Derek_Sherinian

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Derek Sherinian Derek Sherinian Derek Sherinian Background information Born Genre(s) August 25, 1966 (1966-08-25) Laguna Beach, California Progressive metal, Progressive rock, Neo-classical metal, Jazz fusion, Glam rock Musician, Songwriter, Producer Keyboards, Guitar, backing vocals 1982 - present InsideOut Music. Magna Carta Dream Theater, Planet X, Platypus, Alice Cooper, Kiss, Yngwie Malmsteen, Billy Idol http://www.dereksherinian.com Occupation(s) Instrument(s) Years active Label(s) Associated acts Website Derek Sherinian (born August 25, 1966) is an American ‎rock and jazz fusion keyboardist based in Los Angeles, California. After studying at the Berklee College of Music, Sherinian became a keyboardist and sideman for a number of artists, including Alice Cooper, Billy Idol, Yngwie Malmsteen, Kiss, and Zakk Wylde. He has also played keyboards for Dream Theater and Platypus, and is the cofounder of the band Planet X. His solo albums feature several prominent artists, including Slash, Allan Holdsworth, John Sykes, and Jerry Goodman. Sherinian has been called the "King of the Keys" and the "Caligula of keyboards" due to his performing style. His influences include Elton John, Keith Emerson, Jan Hammer, and a variety of guitarists. Sherinian endorses various equipment, including Korg and Clavia keyboards. He is of Greek-Armenian descent and has a special interest in Armenian history. five in Santa Cruz, California.[1][2] After his junior year at Soquel High School, he received a scholarship to the Berklee College of Music in Boston.[3][1] He has since studied with other keyboard players, including Mitchel Forman, T Lavitz and Russell Ferrante. His first major gigs after leaving Boston were with fusion drummer Buddy Miles; he then joined the Alice Cooper band in 1989.[1] After touring with Alice Cooper, Sherinian played keyboards and effects on the 1992 KISS Revenge tour.[1] In 1994, Derek replaced Kevin Moore in the progressive metal band Dream Theater, originally just for the band’s promotional tour for Awake. In early 1995, however, he was made a full-time member of the band. He recorded the albums A Change of Seasons (1995), Falling Into Infinity (1997), and Once In A LIVEtime (1998) with Dream Theater before being replaced in January 1999 by Jordan Rudess because of creative differences.[4][5][3][6] Sherinian remained on good terms with the band, and reunited with Dream Theater for a one-off concert in 2004, which was recorded and released on When Dream and Day Reunite (2004). The band’s performance of "Metropolis Pt. 1" featured an extended improvisation between Sherinian, Jordan Rudess, and John Petrucci. During the late 1990s, Sherinian released two albums with the progressive rock supergroup Platypus, which also featured Dream Theater bassist John Myung. The group released two albums, When Pus Comes to Shove (1998) and Ice Cycles (2000), before disbanding in 2000.[7] Sherinian did not rejoin the group when it reunited as The Jelly Jam; instead, he helped to create another sideproject with fellow Platypus member Ty Tabor called Jughead.[7] 1999 – present Since 1999, Sherinian has recorded several solo albums, featuring performances by numerous well-known musicians. Sherinian’s first solo project, Planet X (1999), recorded with Australian drummer Virgil Donati, led to the formation of the group of the same name Biography 1966 – 1999 Sherinian was born in Laguna Beach, California. He began taking piano lessons at age 1 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (Planet X); they recruited guitar player Tony MacAlpine for the new project.[8] Sherinian has stated that his intention when forming Planet X was to create a group of musicians that "played their instruments so fiercely, that they would strike fear in the hearts of all musicians".[8] A full live version of the track "Atlantis: Apocalypse 1470 BC" from the Planet X Web site can be heard here. In 2001, Derek teamed with drummer Simon Phillips and studio guitar player Steve Lukather to record Inertia,[9] followed by Black Utopia (2003). For Black Utopia, three new faces joined Sherinian’s group: bassist Billy Sheehan, rock guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen, and jazz fusion guitarist Al Di Meola.[10][11] With respect to this fusion-influenced lineup, Sherinian stated: I have always been a fan of jazz fusion, but from the perspective of a rock player crossing over to jazz, not vice versa. I think that is how Jeff Beck (who Sherinian stated he hopes to play with in a recent interview) approached his classic instrumental records and I like to follow in that path.[1] Sherinian also calls the album "a lot darker and heavier than [Inertia]".[12] In Japan, the cover of Black Utopia was altered to remove the cross in the title; Sherinian has commented that the cross "meant nothing" and was added for aesthetic purposes.[12] Sherinian extended further into the fusion realm by collaborating with guitarist Allan Holdsworth and violinist Jerry Goodman (formerly of the Mahavishnu Orchestra) on Mythology (2004).[13] In addition to another appearance by Phillips, other musicians appearing on this recording were Zakk Wylde, John Sykes, Steve Stevens, and Tony Franklin.[13][1] Since 2002, Sherinian has toured with several well-known artists, including Billy Idol and Yngwie Malmsteen.[14] Derek’s fifth solo album, Blood of the Snake (2006), features contributions from Idol, as well as former Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash, John Petrucci of Dream Theater, and Brian Tichy; Phillips, Franklin and Lukather make return appearances.[15][16] A video for a cover version of Mungo Jerry’s "In the Summertime" was released along with the album.[17] Sherinian also worked with duduk master Djivan Derek Sherinian Gasparyan on the song "Prelude To Battle" on the release, written for his great grandmother who fought the Turks in the Armenian genocide. The third Planet X studio album, Quantum, was released in May 2007 to positive reviews. Also in 2007 he recorded the album Hyperpyrexia with Theodore Ziras Sherinian also owns Beachwood Manor Studios, located in Burbank, California. He has previously owned an in-house recording studio in Hollywood Hills named "The Leopard Room", owing to its color scheme of leopard print and purple velvet.[18] Influences and collaborations In a 2000 interview, Sherinian cited his early influences as being Jan Hammer (Mahavishnu Orchestra), Keith Emerson (Emerson, Lake & Palmer and The Nice), Rick Wakeman (Yes), and Elton John.[2] Other influences include guitarists Allan Holdsworth, Jeff Beck, and Eddie Van Halen. He shares most of his influences with drummer Brian Tichy, a fellow ex-student of Berklee;[19] Sherinian enjoys co-writing material with fellow musicians, and often finds that he writes better material with drummers.[20] One of his favorite keyboardists is Jens Johansson, who he deems the "coolest keyboardist out there."[21] Sherinian cites Van Halen’s guitar playing as having a direct influence on his unique approach to keyboards in terms of technique as well as tone; his unique "Monster Lead" lead patch contains numerous elements of guitar sounds such as distortion, harmonics, and palm-muting. Sherinian’s collaborations with top musicians were featured in a 2007 article in Guitar World magazine, where guitarist Zakk Wylde offered “People want to play with him because he’s that good. He can play everything from the easiest licks on a piano to the most complex Beethoven sonatas with ease.” Dream Theater guitarist John Petrucci added "...Derek-considering the fact that he’s heavily into guitarists and rock music, his history, and the range of all the great guitarists he’s worked with—plays with a fire unheard of from most keyboardists.”[22] Sherinian explains that he enlists a variety of guitarists because he "[does not] think there is one guitarist who can cover all the styles featured on [the] albums." Sherinian often tailors songs 2 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia for specific guitarists, such as Holdsworth and Wylde for "Day of the Dead" (off Mythology);[22] in this respect, he seeks to take certain aspects of genres and make them "collide in an eloquent way".[12] Derek Sherinian Hammond as part of their hammond sound. It just gives it edge."[28] Sherinian records with a vintage B3 but on tour uses digital emulations from his Nord and Triton keyboards, as well as specifically a Korg CX-3 organ of which he was a beta-tester and has contributed several patches, such as his signature distorted "Rock Balls". [1]. However, he’s also describes the sound of lesser digital emulations as "the sound of a puckered..." Sherinian is also an accomplished guitarist who was going to take over the rhythm guitar spot in Alice Cooper’s touring band in 1994 before being offered his Dream Theater audition. He played guitar live with Dream Theater during their Nightmare Cinema performances in 1997 and ’98. [2] Derek is also known for being one of the first keyboardists to use vertical keyboard stands, as well as one of the first to make a "fashion statement" (much like guitarists do with their finishes) by using red-chrome plated stands that match his red Nord keyboards and work well with the neutral silver of his KORG instruments. A more detailed list of equipment can be found at Sherinian’s Web site ([3]). Sherinian currently uses the following gear: Korg Triton Extreme, Clavia Nord Lead 3, Clavia Nord G2X Modular, and Yamaha C9 Conservatory Series Grand Piano. His vintage gear includes: Moog Taurus Pedals, Hammond B3, Leslie 127, Rhodes 73 Suitcase, and Wurlitzer Electric piano. Equipment A Clavia Nord Modular similar to the one Sherinian uses The original KORG Triton released in 1999 Derek Sherinian currently uses and endorses Clavia Nord and Korg Triton-series keyboards.[23][24] Sherinian was presented the G2 Modular synth serial number 001 by Clavia representative Bengt Lilja in January 2004.[25] As an KORG endorsee, Sherinian was one of the first artists to adopt the Korg Trinity keyboard series in 1996. In collaboration with KORG sound designer Jack Hotop, they created Sherinian’s signature guitaristic lead sound (the "Monster Lead") on the Trinity, as well as other, more "modern" and "aggressive" keyboard patches, owing to his fondness of guitar tones and technique. Derek continues to use the Trinity’s successors, the Korg Triton and Korg Triton Extreme both in the studio and live. On Yngwie Malmsteen’s "Unleash The Fury 2006 Asia/ Australia Tour" rehearsals, Sherinian obtained a 61-key Korg Triton Extreme and other Korg keyboards.[26]. Sherinian feels his "most identifiable sound is on the Korg Triton and Trinity"; he uses the Triton "for 70% of [his] work".[27]. Derek has also used the Hammond B3 organ; he thinks that "every rock keyboardist should have a Leslie and a distorted Selected discography Solo albums Date of release 1999 2001 April 22, 2003 Title Planet X Inertia Black Utopia Label Magna Carta Type Studio Allmusic US rating Sa N/ InsideOut Studio InsideOut Studio N/ N/ November Mythology InsideOut Studio N/A 9, 2004 August 1, 2006 Blood of the Snake InsideOut Studio N/ N/ March 24, Molecular InsideOut Studio 2009 Heinosity N/ 3 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Derek Sherinian Swag Spitfire Studio With Dream Theater January Gilby 22, Clarke Date of Title Label Type Allmusic US Sales 2002 release rating June 11, Jughead September A EastWest Studio/ 188,000+ 2002 19, 1995 Change Live October Yngwie of EP 15, Malmsteen Seasons 2002 September Falling EastWest Studio 160,000+ March Billy Idol 23, 1997 into 22, Infinity 2005 October Once in EastWest Live 75,000+ January, Ayreon 27, 1998 a 2008 LIVEtime April N/A Theodore 1998 5 Years EastWest VHS/ 25, Ziras in a DVD 2008 LIVEtime June 24, Billy Idol 2008 Label Type Allmusic US rating Sales Jughead Attack!! InsideOut Studio Import Studio Devil’s Playground 01011001 Sanctuary Studio InsideOut Studio Studio Hyperpyrexia SLZ With Planet X Date Title of release June 6, 2000 April 2002 Universe Live from Oz The Very Best of Billy Idol: Idolize Yourself Capitol Records Compil Import Import Studio Live Movie appearances N/A • 1992 - Wayne’s World, as himself as part of the Alice Cooper Band N/A N/A References July 23, MoonBabies InsideOut Studio 2002 May 22, 2007 Quantum InsideOut Studio With other musicians Date of Artist release May 18, KISS 1993 1994 August 22, 1995 August 25, 1998 Alice Cooper Alice Cooper Platypus Title Alive III The Last Temptation Classicks When Pus Comes to Shove Ice Cycles Pigs and Pyramids May 14, Platypus 2000 2002 Various [1] ^ "Derek Sherinian - Bio". N/A DerekSherinian.com. http://www.dereksherinian.com/bio.htm. Retrieved on 2007-06-12. [2] ^ "Derek Sherinian Interview". ProgSheet.com. http://progsheet1.hypermart.net/ Label Type Allmusic US sherinian.html. Retrieved on rating Sales 2007-07-02. Mercury [3] ^ "Derek Sherinian - Overview". Live N/A Allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/ cg/ Epic Studio N/A amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:3jfwxqqgldke. Retrieved Epic Compilation on 2007-06-12. N/A [4] "Mike Portnoy FAQ". Mikeportnoy.com. http://www.mikeportnoy.com/about/ mpfaq/ Velvel Studio N/A showquestion.asp?menu=about&faq=1&fldAuto=460 Retrieved on 2007-06-10. [5] "Dream Theater FAQ". Century Studio N/A http://web.archive.org/web/ Media 20060524124912/http://www.dtfaq.com/ question/46. Retrieved on 2007-06-10. Musea Tribute N/A [6] "Dream Theater returns to roots". Deseret Morning News and FindArticles.com. 2006-03-10. 4 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Derek Sherinian http://findarticles.com/p/articles/ 2006-05-06. mi_qn4188/is_20060310/ai_n16144393. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/ Retrieved on 2007-06-12. blabbermouth.net/ [7] ^ "2001 Archives". Blabbermouth.net. news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=51903. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/ Retrieved on 2007-06-12. blabbermouth.net/ [17] "DEREK SHERINIAN’s Video Featuring news.aspx?Mode=Archive&Date=9/18/ Slash Posted Online". Blabbermouth.net. 2001. Retrieved on 2007-07-02. 2006-07-27. [8] ^ "Planet X - The Band". PlanetX.com. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/ http://www.xplanetx.com/theband.html. blabbermouth.net/ Retrieved on 2007-06-12. news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=55688. [9] Wildran, Jonathan. "Inertia - Overview". Retrieved on 2007-06-12. AllMusic.com. http://allmusic.com/cg/ [18] "Derek’s House of Hits". amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:azfpxqw0ld6e. Cavemanproductions.com. Retrieved on 2007-07-02. http://www.cavemanproductions.com/ [10] Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Black Utopia REVS/derek.html. Retrieved on Overview". AllMusic.com. 2007-07-02. http://allmusic.com/cg/ [19] "Derek Sherinian: Artist History". amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:wzfqxqualdke. Dereksherinian.com. Retrieved on 2007-07-02. http://www.dereksherinian.com. [11] "Former DREAM THEATER Keyboardist Retrieved on 2007-09-30. Completes Work On New Solo CD". [20] Jan van der Vorst. "Derek Sherinian: BlabberMouth.net. 2003-02-13. Interview 2004". Dutch Progressive Rock http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/ Page. http://www.dprp.net/specials/ blabbermouth.net/ sherinian1204/index.php. Retrieved on news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=9673. 2007-10-01. Retrieved on 2007-07-02. [21] "Derek Sherinian interview". [12] ^ "Interview - Derek Sherinian". MegaFanSite.com. http://www.yngwieRevelationZ Magazine. megafan.org/yetc/derek2.html. Retrieved http://www.revelationz.net/ on 2007-10-01. index.asp?ID=721. Retrieved on [22] ^ Lalaina, Joe. "King of the Keys: Derek 2007-08-26. Sherinian". Guitar World. [13] ^ "New DEREK SHERINIAN Solo Album http://www.guitarworld.com/ To Feature Guest Appearances By ZAKK derek_sherinian. Retrieved on WYLDE, JOHN SYKES". 2007-09-30. Blabbermouth.net. 2004-09-28. [23] "Clavia instrument users: Derek http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/ Sherinian". Clavia.se. blabbermouth.net/ http://www.clavia.se/misc/users/ news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=27368. dereksherinian.htm. Retrieved on Retrieved on 2007-07-02. 2007-07-02. [14] "Billy Idol to Release First CD Featuring [24] "Korg.com: Derek Sherinian". Korg.com. New Music in More Than 10 Years; http://www.korg.com/sbytes/ Rebel Rocker Offers DEVIL’S article.asp?ArtistID=239. Retrieved on PLAYGROUND on March 22; `Scream’ 2007-07-02. Goes to Radio Early January". Business [25] "Derek Sherinian receives Nord Modular Wire and FindArticles.com. 2004-12-06. G2 #001!". Clavia.se. 2004-01-20. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/ http://www.clavia.se/pressreleases/ mi_m0EIN/is_2004_Dec_6/ai_n7637352. G2Sherinian.htm. Retrieved on Retrieved on 2007-06-12. 2007-07-02. [15] Prato, Greg. "Blood of the Snake [26] "Korg Featured Artists". Korg.com. Overview". Allmusic.com. http://www.korg.com/sbytes/default.asp. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/ Retrieved on 2007-10-14. amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:3xfyxqudldde. [27] Gulotta, Emily. "Connecting with Derek Retrieved on 2007-06-12. Sherinian". Korg.com. [16] "DEREK SHERINIAN: More Solo Album http://www.korg.com/sbytes/ Details Revealed". Blabbermouth.net. 5 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia article.asp?ArtistID=239. Retrieved on • 2007-10-14. [28] "Chat with Rod Morgenstein and Derek • Sherinian of Platypus". Artist-shop.com. http://www.artist-shop.com/irc/ • platypus.htm. Retrieved on 2007-10-14. [29] "Derek Sherinian Discography". • Allmusic.com. http://allmusic.com/cg/ amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:3jfwxqqgldke~T2. • Retrieved on 2007-10-01. [30] "Dream Theater Discography". • Allmusic.com. http://allmusic.com/cg/ amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:h9fexqy5ldhe~T20.• Retrieved on 2007-10-01. [31] "Planet X Discography". Allmusic.com. • http://allmusic.com/cg/ • amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:dpfyxqrkldhe~T2. Retrieved on 2007-10-01. • Derek Sherinian Derek Sherinian Interview - Metal Perspective Interview with Derek Sherinian - Get Ready to Rock Talking with Derek Sherinian Transending the Mundane Derek Sherinian Interview - Progressive World Interview with Derek Sherinian - DPRP Specials Derek Sherinian: Metal and Fusion, Sideman and Solo - Keyboard Magazine Interview of Derek Sherinian - Aux Portes Du Métal Derek Sherinian - USA Today 1999 Sherinian Interview - Epigram for the last straw Derek Sherinian Interview - Yngwie Megafan Carvin endorse Derek Sherinian and the Carvin KB1015 keyboard amp Hitsquad.com PRODUCER’S DESK: Derek Sherinian On Black Utopia - Guitar Player Derek Sherinian’s utopia for the unlight Ytsejam.com Derek Sherinian interview - Ytsejam.com Music Of The Other Spheres: Planet X Boasts Like A Proud Papa About His Moonbabies - Ytsejam.com Derek Sherinian: Inertia-lize Ytsejam.com Interview with Derek Sherinian of Platypus - Ram.org Multimedia • Video for Dream Theater - "Hollow Years" • Live version of "Atlantis : Apocalypse 1470 BC" • Clavia Nord sample 1 from Planet X "MoonBabies" • Clavia Nord sample 2 from Planet X "MoonBabies" • • • • • Further reading • King of the Keys: Derek Sherinian - Guitar World • Derek Sherinian - Rock Is Life • Derek Sherinian Interview - ProgSheet • 2004 Derek Sherinian Interview - DPRP • Derek Sherinian Interview - Shockwaves Magazine • • External links • Derek Sherinian official website • Derek Sherinian official MySpace page Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derek_Sherinian" Categories: 1966 births, Alice Cooper members, American heavy metal keyboardists, American heavy metal singers, American male singers, Armenian-American musicians, ArmenianAmericans, Armenian people, Armenian musicians, Greek-Americans, Berklee College of Music alumni, Dream Theater members, Living people, People from Burbank, California This page was last modified on 29 April 2009, at 04:05 (UTC). All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License. (See Copyrights for details.) Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a U.S. registered 501(c)(3) taxdeductible nonprofit charity. Privacy policy About Wikipedia Disclaimers 6