Dream Theater

If I had to die the next moment, my last desire would be to see Dream Theater live. If you are looking for the definition of the phrase “absolute perfection”, you’ll find it inside the incredible lines of Dream Theater. Keyboardist Kevin Moore, lettin’ you meet his sincere diathesis:

Afterlife: Tell us a few things about Dream Theater’s start. Also what’s the situation in the band now?

Kevin Moore: Me, John P. and John M. wrote and played in bands together throughout high school. In 1985, John and John met Mike during their attendance of Berklee College of Music in Boston. At the end of the spring semester, they returned from college and I returned from Fredonia’s college of music (in upstate NY) and we took on Chris Collins as our vocalist. We recorded the 1986 Majesty demo with him. When Dream and Day Unite was recorded with Charlie, who we parted ways with in 1989. Our new vocalist is Kevin LaBrie. He’s from Toronto. He was referred to us by someone at the record company. He has an incredible voice and is working out great. [Ed.: Listen to him on the ‘Life In Still Water’ chorus of Fates Warning, a great duo with Ray.] A few months ago we got out of our Mechanic deal; we are currently negotiating with a major label [Ed.: STOP THE PRESS! They’ve just got a deal with Atco.]

AL: Tell me about your new stuff.

KM: All the music for the new album has been written. It is a great deal of material and will run close to 75 minutes. The material is in the same style as the first album but taken to a much further extreme [as we can guess from ‘A Change of Seasons’ and ‘Metropolis’ – two new cuts – the new LP is gonna be more than a killer].

AL: Are you satisfied from your first album?

KM: When Dream and Day Unite came out as well as we could be expected in the extremely short time we had to work. The overall production is easy to criticize, but as far as playing and material, it does represent pretty accurately where we were at that time.

AL: I think the four of you – Kevin, John, John, Mike – are something like a magical quartet and that you have made a strong outfit because each member finds the band the ideal outlet for its musical talents. What’s your opinion?

KM: Aside from the magical quartet thing, I’d say that’s true. Mike, John and John are not only open to new and different ideas, but are talented enough to apply themselves to the idea in an innovative manner.

AL: What do you try to offer from the stage? I think it’s a miracle to play songs like ‘The Ones Who Help to Set the Sun’.

KM: Well, we haven’t played out in a while, but when we do, we try to have fun while at the same time trying to retain some degree of accuracy in our playing. There may not be as much movement on stage as with other bands, but I don’t think the people come to watch us dance.

AL: Can you define the style of progressive metal?

KM: I probably could but it wouldn’t mean a thing unless you listen.

AL: Did the Mechanic label help you?

KM: No, hence our eventual departure.

AL: How did you decide to play that style of music?

KM: There was no choice or decision to play this style of music. It’s just what came out when we got together to write. Influences have everything to do with it (which will remain nameless but countless).

AL: What’s your opinion about the current death metal scene?

KM: I don’t have a definite opinion about it, but if it’s music and people dig it, then what does it matter what I think?

AL: US press criticized you not so well as the European did. What do you think about it?

KM: In the US, what is popular is what sells and what sells is what is popular. So if something new doesn’t sound like the material that sells, the media assumes it has no chance, and so ignores it. It seems that in Europe (and indeed the rest of the world) popularity has more to do with quality than hype. Since some people in the European press believed in the first LP; they gave us a chance.

AL: Have you ever been in Greece?

KM: No I haven’t. I look forward to visiting someday (whether touring or vacationing). I have a friend, a guitar player who is from Greece, so he has told me a little about it.

AL: Tell me your biggest desire and your best and worst experiences from the past.

KM: My biggest desire is to finish this interview before dinner gets cold. My best experience was signing with Mechanic and my worst was being signed to Mechanic.

AL: What’s your opinion about the gulf war? Did it bothered you?

KM: [emphatically] Yes! (Briefly...). The US’s actions in that situation were so hypocritical, it was sickening.

AL: NWOBHM. What does it mean to you?

KM: Never wander off before Hank masturbates?!!!!! Nothing without butter heckles me? No walking on beach house mailbox? No wonder our baby has measles? Nocturnal wildebeests often bother Harold’s mother?

AL: ...er, where was your biggest live performance?

KM: The Ritz in NY, opening for Marillion.

AL: Anything else to add?

KM: My dinner is cold!

Oh really this guy is funny! But in my opinion the best keyboardist in the world. Dream Theater’s music is from another planet. When they release their second LP don’t ask yourselves what LP will be the most amazing in 1992. The answer is in their melodies...