Dream Theater will be headlining a North American tour in April / May of 2008.
Show the press release.
November 5th
2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DREAM
THEATER’S “PROGRESSIVE NATION” featuring OPETH, 3 and BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME
to embark on inaugural tour of North America throughout April & May 2008.
New York progressive metal
pioneers DREAM THEATER are set to unveil their maiden voyage of
“PROGRESSIVE NATION”. A package tour they will headline that will also
feature the talents of OPETH, 3 and BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME.
The tour is the brainchild
of DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Portnoy who explains: “I’ve been
wanting to assemble a package tour like this for many years now. With all of the
festivals and package tours that go through America, I’ve been talking with our
manager and agent for over 10 years now about doing something that focuses on
the more progressive, musician-oriented side of hard rock and metal. I decided
it was time to stop talking the talk, lace up and finally walk the walk”
While DREAM THEATER
co-headlined 2005’s GIGANTOUR along side MEGADETH, as well as
embarking on previous co-headlining runs with both QUEENSRYCHE and JOE
SATRIANI, they have primarily built their 22 year career on the road playing
solely to their own audience. Portnoy comments: “I’ve always prided
myself on personally hand picking new and exciting opening acts for DREAM
THEATER in the past. Bands such as PORCUPINE TREE, SYMPHONY X, SPOCK’S
BEARD, FATES WARNING, PAIN OF SALVATION and KING’S X. In all of these
cases, it was important for me to pick bands that I admire and respect but also
ones that I know our fans will enjoy. And I think playing with DT has helped
expand all of those band’s fanbases as a direct result. I am hoping
PROGRESSIVE NATION will continue to do the same thing in offering an
audience for more daring and experimental acts that otherwise may not get the
mainstream exposure they so rightly deserve.”
Joining the bill for this
inaugural run is Sweden’s legendary OPETH who have been enjoying an ever-growing and
expanding audience of their own for many years now. DT’s Roadrunner Records
label-mates will be ready to unleash their new album come next spring and
PROGRESSIVE NATION should be a great launching pad for their next World Tour
cycle. Guitarist/Vocalist Mikael Akerfeldt adds:
"We’re very excited about this upcoming tour with
DREAM THEATER. It will be the first tour that we’re doing in support of our
upcoming record, and also somewhat of a dream come true personally as I’ve been
a fan of theirs for a long time. It’s quite intimidating to be on the bill with
such amazing musicians but obviously we’ll try and give them a run for their
money and pull out a few nice licks of our own. I guess we’ll need to practice a
little bit for this….how boring! Yet, I can’t wait for this tour to start and
I’m sure we’ll have a blast with the DT guys as well as together with the other
bands on the bill!"
Also on the bill with their
unique blend of pop, funk and hard rock is upstate New York’s 3 who
issued the following statement:
"3 is very pleased to
announce its participation in the PROGRESSIVE NATION tour. For well over
a decade DREAM THEATER has been the vanguard of progressive rock and we
are completely psyched to flex with these heavyweights, playing much of our new
record "The End is Begun". This package will rock and awe fans everywhere
as one of the most important tours of the year. It’s a progressive way of music,
a progressive way of life….welcome to the PROGRESSIVE NATION tour.”
North
Carolina’s BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME are enjoying rave reviews and
critical acclaim for their latest CD “Colors” and are looking forward to
sharing the stage each night with both DREAM THEATER and OPETH.
Vocalist/Keyboardist Tommy Rogers comments: "We are very excited to be
touring with two bands that have been such an integral part of our musical
upbringing. It is a wonderful opportunity to have our music heard by new ears."
DREAM THEATER
are currently in the middle of their “Chaos In Motion” World Tour which
has already traveled extensively throughout
Europe and North America in support of
their latest Roadrunner Records CD “Systematic Chaos”. The World
Tour will continue throughout 2008 hitting Asia, Australia and South America
before concluding with PROGRESSIVE NATION returning to North America in
April/May 2008.
Portnoy
hopes that this first venture of PROGRESSIVE NATION will prove to be a
success that can enable himself and DREAM THEATER to continue the package
into future years and begin a tradition that musicians and fans alike can count
on for quality musicianship and artistic integrity on future tours.
For more information as
well as tour dates to be announced soon, visit: