{{short description|American progressive metal band}} {{About|the band|their self-titled album|Dream Theater (album)|the Kansas theater|Dream Theater (Russell, Kansas)}} {{Multiple issues| {{More citations needed|date=August 2025}} {{Fanpov|date=August 2025}} {{Overly detailed|date=August 2025}} }} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2017}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Dream Theater | image = Dream Theater-30 (54625184939) (cropped).jpg | caption = Dream Theater performing in 2025. From left to right: John Myung, Jordan Rudess, James LaBrie, Mike Portnoy, and John Petrucci. | landscape = yes | alias = Majesty (1985–1988) | origin = Boston, Massachusetts, {{nowrap|U.S.}} | genre = Progressive metal<!-- PLEASE DO NOT ADD OR CHANGE GENRES WITHOUT CONSENSUS FROM THE ARTICLE TALK PAGE. --> | works = Discography | years_active = 1985–present | label = {{flatlist| * Inside Out * Roadrunner * Warner Bros. * Atlantic * Elektra * East West * Atco * Mechanic * YtseJam}} | spinoffs = {{flatlist| * Liquid Tension Experiment * Explorers Club * OSI * Platypus * Sons of Apollo * Metal Allegiance}} | module = {{Infobox | child = yes | title = '''Logo''' | headerstyle = background:#b0c4de | data2 = 250px }} | website = {{URL|dreamtheater.net}} | current_members = * John Myung * John Petrucci * Mike Portnoy * James LaBrie * Jordan Rudess | past_members = * Chris Collins * Charlie Dominici * Kevin Moore * Derek Sherinian * Mike Mangini }}
<!-- There's not much discussion on the talk page, so I've condensed the lead by a massive amount. Hopefully this will suffice. If not, I've left the Lead Too Long tag here, just commented out: {{Lead too long|date=June 2018}} --> '''Dream Theater''' is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 in Boston, Massachusetts. The band comprises John Petrucci (guitar), John Myung (bass), Mike Portnoy (drums), James LaBrie (vocals), and Jordan Rudess (keyboards).
Dream Theater was formed under the name '''Majesty''' by Petrucci, Myung and Portnoy—all from Long Island, New York—while they attended Berklee College of Music. They dropped out to concentrate on the band. Dream Theater has undergone various lineup changes, though Petrucci and Myung have remained constant and Portnoy continues to play with the band today. After a brief stint with Chris Collins, followed by Charlie Dominici (who was dismissed from Dream Theater shortly after the release of their 1989 debut album ''When Dream and Day Unite''), LaBrie was hired as the band's singer in 1991. Dream Theater's original keyboardist, Kevin Moore, left the band after three albums and was replaced by Derek Sherinian in 1995 after a period of touring. They recorded one album (and an EP) with Sherinian, who was replaced by current keyboardist Jordan Rudess in 1999. Portnoy left the band in 2010 to pursue other musical interests, and was replaced by Mike Mangini; he rejoined the band in October 2023.
Dream Theater has released sixteen studio albums. The band's highest-selling release is their second album ''Images and Words'' (1992), which reached No. 61 on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart.<ref name="charts">Billboard Chart history for Dream Theater can be seen at [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=dream theater|chart=all}} Billboard.com].</ref> Other albums such as ''Awake'' (1994) and ''Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence'' (2002) also entered the charts at No. 32 and No. 46 respectively, and each received critical acclaim. Their fifth album, ''Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory'' (1999), was ranked number 95 on the October 2006 issue of ''Guitar World'' magazine's list of the greatest 100 guitar albums of all time.<ref>{{cite web|title=Guitar World's (Readers Choice) Greatest 100 Guitar Albums Of All Time|url=http://www.chud.com/community/t/91743/guitar-worlds-readers-choice-greatest-100-guitar-albums-of-all-time|publisher=chud.com|access-date=July 7, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120805161515/http://www.chud.com/community/t/91743/guitar-worlds-readers-choice-greatest-100-guitar-albums-of-all-time|archive-date=August 5, 2012|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> It was also ranked as the 15th Greatest Concept Album in March 2003 by ''Classic Rock'' magazine.<ref>{{cite web|title=Classic Rock Magazine – Rock's 30 Greatest Concept Albums (March 2003)|url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/steveparker/classicrock.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060219011141/http://rocklistmusic.co.uk/steveparker/classicrock.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=February 19, 2006|publisher=rocklistmusic.co.uk|access-date=May 15, 2012}}</ref>
By 2018, Dream Theater had sold over 12 million records worldwide;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://imusic.am/ar/blalI8|title=Dream Theater|publisher=iMusic}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tcelectronic.com/john-petrucci/|title=John Petrucci|publisher=TC Electronic|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630062710/http://www.tcelectronic.com/john-petrucci/|archive-date=June 30, 2017|df=mdy-all}}</ref> they have received four Grammy Award nominations, including one win in 2022.<ref name="Grammy">{{cite news|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=166699 |title=Dream Theater, Megadeth, Mastodon Among Grammy Awards Nominees |work=Blabbermouth.net |date=November 30, 2011 |access-date=December 1, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111203211255/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=166699 |archive-date=December 3, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dreamtheater.net/news/dream-theater-earn-second-grammy-nomination-81726 |title=Dream Theater Earn Second Grammy Nomination – Dream Theater – The Astonishing Out 1.29 | Official Site Official Blog |website=Dreamtheater.net |date=December 7, 2013 |access-date=January 30, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160206155052/http://www.dreamtheater.net/news/dream-theater-earn-second-grammy-nomination-81726 |archive-date=February 6, 2016 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-11-07 |title=SLEEP TOKEN, GHOST, SPIRITBOX, DREAM THEATER, DEFTONES & More Nominated For GRAMMYs |url=https://metalinjection.net/news/sleep-token-ghost-spiritbox-dream-theater-deftones-more-nominated-for-grammys |access-date=2025-11-07 |website=Metal Injection |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Dream Theater {{!}} Artist {{!}} GRAMMY.com |url=https://grammy.com/artists/dream-theater/14679 |access-date=2025-11-07 |website=grammy.com}}</ref> Along with Queensrÿche and Fates Warning, the band has been referred to as one of the "big three" of the progressive metal genre, responsible for its development and popularization.<ref name="kerrang">{{cite web|url=https://www.kerrang.com/13-essential-progressive-metal-albums|title=The 13 essential progressive metal albums you need to know|website=Kerrang!|date=March 12, 2021|access-date=February 12, 2022}}</ref> Additionally, the staff of ''Loudwire'' named them the 38th best metal band of all time.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Loudwire StaffLoudwire |date=2016-07-20 |title=Top 50 Metal Bands of All Time |url=https://loudwire.com/top-metal-bands-of-all-time/ |access-date=2025-12-20 |website=Loudwire |language=en}}</ref> {{TOC limit}}
==History== ===Formation (1985–1987)=== In 1985, guitarist John Petrucci, bassist John Myung, and drummer Mike Portnoy decided to form a band while attending Berklee College of Music in Boston. Petrucci and Myung were childhood friends from Kings Park, New York, and met Portnoy of Long Beach, New York while at Berklee. The trio started by covering Rush and Iron Maiden songs in the rehearsal rooms at Berklee.
Myung, Petrucci, and Portnoy agreed on the name Majesty for their newly formed group. According to ''The Score So Far...'' documentary, they were waiting in line for tickets to a Rush concert at the Berklee Performance Center while listening to the band on a boom box. Portnoy commented that the ending of the song "Bastille Day" sounded "majestic".<ref name="score so far">This was referenced in the documentary "The Score so Far", on the second disc of the ''Score'' DVD.</ref>
Petrucci asked his high school bandmate Kevin Moore to play the keyboard, and another friend from home, Chris Collins, was recruited as lead vocalist after band members heard him sing a cover of "Queen of the Reich" by Queensrÿche.<ref>Portnoy, Mike (2003). "The Majesty Demos 1985-1986" [CD Liner Notes]. New York: YtseJam Records.</ref> During this time, Portnoy, Petrucci, and Myung's hectic schedules forced them to abandon their studies to concentrate on their music, as they did not feel they could learn more in college. Moore also left his college, SUNY Fredonia, to concentrate on the band.
{{listen|filename=Dream Theater - Another Won.ogg|title="Another Won"|description="Another Won" from ''The Majesty Demos''}} The beginning months of 1986 were filled with various concert dates in and around the New York City area. During this time, the band recorded a collection of demos, titled ''The Majesty Demos''. The initial run of 1,000 sold out within six months, and dubbed copies of the cassette became popular within the progressive metal scene. The ''Majesty Demos'' were later released officially on CD, through Portnoy's YtseJam Records (and on InsideOut in 2022, after YtseJam Records was shut down).
Chris Collins left the band in November 1986. After a year of trying to find a replacement, Charlie Dominici, who was far older and more experienced than anyone else in the band, successfully auditioned for the group.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.prog-sphere.com/interviews/charlie-dominici |title=Charlie Dominici – A Trilogy Concluded, a Career to be Continued |last=Savić |first=Nikola |date=June 16, 2010 |website=Prog-sphere.com |access-date=August 29, 2018 |archive-date=August 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829000325/http://www.prog-sphere.com/interviews/charlie-dominici/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> With the stability that Dominici's appointment brought to Majesty, they began to increase the number of shows played in the New York City area, gaining a considerable amount of exposure.{{Citation needed|date=August 2018}}
Shortly after hiring Dominici, a Las Vegas group also named Majesty<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gabbo.net/dt/faq/ |title=The Dream Theater FAQ – Graphic Version |publisher=Gabbo.net |access-date=January 2, 2009}}</ref> threatened legal action for intellectual property infringement related to the use of their name. Various alternatives were proposed and tested, among them Glasser, Magus, and M1, which were all rejected, though the band did go as Glasser for about a week, with poor reactions from fans. Eventually, Portnoy's father suggested the name Dream Theater, the name of a small theater in Monterey, California, and the name stuck.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/aLRo9RT539k Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20150429000823/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLRo9RT539k Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLRo9RT539k |title=Mike Portnoy – Wikipedia: Fact or Fiction? |publisher=YouTube |date=April 1, 2015 |access-date=January 30, 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
===''When Dream and Day Unite'' (1988–1990)=== With their new name and band stability, Dream Theater concentrated on writing more material while playing more concerts in New York and in neighboring states. This eventually attracted the attention of Mechanic Records, a division of MCA. Dream Theater signed their first record contract with Mechanic on June 23, 1988,<ref name="WDADU Demos">Portnoy, Mike (2004). Nathan Edmonds help produce "When Dream and Day Unite Demos" 1987–1989 [CD Liner Notes]. New York: YtseJam Records.</ref> and recorded their debut album at Kajem Victory Studios in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania. Recording the basic tracks took about ten days, and the entire album was completed in about three weeks.<ref name="Charlie Dominici">Dominici, Charlie. When Dream And Day Unite liner notes (2004 re-release).</ref>
''When Dream and Day Unite'' was released in March 1989 to far less fanfare than the band had anticipated. Mechanic ended up breaking the majority of the financial promises they had made to Dream Theater before signing their contract, so the band was restricted to playing around New York City. The promotional tour for the album consisted of just five concerts, all of which were relatively local, with the first being at Sundance in Bay Shore, New York opening for Zebra.<ref name="topography">{{cite web|url=http://www.mikeportnoy.com/dates/tourography/?tour=4 |title=Mike Portnoy.com The Official Website |website=Mikeportnoy.com |access-date=January 30, 2016}}</ref>
After the fourth show, Charlie Dominici was let go. The band wanted a singer like Bruce Dickinson or Geoff Tate, and they felt that Dominici's singing and stage presence was not what they wanted for a frontman. Shortly after, however, Marillion asked Dream Theater to open for them at a gig at the Ritz in New York, so Dominici was allowed to perform one last time.<ref name="topography" />
===Addition of James LaBrie and ''Images and Words'' (1991–1993)=== {| style="float:right;" |- |{{listen|filename=Dream Theater - Pull Me Under.ogg|title="Pull Me Under"|description="Pull Me Under" from ''Images and Words''.}} |} thumb|James LaBrie has been the vocalist since January 1991. Following Dominici's departure, Dream Theater fought successfully to be released from their contract with Mechanic. The band then auditioned over 200 singers, among them former Fates Warning frontman John Arch. Arch ultimately decided that his commitments were more important and he opted not to join the band.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fateswarning.com/Media/Interviews/1995/19950101.aspx |title=John Arch Interview by Jeff Wagner (1995) |publisher=Fateswarning.com |access-date=February 9, 2012}}</ref> On June 9, 1990, at a gig at Sundance in Bay Shore, New York, Dream Theater introduced Steve Stone as their new singer after playing half the set as an instrumental band. Stone had successfully recorded demos with Dream Theater, but he was fired following a single, ill-fated live performance. According to Mike Portnoy, Stone moved around the stage in a rather odd manner, seemingly doing a bad impression of Bruce Dickinson. Additionally, he shouted "Scream for me Long Beach!" several times throughout the show (Dickinson can be heard saying this on Iron Maiden's live album ''Live After Death''), although they were performing in Bay Shore.<ref name="steve stone">{{cite web |url=http://www.mikeportnoy.com/dates/MPTourography/ShowInfo.aspx?showId=29 |title=Mike Portnoy.com The Official Website |website=Mikeportnoy.com |access-date=January 30, 2016 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304022550/http://www.mikeportnoy.com/dates/MPTourography/ShowInfo.aspx?showId=29 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The audience was immediately turned off by the new singer. It was five months before Dream Theater played another show, this time all-instrumental under the name YtseJam. Until 1991, the band remained focused in an attempt to hire another singer and writing additional music.<ref name="topography" /> It was during this period that they wrote the majority of what would become ''Images and Words'' (1992).
In January 1991, the band received a demo tape from Kevin James LaBrie, of glam metal band Winter Rose,<ref name="Larkin2011">{{cite book|author=Colin Larkin|title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_NNmFiUnSmUC&pg=PA2006-IA1908|date=May 27, 2011|publisher=Omnibus Press|isbn=978-0-85712-595-8|pages=2006–}}</ref> just before committing to another singer. They were so impressed by his demo that he was flown from Canada to New York for an audition. LaBrie jammed on three songs with the band and was immediately hired to fill the vocalist position. Once recruited, LaBrie decided to drop his first name to avoid confusion with the other Kevin in the band. For the next few months, the band returned to playing live shows (still mostly around New York City), while working on vocal parts for the music written before acquiring LaBrie. Derek Shulman and ATCO Records (now East West), a division of Elektra Records, signed Dream Theater to a seven-album contract based on a three-song demo (later made available as "The Atco Demos" through the Dream Theater fan club).
The first album to be recorded under their new record contract was ''Images and Words'' (1992). For promotion, the label released a CD single and video clip for the song "Another Day", but neither made significant commercial impact. The song "Pull Me Under", however, managed to garner a high level of radio airplay without any organized promotion from the band or their label. In response, ATCO produced a video clip for "Pull Me Under", which saw heavy rotation on MTV. A third video clip was produced for "Take the Time", but it was not nearly as successful as "Pull Me Under".
The success of "Pull Me Under", combined with relentless touring throughout the U.S. and Japan, caused ''Images and Words'' to achieve gold record certification in the States and platinum status in Japan. A tour of Europe followed in 1993, which included a show at London's famed Marquee Club. This show was recorded and released as ''Live at the Marquee'', Dream Theater's first official live album. Additionally, a video compilation of their Japanese concerts (mixed in with documentary-style footage of the off-stage portion of the tour) was released as ''Images and Words: Live in Tokyo''.
===''Awake'' and Kevin Moore's departure (1994–1995)=== {| style="float:right;" |- |{{listen|filename=A Mind Beside Itself - II - Voices (Dream Theater song - sample).ogg|title="A Mind Beside Itself: II – Voices"|description="Voices" from ''Awake''.}} |}
Eager to work on fresh material, Dream Theater retreated to the studio in May 1994. ''Awake'', Dream Theater's third studio album, was released on October 4, 1994. Shortly before the album was mixed, Moore had announced to the rest of the band that he would be quitting Dream Theater to concentrate on his musical interests, since he was no longer interested in touring or the style of music which Dream Theater performed.<ref>EastWest Records Press Release.</ref> As a result, the band had to scramble to find a replacement keyboardist before a tour could be considered.
Jens Johansson was among the biggest names to audition, but the band members were eager to fill the position with keyboardist Jordan Rudess. Portnoy and Petrucci had come across Rudess in Keyboard Magazine, where he was recognized as "best new talent" in the readers' poll. The two invited him to play a trial gig with the band at the Concrete Foundations Forum in Burbank, California.<ref name="topography" /> Although the show was a success, and Rudess was asked to fill the keyboardist position permanently, he opted to tour with The Dixie Dregs instead since it granted him more personal latitude. Dream Theater hired fellow Berklee alumnus Derek Sherinian, who had previously toured and recorded with Alice Cooper and Kiss, to fill in for the ''Waking Up the World Tour''. By the conclusion of the tour, the band decided to take Sherinian on as Moore's full-time replacement.<ref name="score so far" />
===''A Change of Seasons'', ''Falling into Infinity'' (1995–1998)=== {| style="float:right;" |- |{{listen|filename=Dream Theater - ACOS.ogg|title="A Change of Seasons"|description="Carpe Diem/The Darkest of Winters" bridge from ''A Change of Seasons''.}} |}
Once again finding themselves with a new member, the band did not immediately start working on new material. Fans around the world, united on the YtseJam Mailing List (the most popular form of communication between Dream Theater fans at that point), had begun to put pressure on the band to officially release the song "A Change of Seasons". This had been written in 1989 and was intended to be a part of ''Images and Words'', but at almost 17 minutes, it was deemed too long for studio placement. It had nevertheless been performed live by the band, who continued to revise it in the years leading up to 1995.
The petition was successful, and the group entered BearTracks Studios in New York in May 1995 to rewrite and record the now 23-minute-long song with Sherinian contributing significantly to the final product. The band released ''A Change of Seasons'' as an EP along with a collection of cover songs from a live show recorded at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in London earlier that year.
After a brief run of small concerts and a short break, the band released a special Christmas CD through their official fan club, consisting of rare live tracks recorded during the band's early years. They continued releasing a new CD each Christmas until 2005.<ref>Nine Christmas CDs were released through Dream Theater's fan club before it was closed down in 2005. See [http://www.dreamtheater.net/dtifc.php?p=annualcd DTIFC on Dream Theater.net]. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090102141152/http://www.dreamtheater.net/dtifc.php?p=annualcd |date=January 2, 2009 }}</ref>
Meanwhile, there were several changes at East West, and Dream Theater's main contact within the label was fired. As a result, the new team at the company were unaccustomed to the relationship Dream Theater had with former East West personnel, and they pressured them to write an album that was more accessible. In mid-1997, they entered the studio to write their next album. In addition to pressuring the band to adopt a more mainstream sound, East West recruited writer/producer Desmond Child to work with Petrucci on polishing the lyrics to his song "You or Me". The whole band substantially reworked the song, and it appeared on the album as "You Not Me" with a chorus that bore little resemblance to the original. Child also had a noticeable impact on the album, with a shift towards less complex and more radio-friendly compositions.
The band wrote almost two CDs worth of material, including a 20-minute-long follow-up to the ''Images and Words'' song "Metropolis–Part I: The Miracle and the Sleeper". The label, however, did not allow the release of a double album because it felt that a 140-minute record would not be well received by the general public. James LaBrie also felt that the CD should be a single disc.<ref>LaBrie, James. (Summer '97) ''Images & Words No. 14'', pg. 5</ref> The unused songs were later released in the YtseJam Records release ''The Falling into Infinity Demos''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ytsejamrecords.com/ProductCart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=6&idproduct=26 |title=Falling into Infinity Demos |publisher=Ytsejamrecords.com |access-date=July 18, 2011 |archive-date=April 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401233512/http://www.ytsejamrecords.com/ProductCart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=6&idproduct=26 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
The material that made it onto the album proper was released as ''Falling into Infinity'', which received a mixed reception from fans who were more familiar with the band's earlier sound. While the album was moderately progressive-sounding, tracks such as "Hollow Years" and "You Not Me" prompted some to believe it was the dawn of a new, mainstream-sounding Dream Theater. Overall, the album was both a critical and commercial disappointment. Although Portnoy did not speak out publicly at the time, he later revealed in the 2004 DVD commentary for ''5 Years in a Livetime'' that he had been so discouraged during this period that he had considered disbanding Dream Theater altogether.
During the European leg of the Touring Into Infinity world tour, two shows were recorded for a live album titled ''Once in a LIVEtime'', in France and the Netherlands. The album was released at around the same time as the video ''5 Years in a Livetime'', which covered the years from Kevin Moore's departure to the ''Falling into Infinity'' promotional tour.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060524124912/http://www.dtfaq.com/question/46|title=Why Was Derek Fired|website=Web.archive.org|access-date=May 3, 2026}}</ref>
===Derek Sherinian's termination, addition of Jordan Rudess, and ''Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory'' (1999–2000)=== In 1997, Magna Carta Records' Mike Varney invited Portnoy to assemble a progressive "supergroup" to work on an album, which would become the first in a long string of side-projects for the members of Dream Theater.<ref>Portnoy, Mike (1998). "Liquid Tension Experiment" [CD Liner Notes]. New York: Magna Carta Records.</ref> The lineup consisted of Portnoy on drums, Petrucci on guitar, Tony Levin on bass, and keyboardist Jordan Rudess, who had finished with the Dixie Dregs. The band assumed the name Liquid Tension Experiment, and would act as a medium through which Portnoy and Petrucci could once again court Rudess to join Dream Theater. In 1999, he accepted an offer to become the third full-time Dream Theater keyboardist, replacing Sherinian.<ref name="score so far" />
Dream Theater entered BearTracks Studio once again to write and record their next album. As a result of an ultimatum from Portnoy, the label gave the band complete creative control. The band began by revisiting the follow-up to "Metropolis–Part I", which had been partially written during the ''Falling into Infinity'' sessions but which had not been completed or used on that album. They decided to expand the 21-minute song into a complete concept album, with a story revolving around themes such as reincarnation, murder and betrayal. To avoid stirring up the fan base, a tight veil of secrecy enveloped the writing and recording process. The only things fans were privy to before its release were a track list that had been leaked against the band's wishes, and a release date. In 1999, ''Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory'' was released to high critical acclaim, being lauded as the band's magnum opus, despite only reaching No. 73 on the US album chart.<ref name="charts" />
The album was mixed by David Bottrill, but only a few of his mixes made it on the final album. The bulk was remixed by Kevin Shirley, who had produced ''Falling into Infinity''. The rest of the mixes can be heard in the band's official bootleg ''The Making of Scenes from a Memory''.
The subsequent Metropolis 2000 world tour was by far their largest to date, and took over a year to complete. The concerts reflected the theatrical aspect of the album, with the first half of each show comprising the entire ''Scenes From a Memory'' album accompanied by a film showing dramatized portions of the story projected onto a video screen behind the stage. For the last date of the North American leg, at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City, actors were hired to play characters in the story, and a gospel choir was enlisted to perform in some sections of the performance. The show was filmed and eventually released in early 2001 as the band's first DVD release, ''Metropolis 2000: Scenes from New York'', which was certified Gold in the US on November 8, 2002.<ref name="riaa.com">{{cite web|url=http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?content_selector=gold-platinum-searchable-database |title=Gold & Platinum Searchable Database – August 09, 2014 |publisher=RIAA |access-date=August 9, 2014}}</ref>
Since several songs from the second half of the four-hour show had to be cut from the DVD to save space, the band also released the full show on the live CD ''Live Scenes from New York''. The original cover depicted one of Dream Theater's early logos (the ''Images and Words''-era burning heart, modeled on the Sacred Heart of Christ) modified to show an apple (as in "Big Apple") instead of the heart, and the New York skyline, including the twin towers of the World Trade Center, in the flame above it. Coincidentally, the album was released on the same date as the September 11 attacks, leading to it being recalled and re-released with revised artwork later,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.mikeportnoy.com/aboutmike/faq/answers/12.aspx#213 | title=Mike Portnoy FAQ | website=Mikeportnoy.com | access-date=June 26, 2009 | archive-date=July 17, 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090717234222/http://www.mikeportnoy.com/aboutmike/faq/answers/12.aspx#213 | url-status=dead }}</ref> although the few copies which were sold with the original artwork have become rare collector's items.
===''Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence'' (2001–2002)=== {| style="float:right;" |- |{{listen|filename=Dream Theater - SDOIT.ogg|title="Overture"|description=Part one of the eight parts that constitute "Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence".}} |}
Dream Theater once again entered BearTracks Studios to record their sixth studio album. Four years after they first petitioned East West to allow them to release a double album, they finally got their chance with ''Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence''. The first disc consisted of five tracks of 7–13 minutes in length, and the second disc was devoted entirely to the 42-minute title track, which remains to date the longest song Dream Theater has written. Many of the song's melodies and musical themes originated in an instrumental piece written by Rudess, which would eventually become the song's "Overture". Those themes were then expanded by the rest of the band to form individual chapters in a complete story.<ref name="score so far" />
''Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence'' was very well received by critics and the press. It was the most publicized of Dream Theater's albums since ''Awake'', debuting on the Billboard charts at No. 46<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web| url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=dream theater|chart=all}}| title=Billboard Chart history for Dream Theater }}</ref> and the Billboard Internet charts at No. 1.<ref>[http://www.dreamtheater.net/archive_dreamtheater.php?y=2002#billboard DreamTheater.net] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725011754/http://www.dreamtheater.net/archive_dreamtheater.php?y=2002#billboard |date=July 25, 2011 }} reported that ''Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence'' had reached No. 1 on the Billboard Internet Charts.</ref> The subsequent world tour included a select few special "album cover" gigs (see Cover songs section, below), in which they played Metallica's ''Master of Puppets'' and Iron Maiden's ''The Number of the Beast'' in their entirety.
===''Train of Thought'' (2003–2004)=== In 2003, Dream Theater entered the studio to write and record another album. Unlike ''Scenes from a Memory'', which had been written and recorded simultaneously in the studio, the band took a different approach by setting aside three weeks for writing prior to recording. In the middle of the recording sessions for the album, the band went on the "Escape from the Studio American tour", with Queensrÿche and Dream Theater as co-headlining acts and Fates Warning performing supporting act duties. As a finale for each concert, there was an extended encore in which both Dream Theater and Queensrÿche performed together on stage simultaneously, often playing cover songs.
After the tour, Dream Theater returned to the studio to finish the recording of their seventh album, ''Train of Thought''. In contrast to the extended songs of their previous album, the band aimed to write a more song-oriented album, inspired in part by covering the ''Master of Puppets'' and ''Number of the Beast'' albums on their previous concert tour.<ref>Mike Portnoy (2007) "In Constant Motion" Instructional DVD, ''Train of Thought'' album analysis.</ref> Although the album was a critical success, its more straightforward metal sound alienated many of the band's existing fans, who had been attracted by the band's roots in progressive rock.<ref name="score so far" /> They also re-released their first two live videos for the first time on DVD, titled "Images and Words: Live in Tokyo/5 Years in a Livetime" on June 29, 2004, through Rhino Records. This release was certified Platinum on March 22, 2006.<ref name="riaa.com" />
Another world tour followed, named the Train of Thought Tour. A North American tour was also completed in support of Yes, a band that had been a major influence on their own musical style. On March 6, 2004, during the North American leg of the tour, Dream Theater performed ''When Dream and Day Unite'' in full to celebrate its 15th anniversary, with original singer Charlie Dominici reuniting with the band for the encore alongside former keyboardist Derek Sherinian.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Portnoy |first1=Mike |title=MikePortnoy.com Tourography: 03/06/2004 Los Angeles, CA, USA |url=http://mikeportnoy.com/dates/MPTourography/ShowInfo.aspx?showId=751 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180506173425/http://mikeportnoy.com/dates/MPTourography/ShowInfo.aspx?showId=751 |archive-date=6 May 2018 |access-date=5 May 2018 |website=MikePortnoy.com The Official Website}}</ref> After this Dream Theater continued to tour the world with their "An Evening With Dream Theater" shows. The latter were captured in another live CD/DVD release, recorded at the famous Nippon Budokan Hall in Tokyo, Japan. ''Live at Budokan'' was released on October 5, 2004, and was certified Platinum in the US on January 26, 2005.<ref name="riaa.com" />
===''Octavarium'' (2005–2006)=== [[File:Dream theater live in Parigi 2005.jpg|thumb|Dream Theater after a concert in Paris during the first European leg of their tour (2005). From left to right are Mike Portnoy, John Petrucci, James LaBrie, John Myung and Jordan Rudess.|alt=The five members of Dream Theater standing together in front of a drum kit and some amplifiers on a stage.]] After their ''Train of Thought'' promotional tour, Dream Theater entered the Hit Factory studios in NYC to record their eighth album. They would become the final group to use the famous studio, which closed on April 1, 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://digitalprosound.digitalmedianet.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=45690|last=Moldstad|first=Frank|publisher=Digital Pro Sound|title=New York's Hit Factory Gets a New Identity|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220093309/http://digitalprosound.digitalmedianet.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=45690|archive-date=December 20, 2016|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
''Octavarium'' was released on June 7, 2005, and took the band's sound in yet another new direction. Its eight songs included a continuation of Portnoy's "Twelve-step" saga ("The Root of All Evil", steps 6–7 in the 12-step plan), as well as the title track, a musically versatile 24-minute epic rivaling "A Change of Seasons". ''Octavarium'' received mixed reviews from fans and has been the subject of spirited debate. ''Octavarium'' was the last album under their seven-album deal with Elektra Records, which had inherited the contract upon its absorption of EastWest Records.
Dream Theater started the Octavarium Tour, playing extensively throughout 2005 and 2006 to celebrate their 20th Anniversary as a band, including a headlining spot on Gigantour alongside Megadeth, also featuring Fear Factory, Nevermore and Symphony X. During a show on August 2, 2005, in Dallas, the band paid tribute to Pantera's late guitarist Dimebag Darrell by performing "Cemetery Gates" as an encore, joined in parts by Russell Allen (Symphony X vocalist), Burton C. Bell (Fear Factory vocalist) and Dave Mustaine (Megadeth vocalist/guitarist).
Dream Theater later departed from Gigantour 2005 a few dates before it ended and continued on with their own series of concerts, several of which were recorded and released for the band's fanclubs. The 20th anniversary tour concluded with a show at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 1, 2006. Though the show had minimal promotion, it was sold out days after tickets were made available. This show, which was recorded for a CD/DVD called ''Score'' released on August 29, 2006, through Rhino Records, featured songs from the band's entire history, as well a second half accompanied by a full symphony orchestra (the "Octavarium Orchestra"). This release was the band's third Live DVD release to be certified Platinum in the US on October 11, 2006.<ref name="riaa.com" />
===''Systematic Chaos'' and ''Greatest Hit (...And 21 Other Pretty Cool Songs)'' (2006–2008)=== thumb|Dream Theater playing live March 8, 2008 For the first time in their career, the band took the summer off after their show at Radio City Music Hall. In September 2006, Dream Theater entered Avatar Studios to record their follow-up to ''Octavarium'' with studio engineer Paul Northfield. Dream Theater's ninth studio album, ''Systematic Chaos'', was released on June 5, 2007. The record marked their first with new label Roadrunner Records, which in 2010 became a wholly owned subsidiary of the band's previous label Atlantic Records. Roadrunner implemented increased promotion for the album and ''Systematic Chaos'' reached number 19 on the ''Billboard'' 200. It also oversaw the release of a video for "Constant Motion" on July 14, the band's first since "Hollow Years" in 1997. The album was bookended by the two parts of "In the Presence of Enemies", written and conceived as a single piece but split into two halves for the purposes of the album. The other six tracks included the most recent part of Portnoy's continuing Twelve-step Suite with the song "Repentance".
In 2007, the first version of Rich Wilson's ''Lifting Shadows'', an authorized history of the band's first twenty years, was released.<ref name="LSbook">{{cite book|url=http://www.dreamtheaterbook.com/ |title=Lifting Shadows: The Authorized Biography of Dream Theater |first=Rich | last=Wilson | publisher=Rocket 88 | isbn=9781906615581 | oclc=857966438 | date=2013 | access-date=March 17, 2025}}</ref>
The 2007–08 Chaos in Motion Tour started off in Italy. Dream Theater played in the Gods of Metal concert on June 3, 2007,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.godsofmetal.it/ |title=Gods of Metal official website |publisher=Godsofmetal.it |access-date=July 18, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719202238/http://www.godsofmetal.it/ |archive-date=July 19, 2011 }}</ref> as well as various other European festivals including the Netherlands' Fields of Rock Festival, UK's Download Festival, the French festival Hellfest Summer Open Air alongside Megadeth, Korn, Mastodon and Slayer. The North American leg of the tour began on July 24 in San Diego, California and wrapped up on August 26 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They played with opening acts Redemption and Into Eternity. The Chaos In Motion Tour continued for the rest of the year and into 2008, playing shows in Asia, South America and, for the first time, Australia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=81636 |title=Opeth To Support Dream Theater In North America – Blabbermouth.net |website=Roadrunnerrecords.com |date=September 27, 2007 |access-date=January 30, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410012728/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=81636 |archive-date=April 10, 2009 }}</ref>
On April 1, 2008, a two-disc compilation album titled ''Greatest Hit (...and 21 Other Pretty Cool Songs)'' was released by the band. The title jokingly references the song "Pull Me Under", the band's only significant radio hit. It also includes three remixes from ''Images and Words'', five edited versions of previously released songs, and a track from a single B-side. Unlike most greatest hits compilations, Dream Theater was actively involved with the album, coming up with the track listing that they felt best represented their musical careers.
After the release of ''Greatest Hit'', drummer Mike Portnoy organized a new tour called Progressive Nation 2008. Unlike previous Dream Theater tours, performances were held in cities that they had not visited before (such as Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada) or cities they had not played in for several years. This tour also marked the first time since the release of ''Images and Words'' where the group performed in small venues and performance halls.
In September 2008, the band released a DVD set called ''Chaos in Motion 2007–2008'', featuring songs recorded at several shows during the ''Chaos in Motion'' tour.
===''Black Clouds & Silver Linings'' (2008–2010)=== On October 7, 2008, Dream Theater returned to Avatar Studios to begin work on their tenth album, resuming their relationship with Paul Northfield to engineer and mix the record. The album, titled ''Black Clouds & Silver Linings'', was released on June 23, 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mikeportnoy.com/forum/m2268614.aspx |title=Dream Theater – Black Clouds & Silver Linings |publisher=Mikeportnoy.com |access-date=July 18, 2011 |archive-date=March 17, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090317065638/http://www.mikeportnoy.com/forum/m2268614.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> In addition to the standard CD, the album was made available on vinyl LP, as well as a 3-disc Special Edition CD that includes the full album, a CD of instrumental mixes of the album and a CD of six cover songs from artists such as Queen and Rainbow. On July 1, 2009, the album debuted at No. 6 on Billboard's Top 200 album chart, with first week sales totalling 40,285, making their highest entry on the chart.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thegauntlet.com/article/1124/16276/Holy-Shit-Dream-Theater-debuts-at-6-on-Billboard-Top-200.html |title=Dream Theater debut's at 6 on Billboard Top 200, The Gauntlet |publisher=Thegauntlet.com |access-date=July 18, 2011}}</ref> The album featured "The Shattered Fortress", the last in Mike Portnoy's series of songs about his 12-step recovery from alcoholism, as well as the song "The Best of Times", described by Portnoy as "a real heavy personal subject about my dad who passed away during the making of the album ... He was battling cancer throughout its making."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/news/dream-theater%e2%80%99s-mike-portnoy-pens-tribute-to-late-father/ |title=Dream Theater's Mike Portnoy Pens Tribute To Late Father |publisher=Metalhammer.co.uk |date=May 1, 2009 |access-date=July 18, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629081851/http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/news/dream-theater%E2%80%99s-mike-portnoy-pens-tribute-to-late-father/ |archive-date=June 29, 2011 }}</ref>
The band also embarked on a second Progressive Nation tour, including the tour's first performances in Europe. Opeth, Unexpect and Bigelf supported Dream Theater in Europe, while Zappa Plays Zappa, Pain of Salvation, and Beardfish were slated to perform on the North American leg. However, Pain of Salvation and Beardfish were unable to tour with Dream Theater and Zappa Plays Zappa because of financial troubles within their respective record labels. The two new bands that filled the vacated slots for the Progressive Nation 2009 tour in North America were Bigelf and Scale the Summit, with Bigelf performing on both European and North American legs.
After the Progressive Nation Tour, Dream Theater re-entered the studio to write and record a brand new instrumental track for inclusion on the ''God of War III'' soundtrack EP ''God of War: Blood & Metal''. The track, titled "Raw Dog" (''God (of) War'' reversed), marked the first time that the band has written and recorded an exclusive track for an outside project.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mikeportnoy.com/forum/m2443312.aspx|last=Portnoy|first=Mike|title=MP's Forecast for 2010|publisher=mikeportnoy.com|access-date=November 12, 2009|archive-date=February 10, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100210043603/http://www.mikeportnoy.com/forum/m2443312.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> "Raw Dog" includes the first ever commercially recorded harpejji track, performed by Jordan Rudess, as well as Dream Theater's final recorded performance with Mike Portnoy on drums prior to his departure from the band in 2010. In December 2009, during their ''Black Clouds & Silver Linings'' tour whilst visiting Australia, Dream Theater appeared with Pain of Salvation.<ref>{{cite web|first=Mark|last=Bredius |url=http://www.dreamtheater.net/tourdates.php#dtnzaustralia |title=tour dates for Australia, December 1–12, 2009 |publisher=Dreamtheater.net |date=June 14, 2011 |access-date=July 18, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716150258/http://www.dreamtheater.net/tourdates.php |archive-date=July 16, 2011 }}</ref> In March 2010, they toured South America with Bigelf. Afterwards, during the summer of 2010, Dream Theater supported Iron Maiden on the US and Canadian legs of their summer tour, which were the last shows DT played during 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/news/Dream-Theater-To-Tour-With-Iron-Maiden-This-Summer-21029.aspx |title=Dream Theater to tour with Iron Maiden this summer 2010 |publisher=Road Runner Records |access-date=July 18, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110312075747/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/news/Dream-Theater-To-Tour-With-Iron-Maiden-This-Summer-21029.aspx |archive-date=March 12, 2011 }}</ref>
===Departure of Mike Portnoy and arrival of Mike Mangini (2010–2011)=== {{multiple image |perrow = 3 |total_width = 320 | image1 = Mike Portnoy (2010) (cropped).jpg | image2 = Mike Mangini at Moscow 12 Jul 2011 (cropped).jpg | footer = Drummer Mike Portnoy announced his departure on September 8, 2010, and was superseded by Mike Mangini, who remained until Portnoy rejoined in 2023. }} On September 8, 2010, drummer Mike Portnoy announced that he would be leaving Dream Theater, citing better relationships in other projects, burnout, and his desire for a break as reasons.<ref name=MP>{{cite web|last=Portnoy|first=Mike|title=Mike Portnoy leaves Dream Theater|url=https://www.facebook.com/notes/mike-portnoy/mike-portnoy-leaves-dream-theater/137362372974878|publisher=Facebook|access-date=July 6, 2012}}</ref> Elaborating on the situation for MusicRadar, John Petrucci revealed that originally, Portnoy did not want to leave the band; he only wanted to take a five-year break.<ref name=MR>{{cite web|last=Bosso|first=Joe|title=Interview: Dream Theater's John Petrucci, Jordan Rudess on the band's future|date=May 11, 2011 |url=http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/interview-dream-theaters-john-petrucci-jordan-rudess-on-the-bands-future-442741|publisher=MusicRadar|access-date=December 3, 2012}}</ref> He eventually dropped this number to around one year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=145872 |title=Mike Portnoy: 'It Would Be A Tragedy If I Never Got To Be On Stage With Dream Theater Again' |access-date=July 24, 2012}}</ref> Only after the rest of the band rejected his proposal did Portnoy decide to quit.
After Portnoy left Dream Theater, relationships between him and his former bandmates became strained. In February 2011, Portnoy complained that no one from the band was returning his calls and e-mails.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mike Portnoy: Dream Theater Members Are Refusing To Answer My E-Mails And Calls – Feb. 25, 2011|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=154516|work=Blabbermouth.net|access-date=July 8, 2012}}</ref> However, later Portnoy commented that both Petrucci and Rudess were the only members that stayed in touch with him.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tntradiorock.com/mike-portnoy-shattered-fortress-be-prog-my-friend-2017-entrevista-tnt/|title=Mike Portnoy – Shattered Fortress – Be Prog My Friend 2017|date=April 23, 2017|website=TNTRadioRock.com|access-date=January 9, 2020}}</ref> Tensions became especially high when Portnoy called James LaBrie "disrespectful" for comments LaBrie made during an interview,<ref>{{cite web|last=Harris |first=Chris |title=Mike Portnoy Fires Back At James LaBrie |url=http://gunshyassassin.com/news/mike-portnoy-fires-back-at-james-labrie/ |publisher=Gun Shy Assassin |access-date=July 8, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313154614/http://gunshyassassin.com/news/mike-portnoy-fires-back-at-james-labrie/ |archive-date=March 13, 2012 }}</ref> stating that Dream Theater were "not sad at all" that Portnoy was no longer a band member. By July 2011, LaBrie had not remained in touch with Portnoy.<ref>{{cite web|last=Harris |first=Chris |title=Dream Theater's James LaBrie Talks Mike Portnoy |url=http://gunshyassassin.com/news/dream-theater%E2%80%99s-james-labrie-talks-mike-portnoy/ |publisher=Gun Shy Assassin |access-date=July 8, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120607155549/http://gunshyassassin.com/news/dream-theater%E2%80%99s-james-labrie-talks-mike-portnoy/ |archive-date=June 7, 2012 }}</ref> Portnoy later stated that he would rejoin the band in a heartbeat, stating: "They are the ones that have closed the door on it. I've only needed a break, and I've had that break. So I'm ready, willing and able. But I honestly don't think they ever will; they've closed their door on it and I think they're too headstrong in having to prove themselves without me. So I wouldn't count on it. But my door is always open."<ref>{{cite web |last=Hartmann|first=Graham|title=Drummer Mike Portnoy on Rejoining Dream Theater: 'I Would Do It in a Heartbeat' |website=Loudwire|date=August 2, 2013 | url=http://loudwire.com/mike-portnoy-rejoining-dream-theater-would-do-it-in-a-heartbeat/?trackback=tsmclip|access-date=January 26, 2014}}</ref>
A little more than a month after Portnoy's departure, Dream Theater began auditioning for a new drummer in New York City. The drummers who auditioned were Mike Mangini, Derek Roddy, Thomas Lang, Virgil Donati, Marco Minnemann, Aquiles Priester, and Peter Wildoer.<ref>{{cite news|title=Dream Theater: 'The Spirit Carries On' Drummer-Search Web Series To Be Released On DVD – Apr. 28, 2011|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=157437|website=Blabbermouth.net|access-date=July 6, 2012}}</ref> Fates Warning drummer Bobby Jarzombek was also invited to audition, but had to turn down the offer due to scheduling conflicts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/bobby-jarzombek-why-i-turned-down-dream-theater-drummer-audition/|title=Bobby Jarzombek: Why I Turned Down Dream Theater Drummer Audition|date=November 16, 2013|website=Blabbermouth.net|access-date=May 12, 2019}}</ref> The candidates were notified whether they had been chosen on November 5;<ref>{{cite web|last=Wildoer|first=Peter|title=Re: An Exclusive Look into The Band's Search for a New Drummer|url=http://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=22228.msg865423#msg865423|publisher=Dream Theater Forums|access-date=July 6, 2012}}</ref> however, the results of the audition were not made public until April 2011 via a three-part YouTube documentary series called ''The Spirit Carries On''.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/2QHMQjH17aw Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20110502133950/http://www.youtube.com:80/watch?v=2QHMQjH17aw Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web|title=Dream Theater – The Spirit Carries On Episode 3| date=April 27, 2011 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QHMQjH17aw |publisher=YouTube|access-date=July 6, 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In the last episode of the series, it was revealed that Mangini was the drummer selected. Petrucci later explained that Portnoy approached them to rejoin, but by this time they had already hired Mangini, who left his job as a professor at Berklee and committed to Dream Theater full-time, so Portnoy's offer was rebuffed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/dream_theater_explain_why_mike_portnoy_cant_rejoin.html |title=Dream Theater Explain Why Mike Portnoy Can't Rejoin | Music News @ |publisher=Ultimate-guitar.com |access-date=August 9, 2014}}</ref>
===''A Dramatic Turn of Events'' (2011–2012)=== Dream Theater entered Cove City Sound Studios to begin working on a new album on January 3, 2011.<ref>{{cite web|last=Petrucci|first=John|title=First day in the studio and the dawn of a new era for DT. Can't wait to get the music flowing.|url=https://twitter.com/#!/JPetrucci/status/21907283457867776|publisher=Twitter|access-date=July 6, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Wenner |first=Rick |title=Dream Theater @ Cove City Studios |url=http://blog.rickwenner.com/dream-theater-cove-city-studios/ |publisher=Rick Wenner Official Website |access-date=July 6, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120724154235/http://blog.rickwenner.com/dream-theater-cove-city-studios/ |archive-date=July 24, 2012 }}</ref> Writing was completed on March 2 and done without Mangini.<ref>{{cite web|last=Petrucci|first=John|title=So psyched...we finished writing the DT album last night! On to tracking...|url=https://twitter.com/#!/JPetrucci/status/43193979453444096|publisher=Twitter|access-date=July 6, 2012}}</ref> On April 14, LaBrie began tracking vocals and by June 28, the album's mixing and mastering by Andy Wallace were finished.<ref>{{cite web|last=LaBrie|first=James|title=Hey Everyone, Finished the first track yesterday. It oozes with emotion. Movin on to the next. Raaaaaaaaaawk.|url=https://twitter.com/#!/Piratecjs/status/60374555499315200|publisher=Twitter|access-date=July 6, 2012}}</ref><ref name="M&M">{{cite web|last=Petrucci|first=John|title=New DT album is all mixed and mastered as of today. First show of the tour in Rome in less than a week! Looking forward to seeing everyone.|url=https://twitter.com/#!/JPetrucci/status/85735011151650816|publisher=Twitter|access-date=July 6, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Dream Theater Taps Andy Wallace For New Album Mix – May 24, 2011 |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=158572 |work=Blabbermouth.net |access-date=July 6, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823145122/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=158572 |archive-date=August 23, 2011 }}</ref> Released worldwide on September 12 and in the United States on September 13, ''A Dramatic Turn of Events'' debuted at number one in some countries and attained the eighth position on the ''Billboard'' 200,<ref name=BB>{{cite news|title=Dream Theater's 'A Dramatic Turn Of Events' Lands In U.S. Top 10 – Sep. 21, 2011|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=163574|work=Blabbermouth.net|access-date=July 6, 2012}}</ref> the band's second ever top ten debut position on that chart after ''Black Clouds & Silver Linings''.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Caulfield|first=Keith|title=Lady Antebellum 'Own' the Billboard 200 With Second No. 1 Album|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/467358/lady-antebellum-own-the-billboard-200-with-second-no-1-album|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 17, 2012}}</ref> Although the album received mixed reviews,<ref name=MC>{{cite web|title=Critic Reviews for A Dramatic Turn of Events|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/a-dramatic-turn-of-events/critic-reviews|website=Metacritic.com|access-date=July 7, 2012}}</ref> it won numerous awards from music publications and its lead single, "On the Backs of Angels", was nominated for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance at the 2012 Grammy Awards,<ref name="Grammy" /> representing the band's first ever Grammy nomination.
Dream Theater kicked off their tour in support of ''A Dramatic Turn of Events'' on July 4, 2011, in Rome, Italy.<ref name="M&M" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Dream Theater announce more summer tour dates|url=http://www.licklibrary.com/news/2011/3/952-dream_theater_announce_more_summer_tour_dates|publisher=Lick Library|access-date=July 6, 2012|archive-date=February 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150213065126/http://www.licklibrary.com/news/2011/3/952-dream_theater_announce_more_summer_tour_dates|url-status=dead}}</ref> The second leg of the tour took place in North America, where the band headlined with Trivium.<ref>{{cite news|title=Dream Theater Announces North American Tour Dates – Aug. 1, 2011 |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=161416 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130201085925/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=161416 |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 1, 2013 |work=Blabbermouth.net |access-date=July 6, 2012 }}</ref> After a short break to conclude 2011, the band returned to Europe with Periphery,<ref>{{cite news|title=Dream Theater Announce UK Tour for February 2012, Periphery To Support|date=September 8, 2011 |url=http://www.rocksins.com/2011/09/dream-theater-announce-uk-tour-for-february-2012-periphery-to-support-11281/|newspaper=Rock Sins|access-date=July 6, 2012|last1=Giberti |first1=Jamie }}</ref> to Asia with Andy McKee, to North America with Crimson Projekct and then to South America for the final leg of the tour.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dream Theater And Crimson ProjeKct To Tour Together This Summer|date=April 13, 2012 |url=http://www.theprp.com/2012/04/13/news/dream-theater-and-king-crimson-projekct-to-tour-together-this-summer/|publisher=The PRP|access-date=July 4, 2012}}</ref> On August 19 and 20, two shows were recorded at Luna Park in Buenos Aires, Argentina for a live Blu-ray release by Over the Edge Productions.<ref>{{cite news|title=Dream Theater: Buenos Aires Concerts To Be Filmed For DVD Release – July 5, 2012|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=176386|work=Blabbermouth.net|access-date=July 6, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=A video update on the future of Ytsejam Records (Bootlegs) and a DVD.|url=https://www.facebook.com/DreamTheaterADTOE/posts/439511829414846|publisher=Facebook|access-date=July 6, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=James Labrie (Of Dream Theater) Interview 06/24/2012 (preview)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gs637NXMaJw| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130721131755/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gs637NXMaJw| archive-date=2013-07-21 | url-status=dead|publisher=YouTube|access-date=July 6, 2012}}</ref> After a six-month delay, ''Live at Luna Park'' was released on November 5, 2013, by Eagle Rock Entertainment.<ref>{{cite web|title=Live at Luna Park DVD Press Release|url=http://www.dreamtheater.net/news/live-luna-park-dvd-press-release-41791|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140501013133/http://www.dreamtheater.net/news/live-luna-park-dvd-press-release-41791|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 1, 2014|work=Dream Theater Official Blog|access-date=May 17, 2014}}</ref> The tour concluded on September 1, 2012, in Brasília, Brazil.
On December 25, 2013, at 06:00:00 EST, as a holiday gift to the fans, Dream Theater released a free electronic 2-CD set of live tracks that were not recorded for ''Live at Luna Park'' from their 2011–2012 tour in FLAC format via BitTorrent.<ref>{{cite web|title=Happy Holidays From Dream Theater|url=http://www.dreamtheater.net/news/happy-holidays-dream-theater-88331|work=Dream Theater Official Blog|access-date=May 17, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502081225/http://www.dreamtheater.net/news/happy-holidays-dream-theater-88331|archive-date=May 2, 2014|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The release date and time were an allusion to their 1994 song "6:00", the intro of which contains a repeated sample of the line "Six o'clock on a Christmas morning" as spoken by Helena Carroll in ''The Dead''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Beardsley|first=Rai "Weymolith"|title=Happy Holidays From Dream Theater! (6:00 On A Christmas Morning!)|url=http://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=40260.0|work=DreamTheaterForums.org|access-date=May 17, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The Dead (1987)|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092843/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2|work=IMDb|access-date=May 17, 2014}}</ref>
===''Dream Theater'' (2013–2014)=== Writing for Dream Theater's twelfth studio album commenced on A Dramatic Tour of Events.<ref>{{cite web|last=Petrucci|first=John|title=Writing for the next DT album officially commenced while in Osaka the other day. Jet lag seems to open up one's creative channels.|url=https://www.facebook.com/johnpetrucciFB/posts/372291789489506 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/126844294034258/372291789489506 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|publisher=Facebook|access-date=July 10, 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref> During soundchecks, the band would jam and record their ideas, and John Petrucci would bring in material he wrote independently. Following the conclusion of the tour, the band took a break but continued writing. They reconvened in early 2013 to enter the studio.<ref>{{cite news|last=Grubbs|first=Eric|title=Dream Theater's John Petrucci On Obsessing Over Rush, Playing "Mary Had a Little Lamb" and More|url=http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/dc9/2012/07/dream_theaters_john_petrucci_p.php|newspaper=Dallas Observer|access-date=July 10, 2012|archive-date=November 23, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121123172518/http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/dc9/2012/07/dream_theaters_john_petrucci_p.php|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In December 2012, Dream Theater re-signed with Roadrunner Records.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dreamtheater.net/board_posts/dream-theater-re-signs-with-roadrunner-records?1354550390 |title=Dream Theater re-signs with Roadrunner Records |publisher=Dream Theater |access-date=December 4, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121207103954/http://www.dreamtheater.net/board_posts/dream-theater-re-signs-with-roadrunner-records?1354550390 |archive-date=December 7, 2012 }}</ref> The band's self-titled twelfth album was released on September 23, 2013, as part of the new agreement with Roadrunner. The album sold more than 34,000 copies in its first week and landed on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart at No. 7, the band's third consecutive top 10 album. In addition, the album cracked the top 10 in 24 countries including Japan, Germany, Argentina, The Netherlands, Finland, Italy, Switzerland, Canada, Denmark, Norway, Austria, Australia and United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/dream-theaters-new-album-cracks-u-s-top-10/ |title=Dream Theater's New Album Cracks U.S. Top 10 |website=Blabbermouth.net |date=October 2, 2013 |access-date=January 30, 2016}}</ref> The single "The Enemy Inside" was nominated for Best Metal Performance at the 2014 Grammy Awards, marking the band's second Grammy nomination.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dream Theater Earn Second Grammy Nomination, This Time For "Best Metal Performance" For "The Enemy Inside" From Their Current Self-Titled Worldwide Smash Album |url=https://top40-charts.com/news.php?nid=96188 |access-date=2025-11-07 |website=Top40-Charts.com |language=en}}</ref>
Dream Theater's seventh live album, ''Live at Luna Park'', was released on November 5, 2013.
On July 8, 2014, Dream Theater released ''The Studio Albums 1992–2011'', a box set spanning all albums from ''Images and Words'' to ''A Dramatic Turn of Events''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/dream-theater-unveils-career-spanning-box-set-the-studio-albums-1992-2011/ |title=Dream Theater Unveils Career-Spanning Box Set: 'The Studio Albums 1992–2011' |work=Blabbermouth.net |date=May 16, 2014 |access-date=May 25, 2014}}</ref>
On September 30, 2014, Dream Theater released their eighth live album and film, ''Breaking the Fourth Wall'', which was recorded live from The Boston Opera House on March 25, 2014. During this concert, the band were joined by the Berklee World Strings and the Berklee Concert Choir, directed by Eren Başbuğ, for the second half of the set.<ref>{{cite web |last=Bredius |first=Mark |url=http://www.dreamtheater.net/news/one-kind-show-berklee-college-music-90811 |title=One-of-a-kind show with Berklee College of Music! - Dream Theater Official Blog |publisher=Dreamtheater.net |date=January 13, 2014 |access-date=August 9, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140805231139/http://www.dreamtheater.net/news/one-kind-show-berklee-college-music-90811 |archive-date=August 5, 2014 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> The set list for the tour featured the entire second half of ''Awake'' in celebration of the album's 20th anniversary, including the song "Space-Dye Vest", which had never been performed live. The set list closed with a performance of four songs from ''Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory'' in celebration of the album's 15th anniversary.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dreamtheater.net/preorder |title=The Astonishing |publisher=Dream Theater |access-date=January 30, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160129145202/http://www.dreamtheater.net/preorder |archive-date=January 29, 2016 }}</ref> The Along for the Ride Tour concluded on October 30, 2014.
===''The Astonishing'' and ''Images and Words'' anniversary tour (2015–2017)=== On January 6, 2014, John Petrucci said that Dream Theater were already "planting seeds for album No. 13". He commented: "There are some song ideas and little things like that -- nothing really official, but the seeds just start to get planted. One of the great things about this career is that you have the opportunity every time to go in and start again with a blank slate and think, 'What can we do differently? How can we make this better? Where can we go from here?' Every album has a story, and to constantly have a fresh opportunity to do it is really satisfying."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Gary|last=Graff |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/5862286/dream-theater-planting-seeds-for-album-no-13 |title=Dream Theater Planting Seeds for Album No. 13 |magazine=Billboard |date=January 6, 2014 |access-date=January 30, 2016}}</ref>
The band headed into the studio in February 2015 to record its thirteenth album.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/james-labrie-dream-theater-will-launch-its-next-world-tour-in-early-2016/ |title=James Labrie: Dream Theater Will Launch Its Next World Tour In Early 2016 |website=Blabbermouth.net |date=January 11, 2015 |access-date=January 30, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.simcoe.com/whatson-story/5246821-dream-theater-s-james-labrie-coming-home/ |title=Dream Theater's James LaBrie coming home to Midland |website=Simcoe.com |date=January 7, 2015 |access-date=January 30, 2016}}</ref> The album, titled ''The Astonishing'' was released on January 29, 2016. It is a concept album set in a dystopian future society devoid of real music, centering on a conflict between a group of rebels and an oppressive empire.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dreamtheater.net/theastonishingtracks |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131232732/http://www.dreamtheater.net/theastonishingtracks |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 31, 2016 |title=Track Description |work=dreamtheater.net |access-date=January 31, 2016 }}</ref> Two singles, "The Gift of Music" and "Moment of Betrayal" were released on December 3, 2015, and January 22, 2016, respectively.
Throughout 2016, Dream Theater went on a tour titled The Astonishing Live to support the album. They played the album in its entirety, with an intermission between the two acts, only playing songs from earlier albums on occasions later in the tour. Their performance was accompanied by a visual representation of the story on background screens. The band also made it a point to play at indoor theater halls such as Radio City Music Hall. In 2017, Dream Theater went on another tour, titled Images, Words & Beyond, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of ''Images and Words''. Each night they performed the album in its entirety, as well as "A Change of Seasons", which was originally written during the ''Images and Words'' sessions, and other selections from their catalogue.
===''Distance Over Time'' and ''Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory'' anniversary tour (2017–2019)=== [[File:Hellfest2019DreamTheater 01.jpg|thumb|Dream Theater performed at Hellfest in 2019.]] In a May 2017 interview with ''Rockbook'', frontman James LaBrie talked about the style of the band's fourteenth studio album: "It's really important for us that the new album will be our best effort. It should be who we are at that particular moment. [...] But if along the way we feel that there is another album we should recognize once again, then we'll do it."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.metalinjection.net/latest-news/dream-theater-wants-to-put-out-a-non-conceptual-album-in-2018/|title=Dream Theater Wants To Put Out A Non-Conceptual Album In 2018|first=Greg|last=Kennelty|work=Metal Injection|date=May 31, 2017|access-date=June 16, 2017}}</ref> In December 2017, Dream Theater announced that they had signed a worldwide longterm deal with Sony Music via Sony's progressive music label imprint Inside Out, for the release of the album.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dreamtheater.net/sony-music-signs-dream-theater-to-a-long-term-deal-via-its-insideoutmusic-imprint |title=Sony Music Signs Dream Theater to a Long-Term Deal via its InsideOutMusic Imprint – Dream Theater |date=December 11, 2017 |website=Dreamtheater.net |access-date=December 11, 2017}}</ref>
The album was written in June and July 2018,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/Bj4808mBooZ/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/johnpetrucciofficial/1799455572400441881 |archive-date=2021-12-23 |url-access=subscription|title=First day of DT writing sessions! |work=Instagram |date=11 June 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/dreamtheater/photos/a.487625947180.264700.7677942180/10155408828607181/?type=3&theater |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/7677942180/10155408828607181 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|title=From John Petrucci: "Nothing says 'we finished writing the music to the new Dream Theater album' better than burgers and beers!" |work=Facebook |date=11 July 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and features pieces written collectively and lyrics written by Petrucci, LaBrie, Myung and, for the first time ever, Mangini.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/dreamtheater/videos/532840363804427/ |title=DT14 – Bass Tracking Done! |website=Facebook.com |date=24 August 2018}}</ref> In anticipation of the album, the band launched a "treasure hunt" in the form of an alternate reality game, where participants would search for various clues across the internet. The game ultimately led to a site revealing the title of the album to be ''Distance Over Time''. The site also revealed the cover art for the album, its scheduled release date in February 2019, as well as dates for a tour in North America celebrating the 20th anniversary of the band's fifth album ''Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/dream-theater-new-album-distance-over-time-to-arrive-in-february-first-tour-dates-announced/ |title=Dream Theater: New Album 'Distance Over Time' To Arrive In February; First Tour Dates Announced |work=Blabbermouth.net |date=2 November 2018 |access-date=3 November 2018}}</ref> On November 6, 2018, a press release from Inside Out officially announced ''Distance Over Time'', with a release date of February 22, 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/InsideOutMusic/posts/10156909567980439 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/289541335438/10156909567980439 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|title=Inside Out Music|website=Facebook.com}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Upon release, the album received widespread critical acclaim.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/distance-over-time/dream-theater|title=Distance Over Time by Dream Theater|access-date=May 12, 2019|website=Metacritic.com}}</ref>
===''A View from the Top of the World'' and ''Lost Not Forgotten Archives'' (2020–2023)=== In April 2020, Metal Addicts reported that Dream Theater was expected to begin working on their fifteenth studio album in 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://metaladdicts.com/site/dream-theater-reschedule-australian-tour-to-november/|title=Dream Theater Reschedule Australian Tour To November|publisher=metaladdicts.com|date=April 25, 2020|access-date=April 26, 2020}}</ref> About the direction of the album, guitarist John Petrucci stated in an August 2020 interview with Ultimate Guitar: "The eight-string project with Ernie Ball Music Man is something we are working on and hoping to have developed as this year goes on. I'm hoping that on the next Dream Theater record I'll be able to explore that."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/interviews/john_petrucci_explains_why_he_left_ibanez_announces_plan_to_use_8-string_guitar_on_new_dream_theater.html|title=John Petrucci Explains Why He Left Ibanez, Announces Plan to Use 8-String Guitar on New Dream Theater|publisher=Ultimate Guitar|date=August 3, 2020|access-date=August 3, 2020}}</ref> This would later be confirmed in an interview with Ultimate Guitar in February 2021.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Stolzer-Gary|first=Isaac|date=2021-02-26|title=John Petrucci Has Confirmed The Use of 8-String Guitar On The New Dream Theater Album|url=https://geargods.net/news/john-petrucci-has-confirmed-the-use-of-8-string-guitar-on-the-new-dream-theater-album/|access-date=2021-05-19|website=GearGods|language=en-US}}</ref> Also in August 2020, Petrucci also told Spain's ''Metal Hammer'' that the band would begin working on their new album in the fall.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/dream-theater-to-begin-work-on-new-studio-album-in-the-fall/|title=Dream Theater To Begin Work On New Studio Album In The Fall|publisher=Blabbermouth.net|date=August 7, 2020|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref> Recording sessions started at DTHQ (the band's own studio) in October 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dream Theater on New Live Album, Onstage Mishaps, Rehearsing in Meat Shops |url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/dream-theater-new-live-album-onstage-mishaps-rehearsing-meat-shops |website=Revolver |access-date=November 27, 2020 |language=en |date=2 October 2020}}</ref> The band was confirmed on November 27, 2020, to be writing the songs, while LaBrie was writing his parts back home in Canada. When asked in an interview, Petrucci said that the writing sessions were "off to a great start".<ref>{{cite web |title=Dream Theater Is 'Off To A Great Start' With Writing Sessions For New Album |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/dream-theater-is-off-to-a-great-start-with-writing-sessions-for-new-album/ |website=Blabbermouth.net |access-date=November 27, 2020 |date=November 27, 2020}}</ref>
Petrucci released his first solo album in fifteen years, ''Terminal Velocity'', on August 28, 2020. The album was recorded at DTHQ earlier the same year. Its recording sessions marked the first time in ten years that Petrucci worked with his former Dream Theater bandmate Mike Portnoy, who played drums on all tracks from the album.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Munro |first1=Scott |title=Dream Theater's John Petrucci announces new solo album Terminal Velocity |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/dream-theaters-john-petrucci-announces-new-solo-album-terminal-velocity |website=Prog |access-date=20 June 2020 |date=19 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Bienstock |first1=Richard |title=Guitar World premiere: Hear John Petrucci reunite with Mike Portnoy on Terminal Velocity |url=https://www.guitarworld.com/news/guitar-world-premiere-hear-john-petrucci-reunite-with-mike-portnoy-on-terminal-velocity |website=Guitar World |access-date=30 August 2020 |date=7 August 2020}}</ref> This collaboration led to speculation of a Dream Theater reunion with Portnoy, which was denied by Petrucci, who told ''Metal Hammer'': "I understand where people are coming from with that. One of the concerns I had, a little bit – not musically at all – but about Mike, is I didn't want people to get the wrong idea."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/john_petrucci_addresses_speculation_that_mike_portnoy_is_rejoining_dream_theater_stresses_what_fans_need_to_understand.html|title=John Petrucci Addresses Speculation That Mike Portnoy Is Rejoining Dream Theater, Stresses What Fans Need to Understand|publisher=Ultimate Guitar|date=August 10, 2020|access-date=August 30, 2020}}</ref>
On November 27, 2020, Dream Theater released their ninth live album, ''Distant Memories – Live in London'', recorded at Hammersmith Apollo prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://loudwire.com/dream-theater-live-album-distant-memories-metropolis-pt-2/|title=Dream Theater Perform 'Metropolis Pt 2' in Full on New Live Album|publisher=Loudwire|date=September 30, 2020}}</ref> On December 1, 2020, the band released the single "The Holiday Spirit Carries On", a medley of holiday songs played in a progressive metal style, exclusively through Bandcamp. The title references the fan-favorite song "The Spirit Carries On" from ''Scenes from a Memory''. The proceeds from sales of the single benefited the band's road crew.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dream Theater Records Medley Of Holiday Classics, 'The Holiday Spirit Carries On'|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/dream-theater-records-medley-of-holiday-classics-the-holiday-spirit-carries-on/|website=Blabbermouth.net|access-date=December 13, 2020|date=December 1, 2020}}</ref> On January 30, 2021, Dream Theater held a special streaming event titled ''Images, Words & Beyond Live in Japan'', an online broadcast of a concert from the band's 2017 tour, which was originally recorded for Japanese television.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dream Theater Announce Images, Words & Beyond Live in Japan 2017 Streaming Event; Video Trailer |url=https://bravewords.com/news/dream-theater-announce-images-words-beyond-live-in-japan-2017-streaming-event-video-trailer |website=Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles |date=December 23, 2020 |access-date=June 14, 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
On May 5, 2021, Dream Theater announced a series of albums titled the ''Lost Not Forgotten Archives'', the first release of which is the second set of the ''Images, Words & Beyond Live in Japan'' concert. The band said that the ''Lost Not Forgotten Archives'' will eventually include every YtseJam Records release on CD, vinyl and digital formats, along with previously unreleased archival material.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/dream-theater-announces-lost-not-forgotten-archives-ytsejam-records-catalog-to-be-reissued/|title=Dream Theater Announces 'Lost Not Forgotten Archives'; YTSEJAM Records Catalog To Be Reissued|publisher=Blabbermouth.net|date=May 5, 2020|access-date=May 6, 2021}}</ref>
thumb|right|Dream Theater performs live in 2023. Dream Theater teased the new album on July 26, 2021, revealing that it would have seven songs, with more details to be released on July 28, 2021.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dream Theater Teases New Album |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/dream-theater-teases-new-album/ |website=Blabbermouth.net |access-date=July 26, 2021 |date=July 26, 2021}}</ref> On July 28, it was announced that the album was titled ''A View from the Top of the World'', and it was released on October 22, 2021. The album was supported by five singles, "The Alien", "Invisible Monster", "Awaken the Master", "Transcending Time" and "Answering the Call", and music videos were released for each of them.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Brown|first=Paul 'Browny'|date=2021-08-13|title=Dream Theater's 'The Alien' Is A Fast Paced Prog-Metal Fantasy!|url=https://wallofsoundau.com/2021/08/13/dream-theaters-the-alien-is-a-fast-paced-prog-metal-fantasy/|access-date=2021-08-13|website=Wall Of Sound|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="invisiblemonstersingle">{{cite web |last1=Lewry |first1=Fraser |title=Dream Theater launch video for epic Invisible Monsters single |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/dream-theater-launch-video-for-epic-invisible-monsters-single |website=Louder Sound |access-date=28 September 2021 |language=en |date=22 September 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=See Dream Theater's Stunning Video for "Awaken the Master" |url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/see-dream-theaters-stunning-video-awaken-master |website=Revolver |access-date=25 October 2021 |language=en |date=25 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Dream Theater Releases 'Transcending Time' Music Video |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/dream-theater-releases-transcending-time-music-video/ |website=Blabbermouth.net |access-date=January 26, 2022 |date=January 26, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/dream-theater-shares-music-video-for-answering-the-call|title=Dream Theater Shares Music Video For 'Answering The Call'|publisher=Blabbermouth.net|access-date=June 16, 2023|date=June 15, 2023}}</ref> The band promoted the album with a concert tour of Europe from April 20 to June 1, 2022.<ref name="invisiblemonstersingle" /> They had previously announced a tour of North America from late October to mid-December 2021 on the same day as the album,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lewry |first1=Fraser |title=Dream Theater announce new album A View From The Top Of The World |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/dream-theater-announce-new-album-a-view-from-the-top-of-the-world |website=Louder Sound |access-date=July 28, 2021 |language=en |date=July 28, 2021}}</ref> but announced on September 27 that it had been rescheduled to early 2022, due to safety concerns related to the COVID pandemic.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/dream-theater-postpones-north-american-tour-due-to-covid-19-concerns/|title=Dream Theater Postpones North American Tour Due To COVID-19 Concerns|website=Blabbermouth.net|date=September 27, 2021|access-date=September 27, 2021}}</ref> The rescheduled tour began on February 2, 2022, in Mesa, Arizona, with Arch Echo as a special guest.<ref name="ArchEcho">{{Cite web |last=DiVita |first=Joe |date=2021-07-28 |title=Dream Theater Announce 15th Album 'A View From the Top of the World' + 2021 U.S. Tour |url=https://loudwire.com/dream-theater-view-from-the-top-of-the-world-album-2021-tour/ |access-date=2025-06-30 |website=Loudwire}}</ref>
''A View from the Top of the World''<nowiki/>'s lead single "The Alien" won a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance at the 2022 Grammy Awards, marking Dream Theater's third nomination and first ever Grammy Award.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/news/2022-grammys-complete-winners-nominees-nominations-list|title=2022 Grammys Awards Show: Complete Winners & Nominations List|website=Grammy.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Revolver |title=Dream Theater Win Best Metal Performance Grammy Award for "The Alien" |url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/dream-theater-win-best-metal-performance-grammy-award-alien/ |access-date=2025-11-07 |website=Revolver |date=April 3, 2022 |language=en-US}}</ref>
The band started the inaugural run of Dreamsonic, Dream Theater's own traveling progressive metal festival which also featured Devin Townsend and Animals as Leaders, on June 16, 2023.<ref name=":1" /> As described by John Petrucci: "Dreamsonic promises to be a reoccurring musical event that will deliver history-making nights of amazing music for many years to come!"<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Edge |first=Metal |title=Dream Theater launch prog-metal festival, Dreamsonic |url=https://www.metaledgemag.com/metal-wire/dream-theater-launch-prog-metal-festival-dreamsonic |access-date=2025-08-31 |website=Metal Edge Magazine |language=en}}</ref> The tour ended on July 26.<ref name=":1" />
===Departure of Mike Mangini, return of Mike Portnoy and ''Parasomnia'' (2023–2025)=== [[File:MIke Portnoy playing the drums (Rio de Janeiro, 2006).jpg|thumb|Original drummer Mike Portnoy rejoined Dream Theater in October 2023 after thirteen years out of the band.]] In August 2023, John Petrucci said that studio time for their sixteenth album would begin in late 2023, though James LaBrie later said it would be more likely the beginning of 2024.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://metalinjection.net/upcoming-releases/dream-theater-is-plotting-studio-time-for-a-new-album |title=Dream Theater Is Plotting Studio Time For A New Album |last=Kennelty |first=Greg |work=Metal Injection |date=August 1, 2023 |access-date=August 11, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/james-labrie-doesnt-think-dream-theater-will-begin-recording-next-album-before-early-2024|title= James LaBrie Doesn't Think Dream Theater Will Begin Recording Next Album Before Early 2024|date=December 19, 2022|publisher=Blabbermouth.net|access-date=October 10, 2024}}</ref> On October 25, 2023, Dream Theater announced the departure of Mike Mangini, being replaced by a returning Mike Portnoy, with plans to record the first album with Portnoy in fifteen years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theprp.com/2023/10/25/news/dream-theater-officially-reunite-with-drummer-mike-portnoy/|title=Dream Theater Officially Reunite With Drummer Mike Portnoy|date=October 25, 2023|website=Theprp.com|access-date=October 26, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/dream-theater-announces-return-of-drummer-mike-portnoy|title=Dream Theater Announces Return Of Drummer MIKE PORTNOY|publisher=Blabbermouth.net|date=October 25, 2023|access-date=October 25, 2023}}</ref> The reunion resulted from years of gradual reconciliation between Portnoy and individual members of the band, as he disclosed in an interview with Drumeo:
<blockquote>"Starting with John Petrucci maybe five, six, seven years ago or so, we just reconnected—John decided he wanted to do a solo album and he asked me to play on it—So I played on John's solo album. And then a few months later, we did a Liquid Tension Experiment album with John and Jordan. So that brought the three of us back together—And then I think the final piece was me reconnecting with James LaBrie, 'cause James and I hadn't spoken for over a decade. I went to see Dream Theater play [at the Beacon Theatre] in New York, I guess around 2022, and that was my first time seeing James in over a decade. And literally, I'm not exaggerating, within five seconds of seeing each other, it was hugs, kisses and it was like any of the drama and bullshit that happened during all of those years of the split, it just melted away immediately."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://metalinjection.net/news/mike-portnoy-talks-return-to-dream-theater-future-plans|title=Mike Portnoy Talks Return To Dream Theater & Future Plans|first=Joel|last=Barrios|date=January 1, 2024|website=Metalinjection.net|access-date=October 26, 2024}}</ref></blockquote>
In a group interview with ''Rolling Stone'', James LaBrie addressed his and Portnoy's reconciliation: "Mike and I are both very emotional and passionate people. And I think that led to the reason for us not coming together until we did. But as soon as I saw him, like he said, I came out of my dressing room, I saw him, and I was like, 'Come here.' And I gave him a fucking hug. And that was it." Petrucci added: "When Mike left the band, it was traumatic for all of us. We had to figure out how we were going to move our career forward. And those years that went by, they were also healing years because you don’t just have something like that happen, and all of a sudden, you're all best buddies a week later. There's some trauma there that had to heal. Thirteen years was enough time for that to happen and be like, 'Hey, you know what, man? We love each other like we're brothers.'"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/dream-theater-album-tour-interview-1234998171/|title=Dream Theater on Emotional Mike Portnoy Reunion, First 40th Anniversary Tour Dates|first=Kory|last=Grow|website=Rollingstone.com|date=April 8, 2024|access-date=October 26, 2024}}</ref> Mangini spoke amicably about his departure: "[M]y place was not to fill all the roles that Mike held in the band. I was to play the drums in order to help the band carry on. My main role of keeping our live show working tightly on a nightly basis was an intense and rewarding experience. Thankfully, I got to experience playing music with these iconic musicians, as well as some fun times laced with humor."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.moderndrummer.com/2023/10/dream-theaters-founding-drummer-mike-portnoy-rejoins-the-band-after-a-13-year-hiatus/|title=Dream Theater's Founding Drummer Mike Portnoy Rejoins the Band After a 13-Year Hiatus|first=Danny|last=Laverde|website=Moderndrummer.com|date=October 25, 2023|access-date=October 26, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/mike-portnoy-opens-about-his-return-to-dream-theater-it-just-felt-like-the-time-was-right-to-do-it|title=Mike Portnoy Opens Up About His Return To Dream Theater: 'It Just Felt Like The Time Was Right To Do It'|date=November 24, 2023|website=Blabbermouth.net|access-date=October 26, 2024}}</ref>
On November 17, 2023, the band announced former lead vocalist Charlie Dominici died at the age of 72.<ref>{{cite web |title=Former Dream Theater Singer Charlie Dominici Dies |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/former-dream-theater-singer-charlie-dominici-dies |website=Blabbermouth.net |access-date=November 17, 2023 |language=en |date=November 17, 2023}}</ref>
In February 2024, Mike Portnoy posted pictures from DTHQ on his Instagram account, confirming that the new Dream Theater album was "officially underway".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://metalinjection.net/upcoming-releases/in-the-studio/dream-theater-in-the-studio-mike-portnoy-shows-off-his-drum-kit |title=Dream Theater In The Studio, Mike Portnoy Shows Off His Drum Kit |last=Kennelty |first=Greg |work=Metal Injection |date=February 7, 2024 |access-date=February 10, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Dream Theater Officially Begins Work On First Studio Album With Mike Portnoy In 15 Years |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/dream-theater-officially-begins-work-on-first-studio-album-with-mike-portnoy-in-15-years |website=Blabbermouth.net |access-date=February 10, 2024 |language=en |date=February 9, 2024}}</ref> On April 2, John Petrucci and Portnoy announced that all of the writing and the drum tracks were completed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/dream-theater-completes-writing-first-album-with-mike-portnoy-in-15-years-it-came-out-so-amazing|title=Dream Theater Completes Writing First Album With Mike Portnoy In 15 Years: It 'Came Out So Amazing'|date=April 2, 2024|website=Blabbermouth.net}}</ref> Petrucci later posted a video on YouTube on May 1, confirming that the guitar tracks were completed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BmR2MIUQ60|title=Guitar tracking officially completed for the new Dream Theater album!|date=May 1, 2024|via=YouTube}}</ref> On June 26, Jordan Rudess announced on his Instagram that all the keyboard parts had been recorded.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/jcrudess/reel/C8rdXLxpop6/?hl=en|title=Instagram|website=Instagram.com}}</ref> On July 30, James LaBrie posted on his Instagram a photo of himself in the studio with the caption "Vocals" and a green check mark, with the hashtag "DT16", signifying the vocals had been completed for the new album.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.instagram.com/jameslabrie.dt/p/C-EAkk4u9Nh/ | title=Instagram }}</ref>
On October 10, 2024, Dream Theater released "Night Terror" as the first single for their sixteenth studio album ''Parasomnia'', which was released on February 7, 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bravewords.com/news/dream-theater-to-release-parasomnia-album-in-february-night-terror-single-and-music-video-out-now|title=Dream Theater To Release Parasomnia Album In February; "Night Terror" Single And Music Video Out Now|magazine=Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles|access-date=October 10, 2024|date=October 10, 2024}}</ref> The album was highly anticipated, with several publications, including Loudwire, Stereogum and Ultimate Guitar, naming it in their lists of the most anticipated albums of 2025.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Most Anticipated Rock + Metal Albums of 2025 |url=https://loudwire.com/most-anticipated-albums-2025/ |access-date=December 21, 2024 |work=Loudwire |date=December 17, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=UG Awards: Top 20 Most Anticipated Albums of 2025 |url=https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/articles/features/ug-awards-top-20-most-anticipated-albums-of-2025-173766 |access-date=December 21, 2024 |work=Ultimate Guitar |date=December 21, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The Most Anticipated Albums Of 2025 |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2291610/albums-coming-in-2025/lists/ |access-date=December 31, 2024 |work=Stereogum |date=December 30, 2024}}</ref>
Dream Theater announced they would embark on a tour supporting the album on May 20, 2025.<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web |date=2025-05-20 |title=Dream Theater return to the USA in Fall 2025 with the Parasomnia Tour! |url=https://dreamtheater.net/dream-theater-return-to-the-usa-in-fall-2025-with-the-parasomnia-tour/ |access-date=2025-08-31 |website=Dream Theater |language=en-US}}</ref> In addition to performing the ''Parasomnia'' album in its entirety, the band confirmed they would also perform their composition "A Change of Seasons" on the tour;<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |last=ProgReport |date=2025-06-27 |title=Dream Theater to play 'A Change of Seasons' on upcoming Parasomnia 2025 US Tour this Fall |url=https://progreport.com/dream-theater-to-play-a-change-of-seasons-on-upcoming-parasomnia-2025-us-tour-this-fall/ |access-date=2025-08-31 |website=The Prog Report |language=en-US}}</ref> in an Instagram post, Portnoy speculated the tour would likely be the last time the band would ever perform "A Change of Seasons" live.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/mikeportnoy/p/DN4XGXBjbJG/ |access-date=2025-08-31 |website=Instagram.com}}</ref>
On November 7, 2025, ''Parasomnia''{{'}}s lead single "Night Terror" received a Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance at the 2026 Grammy Awards, marking the band's fourth Grammy nomination and first ever nomination for Portnoy.<ref>{{Cite news |title=2026 GRAMMYS: See The Full Nominations List {{!}} GRAMMY.com |url=https://www.grammy.com/news/2026-grammys-nominations-full-winners-nominees-list |access-date=2025-11-07}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=ProgReport |date=2025-11-07 |title=Dream Theater score Grammy Metal Performance nomination for "Night Terror" |url=https://progreport.com/dream-theater-grammy-metal-performance-nomination-for-night-terror/ |access-date=2025-11-07 |website=The Prog Report |language=en-US}}</ref>
A new Dream Theater live album and Blu-ray, titled ''Quarantième: Live à Paris'', was released on November 28, 2025. It was recorded live at the Adidas Arena in Paris, France on November 23, 2024 during the band's 40th anniversary tour of Europe.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/dream-theater-announces-quarantieme-live-a-paris-cd-and-blu-ray-recorded-during-2024-40th-anniversary-tour|title=DREAM THEATER Announces 'Quarantième: Live À Paris' CD And Blu-Ray Recorded During 2024 40th-Anniversary Tour|publisher=Blabbermouth.net|access-date=September 19, 2025|date=September 19, 2025}}</ref> To mark the release, a special one-night showing of ''Quarantième: Live à Paris'' ran at AMC Theatres in select cities on November 17, 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Team |first=Editorial |date=2025-11-07 |title=DREAM THEATER Announces One Night Only AMC Theaters Showing Of Live Concert "Quarantième: Live à Paris" |url=https://www.sonicperspectives.com/news/dream-theater-announces-one-night-only-amc-theaters-showing-of-live-concert-quarantieme-live-a-paris/ |access-date=2025-11-07 |website=Sonic Perspectives |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.amctheatres.com/movies/dream-theater-quarantieme-live-a-paris-82041 |title=DREAM THEATER - Quarantième: Live à Paris |date=2025-11-16 |language=en |access-date=2025-11-07 |website=Amctheatres.com}}</ref> A week prior to ''Quarantième: Live à Paris'', the band released two box sets: ''The Studio Albums 1992–2016'', a collection of CD reissues for their studio albums from ''Images and Words'' to ''The Astonishing'', and ''Dream Theater Vol. 3'', the final installment in the band's vinyl reissues series, containing pressings of all their studio albums from ''Black Clouds & Silver Linings'' to ''The Astonishing''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/dream-theater-announces-two-new-releases-the-studio-albums-1992-2016-and-dream-theater-vol-3|title=DREAM THEATER Announces Two New Releases: 'The Studio Albums 1992-2016' And 'Dream Theater Vol. 3'|publisher=Blabbermouth.net|access-date=October 21, 2025|date=October 21, 2025}}</ref>
===Upcoming seventeenth studio album (2026–present)=== In May 2026, James LaBrie announced that Dream Theater will likely begin writing new material for a seventeenth studio album later in the year or in early 2027: "Right now the focus is we're on this world tour. We're gonna be on the world tour until — what? — mid-May. And that's the focus. Then we're gonna take a break for a little bit. And then probably late '26 or early '27 we'll get in to start writing and recording a new album. And then hopefully late '27 or early '28 we'll go back out with a new tour. And this is just — this is all not concrete. But this seems to be the idea at this point."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/james-labrie-dream-theater-will-probably-begin-writing-new-album-in-late-2026-or-early-2027|title=JAMES LABRIE: DREAM THEATER Will 'Probably' Begin Writing New Album In Late 2026 Or Early 2027|publisher=Blabbermouth.net|access-date=May 6, 2026|date=May 6, 2026}}</ref> That same month, Portnoy confirmed that the band will begin recording their next album in the fall: "We will take the summer off (although I do have about a months' worth of shows [with Neal Morse Band] in Aug/Sept) and then DT will reconvene in the studio in the fall to start work on another album and then we can start the whole thing all over again!"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bravewords.com/progressive-rock/dream-theater-to-begin-recording-new-studio-album-this-fall/|title=DREAM THEATER To Begin Recording New Studio Album This Fall|publisher=Bravewords.com|access-date=May 14, 2026|date=May 14, 2026}}</ref>
==Live performances== [[File:Dream Theater Live in Argentina 03-03-08.jpg|thumb|Rudess and Petrucci duet in Buenos Aires, Argentina (2008).]] Throughout their career, Dream Theater's live shows have gradually become bigger, longer and more diverse. Prior to Portnoy's departure, Dream Theater "rotated" its set lists to ensure that fans who attended multiple shows in the same area would see few, if any, songs repeated. Portnoy, who constructed the set lists, would take into account the set list from the last time the band was in a particular city for the benefit of fans who saw the band on successive tours.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.earplugsrequired.com/bands/dreamtheater/dreamtheatermike.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030212131721/http://www.earplugsrequired.com/bands/dreamtheater/dreamtheatermike.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=February 12, 2003 |title=Earplugs Required |publisher=Earplugs Required |access-date=January 30, 2016}}</ref> The practice was abandoned with Portnoy away from the band, and the setlist remained static even after his return on the 40th anniversary tour, but Portnoy noted that the practice of rotating setlists would return eventually, and in July 2025 James LaBrie disclosed that it has been fully reinstated.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo13-9KoPc4|title=Coffee with John Petrucci & Mike Portnoy|date=November 19, 2024|via=YouTube|author=Ola Englund|quote= We'll get back to that eventually, but right now the setlist is static for two reasons: First of all it's a fucking great set list [...] the other reason is, we haven't toured together in almost 14 years [...] so we wanted to get our tour legs back and get comfortable again.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Mike Portnoy Is Creating Dream Theater's Live Setlists, James LaBrie Reveals: 'It's Really Like a Power-punch Setlist' |url=https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/mike_portnoy_is_creating_dream_theaters_live_setlists_james_labrie_reveals_its_really_like_a_power-punch_setlist.html |access-date=2025-07-03 |website=Ultimate-guitar.com |language=en}}</ref>
The band's full world tours, since ''Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence'', have predominantly been "Evening with..." tours, in which the band performs for at least three hours without an opening act. Until 2012, such tours did not contain an intermission, but every tour since the Along for the Ride Tour in 2013–2014 until the Distance Over Time Tour had. The show that was recorded for ''Live Scenes from New York'' was well over three hours in length, and resulted in Portnoy almost being hospitalized after acquiring severe food poisoning from the food he ate before the show.<ref>See the ''Metropolis 2000: Scenes from New York'' DVD</ref><ref>Hansen, Scott & Portnoy, Mike. "[http://mikeportnoy.com/aboutmike/faq/answers/12.aspx#74 What's this I hear about Mike being really sick after the Roseland (DVD) show? What happened?] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150419020014/http://mikeportnoy.com/aboutmike/faq/answers/12.aspx#74 |date=April 19, 2015 }}". ''[http://www.mikeportnoy.com/about/mpfaq MP FAQ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150419020014/http://mikeportnoy.com/aboutmike/faq/answers/12.aspx |date=April 19, 2015 }} ''.</ref>
{| style="float:right;" |- |{{listen|filename=Dream Theater - Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.ogg|title="Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"|description="Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star", live at Nagoya, Japan.}} |}
Dashes of humor, casualness, and improvisation are often attached to Dream Theater's concert. For example, the performance of "A Change of Seasons" on ''Live Scenes from New York'' features changes to a series of instrumental breaks, with Myung playing a baseball organ melody, Petrucci playing the opening theme to ''The Simpsons'', and Rudess playing the ragtime section of "When the Water Breaks" from ''Liquid Tension Experiment 2'' (the latter is also heard on the album ''Live at Budokan''). Several songs included on ''Once in a LIVETime'' include snippets of others' pieces, such as Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Free Bird" and Rimsky-Korsakov's "Flight of the Bumblebee." Other quotations include "Mary Had a Little Lamb" during "Endless Sacrifice" on the Gigantour, a calliope-inspired break between verses of "Under a Glass Moon", a quote of "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina"'s main melody played by Petrucci while performing the intro solo of "Through Her Eyes" in Buenos Aires, the Turkish March at a concert in Istanbul, and the opening riff of Rush's "A Passage to Bangkok" at a show in Bangkok, Thailand. On the "20th Anniversary World Tour", Rudess has even thrown in a short "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" theme in a break during "Endless Sacrifice," and during a concert in Israel he started a spontaneous "Hava Nagila", with the rest of the band later joining in. During the band's 2017 tour, a snippet of Metallica's "Enter Sandman" was played during Dream Theater's own song "As I Am".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://rollingstoneindia.com/concert-review-dream-theater-epic-near-jinxed-india-debut/|title=Concert Review: Dream Theater's Epic, Near-Jinxed India Debut|website=Rollingstoneindia.com|date=October 9, 2017}}</ref>
Dream Theater's most unconventional live shows were performed during Derek Sherinian's time with the band. At selected shows the band members all swapped instruments and performed an encore as the fictitious band dubbed Nightmare Cinema. They usually performed a cover of Deep Purple's "Perfect Strangers", and on one occasion, Ozzy Osbourne's "Suicide Solution". At some shows, Sherinian, Petrucci and Portnoy would take the stage together under the name "Nicky Lemons and the Migraine Brothers." Sherinian, wearing a feather boa and novelty sunglasses, would perform a pop-punk song titled "I Don't Like You" with Petrucci and Portnoy backing. During the Chaos in Motion tour, in several concerts before "Trial of Tears," Portnoy and Petrucci would switch instruments.
thumb|Concert of the ''A Dramatic Tour of Events'' in 2012. LaBrie in the foreground; Myung and Rudess in the background. In the ''Score'' and ''Chaos in Motion'' DVDs, an animation has accompanied certain parts of the songs, showing the band playing along to the music as cartoon characters. On the Score DVD, during the song "Octavarium", the band is seen performing in an octagonal shaped maze. As the animation continues Jordan Rudess spontaneously turns into Santa Claus and John Petrucci catches fire.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.clevver.com/music/video/24600/dream-theater-octavarium-animation.html |title=Octavarium animation |publisher=Clevver.com |access-date=July 18, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110317074428/http://www.clevver.com/music/video/24600/dream-theater-octavarium-animation.html |archive-date=March 17, 2011 }}</ref> In "The Dark Eternal Night" from the Chaos in Motion DVD, the band battles against a monster by shooting fireballs from guitars, throwing drum sticks, and screaming.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLK4xtZ3H78|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526211504/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLK4xtZ3H78|url-status=dead|title=The Dark Eternal Night, N.A.D.S Animation. By Mika Tyyska|archive-date=May 26, 2015|publisher=YouTube}}</ref>
===Shows and concerts=== Dream Theater played and recorded a live performance at the Nippon Budokan Hall on April 26, 2004. It was later released as ''Live at Budokan'' on October 5, 2004.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}
Dream Theater's largest audience as a headlining act was 20,000 in Santiago, Chile on December 6, 2005.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://voicesuk.net/news.php |title=News |publisher=Voices UK |access-date=January 30, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205152837/http://voicesuk.net/news.php |archive-date=February 5, 2016 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> The show was released on DVD through Portnoy's YtseJam Records.
In 2007, after their show in Salt Lake City on July 30, Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. signed a proclamation officially marking July 30, 2007 as ''Dream Theater Day'' in the state of Utah.
In 2008 Dream Theater started the Progressive Nation 2008 tour, along with Opeth, Between the Buried and Me, and 3. The tour was the brainchild of Mike Portnoy, who stated, "I've been wanting to assemble a package tour like this for many years now. With all of the festivals and package tours that go through America, I've been talking with our manager and agent for over 10 years now about doing something that focuses on the more progressive, musician-oriented side of hard rock and metal. I decided it was time to stop talking the talk, lace up and finally walk the walk."<ref>{{Cite news|title=Progressive Nation 2008 – Press Release |url=http://www.dreamtheater.net/news_dreamtheater.php#prognation |work=dreamtheater.net |publisher=Dream Theater |date=November 5, 2007 |access-date=May 11, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080510152306/http://www.dreamtheater.net/news_dreamtheater.php |archive-date=May 10, 2008}}</ref>
On February 13, 2009, Dream Theater announced the official line up for their Progressive Nation 2009 tour. The tour was originally set to feature bands including Swedish bands Beardfish and Pain of Salvation, as well as Zappa Plays Zappa. On June 22, 2009, Mike Portnoy announced that Pain of Salvation and Beardfish would not be touring the North American leg of the Progressive Nation 2009 tour because of record label complications. In the same announcement, Portnoy stated that the bands Scale the Summit and Bigelf would replace Pain of Salvation and Beardfish on the tour.<ref>{{cite web|first=Mark|last=Bredius |url=http://www.dreamtheater.net/news_dreamtheater.php#pnlineup |title=Progressive Nation 2009 North American Tour – Lineup Change |publisher=Dreamtheater.net |access-date=July 18, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716150250/http://www.dreamtheater.net/news_dreamtheater.php |archive-date=July 16, 2011 }}</ref> This lineup change has put Bigelf on both the North American and European legs of the Progressive Nation 2009 tour. The tour's North American leg ran throughout July and August 2009. On March 26, 2009, it was announced that Dream Theater would take the Progressive Nation tour to Europe for the first time alongside Opeth, Bigelf and Unexpect. The tour ran throughout September and October 2009.<ref>{{cite web|first=Mark|last=Bredius |url=http://www.dreamtheater.net/tourdates.php |title=Progressive Nation Tour Dates |publisher=Dreamtheater.net |date=June 14, 2011 |access-date=July 18, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716150258/http://www.dreamtheater.net/tourdates.php |archive-date=July 16, 2011}}</ref>
In June/July 2010 Dream Theater were the opening band for Iron Maiden during the first leg of their Final Frontier Tour which included Madison Square Garden as one of the many venues. On December 7, 2010, Dream Theater announced on their website that they would be headlining the High Voltage Festival alongside Judas Priest in 2011. In July 2011 they started A Dramatic Tour of Events to promote ''A Dramatic Turn of Events''. In January 2014, they started the Along for the Ride Tour to promote their self-titled album. On December 13, 2016, Dream Theater confirmed 5 UK tour dates for their Images, Words & Beyond 25th Anniversary Tour, starting in Birmingham on April 18, 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gettothefront.co.uk/2016/12/dream-theater-confirm-uk-dates-25th-anniversary-tour-tickets/ |title=Dream Theater Confirm UK Dates for 25th Anniversary Tour – Tickets – GetToTheFront |access-date=2016-12-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221064453/http://www.gettothefront.co.uk/2016/12/dream-theater-confirm-uk-dates-25th-anniversary-tour-tickets/ |archive-date=December 21, 2016 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>
During the Images, Words & Beyond 25th Anniversary Tour, Dream Theater performed a cover of Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun" on May 20, 2017, in Bucharest, Romania, to pay tribute to rock musician Chris Cornell who had died a few days prior. The cover featured only piano and vocals, with LaBrie forgetting a portion of the lyrics and instead singing "I forgot the fucking words" in line with the tune's melody.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Watch: Dream Theater's LaBrie Forgets Lyrics to 'Black Hole Sun' While Paying Tribute to Cornell |url=https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/watch_dream_theaters_labrie_forgets_lyrics_to_black_hole_sun_while_paying_tribute_to_cornell.html |access-date=2025-07-23 |website=Ultimate-guitar.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-05-21 |title=Dream Theater Singer Forgets Lyrics To 'Black Hole Sun' While Paying Tribute To Chris Cornell At Bucharest Concert |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/dream-theater-singer-forgets-lyrics-to-black-hole-sun-while-paying-tribute-to-chris-cornell-at-bucharest-concert/ |access-date=2025-07-23 |website=Blabbermouth.net|language=en}}</ref>
Dream Theater kicked off the "Distance Over Time Tour" in March 2019. In addition to promoting the titular new album, the band also performed ''Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory'' in its entirety to celebrate the album's 20th anniversary.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-11-02 |title=News Leaked About Dream Theater New Album "Distance Over Time', First Set of 2019 Tour Dates Included |url=https://www.sonicperspectives.com/news/dream-theater-reveals-new-album-distance-time-first-set-2019-tour-dates-announced/ |access-date=2025-07-23 |website=Sonicperspectives.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
On March 4, 2022, Mike Portnoy attended his first and only Dream Theater show as an audience member at the Beacon Theatre in New York City, taking photos with the band and receiving a shoutout from James LaBrie during the show.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://metalinjection.net/news/mike-portnoy-attended-dream-theaters-show-last-night-got-a-shout-out-from-the-stage |title=Portnoy Attends DT Show |date=March 5, 2022 |access-date=2022-03-29}}</ref> This attendance and backstage reconciliation with LaBrie ultimately led to Portnoy rejoining the band.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2025-01-31 |title=Dream Theater's James Labrie Says Reunion With MIKE PORTNOY Was 'Very Natural': 'It Was Very Smooth, Seamless' |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/dream-theaters-james-labrie-says-reunion-with-mike-portnoy-was-very-natural-it-was-very-smooth-seamless |access-date=2025-07-03|website=Blabbermouth.net |language=en}}</ref>
On April 22, 2023, Dream Theater announced the first edition of Dreamsonic, their traveling progressive festival, taking place in North America throughout June and July and celebrating the summer's ultimate progressive metal line-up. As described by John Petrucci: "''Dreamsonic promises to be a reoccurring musical event that will deliver history-making nights of amazing music for many years to come!"''<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2"/> Kicking off in Cedar Park, Texas, on June 16, 2023, the band was joined by special guests Devin Townsend and Animals As Leaders. The tour ended on July 26, and was Mike Mangini's last tour with the band.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2023-04-12 |title=Dream Theater announce Dreamsonic 2023 North American tour with special guest Devin Townsend, & Animals As Leaders |url=https://dreamtheater.net/dream-theater-announce-dreamsonic-2023-north-american-tour-with-special-guest-devin-townsend-animals-as-leaders/ |access-date=2023-08-21 |website=Dreamtheater.net |language=en-US}}</ref> At the July 22 Dreamsonic show in Redmond, Washington, John Myung performed sitting down with a large bandage on his head with no explanation, with James LaBrie telling the crowd the band nearly cancelled the show.<ref>{{Cite web |title=John Myung Suffers Head Injury, Performs With Dream Theater While Seated |url=https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/john_myung_suffers_head_injury_performs_with_dream_theater_while_seated.html |access-date=2025-08-31 |website=Ultimate-guitar.com |language=en}}</ref> Myung later revealed in an interview he passed out at a border checkpoint due to dehydration and hit a metal post with his forehead that cut him open.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-15 |title=John Myung Interview: Building Dream Theater - gearnews.com |url=https://www.gearnews.com/john-myung-interview-building-dream-theatre/ |access-date=2025-08-31 |language=en-GB}}</ref>
After rejoining Dream Theater, on April 8, 2024, the band announced their first tour with Mike Portnoy in fourteen years, titled the "40th Anniversary Tour 2024 – 2025", which began with a month-long European leg in the fall of 2024.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dream Theater Announces First Tour With Mike Portnoy In 14 Years |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/dream-theater-announces-first-tour-with-mike-portnoy-in-14-years |website=Blabbermouth.net |access-date=April 10, 2024 |language=en |date=April 8, 2024}}</ref> The reunion with Portnoy kicked off at The O2 Arena in London, England on October 20, 2024. The show was described by the band as a very surreal and emotional experience, with LaBrie choking up and weeping onstage and had to briefly pause singing.<ref>{{Cite web |title='James LaBrie Even Started Crying': Mike Portnoy Opens Up on Emotional First Show With Dream Theater in 14 Years |url=https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/james-labrie-even-started-crying-mike-portnoy-opens-up-on-emotional-first-show-with-dream-theater-in-14-years |access-date=2025-07-23 |website=Ultimate-guitar.com |language=en}}</ref>
On December 24, 2024, Dream Theater performed the Christmas classic "O Holy Night" for the first time in 26 years to close-out the South American leg of the "40th Anniversary Tour 2024 – 2025" in Santiago, Chile, on the second night of back-to-back shows.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-26 |title=Dream Theater closes out 2024 tour with first 'O Holy Night' performance in 26 years – 98KUPD – Arizona's Real Rock |url=https://98kupd.com/dream-theater-closes-out-2024-tour-with-first-o-holy-night-performance-in-26-years/ |access-date=2025-07-03 |website=98kupd.com|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-25 |title=Watch: Dream Theater Performs Holiday Classic 'O Holy Night' For The First Time In More Than 25 Years |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/watch-dream-theater-performs-holiday-classic-o-holy-night-for-the-first-time-in-more-than-25-years |access-date=2025-07-03 |website=Blabbermouth.net |language=en}}</ref> On March 22, 2025, Dream Theater performed "The Best of Times" for the first time ever at their tour-closing concert at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, with special guest Jonathan Dinklage on violin.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-23 |title=Watch: Dream Theater Performs 'The Best Of Times' Live For First Time Ever |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/watch-dream-theater-performs-the-best-of-times-live-for-first-time-ever |access-date=2025-07-03 |website=Blabbermouth.net |language=en}}</ref>
On July 2, 2025, Dream Theater performed for the first time ever at the Amphitheatre of Pompeii in Pompeii, Italy, the same venue where Pink Floyd made their 1972 concert film ''Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii''. To mark the occasion, the band performed a cover of "Echoes".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-03 |title=Watch Dream Theater Revisit Rock History By Performing PINK FLOYD's "Echoes" At Iconic Pompeii Amphitheater |url=https://www.sonicperspectives.com/news/watch-dream-theater-revisit-rock-history-by-performing-pink-floyds-echoes-at-iconic-pompeii-amphitheater/ |access-date=2025-07-03 |website=Sonicperspectives.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
The band began their Parasomnia Tour in Reading, Pennsylvania, on September 5, 2025.<ref name="auto2"/> In addition to performing the ''Parasomnia'' album in its entirety, the band confirmed they would also perform their song "A Change of Seasons" on the tour.<ref name="auto"/> Mike Portnoy speculated that this tour cycle would likely be the last time the band would ever perform the song.<ref name="auto1"/>
==Cover songs== Dream Theater have covered other artists' work throughout their career. They have performed cover songs live and in studio, with many of those live performances being recorded for official release. ''A Change of Seasons'' features Elton John, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Kansas, Queen, Journey, Dixie Dregs and Genesis live covers. Through YtseJam Records, the band have also released full album live cover performances of Metallica's ''Master of Puppets'', Iron Maiden's ''The Number of the Beast'', Pink Floyd's ''The Dark Side of the Moon'', and Deep Purple's ''Made in Japan''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Covers Series|url=http://www.ytsejamrecords.com/ProductCart/pc/viewCategories.asp?pageStyle=h&idCategory=7|publisher=YtseJam Records|access-date=July 7, 2012|archive-date=November 22, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121122213026/http://www.ytsejamrecords.com/ProductCart/pc/viewCategories.asp?pageStyle=h&idCategory=7|url-status=dead}}</ref> The special edition of ''Black Clouds & Silver Linings'' includes a bonus disc with Rainbow, Queen, Dixie Dregs, Zebra, King Crimson, and Iron Maiden covers. Other notable artists covered by Dream Theater include Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, Pantera, Rush, the Who, and Yes.<ref>{{cite web|title=Covers Series: Uncovered 2003–2005|url=http://www.ytsejamrecords.com/ProductCart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=35&idcategory=7|publisher=YtseJam Records|access-date=July 7, 2012|archive-date=February 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205100539/http://www.ytsejamrecords.com/ProductCart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=35&idcategory=7|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Dream Theater covers Rush's The Camera Eye at Toronto show|url=http://www.rushisaband.com/display.php?id=1930|publisher=Rush Is a Band|access-date=July 7, 2012}}</ref>
==Logo and imagery== thumb|right|upright|Dream Theater wordmark and "Majesty" symbol Despite the band being forced to change their name, Dream Theater adopted a custom logo (known as the ''Majesty symbol'') and wordmark, both of which have appeared on most of their promotional material. The Majesty symbol has been featured on the front cover of every Dream Theater studio album, while the wordmark appears on all except ''Falling into Infinity'' and ''Dream Theater''. The Majesty symbol is derived from Mary, Queen of Scots' mark,<ref>The mark used by Mary, Queen of Scots, is available on [http://www.dreamtheater.net/pics/marysymb.jpg DreamTheater.net]. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725012406/http://www.dreamtheater.net/pics/marysymb.jpg |date=July 25, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marie-stuart.co.uk/images/sun%20embroidery.jpg |title=An embroidery showing the Mary, Queen of Scots, symbol in use |access-date=July 18, 2011}}</ref> which was re-worked by Charlie Dominici for use on the album artwork for ''When Dream and Day Unite''.<ref name="What is the 'symbol' DT use">{{cite web |url=http://faq.dtnorway.com/question?questionid=29 |title=What is the 'symbol' DT use? |website=Faq.dtnorway.com |date=November 7, 2003 |access-date=January 30, 2016 |archive-date=May 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512215633/http://faq.dtnorway.com/question?questionid=29 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In September 2010, a fan of Dream Theater discovered that all of the letters of "DOMINICI" fit together perfectly into the Majesty symbol.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/jfdRfcCe_NM Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20130320154858/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfdRfcCe_NM&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfdRfcCe_NM |title=What does Dream Theater, Majesty and Dominici have in common? |publisher=YouTube |date=September 13, 2010 |access-date=September 28, 2010}}{{cbignore}}</ref> When Charlie discovered this, he laughed and mentioned that "it only took them 25 years to figure out the 'Dominici Code!'"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dominici.com/forum/index.php?topic=421.0 |title=Someone finally figured out the "Dominici Code!" |publisher=DOMINICI.com Forum |date=September 28, 2010 |access-date=September 28, 2010}}</ref> This has earlier also been discovered as shown on the comment section of DTFAQ<ref name="What is the 'symbol' DT use" /> and in the DTNorway Podcast Episode 2 from 2008, with Charlie Dominici.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dtnorway.com/podcast.xml |title=Echo's Hill Podcast |publisher=DTNorway |access-date=July 18, 2011}}</ref>
==Musical style== AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine described Dream Theater's music as a "dense blend of progressive rock and post-Halen metal". The band is well noted for being one of the early progenitors of the progressive metal genre,<ref name= allmusic>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/style/progressive-metal-ma0000002797|title=Progressive Metal|work=AllMusic|access-date=December 12, 2010}}</ref> and they are considered a member of the so-called "big three" of the genre, along with Queensrÿche and Fates Warning.<ref name="kerrang" /> The original members, Mike Portnoy, John Petrucci and John Myung, have strong influences from progressive rock bands such as Rush,<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqNtIx8UbcE |title=Mike Portnoy on Rush's Influence |date=2015-04-10 |access-date=2025-05-17 |via=YouTube}}</ref> Yes, and Pink Floyd; heavy metal bands such as Iron Maiden and Judas Priest; various speed metal bands; and glam metal.<ref name="rhap">{{cite web|url=http://www.rhapsody.com/dream-theater|last=York|first=Will|work=Rhapsody|title=Dream Theater|access-date=December 12, 2010}}</ref> Petrucci described Dream Theater's musical style as a blend of Rush, Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden, Yes, and Metallica,<ref>{{Cite web |first=Mark |last=Small |date=1 July 2007 |title=Dream Theater |url=https://www.berklee.edu/berklee-today/summer-2007/cover-story/dream-theater |access-date=16 August 2023 |website=Berklee}}</ref> while Portnoy described their style as a blend of progressive rock, influenced by Rush, Yes, Pink Floyd, and Genesis; and heavy metal, influenced by Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Metallica, and Black Sabbath.<ref>{{Cite web |last=MacIntosh |first=Dan |date=June 22, 2010 |title=Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater |url=https://www.songfacts.com/blog/interviews/mike-portnoy-of-dream-theater#:~:text=Songfacts%3A%20Dream%20Theater,of%20that%20term. |website=Songfacts}}</ref> This synthesis created a unique sound that was not traditional of the day: it had distorted guitars and fast riffing, but the music focused more on technical proficiency and precise execution than on heavy metal riffs. The band's music has focused on three main elements: metal, melody, and progressive roots.<ref name="utube">Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/vlbhILPW80A Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20130721135008/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlbhILPW80A&feature=related Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlbhILPW80A|title=Dream Theater – Interview – part 1|last=Portnoy|first=Mike|work=TheCrookedStep.com|date=May 9, 2006 |access-date=December 12, 2010}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Singer James LaBrie expressed that Dream Theater are more than just a progressive rock band, citing prog, metal, jazz fusion and pop as some of the styles that form the band's sound.<ref name="LaBrie_influences">{{Cite web |last=Munro |first=Scott |date=December 28, 2019 |title=Dream Theater’s James LaBrie: Being progressive is never uncool |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/dream-theaters-james-labrie-being-progressive-is-never-uncool |access-date=March 31, 2026 |website=Metal Hammer}}</ref> In the liner notes for the 2008 ''Greatest Hit'' compilation, Portnoy cited artists such as Peter Gabriel, U2, and Journey as inspirations for Dream Theater's softer songs.<ref>Greatest Hit (...And 21 Other Pretty Cool Songs) booklet liner notes.</ref> Dream Theater's music has also been described as art rock.<ref>{{cite book|title=Legends of Rock Guitar: The Essential Reference of Rock's Greatest Guitarists|author=Pete Prown, Harvey P. Newquist|quote="Dream Theater carved a niche for themselves as an art-rock band with few peers"}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Disco, Punk, New Wave, Heavy Metal, and More: Music in the 1970s and 1980s|author=Britannica Educational Publishing|quote="Dream Theater also explored a number of stylistic features earlier associated with art rock."}}</ref>
Dream Theater's 2003 album ''Train of Thought'' showcased a heavier sound.<ref>{{cite web|first=Thom|last=Jurek |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/train-of-thought-mw0000319323 |title=Train of Thought – Dream Theater, Awards |website=AllMusic |date=November 14, 2003 |access-date=August 9, 2014}}</ref> This decision was inspired by the positive feedback received from their previous heavier songs on stage.<ref>As discussed by John Petrucci in the 20th Anniversary Documentary "The Score So Far", found on the Score DVD</ref> 1999's ''Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory'' was praised for its display of old-fashioned progressive rock,<ref>{{cite web|author=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/metropolis-pt-2-scenes-from-a-memory-mw0000251583 |title=Metropolis, Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory – Dream Theater, Awards |website=AllMusic |date=October 26, 1999 |access-date=August 9, 2014}}</ref> and was influenced by classic conceptual rock records such as the Beatles' ''Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'', Pink Floyd's ''The Wall'' and ''The Final Cut'', the Who's ''Tommy'', and Genesis's ''The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway''.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/muBfZoIsQoA Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20070220195433/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muBfZoIsQoA Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muBfZoIsQoA |title=Dream Theater – Making of Scenes From A Memory |publisher=YouTube |date=August 25, 2006 |access-date=August 9, 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
Dream Theater's music usually borrows elements from other musical styles including symphonic rock, symphonic metal, {{nowrap|arena rock}}, soft rock,<ref>{{cite news|last=Lewis |first=Catherine P. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/music/dream-theater-album-review/2014/03/27/9bea0904-b04f-11e3-95e8-39bef8e9a48b_story.html |title=Dream Theater album review |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=August 9, 2014}}</ref> and classical music.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/john-petrucci-2013-interview/ |title=John Petrucci Of Dream Theater Interview |publisher=Ultimateclassicrock.com |date=October 26, 2013 |access-date=August 9, 2014}}</ref>
==Band members== <gallery perrow="5" caption="Dream Theater at Tons of Rock 2025 "> File:DreamTheater TonsOfRock-2025 00036.jpg|John Petrucci File:DreamTheater TonsOfRock-2025 00012.jpg|John Myung File:DreamTheater TonsOfRock-2025 00025.jpg|Mike Portnoy File:DreamTheater TonsOfRock-2025 00009.jpg|James LaBrie File:DreamTheater TonsOfRock-2025 00005.jpg|Jordan Rudess </gallery>'''Current''' * John Petrucci – guitars (1985–present), backing vocals (1989, 1996–present)<ref name="John Petrucci and Mike Portnoy backing vocals">{{cite web |last1=Portnoy |first1=Mike |title=MikePortnoy.com FAQ: "How did the idea of Mike and John Petrucci singing backup come about?" |url=http://www.mikeportnoy.com/aboutmike/faq/answers/15.aspx#403 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612035252/http://www.mikeportnoy.com:80/aboutmike/faq/answers/15.aspx#403 |archive-date=12 June 2018 |access-date=5 May 2018 |website=MikePortnoy.com}}</ref> * John Myung – bass guitar (1985–present) * Mike Portnoy – drums, percussion (1985–2010, 2023–present), backing vocals (1989, 1996–2010, 2023–present) * James LaBrie – lead vocals (1991–present) * Jordan Rudess – keyboards, continuum, occasional guitar (1999–present)
'''Former''' * Chris Collins – lead vocals (1986)<ref name="Majesty Demo Liner Notes">{{Cite AV media notes |title=The Majesty Demos |title-link=The Majesty Demos |others=Dream Theater |year=2003 |first=Mike |last=Portnoy |author-link=Mike Portnoy |pages=5, 6 |type=Liner notes |publisher=YtseJam Records |id=YTSEJAM001}}</ref> * Charlie Dominici – lead vocals (1987–1989, guest 2004; died 2023) * Kevin Moore – keyboards (1986–1994)<ref name="Majesty Demo Liner Notes" /><ref>{{Cite AV media notes |title=The Awake Demos |others=Dream Theater |year=2006 |first=Mike |last=Portnoy |author-link=Mike Portnoy |page=1 |type=Liner notes |publisher=YtseJam Records |id=YTSEJAM010}}</ref> * Derek Sherinian – keyboards (1995–1999,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Portnoy |first1=Mike |title=MikePortnoy.com FAQ: "When was Derek made an official member of Dream Theater?" |url=http://www.mikeportnoy.com/aboutmike/faq/answers/38.aspx#401 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111220627/https://mikeportnoy.com/aboutmike/faq/answers/38.aspx#401 |archive-date=11 November 2020 |access-date=5 May 2018 |website=MikePortnoy.com}}</ref> unofficial touring member beginning in October 1994,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Portnoy |first1=Mike |title=MikePortnoy.com Tourography: 10/20/1994 – Providence, Rhode Island |url=http://mikeportnoy.com/dates/MPTourography/ShowInfo.aspx?showId=229 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180506104140/http://mikeportnoy.com/dates/MPTourography/ShowInfo.aspx?showId=229 |archive-date=6 May 2018 |access-date=5 May 2018 |website=MikePortnoy.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Dream Theater – 20th Anniversary Documentary| date=September 29, 2010 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LduXtT3edlI&t=29m|via=YouTube|publisher=Rhino Entertainment|access-date=5 May 2018}}</ref> guest 2004), backing vocals (1997) * Mike Mangini – drums, percussion (2010–2023)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mikemangini.com/biography.html |title=Biography |agency=Mike Mangini's Official Website |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204175824/http://www.mikemangini.com/biography.html |archive-date=February 4, 2016 |website=Mikemangini.com |date=2011-04-29 |access-date=2020-03-02}}</ref>
===Timeline=== {{#tag:timeline |ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:22 PlotArea = left:120 bottom:80 top:10 right:20 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:09/01/1985 till:{{#time:m/d/Y}} TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:4 ScaleMajor = increment:5 start:1986 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1986
Colors = id:lvocals value:red legend:Vocals id:bvocals value:pink legend:Backing_vocals id:guitar value:green legend:Guitar id:bass value:blue legend:Bass id:keyboard value:purple legend:Keyboards id:drums value:orange legend:Drums,_percussion id:studio value:black legend:Studio_album id:live value:gray(0.45) legend:Live_release id:bs value:gray(0.1) id:hh value:gray(0.3) id:bars value:gray(0.95)
BackgroundColors = bars:bars
LineData = layer:back at:03/06/1989 color:studio at:07/07/1992 color:studio at:09/04/1993 color:live at:10/04/1994 color:studio at:09/19/1995 color:live at:09/23/1997 color:studio at:10/27/1998 color:live at:10/26/1999 color:studio at:09/11/2001 color:live at:01/29/2002 color:studio at:11/11/2003 color:studio at:10/05/2004 color:live at:06/07/2005 color:studio at:08/29/2006 color:live at:06/04/2007 color:studio at:09/30/2008 color:live at:06/23/2009 color:studio at:09/13/2011 color:studio at:09/24/2013 color:studio at:11/05/2013 color:live at:09/29/2014 color:live at:01/29/2016 color:studio at:02/22/2019 color:studio at:11/28/2020 color:live at:10/22/2021 color:studio at:02/07/2025 color:studio at:11/28/2025 color:live
BarData = bar:Band text:"Band Name" bar:Collins text:"Chris Collins" bar:Dominici text:"Charlie Dominici" bar:LaBrie text:"James LaBrie" bar:Petrucci text:"John Petrucci" bar:Myung text:"John Myung" bar:Moore text:"Kevin Moore" bar:Sherinian text:"Derek Sherinian" bar:Rudess text:"Jordan Rudess" bar:Portnoy text:"Mike Portnoy" bar:Mangini text:"Mike Mangini"
PlotData= align:center textcolor:white fontsize:8 width:10 shift:(0,-5) bar:band from:09/01/1985 till:11/01/1988 color:hh text:"Majesty" bar:band from:11/01/1988 till:end color:bs text:"Dream Theater" width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(11,-4) bar:Collins from:05/01/1986 till:11/01/1986 color:lvocals bar:Dominici from:11/01/1987 till:10/14/1989 color:lvocals bar:Labrie from:01/01/1991 till:end color:lvocals bar:Petrucci from:09/01/1985 till:end color:guitar bar:Petrucci from:01/01/1989 till:10/14/1989 color:bvocals width:3 bar:Petrucci from:01/01/1996 till:end color:bvocals width:3 bar:Myung from:09/01/1985 till:end color:bass bar:Moore from:05/01/1986 till:07/06/1994 color:keyboard bar:Sherinian from:02/22/1995 till:02/01/1999 color:keyboard bar:Sherinian from:06/01/1997 till:12/31/1997 color:bvocals width:3 bar:Rudess from:02/02/1999 till:end color:keyboard bar:Rudess from:09/01/2004 till:end color:guitar width:3 bar:Portnoy from:09/01/1985 till:09/08/2010 color:drums bar:Portnoy from:01/01/1989 till:10/14/1989 color:bvocals width:3 bar:Portnoy from:01/01/1996 till:09/08/2010 color:bvocals width:3 bar:Portnoy from:10/25/2023 till:end color:drums bar:Portnoy from:10/25/2023 till:end color:bvocals width:3 bar:Mangini from:11/05/2010 till:10/25/2023 color:drums }}
==Discography== {{mainlist|Dream Theater discography }} ===Studio albums=== * ''When Dream and Day Unite'' (1989) * ''Images and Words'' (1992) * ''Awake'' (1994) * ''Falling into Infinity'' (1997) * ''Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory'' (1999) * ''Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence'' (2002) * ''Train of Thought'' (2003) * ''Octavarium'' (2005) * ''Systematic Chaos'' (2007) * ''Black Clouds & Silver Linings'' (2009) * ''A Dramatic Turn of Events'' (2011) * ''Dream Theater'' (2013) * ''The Astonishing'' (2016) * ''Distance Over Time'' (2019) * ''A View from the Top of the World'' (2021) * ''Parasomnia'' (2025)
==Bootleg culture== Dream Theater have released a series of official bootlegs, demos, and other rarities through YtseJam Records, at the time headed by Portnoy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ytsejamrecords.com |title=YtseJam Records – The Official Dream Theater Bootlegs |publisher=Ytsejamrecords.com |access-date=January 2, 2009}}</ref> Starting in 2021, the band announced The Lost Not Forgotten Archives in collaboration with InsideOut, which will reissue all the titles mentioned below along with adding in previously unreleased archival material.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lostnotforgottenarchives.dreamtheater.net/|title=Lost Not Forgotten Archives : Dream Theater |website=Lostnotforgottenarchives.dreamtheater.net|access-date=July 16, 2021}}</ref>
===Demo series=== * ''The Majesty Demos 1985–86'' (CD) (remastered and reissued in 2022) * ''When Dream and Day Unite Demos 1987–89'' (CD) (remastered and reissued in 2023) * ''Images and Words Demos 1989–91'' (CD) (remastered and reissued in 2022) * ''Awake Demos 1994'' (CD) (remastered and reissued in 2022) * ''Falling into Infinity Demos 1996–97'' (CD) (remastered and reissued in 2022) * ''Train of Thought Instrumental Demos 2003'' (CD) (remastered and reissued in 2021) * ''Distance Over Time Demos (2018)'' (CD, newly released in 2023)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://burningshed.com/dream-theater_distance-over-time-demos_cd?filter_tag=Dream%20Theater|title=Lost Not Forgotten Archives: Distance Over Time Demos (2018)|access-date=March 11, 2023}}</ref>
===Studio series=== * ''The Making of Falling into Infinity'' (CD, remastered and reissued in 2023) * ''The Making of Scenes From a Memory'' (CD, remastered and reissued in 2023)
===Live series=== * ''New York City – 3/4/93'' (CD, remastered and reissued in 2022) * ''Tokyo, Japan – 10/28/95'' (CD) * ''Old Bridge, New Jersey – 12/14/96'' (CD, remastered and reissued in 2022) * ''Los Angeles, California – 5/18/98'' (CD) * ''Bucharest, Romania – 7/4/02'' (DVD) * ''When Dream and Day Reunite – 5/6/04'' (CD/DVD, remastered and reissued on CD in 2021) * ''Santiago, Chile – 12/6/05'' (DVD) * ''Images and Words – Live in Japan, 2017'' (CD, newly released in 2021, second half of the Budokan concert in 2017) * ''A Dramatic Tour of Events – Select Board Mixes'' (CD, newly released in physical formats in 2021) * ''...And Beyond – Live In Japan 2017'' (CD, newly released in 2022, first half of the Budokan concert in 2017) * ''Live In Berlin 2019'' (CD, newly released in 2022, festival show during the Distance Over Time Tour) * ''Live At Wacken 2015'' (CD, newly released in 2022, festival show during their 30th Anniversary Tour) * ''Live At Madison Square Garden 2010'' (CD, newly released in 2023, opening for Iron Maiden in 2010) * ''Live In Tokyo 2010'' (CD, newly released in 2026, festival show during the Black Clouds & Silver Linings tour)
===Cover series=== * ''Master of Puppets'' (CD) (remastered and reissued in 2021) * ''The Number of the Beast'' (CD) (remastered and reissued in 2022) * ''The Dark Side of the Moon'' (CD/DVD) * ''Made in Japan'' (CD) (remastered and reissued in 2022) * ''Uncovered 2003–05'' (CD)
==Awards and honors== ===''Grammy Awards''=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Nominee / Work ! scope="col" | Category ! scope="col" | Result ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{abbr|Ref(s)|Reference(s)}} |- | 2012 | "On The Backs Of Angels" | Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance | {{nom}} | style="text-align:center;"| |- | 2014 | "The Enemy Inside" | Best Metal Performance | {{nom}} | style="text-align:center;"| |- | 2022 | "The Alien" | Best Metal Performance | {{win}} | style="text-align:center;"| |- | 2026 | "Night Terror" | Best Metal Performance | {{nominated}} | style="text-align:center;"| |}
===''Burrn!'' magazine=== In 2007 Jordan Rudess was awarded "Best Keyboards Player of the Year."
In 2011, ''A Dramatic Turn of Events'' won Best Album and Best Front Cover, while John Petrucci and Jordan Rudess won Best Guitarist and Best Keyboardist, respectively.<ref>[http://www.msopr.com/press-releases/dream-theater-win-big-in-burrn-magazines-2011-awards/] {{Dead link|date=June 2025|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>
===''Guitar World''=== The album ''Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory'' was ranked No. 95 on the magazine's list of the ''100 Greatest Guitar Albums of All Time''.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}
===''Total Guitar''=== John Petrucci won ''Guitarist of the year award'' in 2007.
===Ultimate Guitar Archive=== In 2009, Dream Theater were placed on the Top 10 in Ultimate Guitar's ''The Greatest Metal Bands of the Decade''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/columns/features/the_top_ten_bands_of_the_decade_metal_continues_to_rule_supreme.html |title=Ultimate Guitar's Best Metal Bands of the Decade! |publisher=ultimate-guitar.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717154132/http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/columns/features/the_top_ten_bands_of_the_decade_metal_continues_to_rule_supreme.html |archive-date=July 17, 2011 }}</ref>
===''Classic Rock'' magazine=== Dream Theater won ''The Spirit of Prog Award'' at the ''Classic Rock Roll of Honour 2009'' in London.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/user/ArtisanNewsService#p/search/4/bWBma2xE4q4 |title=Канал користувача ArtisanNewsService |publisher=YouTube |access-date=July 18, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.classicrockmagazine.com/news/iggy-pop-awarded-living-legend-at-classic-rock-roll-of-honour-2009/ |title=Dream Theater won ''The Spirit of Prog Award'' at Classic Rock Roll of Honour 2009! |publisher=Classicrockmagazine.com |access-date=July 18, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100923220427/http://www.classicrockmagazine.com/news/iggy-pop-awarded-living-legend-at-classic-rock-roll-of-honour-2009/ |archive-date=September 23, 2010 }}</ref> They were also nominated for the ''Album of the Year Award'' for their album, ''Black Clouds & Silver Linings'' in 2009, but lost to AC/DC's ''Black Ice''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.classicrockmagazine.com/news/classic-rock-roll-of-honour-09-nominations/ |title=Classic Rock » Blog Archive » Classic Rock Roll Of Honour '09 Nominations! |publisher=Classicrockmagazine.com |date=June 26, 2009 |access-date=July 18, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100108044300/http://www.classicrockmagazine.com/news/classic-rock-roll-of-honour-09-nominations/ |archive-date=January 8, 2010 }}</ref>
===''Rolling Stone''=== On July 25, 2011, Dream Theater were placed on the list ''"The Best Prog Rock Bands of All Time"'', chosen by the Rolling Stone Magazine's readers poll.<ref name="RollingStone">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/photos/readers-poll-the-best-prog-rock-bands-of-all-time-20110720/0318489 |title=Readers Poll: The Best Prog Rock Bands of All Time |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=July 25, 2011 |author=Greene, Andy |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805023858/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/photos/readers-poll-the-best-prog-rock-bands-of-all-time-20110720/0318489 |archive-date=August 5, 2011 }}</ref>
===MusicRadar=== The MusicRadar readers poll placed Dream Theater amongst ''"The 30 greatest live acts in the world today"'' (as of 2010), peaking at No. 5 on the list, .<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/the-30-greatest-live-acts-in-the-world-today-462684 |title=The 30 greatest live acts in the world today |publisher=MusicRadar.com |date=June 16, 2011 |access-date=July 18, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120921122856/http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/the-30-greatest-live-acts-in-the-world-today-462684 |archive-date=September 21, 2012 }}</ref>
John Myung, from August through September 2010, was voted the greatest bassist of all time. In the same time frame, Mike Portnoy was voted the second best drummer ever, losing out to Joey Jordison. In December 2010, James LaBrie was voted the 15th best frontman of all time (with Axl Rose coming first and Freddie Mercury in second). Jordan Rudess was voted the best keyboardist of all time in a poll conducted from June to July this year, with John Petrucci coming second in a shred-guitarist poll conducted in May this year (losing out to Al Di Meola).
John Petrucci was listed as "Best Prog Rock Guitarist in the World" in 2020 by MusicRadar.<ref name="MR" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Prog Rock Best Guitarist in the World |url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/the-10-best-prog-guitarists-in-the-world-today |website=MusicRadar|date=January 2020 }}</ref>
===''Metal Edge''=== Derek Sherinian was voted "Best Keyboardist" in ''Metal Edge'' magazine's 1998 Readers' Choice Awards.<ref>Metal Edge, August 1999</ref>
===Metal Storm=== The webzine Metal Storm honored Dream Theater with an award in 2009, when ''Black Clouds & Silver Linings'' was voted Best Progressive Metal Album.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metalstorm.net/awards/archive.php?year=2009|title=Metal Storm Awards 2009 – Metal Storm|website=Metalstorm.net|access-date=May 12, 2019}}</ref>
===''The Prog Report''=== On July 13, 2015, ''The Prog Report'' ranked ''Images and Words'' at number 1 on their "Top Prog Albums of the Last 25 Years". Four other Dream Theater albums made the list; ''Scenes from a Memory'' placed at number 3, ''Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence'' at number 14, ''Awake'' at number 18, and ''Train of Thought'' at number 38.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://progreport.com/top-50-prog-albums-1990-2015/ |title=Top 50 Prog Albums 1990–2015 |publisher=The Prog Report |date=July 13, 2015 |access-date=January 30, 2016}}</ref>
===Other recognition=== * At Dream Theater's Salt Lake City show, Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. signed a proclamation making July 30, 2007, "Dream Theater Day".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=77886 |title=Utah Governor Declares Dream Theater Day – July 31, 2007 |access-date=November 2, 2010 |work=Blabbermouth.net |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101004134053/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=77886 |archive-date=October 4, 2010 }}</ref> * Dream Theater were featured twice in the Xbox 360 Game With Fame event. They played ''Halo 3'' in December 2007<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xbox.com/en-US/community/calendar/gamewithfame/2007/1218-dreamtheater-recap.htm|title=Xbox.com – Game with Fame – Game with Fame: Dream Theater Recap|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081015200636/http://www.xbox.com/en-US/community/calendar/gamewithfame/2007/1218-dreamtheater-recap.htm|archive-date=October 15, 2008}}</ref> and ''Call of Duty: World at War'' in June 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xbox.com/en-US/community/calendar/gamewithfame/2009/0620-dreamtheatre.htm|title=Xbox.com – Events – Play Call of Duty: World at War with Dream Theater|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090619014130/http://www.xbox.com/en-US/community/calendar/gamewithfame/2009/0620-dreamtheatre.htm|archive-date=June 19, 2009}}</ref> * In November 2010, Dream Theater was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame.
==References== {{Reflist}}
===Further reading=== * Bredius, Mark. [http://www.dreamtheater.net/ Dream Theater – The official site]. (Retrieved February–April 2005.) * Dixon, Brad et al. [http://faq.dtnorway.com/ Official Dream Theater FAQ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100419070245/http://faq.dtnorway.com/ |date=April 19, 2010 }}. (Retrieved February–April 2005, moved c. 2007.) * {{Cite book|last=Hale |first=Mark |title=Headbangers |year=1993 |publisher=Popular Culture, Ink |location=Ann Arbor, Michigan |edition=First edition, second printing |isbn=1-56075-029-4 |chapter=1731 Majesty}} * Hansen, Scott. (2003). "James LaBrie: As this man thinks". ''Theater of Dreams'' 27/28, pp. 26–30. * Hansen, Scott & Portnoy, Mike. [https://web.archive.org/web/20081220152712/http://www.mikeportnoy.com/dates/tourography.asp?menu=dates Dream Theater Tourography]. (Retrieved February–April 2005.) * King, Brian. (2003). "JaM Progductions! Interview with John Petrucci and Mike Portnoy". ''Theater of Dreams'' 29, pp. 14–20. * Darino, Cosimo (2023) "Dream Theater – La Discografia Internazionale"'','' Roma, Arcana editore. ISBN 978882-772045
==External links== {{Commons category|Dream Theater}} * {{Official website|http://www.dreamtheater.net}} * {{Discogs artist|Dream Theater}} * {{IMDb name|id=4923632}}
{{Dream Theater}} {{Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance}}
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Category:Dream Theater Category:1985 establishments in New York (state) Category:American progressive metal musical groups Category:Atco Records artists Category:Atlantic Records artists Category:Berklee College of Music alumni Category:East West Records artists Category:Elektra Records artists Category:Heavy metal musical groups from New York (state) Category:Inside Out Music artists Category:Musical groups established in 1985 Category:Musical groups from Long Island Category:Musical quintets from New York (state) Category:Progressive rock musical groups from New York (state) Category:Roadrunner Records artists Category:Warner Records artists