lineup they have now is it? As in, if anyone were to bail, DT would be done.

[Setlist Scotty]

I could hear it. It would sound great, too. Wont happen, though. I'm content with that. Didn't JP say something along the lines that the lineup they have now is it? As in, if anyone were to bail, DT would be done.

They said that before MP left too, and we see what happened there. Never say never.

[Mosh]

Did they ever say they'd be done though? All I've seen is the typical "this is the definitive and permanent lineup" PR stuff that they've been saying since at least JR joined the band.

[wolfking]

I don't think they ever considered it.

This.  And I hope they never do.

[hefdaddy42]

A woman named Barbara Chiovelli was auditioned. She returned on a number of occasions to work on the song "The Ones Who Help To Set The Sun". They finally passed on her because they thought they wouldn't be as successful marketing-wise being fronted by a female vocalist. It says so on page 38 of Lifting Shadows.

I have a few favorite female vocalists, but I can't imagine them replacing JLB.

Thanks for the correction.  I don't have the book.

Did you guys not read this?

[ZKX-2099]

Female frontman...

[ZirconBlue]

Frontwoman?  Frontperson?

[Zydar]

Full frontal womang

[rumborak]

I don't think they ever considered it.

This.  And I hope they never do.

Why not? Let's presume James calls it quits, but the other guys don't feel anywhere like stopping (situation sound familiar?). I can say from experience of shopping for singers with my DT tribute band back in the day, that of the 10 people we had come in, the two girls were the only ones capable of easily delivering the IAW material. Like, think 1990 JLB ease.

[chaossystem]

I'd rather they had a male frontwoman.

Transvestite?

Transsexual?

It gets VERY confusing...

[wolfking]

I don't think they ever considered it.

This.  And I hope they never do.

Why not? Let's presume James calls it quits, but the other guys don't feel anywhere like stopping (situation sound familiar?). I can say from experience of shopping for singers with my DT tribute band back in the day, that of the 10 people we had come in, the two girls were the only ones capable of easily delivering the IAW material. Like, think 1990 JLB ease.

I guess it's just cause I'm not that keen on female fronted metal as others.  JUst with a prog band like DT, I don't see a female fitting the frontperson role.

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

I'd rather they had a male frontwoman.

Or a front malewoman.

[lithium112]

I guess it's just cause I'm not that keen on female fronted metal as others.  JUst with a prog band like DT, I don't see a female fitting the frontperson role.

Why not?

[Kotowboy]

I'd rather they had a male frontwoman.

Or a front malewoman.

...but why Male Models ?

[RodrigoAltaf]

 Angela Gossow?

[wolfking]

I guess it's just cause I'm not that keen on female fronted metal as others.  JUst with a prog band like DT, I don't see a female fitting the frontperson role.

Why not?

Because I just don't see it. For me, women seem to be more suited for the death metal thing or the more symphonic type of thing.  A full on prog band like DT who's fanbase consists of a lot of men and musicians, just doesn't seem like the type of band for a front women to me.  Also, changing it up and getting in a female I don't think is what DT would be going for these days.

Might be a strange opinion, but that's just how I think.

[lithium112]

Because I just don't see it. For me, women seem to be more suited for the death metal thing or the more symphonic type of thing.  A full on prog band like DT who's fanbase consists of a lot of men and musicians, just doesn't seem like the type of band for a front women to me.  Also, changing it up and getting in a female I don't think is what DT would be going for these days.

Might be a strange opinion, but that's just how I think.

Ah, I didn't realize you were making a distinction between prog and other forms of metal. I don't really agree but can understand where you're coming from. I also agree that I doubt DT specifically would make such a big change this late in their careers.

But I do hope to see some prominent prog metal bands with female singers in the future. Based on the tendency for high-register operatic vocals alone, I always felt that women might fare better in prog metal. I'd be totally down for someone like Alissa White-Gluz fronting a prog band. Would be epic.

[wolfking]

Because I just don't see it. For me, women seem to be more suited for the death metal thing or the more symphonic type of thing.  A full on prog band like DT who's fanbase consists of a lot of men and musicians, just doesn't seem like the type of band for a front women to me.  Also, changing it up and getting in a female I don't think is what DT would be going for these days.

Might be a strange opinion, but that's just how I think.

Ah, I didn't realize you were making a distinction between prog and other forms of metal. I don't really agree but can understand where you're coming from. I also agree that I doubt DT specifically would make such a big change this late in their careers.

But I do hope to see some prominent prog metal bands with female singers in the future. Based on the tendency for high-register operatic vocals alone, I always felt that women might fare better in prog metal. I'd be totally down for someone like Alissa White-Gluz fronting a prog band. Would be epic.

Yeah agree as I said.  I think this would be the biggest factor in regards to this topic.

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

I don't think replacing James with a female singer is really the way to go, but it would be cool to hear some of the mentioned singers guest on a DT song or two in the future.

[erwinrafael]

Well, the most popular prog band here in the Philippines is fronted by a female singer. Here's a sample of of their live performance:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ia2xjoQeBzQ

They had a lineup change. Abby Clutario is now not just singing and playing keyboards. She's playing the chapman stick also. So she's doing a John Myung also.    Amazing lady.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ppd9VIX2L48

[Dublagent66]

I'd rather they had a male frontwoman.

  We'll just call it a "tranny". 

[Dani Helios]

Ke$ha, anybody?
"And I can't escape from the enemy insi, si, si, suwhhhh." 

[lithium112]

  We'll just call it a "tranny". 

FYI that word is considered quite offensive.

[Zook]

Since when?

[PetFish]

Since when?

I'm sure every word is offensive to somebody somewhere.  I wish society would stop worrying so much about being politically correct these days.  It's out of control.

[lithium112]

Since when?

I'm not sure when/if there was a definitive moment the word "became" offensive, but multiple groups/individuals affiliated with the trans community have made this statement in the past. Feel free to google it if you want to learn more! I'm just providing some info in case Dublagent66 or others didn't know that it's not the best word to use to describe trans people.

I'm sure every word is offensive to somebody somewhere.  I wish society would stop worrying so much about being politically correct these days.  It's out of control.

What exactly is out of control about mentioning that this word is considered derogatory to a certain marginalized group of people?

[Zook]

Since when?

I'm sure every word is offensive to somebody somewhere.  I wish society would stop worrying so much about being politically correct these days.  It's out of control.

That's true, but I don't think tranny is the same as fag. The latter is used in a derogatory way, whereas tranny is short for transsexual or transvestite. Maybe I'm wrong. Any transvestites on the forum wanna chime in?












Dream Theater.