Originally published in MEAT magazine 56 · May 1995
Dream Theater Wide “Awake” in Germany
Article3 min read
Survived by: Carl Begai
Dream Theater is a world class act. Sure, an easy assessment to make by listening to an album like Awake, or their previous album Images And Words – albums that bleed talent – but a far more truthful statement if you’ve had the privilege to see how the band works day after day. Back in February my German then-fiancée-now-wife Karin and I took the once in a life-time opportunity to tour around with Dream Theater for six shows in Germany. Without question, it was a blast from start to finish.
Germany has embraced Dream Theater’s Awake album as though they are the “next big thing,” and the fans make no bones about showing their appreciation for the fine musicianship and undaunted intensity of Dream Theater. In fact, Germany is responsible for buying over 100,000 copies of the new album – one fifth of its sales worldwide. It’s no surprise then that Dream Theater was in top form for their German tour, playing to packed houses every night.
Our first show was at a venue just outside Nürnberg, and to be honest I don’t think I’ve ever been to a show where the audience was so intense that I feared for my life. From the opening strains of “Pull Me Under,” through blazing renditions of “Caught In A Web” and “6:00,” to the momentous finish of “Metropolis,” fists were flailing, dudes and babes were all screaming, and there was even a mosh pit! Over the course of the next five shows we were privileged enough to get crushed to death, soaked with sweat or water depending on where we stood, suffer from smoke inhalation and go deaf... and we loved every second of it!
For those that have seen the Awake tour already, they know what I’m talking about when I say it is killer. The set list changed little, except when the band cut into an instrumental version of Metallica’s “Damage Inc.” and Deep Purple’s “Perfect Strangers” just for the hell of it. Night after night the band was “on,” feeding off the crowd’s energy and giving it back ten fold. Drummer Mike Portnoy was especially stoked during this leg of the tour, commenting a number of times that “It’s impossible not to put on a good show when you look out and all you see are these fists in the air.”
As for personal interaction with their fans, Dream Theater were more than hospitable to those that wanted autographs and pictures, even during the mad rush to get all necessary interviews, radio appearances and videos done on schedule.
Due to hectic scheduling (and excessive partying!) I never got around to doing an “official” interview with Toronto based screamer James LaBrie. Even so, we had time after the shows to talk casually. Following a sold out show in Düsseldorf (approximately 6,000 people, their largest show ever), LaBrie commented on European crowds as opposed to North American ones, and the general response to Awake.
“I really wish that people at home would wake up, no pun intended. It’s kinda hard when you’re doing so well here and people at home are going “What? We don’t get it.” LaBrie’s sentiment is echoed by all the band members. “They’re all crazy over here; the intensity is phenomenal! But you can’t let the size of the crowds here freak you out though, because otherwise it would drive you completely nuts.”
Incidentally, Dream Theater’s show has grown and improved as the tour has progressed, something that the Canadian fans may be able to witness if they can get in return visit here (their current schedule sees them back in Europe from June 18 to July 1, then a US tour is slated for July 15 through August 12 ÓÓ no Canadian dates are yet scheduled). The set list has gotten heavier, the lightshow is beyond incredible, guitarist John Petrucci has begun to sing backups, new keysman Derek Sherinian has cemented his own spot in the band, and LaBrie’s vocals and stage presence shows that he’s ready for the bigger venues (hey Baz, you ‘ve got competition!). Asked if he could handle playing Maple Leaf Gardens, LaBrie looked at me like I was stupid and smiled, “Fuck, man, now that would be a dream come true.”
The “Thanks For Putting Up With Us” list: Jim Pitulski (band manager), James, John P., John M., Mike, Derek, Todd (tour manager from hell!) and Vinnie (teddy bear with an attitude).