I played with many of my heroes in my career. Everyone, from Simon Phillips, Al Di Meola, Steve Lukather, Yngwie. But Eddie Van Halen was on another level.”
Derek Sherenian: Hi, Daniel.
WikiMetal (Daniel Dystyler): Hi Derek, how are you?
DS: Well, and you??
W (DD): Excellent. It's unbelievable that you responded so quickly, it's really great to have you here in such a short space of time.
DS: Oh man, that's great. Yeah, today is great for me since I have a really busy weekend, so I'm just relaxing today, let's do this interview, man.
W (DD): Excellent, excellent. It's a great honor and pleasure to have the great Derek Sherenian, one of the greatest keyboardists in rock history, with us. It's truly unbelievable. So, on behalf of all Brazilian headbangers, I'd like to welcome you to the WikiMetal program.
DS: Thank you!
W (DD): Derek, I'll start by asking you, way back, do you remember how you first got involved with music?
DS: Well, there was a piano in my parents' house. I would always go to the piano and at some point I started figuring out songs. My parents got me a teacher who taught classical music to children, and that's where I started. As I grew up, I started playing in bands, and the rest is history.
W (DD): Yes, and it's a fantastic story. Speaking of which, who are the best keyboardists in Rock and Heavy Metal who really inspired you to pursue this career?
DS: Yes, Jon Lord… and then, in Progressive Metal, Deep Purple was a big influence. Keith Emerson, Rick Wakeman, and Jan Hammer, for Fusion.
W (DD): Yeah, those are great names. Did you have the opportunity to meet Jon Lord?
DS: Yes, I met him once, I think in 1995 or 1996… When I was with Dream Theater, we were on tour with Emerson, Lake & Palmer, and Deep Purple, so… I remember it being really cool for me, being on the same tour as Emerson and Jon Lord.
W (DD): Excellent, excellent. Alice Cooper, I think, was your biggest breakthrough in 1989, if I'm not mistaken. How did the invitation to play with him come about, and tell us a little about being around someone as cool as Alice Cooper. Can you share some memories from those days with us?
DS: Yeah, I was really young back then, and Alice Cooper was making a comeback with his new album Thrash, and everyone in town was trying to play that show. I just auditioned for the keyboard player position and, you know, Alice and I hit it off, he liked my playing, and I ended up getting the job. It was a really exciting time in my life because for the first time I was getting paid to be a full-time musician, and going to a big show, and on MTV, and everything. Yeah, it was one of the best years of my life – that whole tour, 1989-1990.
W (DD): Great, great. Excellent story. Derek, we have a classic question on our show that we ask every visitor, which is, imagine you're listening to your iPod on shuffle or listening to a rock station while driving your car, and unexpectedly a song starts playing that makes you go crazy and feel an immediate urge to headbang, no matter where you are, you can't stop, you can't hold back. What song is that, so we can listen to it on the show right now?
DS: Van Halen, Unchained .
W (DD): Oh, great choice! Van Halen, Unchained , here on WikiMetal! Derek, and after joining Dream Theater, you also played on the “Alive III” album on Kiss's Revenge tour, right?
DS: That's right.
W (DD): Any memories from that time?
DS: That was a fun tour… I was recommended by Eric Singer, who played with me in Alice Cooper, he had recently been hired as the drummer for Kiss, and then… Eric said I could come, and I got a call from Gene Simmons, so I went to the audition, and he basically just shook my hand and I got the job. You know, it was a great tour, watching Gene and Paul lead the band, because they have so much knowledge and experience, and they're fun too, so… I had a great time.
W (DD): Very good. On your first solo album, Planet X, which is incredible by the way, you play with great musicians like Virgil Donati and Tony MacAlpine. And it was so good that you formed a band called Planet X. Any plans in the future for more things coming from Planet X?
DS: Dude, we don't have anything planned right now… But never say never, you know. Maybe an opportunity will present itself where the three of us can play together, because we make some pretty adventurous and insane music together.
I only have good memories from my time with Dream Theater
W (DD): It was great, really great, and there are a lot of people, like, famous people, and great musicians, saying that some of them were influenced by it. It's really great, and if everything goes well you'll get together again and do more things in the future.
DS: Sure, absolutely.
W (DD): Okay, let's talk a little about Dream Theater. Tell us a bit about those years, what you miss, what you don't miss, and also about the reunion show "When Dream and Day Reunite" in 2004. What was that experience like, playing with the guys again, including Jordan Rudess?
DS: Well, Dream Theater…when I got the call from them…Actually, let me put it another way. At that time, Alice Cooper was taking a break from work, and the whole Seattle Grunge thing was going on and none of the big Rock bands were doing business, so everyone was kind of relaxing and trying to plan what their next move would be. Then I heard that this band, Dream Theater, was looking for a keyboardist, and I didn't know anything about their music. I heard they played Progressive Metal, so… I scheduled an interview, they sent me the music, and I remember getting goosebumps and saying, “Oh my God, this is insane, I don't know if I can do this… I've never played music like this before.” It was a huge challenge, and I put a lot of time into it, preparing, I went in, and there were three people there to perform – it was Jordan Rudess, Jens Johansson, and me. When I heard Jens was going to audition, I was like, “Well, he’s going to get the spot,” because Jens is an incredible keyboardist – he’s probably my favorite metal keyboardist, for sure. So, they originally wanted Jordan, and I think Jordan might have had other things to do, I don’t know what the story was, but he passed the spot on, so they called me. I arrived, learned the songs, and started touring, and after six months they made me a permanent member of the band. And I must say that the four years I was in the band were a great experience for me, musically, and it really helped hone my skills, and just… You know, as a professional musician, so I’m very grateful for the opportunity. You see, I’m still friends with those guys, and I recently played with Mike Portnoy on a tour with Billy Sheehan and Tony MacAlpine. We played instrumentals, several of the old Dream Theater songs, and it was really cool. I only have good memories from that time.
W (DD): Yeah, great. Since you mentioned "PSMS," an instrumental supergroup you toured with last year, are there any plans for the future?
DS: Yeah, we've been talking about getting back in action this fall, including a trip to South America – we're talking to a couple of big promoters there, so it's a strong possibility we'll play there. Let's keep our fingers crossed.
W (DD): It would be unbelievable to see you, Mike Portnoy, Billy Sheehan, and Tony MacAlpine playing together. It would be like a dream come true, unbelievable. Since you were talking about those years with Dream Theater, could you choose a Dream Theater song that you're very proud to be a part of, and record it so we can hear it here at our show?
DS: I think the most famous song I wrote for Dream Theater back then was "Lines in the Sand ," and that was also... That was the biggest musical contribution I made to the band, and everyone seemed to like it, I'd say that was it.
W (DD): Excellent, excellent. Derek, we had the opportunity to talk to the great Glenn Hughes last year. He was very kind, and told us several things, including about the incredible Black Country Communion group you put together. Are there any other plans to do more things with Black Country Communion, and also, how was the show you played last year in the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh?
DS: Oh, that's great, but it wasn't Black Country Communion – it was Glenn and I sitting with an Armenian band called Dorians. It was a great experience, we went to Armenia and played in Karabakh, the show you just mentioned. It was really cool. Regarding Black Country Communion, the band is in a state of uncertainty. We're trying to figure out what our next step will be. I don't think Joe will stay in the group, since he's very focused on his solo career. Besides, he doesn't want to tour with the band anymore. So we have to figure out if we want to move forward or let it play out…it'll be interesting to see what happens.
W (DD): It's going to work out. We'll keep our fingers crossed because it's a great band, with a great sound and incredible music.
DS: It's a great band, and if it were up to me, I'd love to have the original group with Joe, and go out and do lots of shows, but you know, Joe has other things going on, so my position is: I'd love to see the band move forward, even without Joe, so we'll see what happens.
W (DD): Ok. How about playing with Yngwie Malmsteen?
DS: It was a great experience! I really think Yngwie is one of the best metal guitarists. Certainly one of the best I've ever played with. We had some amazing shows, and I played with him several times over the years, and also played on some CDs – he played on a couple of my albums. I have a great relationship with the maestro, so I always wish him the best, and I hope I can have an opportunity to play with him again.
W (DD): Great, great. We're almost at the end of our interview, so here's the final part. One question I'm curious about is: you've had some great moments in your career playing with great musicians from various bands, if you could think of one moment in your career that you'll never forget, what would that moment be?
DS: I had the opportunity to play with Eddie Van Halen at a private party at his house. We had a day to practice and we did the show. I just remember…it was surreal…it was like a dream, it was like “I can’t believe I’m playing with this guy who had such an influence on me.” I’ve played with many of my heroes in my career. Everyone, from Simon Phillips, Al Di Meola, you know, Steve Lukather, Yngwie, all those guys I’ve always been a fan of. But Eddie Van Halen was something else entirely. That’s something I’ll always remember.
I'm a big fan of MMA, of Anderson Silva, Junior Santos, and all the fighters from there.”
W (DD): Very good. The last song I'm going to ask you to choose for us to play here at the show is one that you're very proud to have written during your career, so we can listen to it now on WikiMetal.
DS: Oh, you know, I'd say: pick any one from my solo album… you understand, I spend a lot of time on all of them, and they are… they're important to me, so… I'd just say… you know, as a little artist, I'm very proud of “Black Utopia,” I think it has a lot of great songs on it, and the guest group is unique. So I'd say listen to that one, but I recommend any of my solo albums to everyone.
W (DD): Excellent, then let's choose one from the album "Black Utopia".
DS: Check out the song Sons of Anu , which features Yngwie and Al Di Meola.
W (DD): Alright, Sons of Anu , from the album “Black Utopia”, by Derek Sherenian. Well, we're nearing the end of our interview, but before we go, I'd like you to give some advice to a kid who wants to start a band and pursue a career, or even just play keyboards in a rock band?
DS: You know, man, figure out what kind of music you like best and do that. Then, be ready to venture down a path full of obstacles and with many people telling you that nothing will work out. You'll have to be ready to go hungry and be broke for a while, but if you stay strong long enough, and if you love what you do, something will eventually work out.
W (DD): Very good, great words, great message, thank you very much, Derek, for your time and for meeting with us, it's really great. You can count on WikiMetal to promote anything you do in the future, all your projects, and to promote Derek Serenian here in Brazil. Count on us and thank you for your time and for the great interview.
DS: Thank you, Daniel. My website is dereksherenian.com, and you can follow me on Twitter, @dereksherenian.
W (DD): Excellent, we really encourage our listeners to follow Derek Sherenian on Twitter, and also check out his website and all the music he's put up from these bands. Thank you very much, Derek.
DS: Which city are you in?
W (DD): In São Paulo.
DS: Ah, I miss playing in Brazil. I'm a big fan of MMA, Anderson Silva, Junior Santos, and all the fighters from there. I hope to come by for a show and see you all again.
W (DD): And maybe meet all these wrestlers, or at least…
DS: I don't know them yet, but I'm a big fan. Especially Anderson Silva, he's my favorite.
W (DD): Very good. It's great to hear that. So, we'll do everything we can to promote his shows here and bring him to Brazil. We'll do that and stay in touch.
DS: Great. Take care, my friend.
W (DD): You too, thank you! Bye bye.
DS: Thank you.
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