John Petrucci
John Peter Petrucci ( born July 12, 1967 in Long Iceland, New York) is the guitarist of the American progressive metal band Dream Theater.
Life
John Petrucci began playing the guitar at the age of eight years, when he wanted to emulate his sister, who also studied at the time an instrument. However, he stopped after a short time again. When he was twelve years old, founded his friend a school band. This prompted him to start again with playing the guitar. Already at this time he met John Myung know that still functions as a bassist of Dream Theater.
To Petrucci most important musical influences include bands such as Yes, Pink Floyd, Rush, Metallica, Iron Maiden and the guitarist Steve Howe, Steve Vai, Alex Lifeson, Al Di Meola, Allan Holdsworth and Steve Morse in particular. In interviews, he referred to his models sometimes jokingly referred to as the "When and Steve ". Petrucci was together with Myung student at Boston's Berklee College of Music, but only one year. There, the two learned Mike Portnoy, with whom she formed the band Majesty, which later Dream Theater was.
John Petrucci is married to Rena Sands and has three children ( Samantha, Reny and Kiara ).
Music
The music of Dream Theater is a mixture of progressive rock with metal influences, the musicians demanded a high concentration, precision and superior technical skills on the instrument because of their speed, their many exceptional rhythm and tempo changes as well as their sophisticated song concepts. Petrucci has become famous through his from the songs the band often out audible virtuoso skills, particularly worthy of mention here is its outstanding alternate picking technique (English alternate picking ). Not least because in it many see one of the most virtuoso rock guitarists in the world.
In addition to Dream Theater Petrucci had, inter alia, also at the Liquid Tension Experiment with instrumental project. In addition, there were the two Dream Theater members Mike Portnoy (drums) and Jordan Rudess (keyboards ) and Tony Levin ( bass), who was involved in numerous other bands ( among others Peter Gabriel and King Crimson). In 2000 he joined with Jordan Rudess on the Helen Hayes Performing Arts Center. From this appearance a recording has been released under the title An Evening with John Petrucci & Jordan Rudess. Also worth mentioning are the three tours with the so-called G3. Petrucci accompanied the renowned guitarist Steve Vai, Joe Satriani and Paul Gilbert in the years 2001, 2005, 2006 and 2007 on tour.
On 1 March 2005 he released his first solo album Suspended Animation.
In 2002, with videotape, DVD and CD commercially available textbook, rock Discipline, Petrucci explains his philosophy of playing the guitar; Furthermore, he gives numerous technology and warm-up exercises guitar students an aid in improving their skills.
Equipment
Since 2000, Petrucci plays his signature Music Man guitars of the company, a 6-string and 7 -string with 24 frets and specially made for him DiMarzio pickups. He also used at concerts sporadically a double neck guitar, whose necks are covered with 12 or 6 strings. He previously played for him -built models from Ibanez. He relates his amplifiers from Mesa / Boogie, he especially appreciates the tonal versatility and consistency. In his live performances, with Dream Theater, usually there are several Mesa / Boogie amplifier towers, consisting of several 4x12 " speakers of the" Mesa / Boogie Traditional Rectifier 4X12 "Cabinet " on stage. Currently, he used the amplifier " Mark V " of Mesa / Boogie, which is associated with some effects processors (such as TC Electronics).