DREAM THEATER's concert in Paris to be filmed and recorded for future Blu-ray and live album
04-11-2024
During an October 24 appearance on SiriusXM‘s “Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk”, DREAM THEATER‘s founding drummer Mike Portnoy, who rejoined the progressive metal legends in October 2023 after a 14-year absence, was asked if he and his bandmates are recording and filming any of the shows on the current 40th-anniversary European tour for a future release. He responded: “Yeah, we filmed and recorded the big O2, first night of the tour in London, just mainly for posterity and for the archives. But we do have plans to film our show in Paris on November 23 for a live Blu-ray and a live album.
“The thing is we’re gonna be on the road till the end of next year, and the new DREAM THEATER album doesn’t even come out till February, so this world tour is gonna kinda go through two phases,” Mike explained. “The whole first phase, which would be the first six to eight months will be the 40th-anniversary reunion celebration, but at some point mid-next year, we’re gonna transition into a full tour cycle supporting the upcoming album. So even with the live album we’re gonna record in Paris (in November), that’s probably one of two releases that we’ll probably do because we’re gonna wanna do a proper live release once we start playing the new album as well.”
Asked what it was like to play his first show back with DREAM THEATER after 14 years, Portnoy said: “It was surreal. I’ve said this a lot of times already since the reunion was announced, but I have dreamt of that moment, being on stage with the guys for the first time in all these years, I dreamt about it hundreds of times through the last decade or so to, so to actually have gone through those emotions and to be up there and to have the Kabuki drop and there’s 10,000 of the biggest DREAM THEATER fans all gathered in one place to celebrate not only the band’s 40th anniversary, but to celebrate the reunion of this lineup, it was so emotional. I mean, people crying — everywhere I looked, there was people crying, people singing and celebrating. It was just surreal, it was emotional, it was glorious. And I was scared shitless, to be honest. I never get scared before shows, but it was nerve-racking, to be honest… I mean, because there was such such focus on this first show. And we knew there were people coming from all over the world to be a part of the opening night and to have that first experience. And there’s nothing better than seeing the first show on the tour, too, and you don’t know the setlist. So there’s been no spoilers, and from song to song, you’re just wondering what’s gonna be next. But it was really incredible. Like I said, the most hardcore fans from all around the world wanted to be part of this first one to experience it. And the O2 is massive. I mean, that’s where (LED) ZEPPELIN did their reunion show, and that’s where GENESIS did their last show. It’s London’s Madison Square Garden, for all intents and purposes. And it was really one of the greatest nights of my life. I think it was not only a career highlight for DREAM THEATER, but it was a life highlight for all of us as well.”
Portnoy co-founded DREAM THEATER in 1985 with guitarist John Petrucci and bassist John Myung. Mike played on 10 DREAM THEATER albums over a 20-year period, from 1989’s “When Dream And Day Unite” through 2009’s “Black Clouds & Silver Linings”, before exiting the group in 2010. Portnoy returned to DREAM THEATER in October 2023 after being replaced by Mike Mangini, who played with DREAM THEATER across five studio albums and accompanying world tours.
London marked the kick-off concert of DREAM THEATER‘s 2024-2025 40th-anniversary tour. The European leg of the trek — presented as “An Evening With Dream Theater” — will run through November 24 in Amsterdam, hitting cities in numerous countries along the way.
DREAM THEATER will release its sixteenth studio album, “Parasomnia”, on February 7, 2025 via InsideOut Music. The LP marks the band’s first release with Portnoy since 2009’s “Black Clouds & Silver Linings”.
“Parasomnia” was produced by guitarist John Petrucci, engineered by James “Jimmy T” Meslin, and mixed by Andy Sneap. Hugh Syme returns once again to lend his creative vision to the cover art.
The first single, “Night Terror”, is a musical thrill ride captured in the just shy of ten minutes listening experience. A music video for the song — directed by Mike Leonard — is now available.
DREAM THEATER will release their sixteenth studio album, “Parasomnia”, on February 7, 2025 via InsideOut Music. The LP marks the band’s first release with drummer Mike Portnoy since 2009’s “Black Clouds & Silver Linings”. The first single, “Night Terror”, is just shy of ten minutes listening experience. A music video for the song — directed by Mike Leonard — was recently released.
Watch “Night Terror” below.
“Parasomnia” was produced by guitarist John Petrucci, engineered by James “Jimmy T” Meslin, and mixed by Andy Sneap. Hugh Syme returns once again to lend his creative vision to the cover art.
The track listing for “Parasomnia” is:
01. In The Arms Of Morpheus (5:22)
02. Night Terror (9:55)
03. A Broken Man (8:30)
04. Dead Asleep (11:06)
05. Midnight Messiah (7:58)
06. Are We Dreaming? (1:28)
07. Bend The Clock (7:24)
08. The Shadow Man Incident (19:32)
Parasomnia will be available for pre-order here starting October 11th in the following configurations:
Ltd Deluxe Box-set – includes Ltd Deluxe 2CD+Blu-ray Artbook (Incl. CD1: full album, CD2: instrumentals, Blu-ray: Dolby Atmos & 5.1 Surround Sound – mixed by Mark Gittins, High-Resolution Stereo Mixes, animated visualizers for each song created by Wayne Joyner, + 68-page booklet), Ltd Gatefold 180g Dark Green 2LP (feat. alternative cover artwork), Majesty-logo dream catcher keyring, Sleeping mask, Dream journal, 60x60cm poster & hand-numbered, foil-stamped certificate of authenticity. Limited to 3500 copies worldwide.
Ltd Deluxe 2CD+Blu-ray Artbook – (Incl. CD1: full album, CD2: instrumentals, Blu-ray: Dolby Atmos & 5.1 Surround Sound – mixed by Mark Gittins, High-Resolution Stereo Mixes, animated visualizers for each song created by Wayne Joyner, + 68-page booklet)
Gatefold 180g 2LP + 12-page LP-booklet
Special Edition CD Digipak
Digital Album – (incl. Dolby Atmos – mixed by Mark Gittins)
With the excitement around the band’s reunion at a fever pitch, Dream Theater will be embarking on a world tour. An Evening with Dream Theater 40th Anniversary Tour 2024 – 2025 will be the first tour since drummer Mike Portnoy’s return to the lineup joining vocalist James LaBrie, guitarist John Petrucci, bassist John Myung, and keyboardist Jordan Rudess. The tour kicks off October 20th in London, England at the O2 before wrapping up December 22nd in Santiago, Chile. The North American leg is scheduled to kick off on February 7 in Philadelphia, PA and runs through March 22 where it wraps in the band’s hometown of New York City. Dream Theater will be performing classics and fan favorites from their catalog in what promises to be an unforgettable evening of music. More information on all tickets and VIP packages can be found at https://dreamtheater.net/tour/.
An Evening with Dream Theater 40th Anniversary Tour 2024 – 2025
October 20 – London, England – The O2 (Limited Tickets Remain)
October 22 – Berlin, Germany – Uber Eats Music Hall (Limited Tickets Remain)
October 23 – Koln, Germany – Palladium (Sold Out)
October 25 – Milan, Italy – Forum (Limited Tickets Remain)
October 26 – Rome, Italy – Palazzo dello Sport (Limited Tickets Remain)
October 28 – Munich, Germany – Zenith
October 29 – Zagreb, Croatia – Arena Zagreb
October 30 – Bratislava, Slovakia – Incheba Expo Arena
November 1 – Budapest, Hungary – Budapest Arena
November 2 – Prague – Czech Republic – Fortuna Arena
November 3 – Lodz, Poland – Atlas Arena
November 6 – Helsinki, Finland – Metro Areena
November 8 – Stockholm. Sweden – Waterfront (Sold Out)
November 9 – Oslo, Norway – Spektrum (Limited Tickets Remain)
November 10 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Poolen (Limited Tickets Remain)
November 12 – Luxembourg – Rockhal
November 13 – Zurich, Switzerland – The Hall
November 14 – Lyon, France – Halle Tony Garnier
November 16 – Lisbon, Portugal – MEO Arena
November 17 – Madrid, Spain – La Cubierta de Leganés
November 20 – Stuttgart, Germany – Beethovensaal (Sold Out)
November 21 – Frankfurt, Germany – Jahrhundderthalle (Limited Tickets Remain)
November 23 – Paris, France – Adidas Arena
November 24 – Amsterdam – AFAS Live (Sold Out)
December 7 – Mexico City, Mexico – Explanada Estadio Azteca
December 10 – Belo Horizonte, Brazil – Befly Hall
December 13 – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – Vivo Rio
December 15 – Sao Paulo, Brazil – Vibra (Limited Tickets Remain)
December 16 – Curitiba, Brazil – Live Curitiba
December 17 – Porto Alegre, Brazil – Araújo Vianna
December 19 – Buenos Aires, Argentina – Movistar Arena
December 21 – Santiago, Chile – Movistar Arena (Sold Out)
December 22 – Santiago, Chile – Movistar Arena
February 7 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met
February 8 – Raleigh, NC – Martin Marietta Center
February 10 – Nashville, TN – Opry House
February 11 – Atlanta, GA – Coca-Cola Roxy
February 12 – Biloxi, MI – Hard Rock Café
February 14 – Houston, TX – 713 Music Hall
February 15 – Dallas, TX – Texas Trust CU
February 16 – San Antonio, TX – Majestic
February 18 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Center
February 19 – Highland, CA – Yaamava Theater
February 21 – Las Vegas, NV – The Chelsea
February 22 – Los Angeles, CA – YouTube Theater
February 24 – San Jose, CA – San Jose Civic
February 25 – Sacramento, CA – Safe Credit Union Performing
February 27 – Seattle, WA – Moore Theater
February 28 – Portland, OR – Keller Auditorium
March 2 – Reno, NV – Grand Sierra
March 4 – Salt Lake City, UT – Maverik Center
March 6 – Denver, CO – Mission Ballroom
March 8 – Chicago, IL – Chicago Theatre
March 9 – Cleveland, OH – MGM Northfield Park
March 11 – Toronto, ON – Coca-Cola Coliseum
March 12 – Montreal, QC – Place des Arts
March 14 – Wallingford, CT – Oakdale Theater
March 15 – Boston. MA – Boch Center
March 17 – Rochester, NY – Kodak
March 18 – Wheeling, WV – Capitol Theater
March 19 – Cincinnati, OH – Brady Music Center
March 21 – Washington, DC – The Anthem
March 22 – New York, NY – Radio City Music Hall
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