Dream Theater Will Record and Film Their Upcoming Paris Show for Live Album/Blu-Ray
There’s a lot going on in Dream Theater world right now. They’re out touring Europe right now and they’ve got a new album coming in February, but we now know they’re also recording an upcoming show for a future live album and Blu-ray release.
Details of that plan came up during Mike Portnoy’s October 24 appearance on SiriusXM’s Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk (as transcribed by Blabbermouth). When asked directly about whether the band has any plans to record any of their shows, Portnoy said that was the case and that fans should expect something coming from that recording in the future.
“Yeah, we filmed and recorded the big O2, first night [of the tour in London], just mainly for posterity and for the archives. But we do have plans to film our show in Paris [on November 23] for a live Blu-ray and a live album.
“The thing is we’re gonna be on the road till the end of next year, and the new [Dream Theater] album doesn’t even come out till February, so this world tour is gonna kinda go through two phases. The whole first phase, which would be the first six to eight months will be the 40th-anniversary reunion celebration, but at some point mid-next year, we’re gonna transition into a full tour cycle supporting the upcoming album. So even with the live album we’re gonna record in Paris [in November], that’s probably one of two releases that we’ll probably do because we’re gonna wanna do a proper live release once we start playing the new album as well.”
Portnoy, who hadn’t been with the band for 14 years before returning last year, said his first show back with the band was “surreal,” stating that he had “dreamt about it hundreds of times through the last decade or so.”
“It was surreal. I’ve said this a lot of times already since the reunion was announced, but I have dreamt of that moment, being on stage with the guys for the first time in all these years, I dreamt about it hundreds of times through the last decade or so to, so to actually have gone through those emotions and to be up there and to have the Kabuki drop and there’s 10,000 of the biggest Dream Theater fans all gathered in one place to celebrate not only the band’s 40th anniversary, but to celebrate the reunion of this lineup, it was so emotional. I mean, people crying — everywhere I looked, there was people crying, people singing and celebrating.
“It was just surreal, it was emotional, it was glorious. And I was scared shitless, to be honest. I never get scared before shows, but it was nerve-racking, to be honest… I mean, because there was such such focus on this first show. And we knew there were people coming from all over the world to be a part of the opening night and to have that first experience. And there’s nothing better than seeing the first show on the tour, too, and you don’t know the setlist. So there’s been no spoilers, and from song to song, you’re just wondering what’s gonna be next. But it was really incredible. Like I said, the most hardcore fans from all around the world wanted to be part of this first one to experience it. And the O2 is massive. I mean, that’s where [Led] Zeppelin did their reunion show, and that’s where Genesis did their last show. It’s London’s Madison Square Garden, for all intents and purposes. And it was really one of the greatest nights of my life. I think it was not only a career highlight for Dream Theater, but it was a life highlight for all of us as well.”
If you’d like to catch Dream Theater live well before the live album and blu-ray comes out, you cna do so
An Evening With Dream Theater 40th Anniversary Tour 2024 – 2025
November 1 – Budapest, Hungary – Budapest Arena [Tickets]
November 2 – Prague – Czech Republic – Fortuna Arena [Tickets]
November 3 – Lodz, Poland – Atlas Arena [Tickets]
November 6 – Helsinki, Finland – Metro Areena [Tickets]
November 8 – Stockholm. Sweden – Waterfront [Tickets]
November 9 – Oslo, Norway – Spektrum [Tickets]
November 10 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Poolen [Tickets]
November 12 – Luxembourg – Rockhal [Tickets]
November 13 – Zurich, Switzerland – The Hall [Tickets]
November 14 – Lyon, France – Halle Tony Garnier [Tickets]
November 16 – Lisbon, Portugal – MEO Arena [Tickets]
November 17 – Madrid, Spain – La Cubierta de Leganés [Tickets]
November 20 – Stuttgart, Germany – Beethovensaal [Tickets]
November 21 – Frankfurt, Germany – Jahrhundderthalle [Tickets]
November 23 – Paris, France – Adidas Arena [Tickets]
November 24 – Amsterdam – AFAS Live [Tickets]
December 7 – Mexico City, Mexico – Explanada Estadio Azteca [Tickets]
December 10 – Belo Horizonte, Brazil – Befly Hall [Tickets]
December 13 – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – Vivo Rio [Tickets]
December 15 – Sao Paulo, Brazil – Vibra [Tickets]
December 16 – Curitiba, Brazil – Live Curitiba [Tickets]
December 17 – Porto Alegre, Brazil – Araújo Vianna [Tickets]
December 19 – Buenos Aires, Argentina – Movistar Arena [Tickets]
December 21 – Santiago, Chile – Movistar Arena [Tickets]
December 22 – Santiago, Chile – Movistar Arena [Tickets]
February 7 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met [Tickets]
February 8 – Raleigh, NC – Martin Marietta Center [Tickets]
February 10 – Nashville, TN – Opry House [Tickets]
February 11 – Atlanta, GA – Coca-Cola Roxy [Tickets]
February 12 – Biloxi, MI – Hard Rock Café [Tickets]
February 14 – Houston, TX – 713 Music Hall [Tickets]
February 15 – Dallas, TX – Texas Trust CU [Tickets]
February 16 – San Antonio, TX – Majestic [Tickets]
February 18 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Center [Tickets]
February 19 – Highland, CA – Yaamava Theater [Tickets]
February 21 – Las Vegas, NV – The Chelsea [Tickets]
February 22 – Los Angeles, CA – YouTube Theater [Tickets]
February 24 – San Jose, CA – San Jose Civic [Tickets]
February 25 – Sacramento, CA – Safe Credit Union Performing [Tickets]
February 27 – Seattle, WA – Moore Theater [Tickets]
February 28 – Portland, OR – Keller Auditorium [Tickets]
March 2 – Reno, NV – Grand Sierra [Tickets]
March 4 – Salt Lake City, UT – Maverik Center [Tickets]
March 6 – Denver, CO – Mission Ballroom [Tickets]
March 8 – Chicago, IL – Chicago Theatre [Tickets]
March 9 – Cleveland, OH – MGM Northfield Park [Tickets]
March 11 – Toronto, ON – Coca-Cola Coliseum [Tickets]
March 12 – Montreal, QC – Place des Arts [Tickets]
March 14 – Wallingford, CT – Oakdale Theater [Tickets]
March 15 – Boston. MA – Boch Center [Tickets]
March 17 – Rochester, NY – Kodak [Tickets]
March 18 – Wheeling, WV – Capitol Theater [Tickets]
March 19 – Cincinnati, OH – Brady Music Center [Tickets]
March 21 – Washington, DC – The Anthem [Tickets]
March 22 – New York, NY – Radio City Music Hall [Tickets]
