Dream Theater – Live LP Incoming

The LP celebrates Mike Portnoy’s return to the band he formed 40 years ago.

Dream Theater will release their first live album since Mike Portnoy rejoined the band last November. Quarantieme: Live À Paris was captured at the 9,000-capacity Adidas Arena in Paris during the Parasominia tour that marked Portnoy’s first DT shows since 2010.

“I think it’s a really important marking in Dream Theater history,” says keyboardist Jordan Rudess. “For those that felt an emotional resonance with Mike through the years/ his return caused a burst of amazing energy. We had the greatest European tour together.”

Portnoy was a driving force behind the band’s first quarter of a century, and though Rudess says he was a little tentative to not assume too much control at first he was given free rein to choose the setlist. That included material written without him.

“He didn’t want to ignore a whole period of time, but he had to find things he could relate to,” Rudess explains. “But he didn’t go easy on himself that’s for sure! He’s a very heartfelt drummer. Even though we play very complicated music, he’s really all about the feel.”

He continues, “Mike started Dream Theater. The music is very much connected with his spirit and you feel it. It’s a pleasure to get on stage, look over and go, ‘Alright this is the way it should be.’”

The album will be available in a variety of formats/ including a limited-edition 68-page Blu-ray art book with an additional disc of bonus material. It’s released via InsideOut Music on November 28.

—POW