Marco Minnemann clinic

Marco Minnemann: ...if I want to try out for the band, and I told them, “Guys, I’m actually not really a big fan of the band. I don't really know too much about you guys.” But they were like, “No, you're a really great drummer. Why don't we play?” So they gave me three songs and I learned them, and those are up to this day the only songs I know of this band! [laughs] But it was fun to play. We started playing and we had a really, really good time. I have to say that was really, really fun. And we had a serious talk. They asked me if I was serious about [joining] the band, Dream Theater has to be number one. If I want to commit, when they call it's number one and everything else, not. And they live on the east coast, I lived on the west coast. I was just about to do the Aristocrats stuff and all my music. They asked me how many records I have, and I said “I don't have any records of you,” so it was a big thing for them. They said, “Well, could you be committed to a band like that?”

To be very honest, they're nice people. I remember it was really cool. I’m happy how it went. Even before we started playing, me and Mike Mangini were talking, and Mike really wanted the gig. He really was so dedicated because he was a teacher at Berklee School and he was looking for a band. He already worked with the guys before and it was the right thing to do. He was completely there, he was literally going, “I would never leave you. This is my chance,” and that's good. That really made sense. The unfortunate thing that I still don't quite understand is I didn't want to be shown in the video, because I was just really having fun with the guys. It was kind of strange. I didn't want to be part of this package.

Translator: Did you know that from before or not?

MM: No. Actually the management promised me if I don't want to be shown they would take it off, but it came out very well. But I said still, “Ah, let's not put it out,” but they just decided [to anyway]. But at the end of the day, people seem to like it, [laughs] so we're all happy. The other thing that is a little bit sad is that John Petrucci just asked me to join the G3 tour, but I am on the road right now here, and also with Steven with a new recording, so we had to laugh. We're like, “Ah!” again. [laughs] We have already a plan for early next year or maybe end of this year with John Petrucci, and maybe Jordan will join us. We keep in mind that we are gonna come up with something. [laughs]

T: A question: maybe a new Liquid Tension Experiment with new musicians?

MM: Yeah, we'll see. I mean you never know. Everyone is so busy with [their] own bands and occupied, and at some point in my life, I decided what I really like. Aristocrats, for example, is my band, this is each of ours band – we all are equal members, we all write songs. That's going very well and that's what I love, and the same with Steven Wilson. These two bands alone and my solo CDs are keeping me up all year. [laughs]