Tony Levin interview (excerpt)

Progression: Let’s move on to your other “virtuoso collaboration” for Magna Carta – Liquid Tension Experiment.

Levin: “This project had similarities to Black Light Syndrome, but was quite different in quite a few ways. There were four guys instead of three [Levin with keyboardist Jordan Rudess, plus guitarist John Petrucci and drummer Mike Portnoy, both of Dream Theater], and the music was very ‘written’ a head of time. Every bass note was given to me, and that’s a completely different experience.

“So this recording was more elaborately prepared for, and the music was technically so very, very difficult. Another difference is I could barely keep up with them; they are tremendously fast players. These guys are blazingly fast. Obviously, this was a different situation for me. I found myself struggling just to practice the parts – it was quite a challenge. This was a very different sounding album, and had a different sensibility altogether. Yet once again, this was a player’s album.

“I feel like my input was different on different tracks. Some of it was just going along with the style and not playing much that was distinctive. In others I put in my Tony Levin stuff. I love listening to metal and speed metal, but the bass is usually undermixed in that kind of music. That changed here and that’s something I was very happy with. Also, I had often wanted to try some of that music on the stick. As a bass, it is very clear and powerful. This was a beautiful chance to try that out, and it did work well.”

Progression: Again, any talk of touring with this particular group?

Levin: “No. Dream Theater went on the road immediately after we finished, and has been out ever since. You know, it’s hard enough getting musicians together for a week in the studio, because of other schedules and commitments. It’s really hard to get out and tour.”