Dream Theater guitarist John Petrucci had a chat with My Global Mind Magazine about performing live and how he achieves that guitar tone. Check it out!
Robert: Are there any songs that you look forward to performing live, songs that still make the hair on your arms stand up?
John: It never gets old, it really doesnt. Songs come alive every night and can be a new experience for someone. You might have someone in the audience who has never seen us before and hearing it for the first time. We are aware of that. You try to play the song better than you had before. They pump you up.
All the way back from playing A Fortune in Lies off the first album is an exciting moment. Fast forward to Dramatic Tour of Events with Breaking all Illusions which is a really great song to play live. Songs from Six Degrees have a ton of energy. Songs like Spirit Carries On really gets the audience moved and on the same page. Its challenging and all so much fun to play.
Robert: Are there any pre-show rituals that you or the band does?
John: We do get together before going on stage and we talk to get our heads in the same place and bond. Youre about to walk on stage and play together for the next few hours so you want to feel connected and make sure that everyone is in the same head space; a good head space. If someone is feeling out of sorts or detached its a great time to bring them in and restate why we are here and what we are trying to do. Many times we talk about the people that have come to enjoy the show. They went through a lot to get here, whatever they needed to work out in their lives; they got babysitters, they traveled, and purchased the tickets. So its up to us to deliver the goods! Were always in that head space about the audience and less about us at that moment.
Robert: Youre an amazing accomplished guitarist, at what point in your career did you realize that your style was truly unique?
John: Its hard to answer that from my own perspective because when Im playing I know where it is coming from and the sources. Guitar players get inward and analytical about their playing but when you start to get positive feedback from other players it makes you think that it is coming together. For me the first time I started hearing comments like that was after Images and Words was released. It seemed like there was a jump from the there for me stylistically. It wasnt something I picked up on it was comments that I received from other people and players.
Robert: Many guitarists are out there talking a lot about guitar tone and chasing tone. How important is tone to you?
John: Im a hopeless tone chaser! [laughing]. I love it and get into the whole thing. I would say the more the better when it is comes to development and marketing. Its actually fun. For some it can be a frustrating thing. There are so many great things out there. Its a depends on the mood Im in, how do I want to change the sound today and what are best pieces of gear that I can use to do that. Its a combination of using your ear and the way you play the instrument. Ive been fortunate to work with companies that I endorse because I love their gear. Whether Music Man, Dunlop, or DiMarizo to me these companies have supported me in such a way thats invaluable. I often think about my Music Man guitars being 100 million percent tailored to my needs as a player and how lucky I am. With all those tools at my disposal, Im 100% into chasing tone and checking out new equipment and geeking out during sound check by taking too much time [laughing]. Getting it exactly perfect for that night! Or in the studio weeks before the band gets in trying to get just the right sound.
Check out the rest of the interview at My Global Mind
