John Petrucci

John Peter Petrucci (born July 12, 1967) is an American guitarist and songwriter best known as a founding member of the progressive metal band Dream Theater. Along with his former bandmate Mike Portnoy, he has produced all Dream Theater albums since their 1999 release, Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory. He is also a backing vocalist for Dream Theater. Petrucci was named as the third player on the G3 tour six times, more than any other invited guitarists. In 2009 he was named the No. 2 best metal guitarist (behind Dave Mustaine) by Joel McIver in his book The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists. He was also named as one of the "Top 10 Greatest Guitar Shredders of All Time" by GuitarOne magazine.

Biography

John Petrucci was born on July 12, 1967 in Kings Park New York to an Italian American family. He picked up the guitar at the early age of 8 because his older sister was allowed to go to bed later in order to practice the piano. However he decided to quit the guitar when his attempts to stay up late were unsuccessful. He would later pick up the guitar again at the age of 12 when his childhood friend and future Dream Theater keyboardist Kevin Moore invited John to join his cover band. John attended Berklee College of Music in Boston with childhood friend John Myung (bass), where they met future bandmate Mike Portnoy (drums). These three in addition to Kevin Moore, formed the band Majesty, which would later become Dream Theater. While Dream Theater is what Petrucci is most commonly associated with, he is also a part of the project band Liquid Tension Experiment and has appeared as a guest on several records by other artists such as the Age of Impact album by the Explorer's Club.

Petrucci has released a guitar instructional video, "Rock Discipline", which covers warm up exercises, exercises to avoid injury while playing, alternate picking, sweep picking, chords and other techniques for developing one's guitar playing. Petrucci also has a book named "Guitar World presents John Petrucci's Wild Stringdom", which was compiled from columns he wrote for Guitar World magazine, bearing that same title. In 2001, John Petrucci was invited by Joe Satriani and Steve Vai to tour with them on the popular G3 guitar tour, which exposed him to a massive number of new fans and inspired him to record a solo album. The album, Suspended Animation, was released on March 1, 2005, and was made available for order from his web site. Petrucci also appeared on the 2005 and 2006 G3 tours, and in 2007, went on G3 tour again, this time with Paul Gilbert and Joe Satriani. In a recent video with Larry DiMarzio Petrucci revealed that he's been working on a follow up to his 2004 album, "Suspended Animation" along with the new Dream Theater album.
Petrucci also wrote and recorded two instrumental soundtrack songs for a Sega Saturn game titled Digital Pinball: Necronomicon. Each track is roughly two minutes long and they are simply titled "Prologue" and "Epilogue".
 

Dream Theater bandmate Jordan Rudess revealed in an interview that Petrucci is a practicing Catholic. He is married to Rena Sands, a guitarist in the all-female heavy metal band Meanstreak, and they have 3 children, Samantha and Reny (who are twins), and Kiara. His nephew Jake Bowen is a guitarist for the progressive metal band Periphery. He is also an avid fan of bodybuilding and dedicates much of his off time to weight training.

He is a voting member of NARAS.

Musical style

Petrucci is respected for his variety of guitar styles and skills. One of the most notable of these is his high speed alternate picking which, as he himself claims, requires a "strong sense of synchronization between the two [playing] hands." John is notable for frequent use of the seven-string electric guitar, which he states is used as a "writing tool", taking advantage of the extended range both for heavier riffing (The Mirror) and to play extended range runs as part of a solo (This Dying Soul). On one of his guitar lesson videos he states that James Hetfield of Metallica had a great influence on him. He has also cited Steve Morse as a major influence. Another is Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson. Petrucci adopted the technique of using fuller chords and heavy chorus/reverb effects from Lifeson. In addition to this, he is greatly influenced by the emotion-driven guitar playing of David Gilmour. Perhaps the best examples of this are his guitar solo in 'Lines in the Sand' off Dream Theater's 1997 album 'Falling into Infinity', the fast solo mixed with alternate picking and sweep picking from Stream of Consciousness from Dream Theater album 'Train of Thought', the extended solo section of 'A Change of Seasons', and the mellow, spacy segment near the end of 'The Count of Tuscany' from their latest release 'Black Clouds & Silver Linings'. Petrucci has also been known to directly incorporate riffs and solos from other bands into live Dream Theater performances. For example, Pink Floyd's 'Have a Cigar' and Metallica's 'Enter Sandman' are referenced during the performance of 'Peruvian Skies' from the 'Once in a Livetime' live album. Another example occurs in Dream Theater's live DVD 'Chaos in Motion', during the extended version of 'Surrounded'. Here, Petrucci incorporates the guitar solo from 'Mother' by Pink Floyd. The varied examples of this further demonstrate Petrucci's wide range of influences.
In addition, Petrucci has contributed a vast amount of lyrics to Dream Theater since the band's inception. These include, among others, the fan favorite Metropolis, Pt. 1: The Miracle and the Sleeper, the heartfelt The Spirit Carries On, the politically-charged The Great Debate and the epic In the Presence of Enemies. Furthermore, Petrucci has used real-life experiences for lyrical inspiration, which includes songs as The Count of Tuscany, A Nightmare to Remember, and Endless Sacrifice.
Singing
Petrucci has been Dream Theater's backing vocalist since the Awake's Tour . His singing is much darker than James Labrie's and is often used in bridges like "The Test That Stumped Them All". On the EP Wither Petrucci performs lead vocals on a alternative, demo version of the title track.
Guitar Rig
Studio albums
Album    Amplifiers
Majesty/When Dream And Day Unite    Randall RG100ES

Images and Words    Mesa Quad Preamp, Mesa Triaxis/2:90, Marshall JMP1 for Metropolis Pt.1, Roland JC120 for cleans

Awake    Only album to be quadruple layered. 2 takes using Dual Rectifier, 2 takes using Mark IIC+
A Change Of Seasons    Mark IIC+, Mark IV, TriAxis

Falling Into Infinity    Dual Rectifier, Mark IIC+, Mark IIB, Mark IV, TriAxis

Metropolis Pt.2: Scenes From A Memory    Mark IIC+, Mark IV, TriAxis, Formula, Dual Rectifier
Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence    Mark IIC+, Dual Rectifier (for The Glass Prison)
Train Of Thought    Road King Series I
Octavarium    Road King Series I, Mark IV, Lone Star

Systematic Chaos    Lone Star, Mark IV
Black Clouds & Silver Linings    Lone Star, Mark IV, Mark IIC+, Mark V

Suspended Animation    Roadking Series 1, Mark IIC+
Liquid Tension Experiment    TriAxis, 2:90 power amp
Liquid Tension Experiment 2    Mark IIC+, Mark IV
Live
•    I&W Tour: 2 Triaxis Preamps (one for backup), 2:90 power amp, Mesa Abacus+Mesa Midi Matrix for switching
•    Scenes From NY: Triaxis, Dual Rectifier, Mark IIC+, Mark IV, Formula Preamp, 2:90 power amps
•    Live At Budokan: Road King Series 1 (x3), Lonestar (x2)
•    Score: Custom Built "Nunya" Preamp, Formula Preamp, mesa 2:100 power amp, 4 Mesa 4x12's and 4 Mesa 2x12's. Midi switching by Steen Skrydstrup.
•    2005 G3 Tokyo: Dual Rectifier (x2) Road King (x2)
•    2007 G3 tour: Mark IV (x2), Formula preamp
•    2007 Systematic Chaos Tour: Mark IV (x2), Lonestar (x1), TC Electronic 2290, M3000, Eventide Ultra Harmonizer, Jim Dunlop rack wah & various stomp boxes. Midi switching by Axess Electronics.
•    2009 BC&SL Tour: Mark V(x3), 3x Mesa/Boogie Mark V, 1x TC Electronics C400XL Compressor/ Gate, 3x TC Electronics M3000, 1x TC Electronics 1210 Spatial Expander/Stereo Chorus/Flanger, 1x Eventide H7600 Harmonizer, 1x Dunlop DCR-IFC Rack Wah, 1x Keeley Modded Tube Screamer TS-9DX Flexi, 1x MXR EVH Flanger, 1x MXR EVH Phaser, 1x Axess Electronics FX-1 Midi Foot Controller w/ expander,2x Dunlop DCR-IFC Wah Controllers (one for pedalboard and one on center stage for solos), 1x Ernieball 25k Stereo Volume Pedal,1x Boss TU-2 Tuner
•    2010 Iron Maiden Supporting Tour: Mark V (x3), Dunlop Rack Wah, Fractal Audio Axe-Fx Ultra

Discography
Year    Title    Label    Notes
1986    The Majesty Demos
The Original CD had no label. It was just for the students at Berklee. Ytse Jam Records then re-released the album in 2003    A rare CD recorded for Berklee College of Music with Kevin Moore as their keyboardist and Chris Collins as their singer. Ytse Jam Records then re-released the album as an official bootleg. They play a song of this album called Another Won on their 20th Anniversary DVD, Score.
1989    When Dream and Day Unite
MCA/Mechanic    First Dream Theater studio album.

1992    Images and Words
Atlantic/ATCO    Again with Dream Theater, introducing the new lead singer James LaBrie.

1993    Live at the Marquee
WEA International    First Dream Theater live album.
1994    Awake
EastWest    The last Dream Theater album with Kevin Moore as keyboard player.

1995    A Change of Seasons (EP)
EastWest    Dream Theater EP, introducing Derek Sherinian as new keyboard Player.
1996    Working Man    Magna Carta    A Rush tribute.

1997    Falling into Infinity
Elektra    Last Dream Theater studio album with Derek Sherinian.

1997    Dragon Attack
CNR Music    A tribute to Queen

1998    Guitar Battle    Viktor    Various Artists
1998    Liquid Tension Experiment
Magna Carta    Project with Mike Portnoy, Jordan Rudess and Tony Levin

1998    Once in a LIVEtime
Elektra    2CD recorded in Paris, France.

1998    Age of Impact
Magna Carta    Explorers Club

1998    Wicked    The Orchard    Jon Finn Group

1999    Liquid Tension Experiment 2
Magna Carta    Second album with Liquid Tension Experiment

1999    Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory
Elektra    Jordan Rudess as new keyboard player for Dream Theater, the band's first concept album.

2000    An Evening with John Petrucci and Jordan Rudess
Sound Mind Music    A live album with keyboard player Jordan Rudess
2001    Feeding the Wheel
Magna Carta    Jordan Rudess solo album, Petrucci is featured on guitar.
2001    Live Scenes From New York
Elektra    3CD recorded in New York, U.S. featuring Scenes from a Memory in it's entirety. First Official live album (audio of the DVD Metropolis 2000: Scenes from New York with featuring extra songs) with Jordan Rudess.
2002    Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
Elektra    Dream Theater's first studio double album. Notably heavier than previous releases, containing more prominent guitar riffing and solos than previous Dream Theater records.
2003    Train of Thought
Elektra    Dream Theaters heaviest release to date.
2004    Live at Budokan
Atlantic    Dream Theater 3CD/2DVD combination recorded in Tokyo, Japan.

2005    Suspended Animation
Sound Mind Music    John Petrucci's first solo album.
2005    G3: Live in Tokyo
Sony    Plays on G3, with guitarists Steve Vai and Joe Satriani

2005    Octavarium
Atlantic    Dream Theater's last album with Atlantic Records Group.
2006    Score
Rhino Entertainment    3CD/2DVD recorded at Radio City Music Hall on April 1, 2006 New York, U.S. for Dream Theater's 20th Anniversary.
2006    Blood of the Snake - Derek Sherinian
Inside Out Music    Played guitar on first track "Czar Of Steel".
2006    Loudspeaker - Marty Friedman
Mascot/Avex    Special guest guitarist on "Black Orchid".
2007    Systematic Chaos
Roadrunner Records
First album released under Dream Theater's new contract with Roadrunner Records on June 5, 2007.
2008    Chaos in Motion 2007–2008
Roadrunner Records
A live album 3CD/2DVD documenting the band's 2007/2008 Chaos in Motion and Progressive Nation tours featuring several songs from the supporting album Systematic Chaos included extended versions of Take the Time and Surrounded and both parts of In the Presence of Enemies played as one song. Also features a medley of Trial of Tears, Finally Free, Learning to Live, In the Name of God, and Octavarium (using the final part Razor's Edge) titled Schmedley Wilcox.
2009    Black Clouds & Silver Linings
Roadrunner Records
Released on June 23, this is Dream Theater's tenth studio album. Last album with Mike Portnoy, also recording of the last part of the Twelve-step Suite dealing with Portnoy's alcoholism titled "The Shattered Fortress".
Videography
Year    Title    Notes
1993    Images and Words: Live in Tokyo
First Dream Theater live DVD. Includes extended version of Take the Time.
1995    Rock Discipline - VHS    John Petrucci does a DVD on guitar warmups, tricks, exercises, and his gear.
1998    5 Years in a LIVEtime
The only live Dream Theater DVD with Derek Sherinian.
2001    Metropolis 2000: Scenes From New York

2002    Rock Discipline - DVD   
2004    Live at Budokan

2005    G3: Live in Tokyo

2006    Score
2DVD recorded at Radio City Music Hall on April 1, 2006 New York, U.S. Celebrated Dream Theater's 20th Anniversary. They performed this concert with a symphony orchestra.
2007    Chaos in Progress: The Making of Systematic Chaos
DVD included in the special edition of Systematic Chaos

2008    Chaos in Motion 2007–2008
Released September 30, 2008. Documents the band's 2007/2008 Chaos in Motion and Progressive Nation tours.

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