Out of Berklee Dream Theater was born and we've been together ever since. I didn't have to taste that feeling of defeat.

In Japan they're definitely more over the top. They had four Boogie stacks and 20 guitars. But otherwise it's pretty much the same thing, except there's a translator. It's really nice.

I know we play a part in the story of progressive music, but for us those influences are the real fathers, the ones that we were interested in.

If you bring somebody into the band you are going to be with them a lot whether it's in the studio, on the tour bus, or at dinner every night; you want somebody you enjoy being around. You don't want an annoying guy .

The good thing about playing this style that we play, you know, the progressive element of it, is that we can add in different elements of different styles. And that creates a more interesting overall sound.

Stay focused when you're playing alive, so you're not distracted by something going on.

The only thing I had in my mind [when I was 17 ] was that I was going to be a professional musician. So it was just the right environment.