Artist: DREAM THEATER
Album: TRAIN OF THOUGHT (CD)

Release date: 2003
EAN/UPS: 0075596289122
Media type: CD

A new studio album, 'Train Of Thought', produced by John Petrucci and Mike Portnoy, was readied for November issue with European tour dates being announced for January. In the midst of this activity LaBrie was also active with the FRAMESHIFT project, a collaboration with guitarist Henning Pauly of CHAIN resulting in the album 'Unweaving The Rainbow'. 2003 also saw the formation of MADMEN & SINNERS, a collaboration between LaBrie, fretless guitar hero TIM DONAHUE and the ANNIHILATOR, STEVE VAI and EXTREME credited drummer Mike Mangini.

DREAM THEATER established a ticket ranking system for fans for their Spring US dates commencing 3rd March at the Roseland Theater in Portland. Fans could choose to purchase upgrades into bronze, gold or platinum tickets, the latter granting such privileges as a seat in the first five rows, exclusive T shirt, tour laminate, autographed photograph and a meet and greet with the band.

Celebrating their fifteenth anniversary the band put on a very special show on 6th March at the Pantages Theater in Los Angeles. Performing the 'When Dream And Day Unite' album in its entirety, the band would be joined by original singer Charlie Dominici on the songs 'To Live Forever' and 'Metropolis pt. 1', the latter song also featuring erstwhile keyboard player DEREK SHERINIAN.

Fans would be treated with a slew of 'official bootleg' releases through the Ytsejam Records label with 'When Day And Dream Unite Demos 1987-1989', 'Tokyo, Japan 10/28/95' and 'Master Of Puppets - Cover Series'. The band extended their 2004 tour schedule by partnering with Prog-Rock pioneers YES for an Autumn run of US dates. On the 29th October Mike Portnoy manned the drums for East Coast Thrash veterans OVERKILL, performing at a special show for DJ Eddie Trunk's annual Halloween party at The Hard Rock Cafй in New York City.

A 2005 solo album from JAMES LABRIE, 'Elements Of Persuasion', would include contributions in the studio from Italian guitar prodigy Marco Sfogli, KIM MITCHELL, bassist Bryan Beller, Matt Guillory of DALI'S DILEMMA on keyboards and Mike Mangini of EXTREME and ANNIHILATOR repute on drums. JOHN PETRUCCI also put out solo product, the album 'Suspended Animation' also emerging in 2005. Pointedly, DREAM THEATER's own album for 2005, 'Octavarium', would gain the distinction of being the very last album to be recorded at the world famous Hit Factory Studios in New York. During March Jordan Rudess took time out to tour the East Coast with BLACKFIELD, a union of Steven Wilson of PORCUPINE TREE and Israeli singer/songwriter Aviv Geffen. Another recording announcement took fans by surprise, as early singer Charlie Dominici revealed plans for the release of a trilogy set.

A G3 "Mini tour" of Japan in May found Petrucci, utilising a band comprising Dave LaRue on bass and DREAM THEATER's Mike Portnoy on drums, flanking JOE SATRIANI and STEVE VAI. Mike Portnoy also temped for FATES WARNING, manning the drums for their appearance at the 'Headway' festival in Amstelveen, Netherlands on 3rd April 2005. In June Portnoy acted as special guest for New Jersey Thrashers OVERKILL at their 'Sweden Rock' festival appearance, performing on the song ''Elimination'.

DREAM THEATER co-headlined the 'Gigantour' festival trek alongside MEGADETH for US action in late July, topping a bill comprising FEAR FACTORY, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, SYMPHONY X, NEVERMORE, DRY KILL LOGIC and West Virginians BOBAFLEX. The 2nd August 'Gigantour' stop proved memorable when DREAM THEATER's set at the Nokia Live venue in Dallas saw the inclusion of an encore tribute to fallen guitar hero "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott of PANTERA and DAMAGEPLAN. The band performed a rendition of PANTERA's 'Cemetery Gates' with onstage guests Dave Mustaine from MEGADETH, Burton C. Bell of FEAR FACTORY and Russell Allen of SYMPHONY X. DREAM THEATER fulfilled the 'Gigantour' dates until September, when their position was taken by ANTHRAX. Back on European soil, DREAM THEATER performed PINK FLOYD's 'Dark Side Of The Moon' in its entirety as their second set on 11th October at the Heineken Music Hall in Amsterdam. Gigs across South America in December duly wrapped up the year.

During the band's Japanese tour in January 2006 DREAM THEATER used their second night stands in Tokyo and Osaka to perform DEEP PURPLE's 'Made In Japan' in its entirety.

Mike Portnoy assembled AMAZING JOURNEY, a one-off tribute band assembled to pay homage to THE WHO. On vocals would be Gary Cherone, of VAN HALEN and EXTREME repute, with PAUL GILBERT of MR. BIG and RACER X on guitar and BILLY SHEEHAN from MR. BIG, DAVID LEE ROTH, UFO and TALAS on bass. This impressive quartet undertook a brief burst of US shows in May 2006.

John Petrucci partnered with JOE SATRIANI and ERIC JOHNSON to undertake G3 dates in South America during October, reaching into Brazil, Chile, Argentina and Mexico. Petrucci and Satriani then hooked up with STEVE VAI for G3 concerts in Australia in December.

TRACKLIST:

1. As I Am
2. This Dying Soul
3. Endless Sacrifice
4. Honor Thy Father
5. Vacant
6. Stream Of Consciousness
7. In The Name Of God

LINE-UP:

James LaBrie (vocals)
John Petrucci (guitar)
John Myung (bass)
Jordan Rudess (keyboards)
Mike Portnoy (drums)