Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 in Boston, Massachusetts. The group comprises John Petrucci (guitar), John Myung (bass), Mike Portnoy (drums), James LaBrie (vocals), and Jordan Rudess (keyboards). Petrucci and Myung are the only constant members throughout the band’s history. Portnoy was a member until 2010, when he departed and was replaced by Mike Mangini; he rejoined the band in October 2023. The band was formed under the name Majesty by Petrucci, Myung and Portnoy while they were attending Berklee College of Music. They later left their studies to focus on music. Early line-up changes included vocalists Chris Collins and Charlie Dominici, the latter performing on the band’s debut album "When Dream and Day Unite" (1989) before being dismissed. James LaBrie joined as vocalist in 1991. Original keyboardist Kevin Moore departed in 1994 and was replaced by Derek Sherinian, who in turn was replaced by Jordan Rudess in 1999. Dream Theater have released sixteen studio albums. Their second album, "Images and Words" (1992), is their highest-selling release and reached number 61 on the Billboard 200. Subsequent albums such as "Awake" (1994) and "Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence" (2002) also charted and received critical attention. Their fifth album, "Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory" (1999), has been cited in industry publications as a notable concept album. By 2018, the band had sold over 12 million records worldwide and had received four Grammy Award nominations, winning one in 2022. Along with Queensrÿche and Fates Warning, Dream Theater are often described as part of the “big three” of progressive metal. The band’s early years included demo recordings later released as "The Majesty Demos" and a name change following a legal dispute. After signing with Mechanic Records, they released "When Dream and Day Unite", though limited promotion and label issues restricted its commercial impact. Following their departure from the label, Dream Theater signed with ATCO Records and released "Images and Words", which achieved commercial success, aided by the single "Pull Me Under". The album was supported by extensive touring and live releases including "Live at the Marquee". In 1994, Dream Theater released "Awake", after which Kevin Moore left the band. Derek Sherinian joined and contributed to the EP "A Change of Seasons" (1995) and the album "Falling into Infinity" (1997), which incorporated a more accessible style following label input. During this period, tensions regarding musical direction were reported. Sherinian was replaced by Jordan Rudess in 1999, and the band released "Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory", a concept album that marked a return to a more progressive style. Subsequent releases included "Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence" (2002), a double album featuring an extended title track, and "Train of Thought" (2003), which adopted a heavier musical approach. The band continued with "Octavarium" (2005), which concluded their contract with Elektra Records, and "Systematic Chaos" (2007), their first release with Roadrunner Records. Their tenth album, "Black Clouds & Silver Linings" (2009), achieved their highest chart position at the time. In September 2010, Mike Portnoy left the band. After auditions, Mike Mangini was selected as his replacement. The first album with Mangini, "A Dramatic Turn of Events" (2011), marked the band’s first Grammy nomination. Subsequent releases included the self-titled album "Dream Theater" (2013) and the concept album "The Astonishing" (2016). In 2019, the band released "Distance Over Time", followed by "A View from the Top of the World" (2021), whose track "The Alien" won a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance. Dream Theater have also released numerous live albums, compilations, and archival material, including the "Lost Not Forgotten Archives" series. They have undertaken multiple world tours and anniversary performances, often playing entire albums live. In October 2023, the band announced the departure of Mike Mangini and the return of Mike Portnoy. The reunion followed a period of renewed collaboration between Portnoy and other members. Recording sessions for the band’s sixteenth studio album began in 2024. The album, "Parasomnia", was released on 7 February 2025 and was preceded by the single "Night Terror". The album’s visual artwork generated discussion regarding its design and production methods. A companion publication, "Parasomnia - The Graphic Album", was later released. Dream Theater continued touring in support of "Parasomnia", including performances of the album in full and selections from their catalogue. In 2025, they released the live album "Quarantième: Live à Paris", recorded during their 40th anniversary tour. Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dream_Theater Studio albums When Dream and Day Unite (1989) Images and Words (1992) Awake (1994) Falling into Infinity (1997) Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory (1999) Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence (2002) Train of Thought (2003) Octavarium (2005) Systematic Chaos (2007) Black Clouds & Silver Linings (2009) A Dramatic Turn of Events (2011) Dream Theater (2013) The Astonishing (2016) Distance Over Time (2019) A View from the Top of the World (2021) Parasomnia (2025) Live albums Live at the Marquee (1993) Once in a LIVEtime (1998) Live Scenes from New York (2001) Live at Budokan (2004) Score (2006) Chaos in Motion: 2007–2008 (2008) Live at Luna Park (2013) Breaking the Fourth Wall (2014) Distant Memories – Live in London (2020) Quarantième: Live à Paris (2025) Official bootlegs The Majesty Demos 1985–1986 (2003) Los Angeles, California 5/18/98 (2003) The Making of Scenes from a Memory (2003) When Dream and Day Unite Demos 1987–1989 (2004) Tokyo, Japan 10/28/95 (2004) Master of Puppets (2004) Images and Words Demos 1989–1991 (2005) The Number of the Beast (2005) When Dream and Day Reunite (2005) Awake Demos 1994 (2006) Old Bridge, New Jersey 12/14/96 (2006) The Dark Side of the Moon (2006) New York City 3/4/93 (2007) Bucharest, Romania – 7/4/02 (2007) Falling into Infinity Demos 1996–1997 (2007) Made in Japan (2007) The Making of Falling into Infinity (2009) Train of Thought Instrumental Demos 2003 (2009) Uncovered 2003–2005 (2009) Santiago, Chile – 12/6/05 (2009) Images and Words: Live in Japan, 2017 (2021) A Dramatic Tour of Events – Select Board Mixes (2021) ...And Beyond – Live in Japan 2017 (2022) Live in Berlin, 2019 (2022) Live at Wacken, 2015 (2022) Live at Madison Square Garden, 2010 (2023) Distance over Time Demos (2018) (2023) Live in Tokyo, 2010 (2026)