An Open Letter To Kevin Moore

Kevin

I know your reluctance to be interviewed for anything related to Dream Theater, but I have a proposal . . .

I am putting the finishing touches to a second edition of the Dream Theater biography, Lifting Shadows. As a "journalist" I am always striving to get both sides of the story and without your input it is impossible for me to do. So I have a suggestion. That we arrange to have a two hour phone interview covering off your years in Dream Theater as well as OSI.

But what's in it for me I hear you cry? Well think about it. We do this final interview on Dream Theater. Anyone who ever asks you about the band in the future, you can just suggest they "go read the book". You'd never have to talk about them again.

In exchange, I'm also prepared to make a charitable donation in your name to the charity of your choice in the amount of $500. Pick a charity. New York Firefighters Fund, The Red Cross, Cancer Research or whatever.

All I'm asking is that you at least have a think about it.

I would need to do this in the next three weeks due to deadlines. You can contact me through http://www.rich-wilson.com/ or via Inside Out's UK press representative Dorothy. She has my details . . .

We're Up On Facebook

Hey all

The publishers and myself are up on Facebook under "Dream Theater Book Lifting Shadows"
Add yourself as a friend for all the latest updates on the second edition of the book, and details when we get it as to how you can pre-order and bag yourself a discount!

TransAtlantic Day

Well, I am motoring here to get the text finished for the updated version of the book which we will be releasing later this year. The chapter covering off Black Clouds & Silver Linings is pretty much completed. I just need to add in some details from Donington which is happening next weekend.

This weekend I've been charging through the Dream Theater side-projects, putting all the interviews into some coherent order and knitting the text together. Managed to get through OSI yesterday and most of TransAtlantic today. But there are so many of 'em that I could have written another book on side projects alone. Anyway, I'll keep you posted.

Oh, and last week, after trying for 5 years, I finally spoke on the phone with the ever elusive Kevin Moore. He put the phone down on me after about 11 seconds, but hey, technically I did speak to him. And then people wonder why he's such a "popular" guy . . .

Notes From A Dream Review

Hi all
I should have an update for you on the secnd edition of the Dream Theater book at some point in the next few weeks. We're aiming for a October (ish) release.

In the meantime, I've put together a review of Jordan Rudess' latest solo album, 'Notes From A Dream'. I really can't recommend this album enough. I hope the review doesn't read like a press release, as that wasn't the intention, but this album is simply stunning.


JORDAN RUDESS

"Notes From A Dream"

Jordan Rudess has released an album of his own piano interpretations of Dream Theater songs, and it's mightily impressive stuff. Sifting through the DT back-catalogue and selecting the more mellow tracks, he has re-arranged them and added his own startling flourishes to them. Probably the most notable feature of the album is that he has retained those instantly recognisable melodies from such tracks as 'Hollow Years', 'The Silent Man' and 'The Answer Lies Within' yet arranged them in such a way that they have almost taken on a new and mesmerising identity.

When Jordan is writing and perfoming with Dream Theater, his work is mind-blowing enough. But you have to remember that he is a classically trained performer. And although he unquetionably adores his DT "day job", he also clearly has a insatiable desire to continue to write and perform on the piano. Album's such as 'Notes From A Dream' are merely a reminder of that other half of his musical identity. The melding of the two facets of his work is simply stunning and one that deserves to be heard by a larger audience than just DT fans. Any lover of classical music, would, if they rise above any snobbery against a musician who has made his name in the prog rock field, see the virtues of his work. And there are plenty of comparisons that can be made in the classical world, with tracks like 'Through Her Eyes' having a style that can accurately be described as Dream Theater meets Rachmaninov. It really is that alluring. It would also be intriguing to see how the classical world would view his technique and creations, and I can only hope that a copy of his album has been sent to the likes of Gramophone or International Piano magazine for their appraisal. Such reviews could only be positive and would rightly allow a wider audience access to an album that is elegant, adventurous and the work of a modern day genius.

==

The album can be bought from Jordan directly at http://www.jordanrudess.com/jr/store.html

Head Over To Metal Hammer

for that review . . .

http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/news/dream-theater-album-review-black-clouds-and-silver-linings-track-by-track/

Win Win Win

I knew there was something I'd forgotten to mention. In the current edition of Classic Rock Presents Prog, there's a competition to win a signed copy (me not the band before you get excited) of the limited edition version of Lifting Shadows.

The publishers have put all the details on their website, which you can find here http://essentialworks.co.uk/blog/

Good luck and all that . . .

Nothing To See Here

Well that review won't be appearing here after all. Yesterday I mentioned Metal Hammer are to do their own "First Listen" review and they've kindly asked me to "bosh it out" for them. So look out for it over at their site http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/ in the next day or two. I suppose I'd get my butt in gear and start writing it then . . .