JP...
I just wanted to say THANK YOU...for the awesome Father's Day Message you sent out...
The thoughts and emotions carried in and through your message...and the responses from members of other bands that echoed the same sentiments on the "main grounding force" in their lives displayed an undeniably significant impact on what family is and what being a "Dad" means.
No matter what calling an individual chooses and follows for his life's pathway...whether in business, military service, professional sports, or other calling...your comments and those of some of your counterparts illuminated and reaffirmed the importance and meaning of my 2 daughters to me...the amazing gifts and blessings that they are...and the incredible value they bring to my life. This is what makes me want to do everything I can...to be the BEST Dad I can for them...no matter if I am standing right next to them...or half a world away.
Thanks again...for who you are...what you do...and for the example you set and maintain for all to see.
Continued success on your Dramatic Turn of Events Tour...it was AWESOME to see you in Stuttgart, Germany in February...and I look forward to your next CD and tour.
Cheers!
Steve
JL, JM, JP, JR and MM...
Thank You SO MUCH for the TOTALLY AMAZING show you guys presented in Stuttgart, Germany on Wednesday evening!
After seeing you here in October 07 during the Chaos in Motion Tour, I was really looking forward to your return...seeing Mike Mangini play and hearing songs from the new CD live.
This was my wife's first DT concert and she is now as hooked as I am...and she has been talking about you and the show to her colleagues at work!
Before the concert, one of her colleagues read about you on the internet and was amazed that he had never heard of Dream Theater! After we told him about the show, he keeps asking to borrow my CDs...so now he is hooked as well!!!!
The musical genius and magic witnessed during your show is beyond anything I imagined and expected...simply beyond compare. You are all absolute masters of your craft and as I watched you play, I could only smile and shake my head in amazement.
I am thoroughly convinced that the voters that gave YOUR Grammy to the Foo Fighters are in desperate need of a complete awakening of their senses...but the pure musical genius you display is so far beyond and needs not the recognition or validation of a Grammy or any other award.
I am starting to buy the Dream Theater CDs I don't have, so I'll soon own your complete collection.
Thank You again, for the MOST INCREDIBLE concert...we'll be watching and waiting for you to come back...
Take care...safe travels and keep "the long haul" rolling on...
Cheers!
Steve and Kelly
Guys...
Many...Many...Many Congratulations on your Grammy nomination for "On the Backs of Angels".
I was disappointed and perplexed on the winner...but after a few moments of pondering, I came away with this thought: Musical Genius doesn't need validation of and by a Grammy or any other award!!!
Dream Theater is pure and complete musical genius in every form of the term!!!
I am totally excited to see you guys again in Stuttgart, Germany on 15 Feb....and this time I am bringing my new bride with me!!! see you tomorrow night!
Cheers!
Steve
To say that I was blown away by this CD is an epic understatement. Even my new bride, introduced to Dream Theater by me, was touched by the music and lyrics, saying that she saw herself in the music and words…experiencing some of the hardest moments of her life…how she could not express what she felt…even to those closest to her…but how she made it through to experience significant personal victory.
This CD is simply an amazing work of art…touching all of the senses at one time…reaching deep into the soul…painting a picture so vivid and intricate…it is visible through closed eyes.
As surprised as I was to see a new face in the band…and wondering what happened to change what had been so amazing for so long…the addition of drummer Mike Mangini is a breath of fresh air, fitting in so completely…adding his prowess, love of music and feeling to what exists in the other members.
This new magical connection is so awe-inspiring…it is clearly evident in the exquisite layering, synchronization and intricacy that is heard, seen and felt all throughout the CD. After watching the audition DVD, I knew before the end of it that Mike Mangini was the perfect choice for Dream Theater to carry on the vision and purpose they created and have remained true to for over 25 years.
The musical masterpiece that A Dramatic Turn Of Events is, I am more into Dream Theater than previously…and I’ll finally complete the task of owning their entire collection. I am thankful that DT has remained steadfast and true to themselves and the dream, vision and purpose they launched so many years ago. This CD, clearly a statement of this period in their lives… is a testament to the band and the individual members…how they continue on with that shared vision.
I am also thankful for the dedication to the pure musical artistry that Dream Theater is and represents…especially in a time with music flooding the airwaves that is simplistic, containing narrow-minded lyrics, lacking imagination, originality and evidence of real talent, and an ever-increasing trend toward creating cover interpretations of songs created by other artists that fall well short of the mark the originator established.
I am anticipating Dream Theater coming to Stuttgart, Germany in February 2012. My bride and I just got our tickets...See you guys in Stuttgart!!!