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Biography
Infobox musical artist | name = John Petrucci| image = John Petrucci (1).jpg| image_size = 250| landscape = yes| caption =| background = solo_singer| birth_name = John Peter Petrucci| Born = birth date and age|1967|07|12 Kings Park, New York|Kings Park , Long Island, New York|Long Island , New York | instrument = Guitar , Singing|vocals , Bass guitar|bass , Drum kit|drums , Programming (music)|programming | genre = Progressive metal , instrumental rock , progressive rock , jazz fusion | years_active = 1985–present| label = Roadrunner Records|Roadrunner , Sound Mind Music, Magna Carta| associated_acts = Dream Theater , Liquid Tension Experiment , Explorers Club (band)|Explorers Club , Eric Johnson , Jon Finn Group , Nightmare Cinema , G3 tour|G3 | website = http://www.johnpetrucci.com www.johnpetrucci.com| notable_instruments = * Music Man (company)|Ernie Ball Music Man John Petrucci Signature Model John Peter Petrucci (born July 12, 1967) is an United States|American virtuoso 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 Record producer|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 by Joel McIver in his book The 100 greatest metal guitarists|The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists . http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/interviews/dave_mustaine_discusses_the_100_greatest_metal_guitarists.html He was also named as one of the "Top 10 Greatest Guitar Shredders of All Time" by GuitarOne magazine.cite web|url = http://www.randyciak.com/guitar/top_shredders_of_all_time.htm |title = Top Shredders of All Time|accessdate = 2008-02-26|work = RandyCiak.com
Biography
John Petrucci was born on July 12, 1967 in Kings Park, New York|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, Massachusetts|Boston with childhood friend John Myung ( bass guitar|bass ), where they met future bandmate Mike Portnoy ( Drum kit|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 Explorers Club (artist)|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 (tour)|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 (John Petrucci 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. http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=-v0M_tSllDI
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".
According to the spoof rock band Nightmare Cinema (the Dream Theater members changing instruments playing a gig) he got the "alternate stage name" Johnny James.
Dream Theater bandmate Jordan Rudess revealed in an interview that Petrucci is a practicing Catholic . http://faq.dtnorway.com/question/114 The Dream Theater official FAQ He currently lives in St. James, New York with his wife Rena Sands , a guitarist in the all-female heavy metal band Meanstreak (band)|Meanstreak , and they have 3 children, Samantha and Reny (who are twins), and Kiara. He is also an avid fan of bodybuilding and dedicates much of his off time to weight training . http://johnpetrucci.com/biography.htm The Official John Petrucci Web Site
He is a voting member of National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences|NARAS .
Musical style
Guitar Technique
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). Moreover, Petrucci often combines his metal shredding technique with a slower, emotive soloing style. Indeed, he has cited David Gilmour as an important influence. Utilising his wide variety of styles and influences, 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 is the only band member to have contributed lyrics to every album; he's written lyrics for at least three songs for every single album. 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 "Solitary Shell", and in choruses of songs such as "Forsaken" and "In The Name of God". On the EP Wither (EP)|Wither Petrucci performs lead vocals on an alternative, demo version of the title track. He had previously done his own vocals for "The Spirit Carries On". During live performances before the departure of Mike Portnoy , he only sang small sections of backing vocals or harmonies.
2010 Iron Maiden Supporting Tour : Mark V (x3), Dunlop Rack Wah, Fractal Audio Axe-Fx Ultra
"Black Clouds and Silver Linings Tour" - Mesa Boogie Mark V (x3), Voodoo Lab GCX Switcher (x1), Korg DTR-2000 Rack Tuner (x1), Dunlop DSR-2SR Rack Wah System (x1), TC Electronic C400XL Compressor/Gate (x1), Keeley Modded Tube Screamer (x1), MXR EVH Flanger (x1), MXR EVH Phaser (x1), TC Electronic 1210 Spatial Expander/Stereo Chorus/Flanger (x1), TC Electronic M3000 Reverb/Delay (x3), Eventide H7600 Harmonizer (x1), Custom Patch Bay for Pedalboard Connections (x1), Furman AR Pro Power Conditioner (x1), Mesa Boogie High Gain Amp Switcher (x1), Axess Electronics GRX4 Audio Switcher for Pedal and Effects Switching (x3), Axess Electronics CRX4 Control Function Switcher (x1), Furman Aura Pedal (x1), Radial DI Box (x1). Axess Electronics FX-1 Midi Foot Controller w/Expander (x1), Dunlop DCR-IFC Wah Controller (x1), Ernie Ball 25k Stereo Volume Pedal (x1), Boss TU-2 Tuner (x1). Mesa Boogie Traditional Rectifier 4x12 Cabinets with Celestion Vintage 30 Speakers and Custom Grills (x8). Custom Steel Diamond Plate Foot Rests (x2).
"A Dramatic Tour of Events" - Mesa Boogie Mark V (x2), Fractal Audio Axe-Fx II (x1), Dunlop DCR-2SR Rack Wah, Mark Snyder Custom Rack Interface (x1), Axess Electronics Switchers, Framptone A/B Box (x1), Keeley Modded TS-9DX (x1), Analog Man King of Tone (x1), Analog Man TS808 Mod (x1), Boss PH-3 Phaser (x1), MXR EVH Flanger (x1), Carl Martin Compressor (x1), Furman AR-Pro Power Conditioner. Axess Electronics FX-1 Midi Foot Controller (x1), Dunlop DCR-IFC Wah Controller (x2), Ernie Ball 25k Stereo Volume Pedal (x1), Boss TU-3 Tuner (x1), Custom Steel Diamond Plate Foot Rests with Buttkicker Drivers (x2). Mesa Boogie Traditional Rectifier 4x12 Cabinets with Celestion Vintage 30 Speakers (x3), Mesa Boogie Traditional Rectifier 2x12 Cabinets with Buttkicker Drivers (x3).
Since the Train of Thought World Tour , John has used two footrests made by Patrick Slaats (who also designs Jordan Rudess 's keyboard stands), such that they are book-ends for his pedalboard. These are utilised whenever Petrucci plays difficult-to-play passages within his songs, as he practices using proper classical guitar techniques - meaning that he rests his guitar on his left thigh when sequences get difficult. Before this, he used regular stage monitors to do this. He stated in the Live at Budokan DVD that he also has a "spit shield" around his cabinets, in order to avoid getting them defaced by Mike Portnoy 's "gobs of goobers" (spat-out chewing gum). He stopped using the spit shield on the A Dramatic Turn of Events tour due to Portnoy's departure.
Discography
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1986
The Majesty Demos
Berklee . YtseJam Records
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.
Jordan Rudess solo album, Petrucci is featured on guitar.
2001
Live Scenes From New York
Elektra
U.S. featuring Scenes from a Memory in its 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.
First album released under Dream Theater 's new contract with Roadrunner Records on June 5, 2007.
2008
Chaos in Motion 2007–2008
Roadrunner Records
Systematic Chaos included extended versions of Take the Time and Surrounded and both parts of In the Presence of Enemies (song)>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 (song)
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".
2011
A Dramatic Turn of Events
Roadrunner Records
First Dream Theater album with Mike Mangini on the drums. Released on September 13.
Videography
Year u>
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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.
http://www.johnpetrucci.com John Petrucci official web site
http://twitter.com/JPetrucci John Petrucci Official Twitter Web site
http://www.facebook.com/johnpetrucciFB Official Facebook of John Petrucci
Dream Theater|state=plainLiquid Tension ExperimentG3 (tour band) Persondata | NAME = Petrucci, John | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = | DATE OF BIRTH = July 12, 1967 | PLACE OF BIRTH = | DATE OF DEATH = January 1 2011 | PLACE OF DEATH = DEFAULTSORT:Petrucci, John Category:Dream Theater members Category:American heavy metal guitarists Category:American heavy metal singers Category:American male singers Category:American rock guitarists Category:American Roman Catholics Category:Seven-string guitarists Category:Berklee College of Music alumni Category:American musicians of Italian descent Category:1967 births Category:Living people Category:G3 Category:People from Suffolk County, New York Category:American record producers Category:Lead guitarists Category:Progressive rock guitarists Category:Progressive metal guitarists Category:Singers from New York