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Petrucci

John Petrucci in 2005

John Peter Petrucci (born July 12, 1967) is an American Virtuoso Guitarist and songwriter best known as a founding member of the progressive metal band Dream Theater. Along with his bandmate Mike Portnoy, he has produced all Dream Theater albums since their 1999 release, Scenes from a Memory until 2010, when Portnoy left the band. Following this, Petrucci solely produced releases from 2011 onwards, starting with A Dramatic Turn of Events. Petrucci was named as the third player on the G3 tour six times, more than any other invited guitarist. GuitarOne ranked him as the 9th Greatest Shredder of All Time.

Early life[]

Petrucci grew up in Long Island with his parents and sister, who were also musicians. Petrucci first had an interest in guitar at the age of eight. Noticing that his sister got to stay up past her bedtime to practice the organ, Petrucci decided to take up an instrument as a ploy to stay up late. He chose guitar becuase it "seemed fun" but his plan backfired as his practice sessions were scheduled in the early afternoon. Petrucci abandoned the instrument at this point, but picked it up again at age 12 to join a band along with his friend Kevin Moore. Petrucci started an almost obsessive regimen of practice and exercise, often cited to practice upwards of six hours a day, a regimen he is largely believed to continue to this day. Petrucci noted that he had a hard time convincing his parents to let him go to Berklee, a famous university of musical study, and an even harder time convincing them to let him drop out, to pursue his career with the band that would eventually become Dream Theater.

Berklee and role in Dream Theater[]

Petrucci along with his childhood friend John Myung attended Berklee College , and the two friends came across Mike Portnoy, another Long Island native who shared an interest in progressive and metal music. The three struck up an immediate friendship and, along with another high school friend Kevin Moore on keyboards and Chris Collins on vocals, and started a band, "Majesty," later known as Dream Theater based on their mutual influences.

Petrucci's role in Dream Theater can best be described as a "co-leader" along with Portnoy, whom he had been known to defer to in certain cases. Petrucci's influence in the band, particularly songwriting, is vast, perhaps only secondary to Portnoy due to the drummer's more vocal approach.

Relationship with musicians and fans[]

To many, Petrucci seems like the more quiet counterpart to Mike Portnoy, seeming to be an amiable yet reserved individual. Petrucci has working relationships with many musicians, though if he has any friendships with them, they are kept private.

Petrucci's relationship with his fans is also reserved. As opposed to Portnoy, who goes out of his way to converse and meet with fans, Petrucci does not seek them out, however fans have noted him to be approachable and amiable in person. Petrucci, like Portnoy has a website with a forum, however his posts are infrequent and usually related only to his music.

Personal Life[]

Very little is known about Petrucci's personal life, as he chooses to live privately. He has a wife, Rena Petrucci as well as three children; Remy, Kiara and SamiJo. It is likely that Petrucci's strict regimen of exercise and practice keeps him from having very much spare time, though he does reportedly enjoy video games. Petrucci is also known to be religious, a practicing Catholic, something that is often reflected in his lyrics.

Other Skills[]

Although Petrucci is primarly known as a guitarist, he has other skills as well. Like with Portnoy, Petrucci is a skilled songwriter and lyricist, writing most of the lyrics for Dream Theater songs, far more than any other member. He co-produced every Dream Theater album from Scenes From a Memory to Black Clouds & Silver Linings until Portnoy's departure in 2010, when Petrucci produced their proceeding album A Dramatic Turn of Events by himself. He also performs backing vocals, both live and in the studio, and has done so since the Awake tour.

Back in 1997, when Dream Theater performed as Nightmare Cinema, Petrucci played drums. However, his skill are seen as minimal, his overly zealous technique lead to him tiring himself completely out after one short song, much to Portnoy's amusement.

Influences, awards and other accomplishments[]

Petrucci is a largely self-taught guitarist who developed his skills through attempts to match the skill of his idols, who included Steve Morse, Steve Howe, Steve Vai, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Al Di Meola, Alex Lifeson and Allan Holdsworth. He has jokingly referred to his guitar idols as "the Steves and the Als".

Petrucci has released a guitar instructional video, "Rock Discipline", which covers warm up exercises, exercises to avoid injury while playing, alternate picking, sweep picking, chords and other techniques for developing one's guitar playing. Petrucci also has a book named "Guitar World presents John Petrucci's Wild Stringdom", which was compiled from columns he wrote for Guitar World magazine, bearing that same title.

In 2001 he was invited by Joe Satriani and Steve Vai to tour with them on the popular G3, which exposed him to a massive number of new fans and inspired him to record a solo album. Suspended Animation was released on March 1, 2005, and made available for order from his web site. He also appeared on the 2005, 2006 and 2007 G3 tours.

Petrucci also wrote and recorded two instrumental soundtrack songs for a Sega Saturn game titled Digital Pinball: Necronomicon. Each track is roughly two minutes long and they are simply titled "Prologue" and "Epilogue". Petrucci is an avid Sega Saturn gamer, and has revealed in interviews that he never tours without one.

In 2007, Petrucci went on G3 tour again, this time with Joe Satriani and Paul Gilbert.

Petrucci won the "Guitarist of the Year 2007" award recently in Total Guitar Magazine.

He is a voting member of National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

Written Lyrics[]

Petrucci, as well as his skills as a guitar player, is also known for the lyrics he has written. By far, he has written the most lyrics for the band, with at least three songs per album, if not more. Petrucci mostly writes about fictional experiences and stories (for example, The Dark Eternal Night is written about a pharaoh who comes back to life to wreak havoc, and borrows some elements from an H.P. Lovecraft story.), but he has written about personal experiences in his life as well. (For example, A Nightmare to Remember was written about a car crash he was in with his family when he was little, and Another Day was dedicated to his father, died of cancer)

The songs he has written lyrics for are shown below, and listed by album.

When Dream And Day Unite[]

  1. A Fortune in Lies
  2. Status Seeker (co-written with Charlie Dominici)
  3. The Killing Hand
  4. The Ones Who Help to Set the Sun

Images and Words[]

  1. Another Day
  2. Take the Time (co-written with Dream Theater)
  3. Metropolis Part 1
  4. Under a Glass Moon

Awake[]

  1. Caught in a Web (co-written with James LaBrie)
  2. Innocence Faded
  3. Voices
  4. The Silent Man
  5. Scarred

Falling Into Infinity[]

  1. You Not Me (co-written with Desmond Child)
  2. Peruvian Skies
  3. Hollow Years
  4. Lines in the Sand
  5. Take Away My Pain

Metropolis, Pt 2: Scenes From a Memory[]

  1. Scene One: Regression
  2. Scene Three: I. Through My Words
  3. Scene Four: Beyond This Life
  4. Scene Five: Through Her Eyes
  5. Scene Eight: The Spirit Carries On

Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence[]

  1. Misunderstood
  2. The Great Debate
  3. Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence (co-written with Mike Portnoy)
    • II. About to Crash
    • V. Solitary Shell
    • II. About to Crash (Reprise)
    • VI. Losing Time/Grand Finale

Train of Thought[]

  1. As I Am
  2. Endless Sacrifice
  3. In the Name of God

Octavarium[]

  1. The Answer Lies Within
  2. These Walls
  3. I Walk Beside You
  4. Panic Attack
  5. Octavarium (co-written with Mike Portnoy and James LaBrie)
    • I. Someone Like Him
    • V. Razor's Edge

Systematic Chaos[]

  1. In the Presence of Enemies: The Heretic and the Dark Master (parts 1 and 2)
  2. Forsaken
  3. The Dark Eternal Night
  4. The Ministry of Lost Souls

Black Clouds and Silver Linings[]

  1. A Nightmare to Remember
  2. A Rite of Passage
  3. Wither
  4. The Count of Tuscany

A Dramatic Turn of Events[]

  1. On the Backs of Angels
  2. Build Me Up, Break Me Down
  3. Lost Not Forgotten
  4. This is the Life
  5. Bridges in the Sky
  6. Outcry
  7. Breaking All Illusions (co-written with John Myung)
  8. Beneath the Surface

Dream Theater[]

  1. The Enemy Inside
  2. The Looking Glass
  3. The Bigger Picture
  4. Behind the Veil
  5. Along for the Ride
  6. Illumination Theory

The Astonishing[]

John Petrucci conceived the idea of the story for The Astonishing, and as a result, wrote the lyrics for every track on this album.

Distance Over Time[]

  1. Untethered Angel
  2. Paralyzed
  3. Barstool Warrior
  4. Pale Blue Dot

A View from the Top of the World[]

  1. Invisible Monster
  2. Sleeping Giant
  3. Transcending Time
  4. A View from the Top of the World

Skills[]

Petrucci is respected for his variety of guitar styles and skills. One of the most notable of these is his high speed alternate picking which, as he himself claims, requires a "strong sense of synchronization between the two [playing] hands." 

Equipment[]

Studio Albums[]

Live[]

  • I&W Tour - Mesa Boogie Triaxis Preamp (x2), Mesa Boogie Stereo Simul-Class 2:Ninety Power Amp (x2), Lexicon PCM70 (x1), Samson Wireless Unit (x1), TC Electronic 2290 (x1), TC Electronic 1140 HS Parametric EQ/Preamplifier (x1), Mesa Boogie Matrix Midi Switching (x1), Mesa Boogie Abacus (x1).
  • Waking Up The World Tour - Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ (x1), Mesa Boogie Triaxis (x2), Mesa Boogie Stereo Simul-Class 2:Ninety Power Amp (x2), TC Electronic 2290 (x1), Lexicon PCM70 (x1), Dunlop Rack Wah (x1), Custom Mark Snyder Rack Interface (x1), Alesis Data Dump (x1), Mesa Boogie Matrix Midi Switching (x1), Mesa Boogie Abacus (x1), Furman Power Conditioner (x2). Mesa Boogie Traditional Rectifier 4x12 Cabinets With Vintage 30 Speakers (x4). Dunlop DCR-IFC Wah Controller, Ernie Ball 25k Stereo Volume Pedal (x2).
  • Touring Into Infinity - Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ (x1), Mesa Boogie Mark IV (x1), Mesa Boogie Rackmount Dual Rectifier (x2), Mesa Boogie Triaxis (x1), Mesa Boogie Stereo Simul-Class 2:Ninety Power Amp (x2), Mesa Boogie High Gain Amp Switcher (x1), Mesa Boogie Matrix Midi Switching (x1), Furman Power Conditioner (x4), Custom Rack Interface (x3), TC Electronic 2290 (x1), Lexicon PCM80 (x2), Dunlop Rack Wah (x1), DBX 166A Compressor/Noise Gate (x1).
  • Scenes From NY - Mesa Boogie Triaxis (x1), Mesa Boogie Formula Preamp (x1), Mesa Boogie Mark IV (x1), Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ (x1), Mesa Boogie Rackmount Dual Rectifier (x1), Mesa Boogie Stereo Simul-Class 2:Ninety Power Amp (x2), Dunlop Rack Wah (x1), Voodoo Lab GCX Audio Switcher (x3), Digital Music Corp Stereo Line Mixer (x2), TC Electronic 2290 (x1), Mesa Boogie High Gain Amp Switcher (x2), Custom Rack Interface (x3), Furman Power Conditioner (x4), Lexicon PCM70 (x1), Lexicon PCM80 (x1). Custom Audio Electronics RS-10 Midi Foot Controller (x1) with Custom Audio Electronics RS-10 Expander Module (x2), Dunlop DCR-IFC Wah Controller (x1), Ernie Ball 25k Stereo Volume Pedal (x3). Mesa Boogie Traditional Rectifier 4x12 Cabinets (x6).
  • World Tourbulence - Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ (x3), Mesa Boogie Nunya Preamp Custom Made for John (x1), Dunlop DCR-1SR Rack Wah (x1), Eventide DSP7000 (x1), DBX 166A Compressor/Limiter (x1), TC Electronic M2000 (x1), TC Electronic M3000 (x1), TC Electronic 2290 (x2), Digital Music Corp Dual Stereo Line Mixer (x1), Digital Music Corp GCX Audio Switcher (x1), Korg DTR-1 Digital Tuner (x1), Mesa Boogie High Gain Amp Switcher (x1), Furman PL-Pro Power Conditioner (x1), Furman AR-Pro AC Line Regulator (x1), Custom Rack Interface by Mark Snyder, Ernie Ball Volume Pedals (x3), Fulltone Fulldrive 2 Overdrive (x1), Custom Audio Electronics RS-10 Midi Foot Controller with Expansions, MXR Phase 90 (x1), Axess Electronics CFX4 Control Function Switchers (x2), Framptone Talk Box through a Mesa Boogie Nomad, Mesa Boogie Traditional Rectifier 4x12 Cabinets With Celestion Vintage 30 Speakers (x2).
  • Train of Thought Tour - Mesa Boogie Road King (x3), Mesa Boogie Lonestar (x2), Digital Music Corp Stereo Line Mixer (x1), TC Electronic 2290 (x2), TC Electronic M3000 (x2), TC Electronic G-Force (x1), Eventide DSP7000 (x1), DBX 266XL Compressor/Noise Gate (x1), Mesa Boogie High Gain Amp Switcher (x1), Dunlop CryBaby Custom Shop Rack Wah (x1), Custom Mark Snyder Interface (x1), Furman AR-Pro AC Line Regulator (x1). Mesa Boogie 2x12 Cabinets (x2), Mesa Boogie 4x12 Cabinets (x2). Skrydstrup SC-1 with XT Extension Module (x1), Dunlop DCR-IFC Wah Controller (x1), Ernie Ball 25k Stereo Volume Pedal (x1), Boss TU-2 Tuner (x1), Boss Digital Delay Pedal (x1). Custom Steel Diamond Plate Foot Rests (x2).
  • Octavarium Tour - Mesa Boogie Road King (x3), Mesa Boogie Lonestar (x2), Digital Music Corp Stereo Line Mixer (x2), TC Electronic 2290 (x2), TC Electronic M3000 (x2), TC Electronic G-Force (x1), Eventide DSP7000 (x1), DBX 266XL Compressor/Noise Gate (x1), Boss DS-1 Distortion Pedal (x1), Boss PH-3 Phaser Pedal (x1), Boss TR-2 Tremolo Pedal (x1), Mesa Boogie High Gain Amp Switcher (x1), Dunlop CryBaby Custom Shop Rack Wah (x1), Custom Mark Snyder Interface (x1), Furman AR-Pro AC Line Regulator (x1). Mesa Boogie 2x12 Cabinets (x2), Mesa Boogie 4x12 Cabinets (x2). Skrydstrup SC-1 with XT Extension Module (x1), Dunlop DCR-IFC Wah Controller (x1), Ernie Ball 25k Stereo Volume Pedal (x1), Boss TU-2 Tuner (x1). Custom Steel Diamond Plate Foot Rests (x2).
  • Score - Mesa Boogie "Nunya" Preamp Custom Built for John (x1), Mesa Boogie Formula Preamp (x1), Mesa Boogie Rectifier Stereo 2:One Hundred Power Amp (x1), Dunlop Rack Wah (x1), TC Electronic 2290 (x1), TC Electronic M3000 (x2), Eventide DSP7000 (x1), MXR EVH Phaser (x1), MXR Wylde Overdrive (x1), DBX 266XL Compressor/Noise Gate (x1), DOD SR830QX Dual 15 Band Graphic EQ (x1). Skrydstrup Power Conditioner (x2), Skrydstrup Preamp Switcher (x1), Skrydstrup Effects Switcher (x1), Skrydstrup Custom Rack Interface (x2). Custom Steel Diamond Plate Foot Rests (x2).
  • 2005 G3 Tokyo - Dual Rectifier (x2) Road King (x2)
  • 2007 G3 tour - Mesa Boogie Mark IV (x2), Mesa Boogie Formula Preamp (x1), Mesa Boogie High Gain Amp Switcher (x1), Digital Music Corp Stereo Line Mixer (x1), Dunlop Rack Wah (x1), DBX 166A Compressor/Noise Gate (x1), Boss DS-1 (x1), MXR Stereo Chorus Pedal (x1), MXR EVH Flanger (x1), MXR EVH Phaser (x1), TC Electronic 2290 (x1), TC Electronic M3000 (x1), Eventide DSP7000 (x1), Axess Electronics Switchers. Axess Electronics FX-1 Midi Foot Controller w/Extension Module (x1), Boss TU-2 Tuner (x1), Dunlop DCR-IFC Wah Controller (x1), Ernie Ball 25k Stereo Volume Pedal (x1).
  • 2007 Systematic Chaos Tour (A Rig) - Mesa Boogie Mark IV (x2), Mesa Boogie Lonestar (x1), Korg DTR-1 Rack Tuner (x1), Dunlop DCR-2SR Rack Wah (x1), DBX 266XL Compressor/Noise Gate (x1), Mesa Boogie High Gain Amp Switcher (x1), Keeley Modded Boss TR-2 Tremolo Pedal (x1), MXR EVH Flanger (x1), Keeley Modded Ibanez TS-9 Tube Screamer (x1), MXR EVH Phaser (x1), Hermida Tech Zendrive (x1), MXR Wylde Overdrive (x1), MXR Stereo Chorus (x1), Boss DS-1 (x1), Eventide Timefactor Delay Pedal (x1), TC Electronic 2290 (x1), TC Electronic M3000 (x1), Eventide DSP7000 (x1), Digital Music Corp Stereo Line Mixer (x1), Mesa Boogie Rectifier Power Amp (x1), Furman AR-Pro AC Line Regulator (x1), Axess Electronics CFX-4 (x3), Axess Electronics GRX-4 (x2), Voodoo Lab Pedal Power (x2), Framptone A/B Box (x1), Radial JD-1 Passive DI Box (x1). Axess Electronics FX-1 Midi Foot Controller w/Expander (x1), Dunlop DCR-IFC Wah Controller (x1), Ernie Ball 25k Stereo Volume Pedal (x1), Boss TU-2 Tuner (x1), Easy Button (x1). Mesa Boogie Traditional Rectifier 4x12 Cabinets with Celestion Vintage 30 Speakers (x6). Custom Steel Diamond Plate Foot Rests (x2).
  • 2007 Systematic Chaos Tour (B Rig) - Mesa Boogie Mark IV (x2), Mesa Boogie Formula Preamp (x1), Mesa Boogie High Gain Amp Switcher (x1), Digital Music Corp Stereo Line Mixer (x1), Dunlop Rack Wah (x1), DBX 166A Compressor/Noise Gate (x1), Boss DS-1 (x1), MXR Stereo Chorus Pedal (x1), MXR EVH Flanger (x1), MXR EVH Phaser (x1), TC Electronic 2290 (x1), TC Electronic M3000 (x1), Eventide DSP7000 (x1), Axess Electronics Switchers. Axess Electronics FX-1 Midi Foot Controller w/Extension Module (x1), Boss TU-2 Tuner (x1), Dunlop DCR-IFC Wah Controller (x1), Ernie Ball 25k Stereo Volume Pedal (x1). This rig is the same as the 2007 G3 Tour Rig.
  • Liquid Tension Experiment 10th Anniversay Reunion Tour - Mesa Boogie Mark IV (x2), Mesa Boogie High Gain Amp Switcher (x1), Dunlop DCR-2SR Rack Wah (x1), MXR EVH Flanger (x1), MXR EVH Phaser (x1), TC Electronic 2290 (x1), Digital Music Corp Stereo Line Mixer (x1), DBX 266XL Compressor/Noise Gate (x1), Keeley Modded TS-9DX (x1), TC Electronic M3000 (x1), Eventide DSP7000 (x1). Mesa Boogie Traditional Rectifier 4x12 Cabinets (x2). Dunlop DCR-IFC Wah Controller (x1), Ernie Ball 25k Stereo Volume Pedal (x1). Axess Electronics FX-1 Midi Foot Controller w/Expander (x1), Boss TU-2 Tuner (x1).
  • 2009-2010 Black Clouds and Silver Linings Tour - Mesa Boogie Mark V (x3), Voodoo Lab GCX Switcher (x1), Korg DTR-2000 Rack Tuner (x1), Dunlop DSR-2SR Rack Wah System (x1), TC Electronic C400XL Compressor/Gate (x1), Keeley Modded Tube Screamer (x1), MXR EVH Flanger (x1), MXR EVH Phaser (x1), TC Electronic 1210 Spatial Expander/Stereo Chorus/Flanger (x1), TC Electronic M3000 Reverb/Delay (x3), Eventide H7600 Harmonizer (x1), Custom Patch Bay for Pedalboard Connections (x1), Furman AR Pro Power Conditioner (x1), Mesa Boogie High Gain Amp Switcher (x1), Axess Electronics GRX4 Audio Switcher for Pedal and Effects Switching (x3), Axess Electronics CRX4 Control Function Switcher (x1), Furman Aura Pedal (x1), Radial DI Box (x1). Axess Electronics FX-1 Midi Foot Controller w/Expander (x1), Dunlop DCR-IFC Wah Controller (x1), Ernie Ball 25k Stereo Volume Pedal (x1), Boss TU-2 Tuner (x1). Mesa Boogie Traditional Rectifier 4x12 Cabinets with Celestion Vintage 30 Speakers and Custom Grills (x8). Custom Steel Diamond Plate Foot Rests (x2).
  • A Dramatic Tour of Events - Mesa Boogie Mark V (x2), Fractal Audio Axe-Fx II (x1), Dunlop DCR-2SR Rack Wah, Mark Snyder Custom Rack Interface (x1), Axess Electronics Switchers, Framptone A/B Box (x1), Keeley Modded TS-9DX (x1), Analog Man King of Tone (x1), Analog Man TS808 Mod (x1), Boss PH-3 Phaser (x1), MXR EVH Flanger (x1), Carl Martin Compressor (x1), Furman AR-Pro Power Conditioner. Axess Electronics FX-1 Midi Foot Controller (x1), Dunlop DCR-IFC Wah Controller (x2), Ernie Ball 25k Stereo Volume Pedal (x1), Boss TU-3 Tuner (x1), Custom Steel Diamond Plate Foot Rests with Buttkicker Drivers (x2). Mesa Boogie Traditional Rectifier 4x12 Cabinets with Celestion Vintage 30 Speakers (x3), Mesa Boogie Traditional Rectifier 2x12 Cabinets with Buttkicker Drivers (x3).

Discography[]

With Dream Theater[]

Studio Albums[]

Solo Albums[]

Extended Plays[]

Live Albums[]

Compilations[]

Fan Club CDs[]

Official Bootlegs[]

Demo Series[]
Live Series[]
Studio Series[]
Covers Series[]

With Liquid Tension Experiment[]

Others[]

  • 1997 - Dragon Attack A tribute to Queen
  • 1998 - Guitar Battle Various artists
  • 1998 - Age of Impact With Explorers Club
  • 1998 - Wicked With John Finn Group
  • 2000 - An Evening with John Petrucci and Jordan Rudess Live Album
  • 2001 - Feeding the Wheel with Jordan Rudess
  • 2005 - G3: Live in Tokyo with Steve Vai and Joe Satriani
  • 2006 - Blood of the Snake with Derek Sherinian
  • 2006 - Loudspeaker with Marty Friedman

Videos[]

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