Derek Sherinian

How did you come to hear about the job?

I heard about it through a friend who used to play drums with Joe Satriani. He heard that there was an opening, he gave me a call, I called up Jim Pitulski the manager, and set-up an audition. I went down to play in New York, they then called me 3 days later and told me I had the job. So I flew to New York two weeks before our first show, before the tour started, and I had to learn all the material.

What songs did you play at your audition?

I played Pull Me Under, Take The Time and Caught In A Web.

Were you familiar with these songs prior to going down to audition? Or the band and their music at all?

I’d heard Pull Me Under on the radio a couple of times, but that’s the only song I ever really heard. I wasn’t that aware of them and knew nothing else about them at all. I just heard Pull Me Under and remember liking that song, but I knew nothing else about them at all.

When you got the job, did you feel under any pressure in fulfilling the role that Kevin left?

Not so much that, I just felt the pressure that there was so much material to learn in such a short amount of time. Also, Mike got pneumonia a week before we went on tour, so that cut our rehearsals down considerably. We had three rehearsals before we played our first show, and I was a little concerned because this stuff is very involved, the music, and I would [have] liked to have had a little bit more time to prepare. But after a few shows I really felt like I was in the group.

Do you think the fans will expect too much from you?

I know that Kevin had a lot of followers, and a lot of people really loved Kevin’s playing he’s a great player – but I just hope that everyone goes in with an open mind and listens before they judge. I have had a lot of supportive letters from Dream Theater fans throughout the U.S. and Japan, the two regions that we’ve toured. So, just keep an open mind is all I can say. I try to pay respect to Kevin, I play a couple of his solos and sounds, but there is a lot of space in the show where I get to do my own thing as well.

A lot of people will expect to hear the breaks that Kevin used to put in. to be there, but now it’s time to change we’re moving on. It’s like when James took over from Charlie – another new era.

Exactly. Any time a band becomes popular and puts out a record and there’s a member change, the fans are concerned. Let’s look at Yes, they used to have another guitar player before Steve Howe, and most people think of Steve Howe when they think of Yes, also Rush had another drummer before Neil Peart came in. So I think that if things work out right for me with Dream Theater, in a while I won’t have to deal with comparisons. I just go out and try to play the best I can.

Do you write yourself?

Yes I do. We’ve started doing some writing, little pieces that are in the show as of right now, that are little collaborations, and once we get this Ronnie Scott’s gig out of the way, we’re gonna be spending a lot of time during soundchecks trying to write for the new album.

Whereas everything now is focused on these cover versions which must be killing?

Yeah. Which has been a pain in the arse to be honest with you.

Are you looking forward to contributing to the next album?

That to me, and being able to write with these guys is the gravy of the whole deal. I have more fun doing that than actually playing the shows. And it will be a thrill to perform the stuff that we’ve written, in the future.

How have you enjoyed the touring so far?

I’ve had a blast. The fans are very supportive to the band, the guys I’m very fond of all of them, the management is great, and it has been a great time.

Was playing Japan an earth-moving experience for you?

Yes. I’m from Los Angeles and I was in that earthquake the year prior, so I was actually a little bit more relaxed than the rest of the guys. They’re from New York and they’ve never dealt with an earthquake before, so they were quite shaken up, and I was trying to keep everybody calm.

When we spoke in New York, you mentioned to me that you had previously played with Alice Cooper and with Kiss as well. What was that like playing with those two big acts?

It was a big thrill. I was living in Hollywood at the time, 1989, and I found out that Alice was putting together a new touring band, and he had a big album out. I went and auditioned and got hired and it was definitely the pinnacle of my life and career, it was just an absolute thrill. I went from being a kid in Hollywood, broke, living in my car practically, to all of a sudden making tons of money and touring all over the world and staying in neat hotels. It was just very good for me.

And with Kiss, what were they like?

Kiss was an interesting situation. I had some time off with Alice, and I got a call from Gene Simmons that they were doing a four month American tour, and it was an offstage deal – I wasn’t onstage – I was like one of the guys behind the curtain, which I wasn’t very excited about, except that it was with Kiss, and I was a Kiss fan as a kid and I kind of did the gig for nostalgia, and the money too, they paid good!

Have you been part of any other bands, permanent or on a touring basis?

The only other band that I played with, before Alice, was with a drummer named Buddy Miles, who used to play drums for Jimi Hendrix’s Band of Gypsys. It was all like blues and rhythm ‘n’ blues, playing the American blues circuit. Those are the only big bands I’ve played with.

Have you ever recorded any other material that has been released?

No I haven’t.

How long have you been playing the keys?

I started studying classical when I was 5. I went to Berklee College of Music, like the other guys, and got into jazz fusion. But I have always loved rock ‘n’ roll – Van Halen, Aerosmith, Elton John – Elton John was a big favourite, like when I was eleven or twelve I was really into Yellow Brick Road album. Stuff like that.

Who else and what were your musical influences?

Well at Berklee I started getting into Jan Hammer, a band called the Dixie Dregs. I was a major fan, I studied actually with T. Roberts the keyboard player. So he was definitely an influence. Also my playing, I approach a lot of my soloing like a guitar player, and Eddie Van Halen has been a big influence, just on his attack. I play with a lot of velocity when I play, I approach things like a guitar player. That’s one of the different things between Kevin and I, is he kind of does the guitar thing on some of his solos but he used a lot of tinkerbelly type sounds, really synthy type sounds, and that’s not really my style, I like to play with a lot more balls.

Which of the songs do you enjoy playing live?

I love 6:00, Take The Time is great, Pull Me Under....

I know when I saw you in New York you had The Ones Who Help To Set The Sun in the set, but that has now been dropped. Have you added any other songs into the set to replace it?

No it’s the same set. Except we do have an improv section where it’s like a half-hour and I get to do a three minute keyboard spot where I get to just do whatever I want and play.

How did you come up with the song selection for the covers versions?

Well everyone made suggestions and stuff, I think Mike pretty much took the helm on this one. Mike is the main enthusiast of this!

Prior to going onstage, do you have a routine you go through?

I smoke about five cigarettes, and I do a few jumping-jacks before I go onstage and that’s about it.

Do you practice constantly, do you have to practice constantly, or is it something that comes naturally?

To be honest with you, for the past five years when I was playing with Alice and Kiss I didn’t practice at all. But since I’ve been with these guys you have too, in order to keep up. Like I play for an hour each night before we go on just to get my hands warm, so they are nice and oiled.

Do you play any other instruments?

I play guitar also. Funny enough I recorded on the new Alice Cooper album (The Last Temptation), but we were supposed to go out on tour, and I actually went and auditioned for the rhythm guitar slot and got hired, but his tour got cancelled so that never happened. But I was ready to go.

What are your plans for the future?

Well we’re going to finish this European tour and then we’re gonna be writing for the new record, and hopefully by the end of the tour there will be some finality to me being a member....

So that’s not actually clear cut yet?

No. Not totally. Each person in the band has individually approached me saying they are very pleased, and there is an obvious chemistry happening, and I see it going in that direction.

Where do you see the band going on from here?

I see the band being like the Rush of the nineties. I see a lot of longevity in this band, I see a lot of integrity, and I think that same integrity is gonna provide the band with a long career.

The potential is there, but here in the UK, the response to the band hasn’t been what I would have hoped or expected, but it’s there and growing.

This is interesting for me, because when I played with Alice, every time we’ve come through we’ve played Wembley two nights, and Alice [note: line of text is missing here in the fanzine] it pretty big in England, and now we’re coming here, and I don’t know, where are we playing? How many seats is it?

The London Forum, holding about 1700+ people.

It’s weird coming to England on this level. But I think in time, if everyone keeps an open mind.....

I think Dream Theater are suffering from the same thing that Rush has throughout their career, especially with the British press, that they are pigeon-holed, and you guys are seen by them as just a very serious bunch of progressive rockers. Hopefully, things like tonight will show them that this is not the case.

I think a lot of critics, I’m not the first musician to say this, if they had their choice they would rather be playing onstage rather than pushing a pen. So whatever critics say, don’t really have any relevance to me. Any fan that would base their judgement from some critic’s opinion, I don’t really care if they’re a fan or not. To be honest with you, and I don’t mean to sound brash or anything, but it’s all about music and it’s all about having an open mind and ears and judging for yourself what you like and not basing your opinion on what some schmuk thinks.

Tell me a bit about how you see the other guys in the band. Their strengths, weaknesses etc.

I don’t really see any weaknesses in anybody. Everyone is a hundred percent committed to their instrument and to the band. I’m really especially impressed with Mike Portnoy. I’ve played with a lot of great drummers in my day and Mike is, not only is he incredibly versatile, but he hits like a hard rock drummer, he’s just a natural up there on stage, he’s meant to play the drums. Mike makes a really strong impression on me. James has a great voice, he takes care of himself, and operatically trained. John Myung is a solid bass player, he is constantly practising. After a show he picks up his bass in the dressing room and practices like another hour. He’s very committed. John Petrucci is just amazing, he’s combined some styles from all of my favourite guitar players, he has great ears, and I just have the utmost respect for each player.

I’ve heard Dream Theater labelled as a Progressive rock band, and I’m not too thrilled with that label. Because to me, when I think Progressive rock, I just don’t like the images that that brings up; this is a rock band, an American rock band, we’re not just doing weird time signatures and stuff like that, there is some heavy raw elements. Like listen to the beginning of The Mirror, you don’t hear bands like Rush playing that heavy. Everyone wants to be able to identify something with a label, everyone wants to pigeon-hole you. I know for sure the band doesn’t consider themselves a Progressive rock band. This is a rock band. (Mike enters the room) I just quoted you as the best drummer in the world in this interview.

MIKE: I was just complimenting you in my interview. Guess what? I think we’re doing another song! It’s very simple. Cos two of the guys from Marillion are here, so we’re gonna do Sugar Mice.

You’re crazy. Is there keyboards in it?

MIKE: Yeah. But it’s a simple progression, you can just take notes.

One question Mike. When you making this guy permanent?

MIKE: When? As soon as he makes us! He seems to be really easy going about it y’know. As soon as he starts twisting our arms. We’re enjoying the separation.

They like having the cake and eating it too! It’s like....

(Together laughing) Why buy the cow if you get the milk for free?

MIKE: Actually he’s not exactly free, it would be cheaper if he was a full member!

That’s right!

That’s about it there Derek. If there’s anything else you want to ramble about feel free.

I’m just very happy to be involved in this. I’m looking forward to making beautiful music with these guys in the future, and meeting the fans in the UK and around the world. Come up and say hi!

Okay, thank you very much, and have a good show.

Thank you for your time.