DREAM THEATER CONTINUE GLOBAL ASSAULT WITH THEIR “PROGRESSIVE NATION” TOUR REACHING 15 COUNTRIES

DATE: OCTOBER 9, 2009

2009 continues to be a watermark year for DREAM THEATER as a recording act and touring powerhouse. Having achieved a #1 debut on the Billboard European chart and 12 Top Ten album chart debuts around the world including the U.S. with BLACK CLOUDS & SILVER LININGS (Roadrunner)—their 10th studio release—the legendary progressive metal masters are currently embarked on their second European tour this year.

The band recently launched the overseas leg of their “Progressive Nation” tour—hitting 15 countries—with a run of shows in Scandanavia where audiences exceeded 5000 per venue. Next, DREAM THEATER—supported by Opeth, Bigelf and Unexpect—moved on to Germany, France and the Netherlands. They reach the U.K. Friday with a trio of shows highlighted by a performance Saturday at London’s Wembley Arena. While on tour, the band will shoot footage for their upcoming video for “Wither,” an epic power ballad from the new album. A special EP of multiple versions of “Wither” is now available via online retailers.

DREAM THEATER—James LaBrie (vocals), John Myung (bass), John Petrucci (guitar, vocals), Mike Portnoy (drums, percussion, vocals) and Jordan Rudess (keyboards, Continuum)—will wrap their European leg on Halloween in Ljubljana, Slovenia, after which they’ll take a month break before launching their Down Under trek December 1, with special guests TBA. This will encompass seven shows in New Zealand and Australia, wrapping December 12 in Perth. Look for the band to head to South America in the winter-spring, followed by another U.S. leg also in the spring.

A highlight of their 25-year career, Black Clouds & Silver Linings—“…as highbrow as The Mars Volta, as grandiose as Muse and as heavy as Metallica,” raved MOJO (July 2009)—continues to receive accolades from the press and the band’s peers. Alan White, drummer for progressive rock legends Yes, says, "I have been following Dream Theater for years now, and they always put out powerful progressive music, and Black Clouds & Silver Linings is no different.  The dynamics of the album are amazing, the extended jams are great, and they have a solid collection of epic tracks.” (September 2009).

For more information, contact MSO 818-380-0400:

Mitch Schneider: mschneider@msopr.com
Alexandra Greenberg: agreenberg@msopr.com
Libby Coffey:  LCoffey@msopr.com