Dream Theater

Mike Portnoy will be visiting Sabian's chatroom on Thursday, May 27th, 1999 at 9 - 10 pm EST. You will need to register as a "Zone" member, to be able to be at this chat. Once you get to Sabian's site, click on "Sabian Zone" in the top right corner. After you've entered, click on the "Non Members" link to register your nickname for the chat.

"MIKE PORTNOY - Up Close and In Person!
Tuesday, May 27 - 9 - 10 p.m. Eastern Standard Time

A 'drummers drummer' for the 90's and beyond, Mike Portnoy is one of the most popular, influential and important players in the world today. With riveting double kick drumming and rapid sticking he has powered progressive rockers Dream Theater into the upper echelons of the global music scene. Mike found real inspiration in the music of Rush, Genesis and Frank Zappa. Hit recordings with Dream Theater include Images and Words, Live at the Marquee, Awake, A Change of Seasons and Falling into Infinity. The disc Liquid Tension Experiment sees him in the role of leader, composer and player, driving an all-star lineup comprising bassist Tony Levin, keyboardist Jordan Rudess, and guitarist John Petrucci. Mike has also proven to be very popular in the Modern Drummer readers' polls, with chart-topping results like #1 Up & Coming Drummer (94); #1 Progressive Rock Drummer (95, 96, 97, 98, 99); #1 Recorded Performance (95 - Awake, 96 - A Change of Seasons, 98 - Falling into Infinity).

Don't forget to visit the chatroom in the Zone April 27th for David Garibaldi and May 27th for Mike Portnoy. You will need to be a Zone member, so register now! Chat with David and Mike while they are visiting the SABIAN factory."

Marlene & myself are proud to announce the birth of our second child and first son:

Max John Portnoy

Sunday March 7th, 1999 at 12:37pm
8 lbs, 13 oz in weight and 20 1/2" in length

Please excuse the delirious parents if they can't reply to phone calls or emails for about a week or so....we've got some re-adjusting to do!!!!

Mike Portnoy
3/7/99 SK - RIP

Metal Maniacs magazine will be featuring Dream Theater in their upcoming March 2000 issue, which will be on-sale starting December 21st, 1999.

Official Dream Theater fanclub members can expect their fanzine and Christmas CD in the first half of January, 2000. Due to a delay with the pressing of the CDs, it will unfortunately not be possible to meet the "Christmas deadline". Don't worry, it'll be well worth the wait!

"IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!

After nearly six years of succesfully running the Dream Theater International Fanclub Neil Elliott has decided time has come to move on to pastures new.

As a result, the entire fanclub set up will from now on be dealt with by us, the Dutch fanclub "Theater Of Dreams". Although the fanzine's name will be changed into "Theater Of Dreams", there's no need for current subscribers of "Images And Words" to worry. The fanclub's name will remain Dream Theater International Fanclub and we will honour all existing subscriptions. You will not miss out on the number of issue's that you are subscribed to. If you are a member of both fanclubs, we will put the number of issues you paid for together and change your membership accordingly. Our fanzine will be in English, on A5 sized glossy paper and in full colour. "The best fuckin' DT fanzine in the world", according to Mike, so there you go.

Our address is

D.T.I.F.C
P.O Box 1597
2003 BP Haarlem
HOLLAND

Regarding payments:

For 4 fanzines and the highly exclusive FREE Xmas-cd members outside of Holland pay the following:

European: 45 Dutch Guilders
Rest of the World: 50 Dutch Guilders

This can be made payable through Eurocheques IN GUILDERS, International Money Orders IN GUILDERS or by sending cash IN GUILDERS OR AMERICAN DOLLARS(Europe 23$ / Row 25$). We cannot be held responsible for any losses, so if people send in cash they should do it by Registered Mail. If not, then it's their own risk they are taking.

For American fans an American address and way of payment is currently under construction. Details follow as soon as possible.

We thank Dream Theater for their trust in us and of course Neil for his dedication, time and efforts he put into the creation of the D.T.I.F.C and for the good collaboration. Although we will undoubtedly stay in touch for a while we'd like to say: "Thanks a lot! We wish you lots of success in the future. Gonna miss you, bro'!"

Jordan Rudess will be doing a chat session for the Artist Shop on Sunday, February 21st, 1999 at 3pm eastern/12 noon pacific:

We have a new chat on the schedule. Keyboard Wiz Jordan Rudess will be joining us on Sunday, February 21st at 3pm eastern/12 noon pacific. Jordan Rudess is one of the hottest new keyboardists on the progressive music scene today. It was made official in 1994 when the readers of Keyboard Magazine voted him best new talent. They made that honor all the more significant by giving him second place in the best overall keyboardist category right behind Keith Emerson! Jordan's tastes have proven very diverse as he has worked with the likes of Vinnie Moore, Jan Hammer, Tony Williams, the Paul Winter Consort, Rhonda Larson, the Dixie Dregs, Rod Morgenstein, Liquid Tension Experiment, Annie Haslam, and many more. And just last month he accepted a gig as the newest member of Dream Theater much to the absolute delight of DT fans everywhere!

Jordan will be discussing this new phase in his career, the recent LTE gigs and recordings for their next album, as well as taking questions from the fans. Again, information on joining the chat can be found at here.

January 18th, 1999
For immediate release:

Dream Theater changes keyboard player

It is with much personal sadness that Dream Theater announce their decision to part ways with keyboardist Derek Sherinian.

Drummer Mike Portnoy: "Derek's contributions to the band both musically and personally over the last 4 years is something that we will always treasure and we will all miss.
He will always be a part of the Dream Theater family."

"With the recent release of our live CD & video, it seemed the right time to close this chapter and begin a new one..."

His replacement will be Jordan Rudess, who was once a touring member of the Dregs and has recently collaborated with Mike Portnoy & John Petrucci in their Liquid Tension Experiment project.

"After our experiences of working with Jordan in LTE, we came to the decision that his playing, writing and personality was more representative of where we would like to take Dream Theater into the 21st century."

"We wish for nothing but the best in the world for Derek as we hope to always remain friends with him. We're sure that he will continue to succeed in the music business as he always has, and wish him luck with whomever he decides to play with next."

Dear Sirs,

"Italian Dreamers, the Official Italian Fan Club of Dream Theater is proud to announce:
"Spirit Carries On" Official Dream Theater Party
26th of October 1999
Psycho Circus Rock Club
Bologna
Italy

In occasion of italian leg of guitar clinic by John Petrucci, the "Italian Dreamers" takes the occasion of having one of the most charismatic and popular axe-man during the same day that the new record of Dream Theater worldwide hits the road.
Following the guitar clinic, that will take place in the afternoon, "Italian Dreamers" organised a night party in the famous "Psycho Circus Rock Club" with John Petrucci as special guest, pre listening of the new DT masterpiece and guitar jam session with famous italian artists.
See ya there!!!
Italian Dreamers Staff"