Dream Theater Family Tree
This is a project aimed at making it easy to see who inspired the bands you love or even hate. For this I try not to use any influences that the band don’t claim themselves. There will be a focus on predecessors but successors will be added as they site the band. These trees become more and more interactive as new bands are added, allowing you to click any band that has a tree and jump to it.
We want our lists to be better. If you know something that belongs on this list, let us know. When in doubt we will leave it out, so we need reliable sources.
Dream Theater although not the first progressive metal band have become probably the most quintessential and most popular one. The core line up has only had a few changes over the years with Guitarist John Petrucci and bassist John Myung have been with the band since the beginning. Other than the first album, James LaBrie has been on vocals. The fist album had vocalist Charlie Dominici. Mike Portnoy was on drum till 2010 when Mike Mangini took over. Three Keyboardist have been in the band starting with Kevin Moore, Derek Sherinian, and since 1999 Jordan Rudess. All members have been part of the writing process over the years.
Johann Sebastian Bach
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Ludwig van Beethoven
Frédéric Chopin
Franz Liszt
Sergei Rachmaninoff
George Gershwin
Nat King Cole
Buddy Rich
Jimmy Smith
Chick Corea
Rod Stewart
Glenn Hughes
Jan Hammer
Keith Emerson
Allan Holdsworth
Bill Bruford
Paul Rodgers
Elton John
Neal Schon
Rick Wakeman
Patrick Moraz
Steve Gadd
Lou Gramm
Terry Bozzio
Steve Morse / Dixie Dregs
Al Di Meola
Simon Phillips
Vinnie Colaiuta
Dennis Chambers
Horacio Hernandez
Virgil Donati
Jeff Buckly
Petrucci says he doesn’t listen to a lot of classical, but has and it has been an influence. He said he is a fan of John Williams and Hans Zimmer.
Original vocalist Charlie Dominici named early influences as Jimi Hendrix, Cream, Iron Butterfly, Led Zeppelin, The Doors, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones and The Beatles.
I’m uncertain of original keyboardist Kevin Moore’s influences.
Portnoy’s dad was a rock DJ, so he grew up with early rock music. He named Phil Collins and Don Henley as influences for their leadership roles in their bands (Genesis, Eagles). He named Radiohead’s Ok Computer as one of the greatest albums.
Myung played violin 10 years as a kid before picking up bass.
James named favorite composers as Mozart, Vivaldi and Beethoven.
Derek was with the band on keys for a much shorter time than Kevin or Jordan, but did and EP and Album. He is influenced by guitar players as well as key players. After his time with DT he sites influence from composer Béla Bartók.
Jordan says his foundation comes from classic piano. He is also a fan of Sigur Ros, Super Furry Animals, Radio Head, and Porcupine Tree.
Mangini named Ringo, Seraphine, Colomby, Bonham, Peart, Rich and Bazzio (all noted above). He said that he tried to learn everything they did to the best of his ability.
Sources:
https://web.archive.org/web/20141006133221/http://wikimetal.uol.com.br/site/interview-with-john-petrucci-dream-theater/
https://johnpetrucci.com/biography/
https://ultimateclassicrock.com/john-petrucci-dream-theater-interview-2011/
https://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/dream-theaters-john-petrucci-the-11-greatest-prog-rock-albums-of-all-time-548955
https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/dream_theaters_john_petrucci_names_3_albums_that_influenced_him_most_as_guitarist.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfXZr0sP6EM
https://www.musicradar.com/news/interview-john-petrucci-2021
https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/dream-theaters-john-petrucci-on-eddie-van-halen-his-influence-globally-on-the-guitar-community-is-just-unfathomable/
https://www.guitarworld.com/features/john-petrucci-prog-whisperer
https://www.eternal-terror.com/articles/index.php?id=264&type=B
https://www.revolution-inc.dk/tekst/dominici
https://www.mikeportnoy.com/
https://en.beatit.tv/mike-portnoy-talks-about-his-influences/
https://eddietrunk.com/drummer-mike-portnoy-discusses-his-biggest-influences-and-the-winery-dogs/
https://www.loudersound.com/features/mike-portnoy-the-10-albums-that-changed-my-life
http://rockandrollgarage.com/mike-portnoy-reveals-the-10-drummers-that-changed-his-life/
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mike-portnoy/id1541924407?i=1000500966667
https://loudwire.com/mike-portnoy-on-three-double-bass-drum-songs-that-influenced-him/
https://johnmyung.tripod.com/mainpages/john_ty.html
https://web.archive.org/web/20140405033255/http://www.forbassplayersonly.com/Interviews/John-Myung.html
https://dreamtheater.net/band/john-myung/
https://www.musicradar.com/news/james-labrie-my-top-five-vocal-heroes
https://eddietrunk.com/dream-theaters-james-labrie-discusses-the-bands-latest-album-the-hardest-songs-to-sing-live-and-his-favorite-singers/
https://dreamtheater.net/band/james-labrie/
https://www.songfacts.com/blog/interviews/james-labrie-of-dream-theater
http://www.ram.org/music/articles/sherinterview.html
https://meaww.com/derek-sherinian-mmxx-sons-of-apollo-interview-king-of-delusion-bela-bartok-van-halen-influences
https://proglodytes.com/2017/08/04/interview-with-derek-sherinian-dream-theater-planet-x-and-sons-of-apollo/
https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055050/http://www.jordanrudess.com/jordan/faq.html
https://www.goldminemag.com/articles/10-albums-that-changed-jordan-rudess-life
https://renderedgemedia.com/the-maestro-an-interview-with-jordan-rudess-from-dream-theater-part-1-influences/
https://loudwire.com/dream-theater-metallica-jordan-rudess/
https://www.therockpit.net/2018/interview-jordan-rudess-dream-theater-from-bach-to-rock/
https://web.archive.org/web/20180227153546/http://www.dprp.net/wp/interviews/?page_id=1659
https://web.archive.org/web/20141031155451/http://mikemangini.com/MDAug99Interview.htm
https://www.musicradar.com/news/drums/dream-theaters-mike-mangini-my-10-most-influential-drum-albums-553178