Longevity of Band

[mrpmrpmrpmrp]

Now that we are getting prepared for their first tour w their core lineup, everyone is looking re-energized and ready to take on the world.

I just went to play the Night Terror video on YouTube and a ad for the Scorpions 60th year tour came up on my screen.

Do we expect Dream Theater to rock out for another 20+ years? XXXXXX tour?! ; )

I personally feel that they've gained a lot of wisdom and are going to capitalize on every experience they have out there to last as long as possible (or as long as us fans last for lol let's be real ha ha)... are they gaining enough of a young fan base to keep it going as long as possible?

[Adami]

No.

[hefdaddy42]

First of all, how tf do I pronounce your username


Secondly, another 20 years is probably too much to expect.  But age itself is just a number, and I think they will go as long as they can play and still enjoy the road.

[Shadowmangini]

I saw someone in another thread say that they think they only have a couple albums left in them. I disagree! Bands go longer and longer than ever these days, and when a band is as particularly well-fed and successful as Dream Theater, the health of said bandmates contributes to the longevity. From what I understand, all five members of DT are in very good health and have no chronic conditions or illnesses. This implies to me that we will see about four or five LPs at least. I can see them ending on a rounded number like 20 albums, maybe even 24 if we get extra lucky (now THAT'S pushing it, but hey, they did recently declare that we should "bend the clock"...  )

With Portnoy back, they'll probably want to get as much out of the lineup return as they can, so I imagine it'll be something like:

LP16 - 2025
LP17 - 2028
LP18 - 2031
LP19 - 2034
LP20 - 2037

Seeing that many of the core members of Dream Theater were born in the late 1960s, this means John Petrucci would turn 70 years old for the final album and dissolution. I can definitely see these guys going that long.

So the tl;dr is that I think another 10-15 years is completely probable.

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

Could you clarify your comment around 'everyone looks re-energized'? Specifically who has looked depleted of energy and when?

I think they make it to 50 years and 20 albums before calling it a career.

[MirrorMask]

Their own musical genre is a limit, in a sense.

Bruce Springsteen can get away with playing his songs slowed down. Can you imagine DT slowing down Metropolis and Pull Me Under? there will be a point where the most challenging songs will be difficult to play for them. Granted, they have a catalogue big enough to have plenty of replacements, but still they can't compromise; they can downtune for James but I don't see them playing songs way too slow.

[mrpmrpmrpmrp]

Could you clarify your comment around 'everyone looks re-energized'? Specifically who has looked depleted of energy and when?

I think they make it to 50 years and 20 albums before calling it a career.

Something about the video and their press package photos have a great vibe. Like less procedural and more joy.

[mrpmrpmrpmrp]

First of all, how tf do I pronounce your username

 

Think "rpm's" but like a visual representation of the rotations. Idk, seemed fun.

[durga2112]

First of all, how tf do I pronounce your username

"Mister Pimmer Perp Merp" is what I'm going with.

[Pebsie]

I think they'll keep going until someone can physically no longer perform, and I think that'll be a while yet. Jordan is the oldest and he doesn't show any signs of slowing with age.

[mrpmrpmrpmrp]

"Mister Pimmer Perp Merp" is what I'm going with.

I am actually going to try to change it to this now. instant improvement.

[Schurftkut]

Maybe Dream Sonic is the name JP had in mind for DT to continue with when JLB really can't do it live anymore, and they continue to be instrumental?

[Shadowmangini]

Their own musical genre is a limit, in a sense.

Bruce Springsteen can get away with playing his songs slowed down. Can you imagine DT slowing down Metropolis and Pull Me Under? there will be a point where the most challenging songs will be difficult to play for them. Granted, they have a catalogue big enough to have plenty of replacements, but still they can't compromise; they can downtune for James but I don't see them playing songs way too slow.

It's possible that they become a band that, as they age, focuses more on recording than live shows. I'm impressed they are going to tour as much as they are across the next year and a half, I hope they don't overdo themselves, we all remember the lyrics of "Endless Sacrifice" and how touring has had its effects on the families. I just want these guys to be happy!

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

Something about the video and their press package photos have a great vibe. Like less procedural and more joy.

I just looked at their current photos vs the ones they did for View and DoT. The only real difference I see is that today's photos have Mike Portnoy in them. Same with the NT video and the ones for Invisible and Untethered Angel. Actually looks like JP is having a good time barbecuing.

Perhaps you're confusing a change in YOUR personal level of joy or YOUR level of energy for a change in theirs?

[pg1067]

Bruce Springsteen can get away with playing his songs slowed down. Can you imagine DT slowing down Metropolis and Pull Me Under?

Steve Howe seems to make a pretty good living doing this (sadly).

[SeRoX]

My bet 2 or 3 studio albums from now. Maybe another 2 world tour but at least 5-6 years later they'll do concerts on some selective cities/countries.

[TheHoveringSojourn808]

Who could say how much longer they have to go. Given they seem to embrace AI a lot, maybe in ten years we will be using AI to artificially increase our livespan, so another 20, maybe even 40 years at this point for DT might not be too crazy in ten years time.

BTW, Welcome to the Forums! Love your username

[Wukong]

Who could say how much longer they have to go. Given they seem to embrace AI a lot, maybe in ten years we will be using AI to artificially increase our livespan, so another 20, maybe even 40 years at this point for DT might not be too crazy in ten years time.

BTW, Welcome to the Forums! Love your username

My thoughts exactly. I think about it every day.

[Chino]

Their own musical genre is a limit, in a sense.

Bruce Springsteen can get away with playing his songs slowed down. Can you imagine DT slowing down Metropolis and Pull Me Under? there will be a point where the most challenging songs will be difficult to play for them. Granted, they have a catalogue big enough to have plenty of replacements, but still they can't compromise; they can downtune for James but I don't see them playing songs way too slow.

DT could do whatever they want. As long as they're still willing to climb on a stage and haven't reached Bob Dylan levels of terrible, I'll go see them...

[mrpmrpmrpmrp]

I just looked at their current photos vs the ones they did for View and DoT. The only real difference I see is that today's photos have Mike Portnoy in them. Same with the NT video and the ones for Invisible and Untethered Angel. Actually looks like JP is having a good time barbecuing.

Perhaps you're confusing a change in YOUR personal level of joy or YOUR level of energy for a change in theirs?

Possible!

[TheHoveringSojourn808]

DT could do whatever they want. As long as they're still willing to climb on a stage and haven't reached Bob Dylan levels of terrible, I'll go see them...

Hey man, Dylan still puts on a good show, it's just different! lol

[mrpmrpmrpmrp]

Hey man, Dylan still puts on a good show, it's just different! lol

At what point does it become nightmare cinema again? 

[Setlist Scotty]

I can see them going another ten years, maybe with a change in the lineup again. Beyond that, it's hard to say.

[Shadowmangini]

I can see them going another ten years, maybe with a change in the lineup again. Beyond that, it's hard to say.

Which member do you see leaving them? Don't tell me you're trying to manifest Mangini back into Portnoy's place   

[CraftyCaleb2483]

Which member do you see leaving them?

James

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

Which member do you see leaving them? Don't tell me you're trying to manifest Mangini back into Portnoy's place   

Jordan is getting up there.

[Pebsie]

Jordan is getting up there.

I don't think there's anyone in the world who can bring what Jordan does in terms of technical ability. You'd need to find another child prodigy 

[Adami]

I don't think there's anyone in the world who can bring what Jordan does in terms of technical ability. You'd need to find another child prodigy 

Maybe for writing. But they could easily find people to play everything he plays. Just check YouTube. They probably wouldn't be the most fun person to be around, but they'd get the job done.

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

I don't think there's anyone in the world who can bring what Jordan does in terms of technical ability. You'd need to find another child prodigy 

Could Derek step in if he had to in a very hypothetical scenario?

[Max Kuehnau]

I don't think there's anyone in the world who can bring what Jordan does in terms of technical ability. You'd need to find another child prodigy 

Hiromi Uehara possibly (she is a fan of DT btw, and a great player herself, technical and precise (and musical, by extension))

[Progmaniac1988]

I'd say 10 as most touring at this level. Maybe longer if they cut back the touring and just release albums. In that case maybe 15???

[Max Kuehnau]

Could Derek step in if he had to in a very hypothetical scenario?

no

[TheHoveringSojourn808]

no

I think I agree. He's a great player but he'd struggle to learn the material and gel as well as our wizard

[Progmaniac1988]

Personally I hope this is their last line up tho. I don't know how I'd feel about another line up change at this point in the game. Only person I'd say I'd feel good about ever returning is Mangini, because I feel he earned a place in the overall DT family, but I hope this current line up is the last.

[Max Kuehnau]

MM should return at some point yes.