This year is Dream Theater's 30th Anniversary - Would you like them to do?

[The Letter M]

It's now 2015, which means Dream Theater should be celebrating their 30th Anniversary sometime this year. Or, at least, we'd all hope so!

With the anniversary coming and no real news from the band as of yet, how would you like to see them go about celebrating this milestone this year? You can PICK TWO options, but please be sure to pick two that do NOT contradict each other, so from the first 3, pick one, and then another if you'd like.

Option 1 - Go on a new tour, possibly headlining, with a long "Evening With" setlist that covers the band's whole discography, or perhaps brings out some rarities that haven't been played in awhile ("A Change Of Seasons" maybe?).

Option 2 - Go about their cycle as usual. Go into the studio this Winter/Spring, write and record a new album, promote it over the summer with some Festival shows, release it in the fall and do a short Fall Tour leg in Europe and/or NA.

Option 3 - Continue the tour on DT12 and swap out some songs for the ones that hadn't been played yet, then go into the studio this Summer/Fall, and release the next album early next year in 2016.

Option 4 - You pick! Come up with your own idea and explain it in your reply.

Option 5 - Do a catalog-wide re-release, either in order or random, by month or all at once. You can pick however you'd like and explain your ideas for a re-release/remaster/remix series.

Option 6 - Their last compilation came out over almost 7 years ago, but only covered their 2nd-8th studio albums. Since then, they've released 4 more studio albums, and could possibly do a RR-era compilation and throw in some bonus live tracks of rarer stuff (perhaps live versions of "Prophets Of War" and "A Nightmare To Remember" from the BC&SL tour?). Endless possibilities here.

-Marc.

[rumborak]

I said it in the other thread as well, but I'd be much more interested in a new LMR and JP's second solo album. So, option 4 I guess.
I'm definitely not very keen on touring of old material. Or the rerelease of such material.

[Calvin6s]

Do something else

Do whatever they need to do to shake things up in the writing process.  That could be whatever they feel they need.  Take an extended break (like 4-12 months), take more time in the writing process, short jam stints with people outside DT to get fresh perspectives, tinker with other genres, give Myung the time he needs to develop his ideas, whatever.  They would know better what they need to do than I would.  But just really push themselves to expand into new territories.  Not change, just expand.  As a long time fan, it isn't that their new releases have been less than, but it is hard to recapture that initial 6-8 years of first discovering them.  Too much familiarity.

Or they could just look at the anniversary gift charts and see 30 is pearl, but I really don't want a DTIFC 30th anniversary sex tape release.

[lonestar]

I want them to play my 46th birthday party, we'll have punch and pie.

[hefdaddy42]

perhaps live versions of "Prophets Of War" and "A Nightmare To Remember" from the BC&SL tour?

This is an awful idea.

[Sycsa]

I said it in the other thread as well, but I'd be much more interested in a new LMR and JP's second solo album. So, option 4 I guess

Do something else

Do whatever they need to do to shake things up in the writing process.  That could be whatever they feel they need.  Take an extended break (like 4-12 months), take more time in the writing process, short jam stints with people outside DT to get fresh perspectives, tinker with other genres, give Myung the time he needs to develop his ideas, whatever.  They would know better what they need to do than I would.  But just really push themselves to expand into new territories.  Not change, just expand.  As a long time fan, it isn't that their new releases have been less than, but it is hard to recapture that initial 6-8 years of first discovering them.  Too much familiarity.

I cannot relate to these opinions at the slightest. Partially because of my classic prog "background", I'm used to bands going to shit after 3-4 albums and to this date, I'm utterly amazed that after more than two decades and a dozen of albums, DT still has moments which rival their very best and they're still very much pushing the envelope. So, yeah, I definitely want a new album as soon as possible, as often as possible. Even if we had one good song every new album and the rest would blow, I'd still eagerly wait for it. That's far from the case though, nearly every song on ADTOE and DT12 is excellent.

[Zydar]

I want them to play my 46th birthday party, we'll have punch and pie.

I definitely want a BluRay of this.

[GentlemanofDread]

Have them do something like Coheed and Cambria's Neverender shows. Play each album live. Doesn't have to be a big tour, doesn't even have to be every week.

[King Postwhore]

Can I still complain that it shouldn't be 30 years yet?  2019 should be 30 years. Also release a new album an tour for it.

[devieira73]

My wish list: WDADU remixed, Score BR, hdtracks for all cds and a new cd. Is it so impossible? 
And, yes, that DVD from the japanese show of black clouds tour!

[KevShmev]

Can I still complain that it shouldn't be 30 years yet?  2019 should be 30 years. Also release a new album an tour for it.

This. 

[Zydar]

I always go by the year they were formed, not the year of the first album. Seems most logical to me.

[KevShmev]

Well, to use the couples analogy again, my parents celebrate their wedding anniversary every year, not the anniversary of their first date.  A first album is the band equivalent of getting married in this example.  Yes, I went there.

[BlobVanDam]

Did your parents get remarried every 2-3 years? Band's don't get "married" when an album is released.

Regardless of anyone's opinion, 1985 has been established as the band's anniversary. If I'd been in a band for 4 years before releasing my first album, I don't see why I'd consider the album my band's anniversary, or why those years of playing and writing wouldn't count. Not to mention that WDADU isn't a milestone I'd want to bring attention to.

[BRGM]

Getting a baby would be the equivalent of releasing an album.

[BlobVanDam]

A BAND IS NOT A MARRIAGE! THIS DOESN'T WORK!

[YtseJamittaja]

This is my request:
Do an half-year-tour celebrating 30th anniversary and and then release an EP with couple of live songs/re-recorded older songs/maybe a new song or another! Name it "Midlife Crisis". 


AND BLOB IS RIGHT FOLKS. THEY HAVE BEEN A BAND FOR 30 YEARS, NOT RELEASING MUSIC 30 YEARS. DT DID THEIR 20TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2005, NOT IN 2009! HA! 

[Kotowboy]

Can I still complain that it shouldn't be 30 years yet?  2019 should be 30 years. Also release a new album an tour for it.

If you are counting when Jordan joined... But Mangini joined in 2010.


EDIT.  My bad. You meant 1989.

[Kotowboy]

I always go by the year they were formed, not the year of the first album. Seems most logical to me.

[King Postwhore]

Except that just about ever band uses he release of their first album as the benchmark.

Either way, new album please!

[TheCountOfNYC]

Except that just about ever band uses he release of their first album as the benchmark.

Either way, new album please!

Metallica played their 30th anniversary shows in 2011 to celebrate their formation in 1981. Not in 2013 to celebrate Kill 'Em All being released in 2013. Celebrations of albums are different and should be different.

[?]

Considering that not every member considers 1985 the start of the band (*cough* JLB *cough*), I doubt there'll be any special celebration this year. If it was up to me, they'd play a 30th anniversary tour with a setlist including the unplayed DT12 songs, fan favorites from all the other albums, a few B-sides like Don't Look Past Me, and ACOS as an encore. This would also break the "new album every 2 years" cycle and perhaps shake up their songwriting routine a little bit.

[TheOutlawXanadu]

I would love to see them do a small tour in the States as that would give me a chance to see them! After that, I'd like to get a new album.

[AngelBack]

What Sycsa said.

[King Postwhore]

Except that just about ever band uses he release of their first album as the benchmark.

Either way, new album please!

Metallica played their 30th anniversary shows in 2011 to celebrate their formation in 1981. Not in 2013 to celebrate Kill 'Em All being released in 2013. Celebrations of albums are different and should be different.

You should read.  I did day "almost".

[OpenYourEyes311]

Except that just about ever band uses he release of their first album as the benchmark.

Either way, new album please!

Metallica played their 30th anniversary shows in 2011 to celebrate their formation in 1981. Not in 2013 to celebrate Kill 'Em All being released in 2013. Celebrations of albums are different and should be different.

You should read.  I did day "almost".

no you didn't. 

anyway, on topic... I want a new album by years end with a bonus disc of a 30th Anniversary Majesty EP: re-recordings of the six Majesty songs. Then an evening with tour where they play at least one song from every album, and maybe pick 13 cities to play one of their albums in full... that would be a good year, but tough on the band as they would have to (re)learn pretty much all their songs.

[TAC]

Except that just about ever band uses he release of their first album as the benchmark.

Either way, new album please!

Metallica played their 30th anniversary shows in 2011 to celebrate their formation in 1981. Not in 2013 to celebrate Kill 'Em All being released in 2013. Celebrations of albums are different and should be different.

You should read.  I did day "almost".

no you didn't. 

He almost daid it.

[hefdaddy42]

If I were to use that stupid marriage analogy, I would say that the first album is like the wedding. When the band forms would be like when you started dating. No one celebrates the anniversary of that.

But I'm not going to use that analogy.

[Mosh]

Considering that not every member considers 1985 the start of the band (*cough* JLB *cough*),

Of course JLB doesn't, he joined much later! I think it's up to JP and JM to decide. DT, be it because of MP or otherwise, is pretty unique in that they've drawn quite a bit of attention to their career before the debut album. A lot of bands won't talk about their history before then, let alone release music from it. I think it makes sense to count those pre-WDADU years. It depends on the band really. A band like Rush should just count the year of their debut.

[425]

I voted for "continue the usual write/record cycle," because I'd honestly rather have a new album than a special tour of any sort. But it somewhat surprises me that they've been able to continue such a fast cycle for so long, so it wouldn't necessarily shock me if they wanted switch it up or take a break either (which I wouldn't mind them doing if they needed to).

[Sycsa]

They already established this when they released Score and called it 20th anniversary, that's as bounding as it can get. Imagine a new fan checking out their discography, how would this look?

2006 - 20th anniversary
2019 - 30th anniversary

End of discussion

[King Postwhore]

Except that just about ever band uses he release of their first album as the benchmark.

Either way, new album please!

Metallica played their 30th anniversary shows in 2011 to celebrate their formation in 1981. Not in 2013 to celebrate Kill 'Em All being released in 2013. Celebrations of albums are different and should be different.

You should read.  I did day "almost".

no you didn't. 

anyway, on topic... I want a new album by years end with a bonus disc of a 30th Anniversary Majesty EP: re-recordings of the six Majesty songs. Then an evening with tour where they play at least one song from every album, and maybe pick 13 cities to play one of their albums in full... that would be a good year, but tough on the band as they would have to (re)learn pretty much all their songs.

Enough with this semantics crap.  Just about  is the same as almost.  Get over it.

I get a kick out of the Defenders of bands.  I know for a fact that I'm a bigger DT homer than you are.  Challenge me, I dare you.  I've seen every tour but 1.  Try.

They already established this when they released Score and called it 20th anniversary, that's as bounding as it can get. Imagine a new fan checking out their discography, how would this look?

2006 - 20th anniversary
2019 - 30th anniversary

End of discussion

No not really. I couldn't care less if the band thins that way.  First album, first year.  I do not tell people I've been together with my wife for 23 years.  I tell them we've been married 20 years. 

Don't give me that bad analogy crap either.

[rumborak]

I cannot relate to these opinions at the slightest. Partially because of my classic prog "background", I'm used to bands going to shit after 3-4 albums and to this date, I'm utterly amazed that after more than two decades and a dozen of albums, DT still has moments which rival their very best and they're still very much pushing the envelope. So, yeah, I definitely want a new album as soon as possible, as often as possible. Even if we had one good song every new album and the rest would blow, I'd still eagerly wait for it. That's far from the case though, nearly every song on ADTOE and DT12 is excellent.

Yeah, probably no too surprisingly it all depends on how you grade their recent output. If you think it was all great, then clearly you wouldn't want then to change. I personally find they've stagnated for too long and are in dear need of an inspiration.

[chaossystem]

Can I still complain that it shouldn't be 30 years yet?  2019 should be 30 years. Also release a new album an tour for it.

Weren't they called "Majesty" in 1985?

Also, I do believe at the time they didn't have a singer, or a recording contract, or anything.

So it should be at least one more year before the "Official 30th Anniversary of Dream Theater."

Anyway, what I would like to see them do is play ONE big show-preferably here in the U.S., such as Madison Square Garden-where they would play one song from each album (preferably in chronological order), including "A Change of Seasons," and release it in ALL available formats, including vinyl, Cd, DVD, Blue-Ray, maybe even cassette.

[King Postwhore]

They want to call it 30 years,  that's cool.  I'll still go and still love every minute of it but "Most" bands (Are you happy now?) celebrate from the release of their first album with a professional contract.