Brain Storm

How well do prog stars know their prog – or themselves? This month we needle John Petrucci

Quizzard: Grant Moon

Q1 Dream Theater once performed under the name Nicky Lemons And The Migraines. Which member played the role of Nicky Lemons?

John Petrucci: That was Derek [Sherinian]. He’d come out in a boa. It was really funny – we could have been losing our minds!

A: Correct.

Q2 What was unusual about DT’s performance at the Sundance club on Long Island on November 17, 1990?

JP: We played without a singer. We didn’t have one for a period and that was the premier venue to play, so we played it anyway.

A: Correct.

Q3 DT approached John Arch in 1990 to become their singer. Which band did he formerly front?

JP: Fates Warning, of course. He’s an incredible singer. That Arch/Matheos album [Sympathetic Resonance] is really cool.

A: Correct.

Q4 Dream Theater’s singer James LaBrie used to sing in which hair-metal band?

JP: Winter Rose.

A: Correct.

Q5 ‘Where soldiers came to hide in barrels filled with wine’ is a line from which DT song?

JP: The Count Of Tuscany. And just the other day he came to a show in Italy! He and his brother got a real kick out of the song being about them.

A: Correct, and classy!

Q6 What was the number of the dorm you shared with bassist John Myung at Berklee College?

JP: I’m not sure, but we’d practice in rehearsal room E19...

A: That’s good trivia, but your dorm was 817.

JP: Ah, that rings a bell.

Q7 You once performed a show at Ronnie Scott’s club with special guests. Which Metallica song did you perform with Napalm Death’s Barney Greenway?

JP: Holy crap, what did we play? Was it Battery?

A: It was Damage Inc.

Q8 What’s James LaBrie’s latest solo album called?

JP: Impermanent Resonance. It came out really great.

A: Correct, on both counts.

Q9 Which of your former members once said, “Before an Alice Cooper gig, he would hire strippers. With Dream Theater, we would be practising to metronomes!”?

JP: Sounds like Nicky Lemons to me – definitely Derek.

A: It was!

Q10 Which song on Images And Words had the working title Oliver’s Twist, named after journalist A&R man Derek Oliver?

JP: Was it Pull Me Under?

A: Yes.

GENERAL PROG

Q11 Opeth drummer Martin Lopez made his debut with Opeth playing on a cover version of Remember Tomorrow, a song by which of Mikael Akerfeldt’s favourite bands?

JP: Iron Maiden. I love that song.

A: Correct.

Q12 Can you name the original 1968 line-tip of Rush?

JP: Sure – it was Geddy, Alex and John Rutsey.

A: It was John, Alex and – the guy Geddy replaced – Jeff Jones.

JP: Who?! Jeff Jones? I did not know that!

Q13 Which two of Rush’s albums reached Number Two on the US Billboard album chart?

JP: I’d have to say Moving Pictures and Signals.

A: Counterparts and Clockwork Angels.

JP: Ah, nice. Well, that’s good to hear.

Q14 Which London underground club opened with residencies from Soft Machine and Pink Floyd?

JP: I have no idea. That’s the type of thing I’m horrible at!

A: The UFO Club.

Q15: ‘And after a while, you can work on points for style/Like the club tie, and the firm handshake.’ Lyrics from which Pink Floyd song?

JP: Argh, no – I’ve been totally tripped up!

A: Dogs, from Animals.

Q16 In 1985, Dixie Dregs guitarist Steve Morse joined which big US prog rock band?

JP: Kansas.

A: For the Power album – correct.

Q17 Which famous producer was working with Yes on their follow-up to Tormato, until Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman left the band?

JP: Bob Ezrin?

A: Roy Thomas Baker.

Q18 Steve Howe guested on which Queen song, with his contribution credited as “wandering minstrel guitar”?

JP: [Slightly desperate laughter] You’ve got to be kidding me! You’re killing me, my friend!

A: It was Innuendo.

Q19 Who is the only remaining member of the original line-up of Marillion?

JP: Would I be wrong to say Steve Rothery?

A: No you would not!

Q20 And can you name their latest album?

JP: I can’t. To be honest, I kind of dropped off around Brave.

A: Sounds That Can’t Be Made.

TOTAL: 11.5/20

“[Genial laughter] I’m so embarrassed! I’m always dreadful at this kind of thing. My whole music trivia knowledge is awful.”

Brainstorm League 2013

Guy Manning – 18.5

Rich Hinks – 16.5

Mark Kelly 11.5

John Petrucci – 11.5