Originally published in Prog magazine (UK) 103 · October 2019
It’s A Celebration (excerpts)
Article2 min read
From Hawkwind to Pink Floyd, Big Big Train to TesseracT – all of the prog stars young and old congregate in their finery for the eighth annual Progressive Music Awards. Prog provides you with a front row seat to the proceedings…
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TesseracT guitarist James Monteith presents the Chris Squire Virtuoso Award to a man who helped to introduce him to the wonders of progressive music, as he tells us that hearing a Dream Theater album opened up a new musical world. The recipient is guitarist John Petrucci, who says that simply being able to influence others is still humbling.
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The International Band Of The Year goes to Dream Theater, who have been creating music of the highest quality now for three decades. So for the second time tonight, John Petrucci goes up to receive an award, this time joined by keyboard player Jordan Rudess. The pair are clearly thrilled, as they recall the way in which the band have established themselves as one of the most important prog artists of the modern era, and in doing so framed and fashioned the world of progressive metal.
And The Winner Is...
Who came out top at the eighth Progressive Music Awards? Prog heads backstage to chat to all the winners, and to find out just what they’re going to do with their gongs.
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Chris Squire Virtuoso Award (Presented by James Monteith, TesseracT): John Petrucci
John Petrucci: “This was a complete surprise. It really freaked me out, to the point where I really don’t know what to say. To be in this environment and to be recognised by your peers is awesome.”
James Monteith: “The first time I heard John play was when I listened to the Images And Words album. I was initially blown away by his technique: the speed picking, the smooth legato, and his really nice note choices. But a lot of it is about challenging convention, not just playing brilliantly. It’s about taking the rules that exist for music, turning them on their head, and making new rules. Only a few geniuses can do that, and John is one of them.”
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International Band Of The Year: Dream Theater
John Petrucci: “We’re a band from America, where prog wasn’t really taken seriously, so to get this recognition in this arena is amazing for us. I met Nick Mason!”
Jordan Rudess: “I met Tony Banks for the first time! In a room like this, with all these heroes, it really means something. Progressive rock is my favourite genre, and it opened up my life. I was going to be a classical pianist until I discovered prog, and the road changed.”
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What will you do with your award?
John Petrucci: “There’s a section of my house where I keep awards and things, where I display things I’m proud of, and this will go in there.”
Jordan Rudess: “It’s going to go in Dream Theater Headquarters.”