How many studio albums do you think Dream Theater will have by...

[Aniland]

the end of their career?

And I'm not asking how many you hope for (naturally, the number would be in the 30s and 40s), but how many more album do you think they realistically have in them?

I'm predicting 14 or 15 as an end total. Provided that they keep up having an album every two or three years (with one hiatus perhaps after the 12th album), I think they'll retire as they reach their early-to-mid 50s (well, except for Rudess, who is already there. XD)

They all love what they're doing still, and I wouldn't be surprised if we got the joy of four or five more albums out of them before they disband. Of course, if it's more than that... I'd be very happy.

[Nick]

Good question. I think the chemistry is there for them to do this as long as they feel technically up for it, so I'd hope for about 16 or so studio albums by the time they are done.

[BRGM]

yeah, something around 15-16 or so, and I want a DVD from every tour of these albums aswell!     They lose nothing on filming DVDs

[KevShmev]

Given that they do one about every two years, I would say about 15 sounds about right.  This is, of course, contingent on JLB's voice holding up and Myung not getting even more disinterested in the band and not wanting to outright work anymore.  It is hard to imagine them keeping up the relentless touring they have over the years for much longer, as they are getting older.

[toro]

12 and thats it.

[Chagny]

58

[ACID_FOX]

58

I see what you did there.

[The Clairvoyant]

I think they will do other 3 studio albums...considering that rudess is the older member of the band...seen that now he is 54 and between 6 years he will be 60...so maybe he would not continue after this age...so in 2016 I think dt will quit with a total of 13 studio albums!

[Nick]

Frankly if we had to pick any member of the band to be a good bit older than the others it would be the keyboard player. His instrument is less physically demanding than any of the others and I think considering Rudess is very good with his exercises he will keep up his technical abilities for a LONG time.

I don't think he will factor in at all one day when the band decides to stop.

[The Clairvoyant]

Frankly if we had to pick any member of the band to be a good bit older than the others it would be the keyboard player. His instrument is less physically demanding than any of the others and I think considering Rudess is very good with his exercises he will keep up his technical abilities for a LONG time.

I don't think he will factor in at all one day when the band decides to stop.

But I hope that rudess will not factor...!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope they will continue with studio albums and tour until 2020!!!!!!!!!!!

[OperantChamber]

Maybe it'd be Mike. Doesn't he have knee problems already?
I think there will be around 4 more. I'd hope for another 10.

[Adami]

Frankly if we had to pick any member of the band to be a good bit older than the others it would be the keyboard player. His instrument is less physically demanding than any of the others and I think considering Rudess is very good with his exercises he will keep up his technical abilities for a LONG time.

I don't think he will factor in at all one day when the band decides to stop.

But I hope that rudess will not factor...!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope they will continue with studio albums and tour until 2020!!!!!!!!!!!

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ZKX-2099]

They will end their career with 0 albums thus proving the story ends where it begins.

[Nic35]

Frankly if we had to pick any member of the band to be a good bit older than the others it would be the keyboard player. His instrument is less physically demanding than any of the others and I think considering Rudess is very good with his exercises he will keep up his technical abilities for a LONG time.

I don't think he will factor in at all one day when the band decides to stop.

But I hope that rudess will not factor...!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope they will continue with studio albums and tour until 2020!!!!!!!!!!!

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!

[tri.ad]

I think 13 or 14 albums, maybe 15. But certainly not more.

[ScioPath]

What are you guys talking about? These guys are immortal.

[Darkes7]

I agree with 15-16, but that's the optimistic estimate. I guess they may slow down eventually, after all it may become difficult with this kind of intense touring and an album every 2 years over time.

And I wonder how many permanently "DT ended at SFAM" malcontents there will be after the release of the 15th album.

[Marvellous G]

They will end their career with 0 albums thus proving the story ends where it begins.

I dunno, probably 12-14.

[tri.ad]

What are you guys talking about? These guys are immortal.

*sigh*

[Portrucci]

12. Mike Portnoy will be the one to pull the pin.

[AwakeFromOctavarium]

I wouldn't want more albums from DT, the next album could be the last DT album for me.

I don't want more albums because I certainly know that they will never achieve their masterpieces with the new releases. NEVER. BC&SL was decent, but it's nowhere near their masterpieces (for me, I&W to SDOIT). No, I'm not trying to start another Old DT vs. New DT debate, I'm just saying that DT should end their career professionally.

[cthrubuoy]

I wouldn't want more albums from DT, the next album could be the last DT album for me.

I don't want more albums because I certainly know that they will never achieve their masterpieces with the new releases. NEVER. BC&SL was decent, but it's nowhere near their masterpieces (for me, I&W to SDOIT). No, I'm not trying to start another Old DT vs. New DT debate, I'm just saying that DT should end their career professionally.

Sort of agree, hopefully the new album will be decent enough for them to end on a high note. If not, they'll need to pull out a 120 min concept album for number 12 and should leave it there.

[Gadough]

(naturally, the number would be in the 30s and 40s)

...No it wouldn't. I don't want any of my favorite bands to release more than 20 studio albums. There's some truth to the phrase "too much of a good thing."

[?]

Maybe there will be 3 more albums (5+8=13!)

[Marvellous G]

12. Mike Portnoy will be the one to pull the pin.

I see this happening, then JP doing studio albums.

[PlaysLikeMyung]

and Myung not getting even more disinterested in the band and not wanting to outright work anymore.

Please tell me how you know this to be unequivocally true

[Mladen]

I think 13 or 14 albums, maybe 15. But certainly not more.

Just what I thought.

[KevShmev]

and Myung not getting even more disinterested in the band and not wanting to outright work anymore.

Please tell me how you know this to be unequivocally true

What, him supposedly being disinterested in the band?  I would say the fact that he doesn't write lyrics anymore, plus the widely-held belief that Jordan Rudess writes a lot of his bass lines for him, leads many of us to believe that his overall interest isn't as high as it used to be.  That is what I meant by that, but I never said it was unequivocally true, so please don't put words in my mouth.

[PlaysLikeMyung]

and Myung not getting even more disinterested in the band and not wanting to outright work anymore.

Please tell me how you know this to be unequivocally true

What, him supposedly being disinterested in the band?  I would say the fact that he doesn't write lyrics anymore, plus the widely-held belief that Jordan Rudess writes a lot of his bass lines for him, leads many of us to believe that his overall interest isn't as high as it used to be.  That is what I meant by that, but I never said it was unequivocally true, so please don't put words in my mouth.

I wasn't trying to put words in your mouth. It sounded like you knew for sure he's not interested in the band anymore.

I don't think him not writing lyrics = no interest in the projects. And as for the bassline, the only one I know of that JR wrote was for Raw Dog, so unless you can point to more examples of such, I'm disinclined to believe it

[ACID_FOX]

Not just that, but theres the fact that his basslines are becoming way less interesting and original, regardless of whether or not he wrote them. The fact that he's content to double JP nowadays, whereas in the early days his basslines would be nothing short of outstanding, just seems to show that his input has severley decreased.

Hell, I'd love to be proven wrong, and I hope for a comeback from JM on the next album.

[AwakeFromOctavarium]

Not just that, but theres the fact that his basslines are becoming way less interesting and original, regardless of whether or not he wrote them. The fact that he's content to double JP nowadays, whereas in the early days his basslines would be nothing short of outstanding, just seems to show that his input has severley decreased.

Hell, I'd love to be proven wrong, and I hope for a comeback from JM on the next album.

I fully agree with this post.

[Samsara]

16...

so MP can say they did at some point do something 4:4 related.  LOL

[TAC]

I think I would expect 3 more albums from them. From that point on, anything else would have to be considered a bonus.
 

[emindead]

What are you guys talking about? These guys are immortal.

I'm gonna live forever!!!

ScioPath
*1997-2010*

[reneranucci]

I think I would expect 3 more albums from them. From that point on, anything else would have to be considered a bonus.
 

This. Anything more than 3 further album sounds too much to me.