John Petrucci
| John Petrucci | |
|---|---|
 John Petrucci with Dream Theater in Rio 2008. |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | John Peter Petrucci |
| Born | July 12, 1967 Kings Park, Long Island, New York |
| Genres | Progressive metal, instrumental rock, progressive rock |
| Instruments | Guitar, Bass, Drums, Vocals |
| Years active | 1985 - present |
| Labels | Roadrunner/Sound Mind Music |
| Associated acts | Dream Theater, Liquid Tension Experiment, Explorers Club, Jon Finn Group, Nightmare Cinema |
| Website | www.johnpetrucci.com |
| Notable instruments | |
| Ernie Ball Music Man John Petrucci Signature Model | |
John Peter Petrucci (born July 12, 1967) is an American guitarist and songwriter best known as a founding member of the progressive metal band Dream Theater. Along with his bandmate Mike Portnoy, he has produced all Dream Theater albums since their 1999 release, Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory. He is also a backing vocalist for Dream Theater, along with Portnoy. Petrucci was named as the third player on the G3 tour six times, more than any other invited guitarist. In 2009 he appeared in the No. 2 position (behind Dave Mustaine) in Joel McIver's book The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists.[1]
Contents |
Biography
Petrucci attended Berklee College of Music in Boston with childhood friend John Myung (bass), where they met future bandmate Mike Portnoy (drums). These three in addition to another childhood friend of Petrucci and Myung, Kevin Moore (Keyboards), formed the band Majesty, which would later become Dream Theater.
While Dream Theater is what Petrucci is most commonly associated with, he is also a part of the project band Liquid Tension Experiment and has appeared as a guest on several records by other artists such as the Age of Impact album by the Explorer's Club.
Petrucci has released a guitar instructional video, "Rock Discipline", which covers warm up exercises, exercises to avoid injury while playing, alternate picking, sweep picking, chords and other techniques for developing one's guitar playing. Petrucci also has a book named "Guitar World presents John Petrucci's Wild Stringdom", which was compiled from columns he wrote for Guitar World magazine, bearing that same title.
In 2001 he was invited by Joe Satriani and Steve Vai to tour with them on the popular G3 guitar tour, which exposed him to a massive number of new fans and inspired him to record a solo album. Suspended Animation was released on March 1, 2005, and made available for order from his web site. He also appeared on the 2005, 2006 and 2007 G3 tours.
Petrucci also wrote and recorded two instrumental soundtrack songs for a Sega Saturn game titled Digital Pinball: Necronomicon. Each track is roughly two minutes long and they are simply titled "Prologue" and "Epilogue". In 2007, John Petrucci went on G3 tour again, this time with Joe Satriani and Paul Gilbert.
Dream Theater bandmate Jordan Rudess revealed in an interview that Petrucci is a practicing Catholic.[2] Petrucci is married to Rena Sands, a guitarist in the all-female heavy metal band Meanstreak, and they have 3 children, Samantha and Reny (who are twins), and Kiara. He is also an avid fan of bodybuilding and dedicates much of his off time to weight training. [3]
He is a voting member of NARAS.
Musical style
Petrucci is respected for his variety of guitar styles and skills. One of the most notable of these is his high speed alternate picking which, as he himself claims, requires a "strong sense of synchronization between the two [playing] hands." John is notable for frequent use of the seven-string electric guitar, which he states is used as a "writing tool", taking advantage of the extended range both for heavier riffing (The Mirror) and to play extended range runs as part of a solo (This Dying Soul). On one of his guitar lesson videos he states that James Hetfield of Metallica had a great influence on him.[4] He has also cited Steve Morse as a major influence. Another is Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson. Petrucci adopted the technique of using fuller chords and heavy chorus/reverb effects from Lifeson. In addition to this, he is greatly influenced by the emotion-driven guitar playing of David Gilmour. Perhaps the best examples of this are his guitar solo in 'Lines in the Sand' off Dream Theater's 1997 album 'Falling into Infinity', the fast solo mixed with alternate picking and sweep picking from Stream of Consciousness from Dream Theater album 'Train of Thought', the extended solo section of 'A Change of Seasons', and the mellow, spacy segment near the end of 'The Count of Tuscany' from their latest release 'Black Clouds & Silver Linings'. Petrucci has also been known to directly incorporate riffs and solos from other bands into live Dream Theater performances. For example, Pink Floyd's 'Have a Cigar' and Metallica's 'Enter Sandman' are referenced during the performance of 'Peruvian Skies' from the 'Once in a Livetime' live album. Another example occurs in Dream Theater's live DVD 'Chaos in Motion', during the extended version of 'Surrounded'. Here, Petrucci incorporates the guitar solo from 'Mother' by Pink Floyd. The varied examples of this further demonstrate Petrucci's wide range of influences.
Equipment
Studio albums
| Album | Amplifiers |
|---|---|
| When Dream And Day Unite | Unknown |
| Images and Words | Mesa Quad Preamp, Mesa Triaxis/2:90, Marshall JMP1 for Metropolis Pt.1, Roland JC120 for cleans |
| Awake | Only album to be quadruple layered. 2 takes using Dual Rectifier, 2 takes using Mark IIC+ |
| A Change Of Seasons | Mark IIC+, Mark IV, TriAxis |
| Falling Into Infinity | Dual Rectifier, Mark IIC+, Mark IIB, Mark IV, TriAxis |
| Scenes From A Memory | Mark IIC+, Mark IV, TriAxis |
| Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence | Mark IIC+, Dual Rectifier |
| Train Of Thought | Road King Series I |
| Octavarium | Road King Series I, Mark IV, Lone Star |
| Systematic Chaos | Lone Star, Mark IV, Dual Rectifier |
| Black Clouds & Silver Linings | Lone Star, Mark IV, Mark IIC+, Mark V |
| Suspended Animation | Roadking Series 1, Mark IIC+ |
| Liquid Tension Experiment | TriAxis, 2:90 power amp |
| Liquid Tension Experiment 2 | Mark IIC+, Mark IV |
Live
- I&W Tour - 2 Triaxis Preamps (one for backup), 2:90 power amp, Mesa Abacus+Mesa Midi Matrix for switching
- Scenes From NY - Triaxis, Dual Rectifier, Mark IIC+, Mark IV, Formula Preamp, 2:90 power amps
- Live At Budokan - Road King Series 1 (x3), Lonestar (x2)
- Score - Custom Built "Nunya" Preamp, Formula Preamp, mesa 2:100 power amp, 4 Mesa 4x12's and 4 Mesa 2x12's. Midi switching by Steen Skrydstrup.
- 2005 G3 Tokyo - Dual Rectifier (x2) Road King (x2)
- 2007 G3 tour - Mark IV (x2), Formula preamp
- 2007 Systematic Chaos Tour - Mark IV (x2), Lonestar (x1). TC Electronic 2290, M3000, Eventide Ultra Harmonizer, Jim Dunlop rack wah & various stomp boxes. Midi switching by Axess Electronics
- 2009 BC&SL Tour Mark V(x3), Dunlop Rack Wah, TC Electronics M3000(x3), Eventide,
Black Clouds and Silver Linings Tour Complete Gear List
- Guitars:
11x Music Man John Petrucci BFRs (6, 7, and Baritones. 6 and Baritones in different tunings and a backup Standard E plus a double neck)
- Rack:
3x Mesa/Boogie Mark V, 1x TC Electronics C400XL Compressor/ Gate, 3x TC Electronics M3000, 1x TC Electronics 1210 Spatial Expander/Stereo Chorus/Flanger, 1x Eventide H7600 Harmonizer, 1x Dunlop DCR-IFC Rack Wah, 1x Keeley Modded Tube Screamer TS-9DX Flexi, 1x MXR EVH Flanger, 1x MXR EVH Phaser, 1x Fractal Audio AxeFX Ultra,
- Pedalboard:
1x Axess Electronics FX-1 Midi Foot Controller w/ expander, 2x Dunlop DCR-IFC Wah Controllers (one for pedalboard and one on center stage for solos), 1x Ernieball 25k Stereo Volume Pedal, 1x Boss TU-2 Tuner,
- Cabinets:
8x Mesa Boogie Stileto Cabinets with Celestion Vintage 30 speakers
- Pickups:
DiMarzio Crunch Lab (Bridge), DiMarzio LiquiFire (Neck)
- Strings:
Ernie Ball RPS
- Picks:
Jim Dunlop JP Shield Black Jazz III (Black Jazz III picks with his logo embossed onto them)
- Cables
Mogami Neutrik
- Straps:
DiMarzio Black Cliplock
Discography
| Year | Title | Label | Notes |
| 1986 | The Majesty Demos | The Original CD had no label. It was just for the students at Berklee. Ytse Jam Records then re-released the album in 2003 | A rare CD recorded for Berklee College of Music with Kevin Moore as their keyboardist and Chris Collins as their singer. Ytse Jam Records then re-released the album as an official bootleg. They play a song of this album called Another Won on their 20th Anniversary DVD, Score. |
| 1989 | When Dream and Day Unite | MCA/Mechanic | First Dream Theater studio album. |
| 1992 | Images and Words | Atlantic/ATCO | Again with Dream Theater, introducing the new lead singer James LaBrie. |
| 1993 | Live at the Marquee | WEA International | First Dream Theater live album. |
| 1994 | Awake | EastWest | The last Dream Theater album with Kevin Moore as keyboard player. |
| 1995 | A Change of Seasons (EP) | EastWest | Dream Theater EP, introducing Derek Sherinian as new keyboard Player. |
| 1996 | Working Man | Magna Carta | A Rush tribute. |
| 1997 | Falling into Infinity | Elektra | Last Dream Theater studio album with Derek Sherinian. |
| 1997 | Dragon Attack | CNR Music | A tribute to Queen |
| 1998 | Guitar Battle | Viktor | Various Artists |
| 1998 | Liquid Tension Experiment | Magna Carta | Project with Mike Portnoy, Jordan Rudess and Tony Levin |
| 1998 | Once in a LIVEtime | Elektra | 2CD recorded in Paris, France. |
| 1998 | Age of Impact | Magna Carta | Explorers Club |
| 1998 | Wicked | The Orchard | Jon Finn Group |
| 1999 | Liquid Tension Experiment 2 | Magna Carta | Second album with Liquid Tension Experiment |
| 1999 | Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory | Elektra | Jordan Rudess as new keyboard player for Dream Theater, the band's first concept album. |
| 2000 | An Evening with John Petrucci and Jordan Rudess | Sound Mind Music | A live album with keyboard player Jordan Rudess |
| 2001 | Feeding the Wheel | Magna Carta | Jordan Rudess solo album, Petrucci is featured on guitar. |
| 2001 | Live Scenes From New York | Elektra | 3CD recorded in New York, U.S.. |
| 2002 | Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence | Elektra | Dream Theater's first studio double album. Notably heavier than previous releases, containing more prominent guitar riffing and solos than previous Dream Theater records. |
| 2003 | Train of Thought | Elektra | Dream Theaters heaviest release to date. |
| 2004 | Live at Budokan | Atlantic | Dream Theater 3CD/2DVD combination recorded in Tokyo, Japan. First Official DVD with Jordan Rudess |
| 2005 | Suspended Animation | Sound Mind Music | John Petrucci's first and thus far only solo album. |
| 2005 | G3: Live in Tokyo | Sony | Plays on G3, with guitarists Steve Vai and Joe Satriani |
| 2005 | Octavarium | Atlantic | Dream Theater's last album with Atlantic Records Group. |
| 2006 | Score | Rhino Entertainment | 3CD/2DVD recorded at Radio City Music Hall on April 1, 2006 New York, U.S. Dream Theater's 20th Anniversary! |
| 2006 | Blood of the Snake - Derek Sherinian | Inside Out Music | Played guitar on first track "Czar Of Steel". |
| 2006 | Loudspeaker - Marty Friedman | Mascot/Avex | Special guest guitarist |
| 2006 | Systematic Chaos | Roadrunner Records | First album released under Dream Theater's new contract with Roadrunner Records on June 5, 2007. |
| 2008 | Chaos in Motion | Roadrunner Records | A live album documenting the band's 2007/2008 Chaos in Motion and Progressive Nation tours included extended versions of Take the Time and Surrounded. Also features a medley of Trail of Tears, Finally Free, Learning to Live, In the Name of God, and Octavarium. |
| 2009 | Black Clouds & Silver Linings | Roadrunner Records | Released on June 23, this is Dream Theater's tenth studio album. |
Videography
| Year | Title | Notes |
| 1993 | Images and Words: Live in Tokyo | First Dream Theater live DVD. Includes extended version of Take the Time. |
| 1995 | Rock Discipline - VHS | John Petrucci does a DVD on guitar warmups, tricks, exercises, and his gear. |
| 1998 | 5 Years in a LIVEtime | The only live Dream Theater DVD with Derek Sherainian. |
| 2001 | Metropolis 2000: Scenes From New York | |
| 2002 | Rock Discipline - DVD | |
| 2004 | Live at Budokan | |
| 2005 | G3: Live in Tokyo | |
| 2006 | Score | 2DVD recorded at Radio City Music Hall on April 1, 2006 New York, U.S. Celebrated Dream Theater's 20th Anniversary. They performed this concert with a symphony orchestra. |
| 2007 | Chaos in Progress: The Making of Systematic Chaos | DVD included in the special edition of Systematic Chaos |
| 2008 | Chaos in Motion | Released September 30, 2008. Documents the band's 2007/2008 Chaos in Motion and Progressive Nation tours. |
See also
- Dream Theater
- Liquid Tension Experiment
- G3 (tour)
References
- ↑ http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/interviews/dave_mustaine_discusses_the_100_greatest_metal_guitarists.html
- ↑ The Dream Theater official FAQ
- ↑ The Official John Petrucci Web Site
- ↑ Total Guitar Magazine UK, December 2007 p.45
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