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{{Short description|American guitarist}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
{{Infobox musical artist
| Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| name = John Petrucci
| Name = John Petrucci
| image = John Petrucci Live Milano 2024.jpg
| caption = Petrucci performing with [[Dream Theater]] in [[Milano]] 2024

| Img = John Petrucci (H.I.).jpg
| birth_name = John Peter Petrucci
| Img_cap =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1967|07|12}}
| birth_place = [[Kings Park, New York]], U.S.
| Born = {{birth date and age|1967|07|12}}
| Died =
| instrument = Guitar
| genre = {{hlist||[[Progressive metal]]|[[heavy metal music|heavy metal]]|[[progressive rock]]|[[instrumental rock]]}}
| Alias =
| occupation = {{hlist|Musician|songwriter|producer}}
| Genre = [[Progressive metal]]<br />[[Instrumental rock]]
| years_active = 1984–present
| Associated_acts = [[Dream Theater]]<br />[[Liquid Tension Experiment]]<br />[[Explorers Club (band)|Explorers Club]]<br />[[G3 (tour)|G3]]<br />[[Marty Friedman]]<br />[[Derek Sherinian]]<br />[[Jordan Rudess]]<br />[[Jon Finn Group]]
| label = {{hlist|[[Roadrunner Records|Roadrunner]]|Sound Mind Music|[[Magna Carta Records|Magna Carta]]}}
| Label =
| current_member_of = {{hlist|[[Dream Theater]]|[[Liquid Tension Experiment]]}}
| Notable_instruments = [[Music Man (company)|Ernie Ball Music Man John Petrucci Signature Model]]
| past_member_of = [[Explorers Club (band)|Explorers Club]]
| Years_active = 1985 - present
| URL = [http://www.johnpetrucci.com Official website]
| website = {{URL|johnpetrucci.com}}
}}
}}


'''John Petrucci''' (born [[July 12]], [[1967]], [[Kings Park, New York|Kings Park]], [[Long Island, New York]]) is an American [[guitarist]] best known as a founding member of the [[progressive metal]] band [[Dream Theater]]. He has [[Record producer|produced]] (along with his bandmate [[Mike Portnoy]]) all Dream Theater albums since their 1999 release, ''[[Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory]]''. He is also one of the band's main lyricists.
'''John Peter Petrucci''' (born July 12, 1967) is an American guitarist, best known as a founding member of the [[progressive metal]] band [[Dream Theater]]. He produced or co-produced (often with [[Mike Portnoy]] before Portnoy's absence from the band 2010-2023) all of Dream Theater's albums from ''[[Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory]]'' (1999), and has been the sole producer of the band's albums released since ''[[A Dramatic Turn of Events]]'' (2011). Petrucci has also released two solo albums: ''[[Suspended Animation (John Petrucci album)|Suspended Animation]]'' (2005) and ''[[Terminal Velocity (album)|Terminal Velocity]]'' (2020).


==Early life and influences==
==Biography==
John Peter Petrucci was born on July 12, 1967, in [[Kings Park, New York]], to an Italian American family. He picked up the guitar at around the age of eight because his older sister was allowed to go to bed later in order to practice the organ. However, he decided to quit the guitar when his attempts to stay up late were unsuccessful. He picked up the guitar again at the age of 12. Petrucci has said he committed to practicing guitar six hours a day when he discovered it was his passion. His early influences were bands like [[Led Zeppelin]], [[Black Sabbath]], [[AC/DC]], and later developed an interest in progressive rock and heavy metal, exemplified by [[Rush (band)|Rush]], [[Yes (band)|Yes]], [[Iron Maiden]], [[Dixie Dregs]] and [[Metallica]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Interview with John Petrucci (Dream Theater)|url=http://wikimetal.uol.com.br/site/interview-with-john-petrucci-dream-theater/|publisher=Wikimetal|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006133221/http://wikimetal.uol.com.br/site/interview-with-john-petrucci-dream-theater/|archive-date=October 6, 2014}}</ref><ref name="johnpetrucci.com">{{cite web|title=John Petrucci: Biography |url=http://www.johnpetrucci.com/biography.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991127140620/http://www.johnpetrucci.com/biography.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 27, 1999 |publisher=johnpetrucci.com }}</ref> His other influences as a guitarist include [[Jimmy Page]],<ref name="almusic2">{{Cite web |title=John Petrucci &#124; Similar Artists |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/john-petrucci-mn0000812741/related |website=[[AllMusic]]}}</ref> [[Brian May]],<ref name="almusic2">{{Cite web |title=John Petrucci &#124; Similar Artists |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/john-petrucci-mn0000812741/related |website=[[AllMusic]]}}</ref> [[Eddie Van Halen]],<ref name="almusic2">{{Cite web |title=John Petrucci &#124; Similar Artists |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/john-petrucci-mn0000812741/related |website=[[AllMusic]]}}</ref> [[Steve Morse]], [[Al Di Meola]], [[Steve Howe (musician)|Steve Howe]], [[Allan Holdsworth]], [[Stevie Ray Vaughan]], [[Randy Rhoads]], [[Joe Satriani]], [[Steve Vai]], [[Alex Lifeson]], [[Yngwie Malmsteen]] and [[David Gilmour]].<ref name="johnpetrucci.com2">{{cite web |title=John Petrucci: Biography |url=http://www.johnpetrucci.com/biography.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991127140620/http://www.johnpetrucci.com/biography.htm |archive-date=November 27, 1999 |publisher=johnpetrucci.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=John Petrucci Talks About the New Dream Theater Album in the November 2011 Issue of Guitar World |url=http://www.guitarworld.com/john-petrucci-talks-about-new-dream-theater-album-november-2011-issue-guitar-world |publisher=guitarworld.com}}</ref>
Petrucci first played guitar at the age of eight when he noticed his sister (who was taking organ lessons at the time) was allowed to stay up past her bed time to practice. He soon dropped it when his plan failed. At age 12, he began playing again when he was invited into the band of his friend [[Kevin Moore]], who would later become the first [[Keyboard instrument|keyboard]]ist of [[Dream Theater]]. Petrucci began to practice in earnest whilst exercising physically. He was a largely [[Autodidacticism|self-taught]] guitarist who developed his skills through attempts to match the skill of his idols, who included [[Steve Morse]], [[Steve Howe (guitarist)|Steve Howe]], [[Steve Vai]], [[Stevie Ray Vaughan]], [[Al Di Meola]], [[Alex Lifeson]] and [[Allan Holdsworth]]. He has jokingly referred to his guitar idols as "the Steves and the Als".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefunkygibbons.net/John%20Petrucci.html|title=The Funky Gibbons, "John Petrucci page"}}</ref>


==Career==
Petrucci attended [[Berklee College of Music]] in [[Boston, Massachusetts|Boston]] with childhood friend [[John Myung]] ([[bass guitar|bass]]), where they met future bandmate [[Mike Portnoy]] ([[drums]]). These three in addition to another childhood friend of Petrucci and Myung, [[Kevin Moore]] ([[Keyboard instrument|Keyboards]]), formed the band Majesty, which would later become Dream Theater.
Eventually, his childhood friend and future [[Dream Theater]] keyboardist [[Kevin Moore]] invited Petrucci to join his cover band. Petrucci attended [[Berklee College of Music]] in [[Boston]] with childhood friend [[John Myung]] (bass), where they met future bandmate [[Mike Portnoy]] (drums). While in Berklee they often covered two of their biggest influences, [[Iron Maiden]] and [[Rush (band)|Rush]]. These three, in addition to Kevin Moore, formed the band Majesty. Because there was already another band with the same name, the group later became Dream Theater.


While Dream Theater is what Petrucci is most commonly associated with, he is also a part of the project band [[Liquid Tension Experiment]] and has appeared as a guest on several records by other artists such as the [[Age of Impact]] album by the [[Explorers Club (artist)|Explorer's Club]].
While Petrucci is most commonly associated with Dream Theater, he is also in the project band [[Liquid Tension Experiment]], and has appeared as a guest on records by other artists, such as the ''[[Age of Impact]]'' album by the [[Explorers Club (artist)|Explorer's Club]].


Petrucci has released a guitar instructional video, "Rock Discipline", which covers warm up exercises, exercises to avoid injury while playing, alternate picking, sweep picking, chords and other techniques for developing one's guitar playing. Petrucci also has a book named "Guitar World presents John Petrucci's Wild Stringdom", which was compiled from columns he wrote for Guitar World magazine, bearing that same title.
Petrucci has released a guitar instructional video, ''Rock Discipline'', which covers warm-up exercises, exercises to avoid injury while playing, alternate picking, sweep picking, chords and other techniques for developing one's guitar playing. Petrucci also has a book named "Guitar World presents John Petrucci's Wild Stringdom", which was compiled from columns he wrote for Guitar World magazine under that title.


In 2001 he was invited by [[Joe Satriani]] and [[Steve Vai]] to tour with them on the popular [[G3 (tour)|G3 guitar tour]], which exposed him to a massive number of new fans and inspired him to record a solo album. ''[[Suspended Animation (John Petrucci album)|Suspended Animation]]'' was released on [[March 1]], [[2005]], and made available for order from his web site. He also appeared on the 2005, 2006 and 2007 G3 tours.
In 2001, [[Joe Satriani]] and [[Steve Vai]] invited Petrucci to tour with them on the popular [[G3 (tour)|G3 guitar tour]], which exposed him to a massive number of new fans and inspired a solo album. The album, ''[[Suspended Animation (John Petrucci album)|Suspended Animation]]'', was released on March 1, 2005, and was available for order from his web site. Petrucci also appeared on the 2005 and 2006 G3 tours, and in 2007, went on G3 tour again, this time with [[Paul Gilbert]] and [[Joe Satriani]]. In a video with Larry DiMarzio, Petrucci announced that he is working on a follow-up to his 2005 album, ''Suspended Animation'' and a new Dream Theater album.<ref>{{youTube|-v0M_tSllDI|John Petrucci and his DiMarzio® Pickups.}}</ref>


Petrucci also wrote and recorded two instrumental soundtrack songs for a [[Sega Saturn]] game titled [[Digital Pinball: Necronomicon]]. Each track is roughly two minutes long and they are simply titled "Prologue" and "Epilogue". Petrucci is an avid [[Sega Saturn]] gamer, and has revealed in interviews that he never tours without one.
Petrucci also wrote and recorded two instrumental soundtrack songs for a [[Sega Saturn]] game titled ''Digital Pinball: Necronomicon''. Each track is roughly two minutes long, and are named simply ''Prologue'' and ''Epilogue''. In a spoof rock band, [[Nightmare Cinema (parody rock band)|Nightmare Cinema]] (which was the Dream Theater members changing instruments for encores), he used the "alternate stage name" Johnny James.


In 2007, John Petrucci went on G3 tour again, this time with Joe Satriani and [[Paul Gilbert]].
In 2012, Petrucci was invited once again to join Joe Satriani on the G3 tour, along with [[Steve Morse]]. He was accompanied by bassist [[Dave LaRue]] and drummer and Dream Theater bandmate [[Mike Mangini]].


In 2018, Petrucci joined Joe Satriani on the G3 tour. They were accompanied by [[Uli Jon Roth]] on the European leg of the tour, and [[Phil Collen]] in North America. His second solo album, titled ''[[Terminal Velocity (John Petrucci album)|Terminal Velocity]]'' was released in 2020.<ref name="progtv">{{cite web |last1=Munro |first1=Scott |title=Dream Theater's John Petrucci announces new solo album Terminal Velocity |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/dream-theaters-john-petrucci-announces-new-solo-album-terminal-velocity |website=[[Prog (magazine)|Prog]] |publisher=[[Future plc]] |access-date=June 20, 2020 |date=June 19, 2020}}</ref> Petrucci's first solo album in 15 years, it reunited him with Mike Portnoy for the first time since the drummer left Dream Theater in 2010.<ref>{{cite web |title=Terminal Velocity Review |date=August 27, 2020 |url=https://www.sonicperspectives.com/album-reviews/john-petrucci-terminal-velocity/ |access-date=April 7, 2022}}</ref>
Dream Theater bandmate Jordan Rudess revealed in an interview that Petrucci is a practicing [[Catholic]].<ref name="dtfaq1">http://www.dtfaq.com/question/114</ref> Petrucci is married to [[Rena Sands]], a guitarist in the all-female heavy metal band [[Meanstreak]], and they have 3 children, SamiJo and Reny (who are twins), and Kiara.


==Musical style==
==Musical style==
===Guitar technique===
Petrucci is respected for his variety of guitar styles and skills. He has performed alongside [[Joe Satriani]] and [[Steve Vai]] on their annual [[G3 (tour)|G3]] tour 6 times. Guitar magazines and fans worldwide consistently vote Petrucci as one of the world's finest guitar players.<ref>http://www.ernieball.com/mmonline/artists/</ref>
[[File:John Petrucci 02.jpg|thumb|Petrucci in 2007]]
He has been labeled as a [[virtuoso]] on some fansites and webzines, including [[Sputnikmusic]]<ref>http://www.sputnikmusic.com/band/John+Petrucci</ref>, and TheFunkyGibbons <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefunkygibbons.net/John%20Petrucci.html|title=The Funky Gibbons, "John Petrucci page"}}</ref>, among others.
Petrucci is respected for his variety of guitar styles and skills. One of the most notable of these is his high-speed [[alternate picking]] which, as he himself claims, requires a "strong sense of synchronization between the two [playing] hands." He is notable for frequent use of the [[Seven-string guitar|seven-string electric guitar]], which he says he uses as a writing tool, taking advantage of the extended range for heavier riffing and to play extended range runs as part of a solo. Moreover, Petrucci often combines his metal [[shred guitar|shredding]] technique with a slower, emotive soloing style.


==Equipment==
===Lyrics===
Petrucci is Dream Theater's most prolific lyricist, with each album including at least three songs featuring his lyrics. Some of Petrucci's notable songs include "Metropolis, Pt. 1: The Miracle and the Sleeper", "The Spirit Carries On", "The Great Debate", "In the Presence of Enemies", and "Through Her Eyes". Petrucci has occasionally used real-life experiences for lyrical inspiration, as heard in songs such as "The Count of Tuscany", "A Nightmare to Remember" and "Endless Sacrifice".


===Singing===
Petrucci is a devoted user of [[Mesa Boogie]] amplifiers and cabinets. During his career, he has used the Mark IIC+, Mark IV, Dual & Triple Rectifiers, the Formula, Recto, TriAxis and Formula preamps, Road King, Lonestar, and 2:90 power amps. Mark Snyder also built a one-off custom preamp called the Nunya, combined with a 2:100 power amp. Currently, he has gone back to using Mark IV's and Mark IIC+'s with Lonestars. He uses traditional sized 4x12 and 2x12 cabinets, all loaded with Celestion Vintage 30 speakers.
Petrucci has acted as a backing vocalist live since the ''Awake'' Tour. He is a [[baritone]], producing a sound darker than that of [[James LaBrie]]'s tenor voice. He has also written vocal melodies for Dream Theater. Petrucci's role as a vocalist expanded following the departure of [[Mike Portnoy]], who had been Dream Theater's primary backing vocalist and occasionally even shared lead vocals with LaBrie. In live performances, Petrucci now replicates some vocal parts originally sung by Portnoy, with others being recorded samples.


==Accolades and praise==
John generally records very directly [Guitar > Choice pedals > Amplifier]. Effects such as pan, delay, phaser, etc. are usually inserted during production. He uses Shure SM57 and Sennheiser MD421 microphones placed directly on the grill cloth about 1.5 inches off the center of a speaker (usually the two microphones are placed on different speakers). They are combined into one channel with no compression.
Regarded as "one of the most celebrated guitarists alive" by Premier Guitar,<ref name="premierguitar.com">{{Cite web|date=September 24, 2013|first=Corbin|last=Reiff|title=John Petrucci: The Ultimate Evolved Guitarist|url=https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/19699-john-petrucci-the-ultimate-evolved-guitarist|access-date=September 3, 2020|website=premierguitar.com|language=en}}</ref> Petrucci has performed as the third guitarist on the [[G3 tour]] seven times, more than any other invited guitarist. In their article "John Petrucci: The Ultimate Evolved Guitarist",<ref name="premierguitar.com"/> Premier Guitar calls Petrucci "one of the best who's ever laid a hand on a fretboard".<ref name="premierguitar.com"/> He was voted "Best Prog guitarist" by ''The Prog Magazine''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/prog-awards-2019-dream-theater-big-big-train-hawkwind-among-this-years-winners|title=Prog Awards 2019: Dream Theater, Big Big Train, Hawkwind among this year's winners|date=September 12, 2019}}</ref> and the "Greatest Guitarist" by ''Burrn'' magazine<ref>https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?id=126844294034258&story_fbid=3156067807778543 {{User-generated source|certain=yes|date=March 2022}}</ref> and Mariskalrock.<ref>https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=3098748576843800&set=a.133462500039104 {{User-generated source|certain=yes|date=March 2022}}</ref> ''[[Guitar World]]'' magazine lists Petrucci among the "Fastest Guitarists of All Time"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.guitarworld.com/magazine/50-fastest-guitarists-all-time|title = Need for speed: The 50 fastest shred guitarists of all time|date = March 11, 2015}}</ref> and calls him "the most celebrated and popular guitarist in the world of progressive metal" and "arguably the most versatile and proficient player in his realm, with a highly developed melodic sense and an [[alternate picking]] technique that is virtually untouchable as far as [[shred guitar|speed and precision]]", while also ranking him among the top 5 "Best Guitarists of the Decade".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/the-20-best-guitarists-of-the-decade|title=The 20 best guitarists of the decade|date=December 30, 2019}}</ref>


In 2019, Petrucci won the SENA Performers European Award.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sega-award.com/en/john-petrucci-winner-of-the-sena-performers-european-guitar-award-2019/|title = John Petrucci winner of the Sena Performers European Guitar Award 2019|date = April 23, 2019}}</ref> [[Joel McIver]]'s 2009 book ''The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists'' ranks Petrucci second, after [[Dave Mustaine]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Dave Mustaine Discusses 'The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists'|url=http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/interviews/dave_mustaine_discusses_the_100_greatest_metal_guitarists.html|publisher=Ultimate-Guitar}}</ref> He was also named as one of the "Top 10 Greatest Guitar Shredders of All Time" by ''GuitarOne'' magazine.<ref name="top 10">{{cite web|url=http://www.randyciak.com/guitar/top_shredders_of_all_time.htm|title=Top Shredders of All Time|access-date=February 26, 2008|publisher=RandyCiak.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080309115203/http://www.randyciak.com/guitar/top_shredders_of_all_time.htm|archive-date=March 9, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2012, Petrucci was ranked the 17th greatest guitarist of all time by a ''[[Guitar World]]'' magazine reader's poll.<ref>[http://www.guitarworld.com/readers-poll-results-100-greatest-guitarists-all-time "Readers Poll Results: The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time"]. ''Guitar World''. Retrieved October 13, 2012</ref> According to ''[[Forbes]]'', the Ernie Ball-Music Man John Petrucci JP6 is the second-best-selling signature model of all time, behind only the Gibson [[Gibson Les Paul|Les Paul]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/articles/features/these_are_7_best_selling_models_of_big_guitar_manufacturers-97790|title = These Are 7 Best Selling Models of Big Guitar Manufacturers}}</ref>
John Petrucci is famous for his stage rigs and their complexity. Apart from Mesa Boogie amplification, he uses many TC Electronics components and Digital Music Corp components with Furman power conditioners, an Eventide harmonizer, a Dunlop Crybaby rack wah, and other components. He also uses a custom built foot controller. John actually has two completely separate signal paths in his rig, one for cleans and the other for distorted channels. The 4x12 cabinets receive the distorted signal while the 2x12 receive the clean and piezo signals.


== Equipment ==
Petrucci is also notable as one of the musicians to popularize the usage of the seven string guitar (Alongside [[Steve Vai]], [[Rusty Cooley]], [[Suicidal Tendencies]] guitarist [[Rocky George]] and the [[nu metal]] band [[Korn]]). While he uses a conventional six-string guitar in the majority of his compositions, he began to use Ibanez seven-string guitars on three tracks of the 1994 album ''[[Awake (Dream Theater album)|Awake]]'' and on songs like "A Change of Seasons", "Just Let Me Breathe", "The Dance of Eternity", and later using his EBMM Signature 7 string guitars on "The Glass Prison", "Jaws of Life", and "This Dying Soul" and "Tunnel Vision". Beginning with the album "Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence", he started to experiment with lower tunings on his guitars. The end result being a very brief appearance in the song "Misunderstood", and the bulk of the track "Blind Faith" being tracked with a detuned Ernie Ball Silhouette six-string bass guitar, simulating a baritone guitar. (Baritone guitars feature a longer scale neck, giving far greater tuning stability at lower tunings than a standard guitar.) For 3 songs on the album "Train of Thought", his EBMM Signature guitars were used in C standard tuning. He can be seen on the "Romavarium" Fan Club DVD playing "These Walls", as well as on the Gigantour DVD playing "Panic Attack" with the Ernie Ball Silhouette Bass Guitar. Lately, it had seemed that he was favoring these detuned six-string guitars over his seven-strings, but as evidenced on the tracks "The Dark Eternal Night" and "Repentance" from the [[2007]] Dream Theater album [[Systematic Chaos]], he is once more utilizing his seven-string signature models.
Petrucci is a long-time user of Music Man JP and Majesty series guitars and Mesa/Boogie amplifiers. While his pedalboard, controller, effects and overdrives have undergone changes over the years, the core of Petrucci's guitar sound remains DiMarzio pickups and Mesa/Boogie amplifiers. Most recently the signature JP-2C amplifier based on the Mark IIC+ series and other Mark and Rectifier series amplifiers, such as during the recording of ''[[Train of Thought (Dream Theater album)|Train of Thought]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.johnpetrucci.com/gear.htm |title=Gear |website=johnpetrucci.com |access-date=May 17, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130126220435/http://www.johnpetrucci.com/gear.htm |archive-date=January 26, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/Rig_Rundown_Dream_Theaters_John_Petrucci|title=Rig Rundown - Dream Theater's John Petrucci|date=October 25, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.playguitarlive.com/john-petrucci-live-rig-2015/|title = John Petrucci's Gear and Equipment (2015)}}</ref>


A number of brands have released signature guitar equipment designed or endorsed by Petrucci:
Petrucci currently endorses [[Ernie Ball]]/[[MusicMan]] guitars and has two signature guitars on the market, a six- and a seven-string. Petrucci uses a modified [[DiMarzio]] Air Norton in the neck position and a [[DiMarzio]] D-Sonic in the bridge position. In his days before his endorsement with Music Man, he favored the Dimarzio Air Norton/Steve Special combo in his Ibanez guitars. His signature Musicman guitars also have Piezo acoustic bridges (special saddles hold the strings and pick up the true acoustic vibrations of the strings). This allows Petrucci to make his electric guitar sound like an acoustic guitar. He uses this in many of Dream Theater's songs, one of the most obvious examples in the song "Hollow Years", and in the live version of "The Silent Man". In the past he has endorsed [[Ibanez]] guitars, and had his own signature model manufactured by the company (also known as the "JPM" model). In recording Petrucci currently utilizes his ErnieBall MusicMan Signature Models (including a prototype of the new BFR F-1). His famous black and white Picasso Ibanez seven string guitar was sold to a collector on ebay after his endorsement ended. Recently a second line of EBMM Signature guitars have been introduced and are available for order. Named the "JP BFR F-1" (BFR stands for "Ball Family Reserve"). It features a quilted/flamed maple top, alder body (with a mahogany tone block running from the neck to the bridge), and a finished mahogany neck.
* Ibanez released the first John Petrucci signature guitars, made from 1995 to 1999
* DiMarzio have produced several pickups designed in collaboration with Petrucci, and released a signature guitar strap bearing his emblem.
* Ernie Ball Music Man (USA) began producing John Petrucci signature guitars in 2001 and have made numerous models bearing his name since.
* Dunlop produce John Petrucci signature guitar picks including the Jazz III and flow
* TC Electronic released the Dreamscape John Petrucci signature modulation pedal in 2013.


At the beginning of 2016 two new releases were announced: the Dunlop John Petrucci signature Cry-Baby wah, and the Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci head. The latter is a three-channel amplifier, which is available both as a stand-alone amp head and as a rack-mounted amp head. It differs from other Mesa/Boogie Mark series amps in that it features two separate graphic EQs, an exclusive "Shred" circuit, midi connection and CabClone direct out, resulting in increased versatility.<ref name="pmtonline.co.uk">{{Cite web|url=http://www.pmtonline.co.uk/blog/2016/03/03/dream-theaters-john-petrucci-gear-guide/|title = Dream Theater's John Petrucci Gear Guide}}</ref>
In the Majesty/Early Dream Theater era, Petrucci can be seen using a [[B.C. Rich]] ''Assassin'' (strat-style guitar) through [[Randall Amplification|Randall Amplifiers]].


== Personal life ==
John Petrucci's road rig and choice of amplifiers for recording often will and does change. Unofficially his gear was as follows on DT's major label releases.
Petrucci lives in [[St. James, New York]], with his wife Rena Sands, a guitarist in the all-female heavy metal band [[Meanstreak (band)|Meanstreak]], and they have three children. Sands is the aunt of Jake Bowen, a guitarist in the progressive metal band [[Periphery (band)|Periphery]].<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9RwQ6XddFg&feature=shared Artist On Artist: John Petrucci (Dream Theater) & Jake Bowen (Periphery) - Roadrunner Records on YouTube]</ref>


Petrucci is an avid fan of [[bodybuilding]] and dedicates much of his off time to [[weight training]]. He is a voting member of [[The Recording Academy]].<ref>[http://johnpetrucci.com/biography.htm The Official John Petrucci Web Site<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080711011925/http://www.johnpetrucci.com/biography.htm |date=July 11, 2008 }}</ref>
'''Studio Albums'''


Dream Theater bandmate [[Jordan Rudess]] revealed in an interview that Petrucci is a practicing [[Catholic]]. Petrucci also spoke about his faith in a Dream Theater Q&A with DreamTheaterForums and in an interview with Mark Small from ''Berklee Today'' magazine.<ref name="dtfaq1">[http://faq.dtnorway.com/question/114 The Dream Theater official FAQ] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080418031206/http://faq.dtnorway.com/question/114|date=April 18, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=DreamTheaterForums.org presents a Q&A Session with Dream Theater |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx8cLlXnHpA |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/sx8cLlXnHpA |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |access-date=July 19, 2020 |work=DreamTheaterForums.org}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Dream Theater |url=https://www.berklee.edu/berklee-today/summer-2007/cover-story/dream-theater |access-date=2023-08-16 |website=www.berklee.edu |language=en}}</ref>
*'''When Dream and Day Unite'''
*'''Images and Words''' - Triaxis 2/90 (dirty), Roland JC120 for cleans
*'''Awake''' - Only album to be quadruple layered. 2 takes using Dual Rectifier, 2 takes using Mark IIC+
*'''Falling Into Infinity''' - Rectifier, Mark IIC+, Mark IV, Triaxis
*'''A Change of Seasons''' - Mark IIC+, Mark IV, Triaxis
*'''Scenes From A Memory''' - Mark IIC+, Mark IV
*'''Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence''' - Mark IIC+, Rectifier
*'''Train Of Thought''' - Road King Series I
*'''Octavarium''' - Road King Series I & II, Lonestar
*'''Systematic Chaos''' - Lonestar, Mark IV (Mark IIC+, Rectifier)
*'''Suspended Animation (solo cd)''' - Roadking Series 1, Mark IIC+
*'''Liquid Tension Experiment''' - Triaxis, 2:90 power amp
*'''Liquid Tension Experiment 2''' - Mark IIC+, Mark IV


==Discography==


===Solo albums===
'''Live and DVD release rigs'''
* ''[[Suspended Animation (John Petrucci album)|Suspended Animation]]'' (2005)
*''[[Terminal Velocity (album)|Terminal Velocity]]'' (2020)


===With Dream Theater - Studio albums===
*''' I&W Tour''' - 2 Triaxis Preamps (one for backup), 2:90 power amp, Mesa Abacus+Mesa Midi Matrix for switching
{{Main|Dream Theater discography}}
*'''Scenes From NY''' - Triaxis, Dual Rectifier, Mark IIC+, Mark IV, Formula Preamp, 2:90 power amps
*'''Live At Budokan''' - Road King Series 1, Lonestar
*'''Score''' - Custom Built "Nunya" Preamp, Formula Preamp, mesa 2:100 power amp, 4 Mesa 4x12's and 4 Mesa 2x12's
*''' 2007 G3 tour''' - Mark IV (x2), Formula preamp
*''' 2007 Systematic Chaos Tour''' - Mark IV (x2), Lonestar
<br />


* ''[[When Dream and Day Unite]]'' (1989)
==Discography==
* ''[[Images and Words]]'' (1992)
* ''[[Awake (Dream Theater album)|Awake]]'' (1994)
* ''[[Falling into Infinity]]'' (1997)
* ''[[Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory]]'' (1999)
* ''[[Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence]]'' (2002)
* ''[[Train of Thought (Dream Theater album)|Train of Thought]]'' (2003)
* ''[[Octavarium (album)|Octavarium]]'' (2005)
* ''[[Systematic Chaos]]'' (2007)
* ''[[Black Clouds & Silver Linings]]'' (2009)
* ''[[A Dramatic Turn of Events]]'' (2011)
* ''[[Dream Theater (album)|Dream Theater]]'' (2013)
* ''[[The Astonishing]]'' (2016)
* ''[[Distance over Time]]'' (2019)
* ''[[A View from the Top of the World]]'' (2021)
* ''[[Parasomnia (album)|Parasomnia]]'' (2025)

===With Liquid Tension Experiment===
* ''[[Liquid Tension Experiment (album)|Liquid Tension Experiment]]'' (1998)
* ''[[Liquid Tension Experiment 2]]'' (1999)
* ''[[Liquid Tension Experiment 3]]'' (2021)<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ewing |first1=Jerry |title=Liquid Tension Experiment reveal artwork and tracklisting for new album |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/liquid-tension-experiment-reveal-artwork-and-tracklisting-for-new-album |work=[[Louder Sound]] |date=January 11, 2021}}</ref>

===With G3===
* ''[[G3: Live in Tokyo]]'' (With guitarists [[Steve Vai]] and [[Joe Satriani]]) (2005)

===With Jordan Rudess===
* ''[[An Evening with John Petrucci and Jordan Rudess]]'' (2000)

===As a guest===
* ''Digital Pinball: Necronomicon'' soundtrack (1996)
* ''[[Explorers Club (band)|Explorers Club]]'' – ''[[Age of Impact]]'' (1998)
* ''[[Jon Finn]] Group'' – ''Wicked'' (1998)
* ''[[Jordan Rudess]]'' – ''[[Feeding the Wheel]]'' (2001)
* ''[[Derek Sherinian]]'' – ''[[Blood of the Snake]]'' (Played on track "Czar Of Steel") (2006)
* ''[[Marty Friedman (guitarist)|Marty Friedman]]'' – ''[[Loudspeaker (album)|Loudspeaker]]'' (Special guest guitarist on "Black Orchid") (2006)
* ''[[Periphery (band)|Periphery]]'' – ''[[Periphery II: This Time It's Personal]]'' (Guest solo on track "Erised") (2012)<ref>[http://www.guitarworld.com/exclusive-periphery-officially-announce-july-3-release-date-new-album Exclusive: Periphery Officially Announce July 3 Release Date for New Album]</ref>
* ''Sterling Ball, John Ferraro and Jim Cox'' – ''The Mutual Admiration Society'' (2018)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mutualadmirationsocietymusic.com/ |title = The Mutual Admiration Society {{!}} Sterling Ball, John Ferraro, and Jim Cox}}</ref>
* ''[[Jordan Rudess]]'' – ''Wired for Madness'' (2019)
* ''[[Bryan Beller]]'' – ''Scenes from the Flood'' (Solo on "World Class") (2019)
* ''Saab Guitar Project'' - Space Traveller (2021)


===Others===
* ''[[Working Man – A Tribute to Rush]]'' – ''Various Artists'' (A tribute to [[Rush (band)|Rush]]) (1996)
* ''[[Dragon Attack (album)|Dragon Attack]]'' – ''Various Artists'' (A tribute to [[Queen (band)|Queen]]) (1997)
* ''Guitar Battle'' – ''Various Artists'' (1998)
* ''[[Super Mario Bros.]] Theme Remix'' – FamilyJules (2018)<ref>{{cite web|title=Dream Theater's guitarist John Petrucci featured in Super Mario Bros. main theme remix with FamilyJules|date=February 3, 2018 |url=http://www.metalinjection.net/video/watch-dream-theaters-john-petrucci-destroy-the-super-mario-bros-theme-on-guitar|publisher=Loudwire}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=VIDEO: Super Mario Bros. theme by FamilyJules (feat. John Petrucci)| date=January 30, 2018 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gx4DshJGlI0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/gx4DshJGlI0 |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|publisher=YouTube|access-date=January 30, 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==Videography==
{| style="border: 1px solid #a0a0aa; background-color: #f0f0ff; width: 90%; margin-left:8px;"
{| style="border: 1px solid #a0a0aa; background-color: #f0f0ff; width: 90%; margin-left:8px;"
|-
|-
| width=5% | <u>'''Year'''</u>
| width=5% | <u>'''Year'''</u>
| width=30% | <u>'''Title'''</u>
| width=30% | <u>'''Title'''</u>
| width=14% | <u>'''Label'''</u>
| width=50% | <u>'''Notes'''</u>
| width=40% | <u>'''Notes'''</u>
|-
| 1989
| ''[[When Dream and Day Unite]]''
| MCA/Mechanic
| First [[Dream Theater]] studio album.
|-
| 1992
| ''[[Images and Words]]''
| Atlantic/ATCO
| Again with [[Dream Theater]], introducing the new lead singer [[James LaBrie]].
|-
|-
| 1993
| 1993
| ''[[Live at the Marquee]]''
| ''[[Images and Words: Live in Tokyo]]''
| First Dream Theater live DVD. Includes extended version of "Take the Time."
| WEA International
| First [[Dream Theater]] live album.
|-
| 1994
| ''[[Awake (Dream Theater album)|Awake]]''
| EastWest
| The last [[Dream Theater]] album with [[Kevin Moore]] as Keyboard player.
|-
|-
| 1995
| 1995
| ''[[A Change of Seasons]]'' (EP)
| ''Rock Discipline'' – VHS
| John Petrucci does a DVD on guitar warmups, tricks, exercises, and his gear.
| EastWest
| [[Dream Theater]] EP, introducing [[Derek Sherinian]] as new Keyboard Player.
|-
| 1996
| ''[[Working Man (album)|Working Man]]''
| Magna Carta
| A Rush Tribute.
|-
| 1997
| ''[[Falling into Infinity]]''
| Elektra
| Last [[Dream Theater]] album with [[Derek Sherinian]].
|-
| 1997
| ''[[Dragon Attack (album)|Dragon Attack]]''
| CNR Music
| A Tribute to Queen
|-
|-
| 1998
| 1998
| ''[[Guitar Battle (album)|Guitar Battle]]''
| ''[[5 Years in a LIVEtime]]''
| The only live Dream Theater DVD with Derek Sherinian.
| Viktor
| Various Artists
|-
| 1998
| ''[[Liquid Tension Experiment (album)|Liquid Tension Experiment]]''
| Magna Carta
| Project with [[Mike Portnoy]], [[Jordan Rudess]] and [[Tony Levin]]
|-
| 1998
| ''[[Once in a LIVEtime]]''
| Elektra
| 2CD recorded in [[Paris]], [[France]].
|-
| 1998
| ''[[Age of Impact]]''
| Magna Carta
| Explorers Club
|-
| 1998
| ''[[Wicked (album)|Wicked]]''
| The Orchard
| [[Jon Finn Group]]
|-
| 1999
| ''[[Liquid Tension Experiment 2]]''
| Magna Carta
| Second album with [[Liquid Tension Experiment]]
|-
| 1999
| ''[[Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory]]''
| Elektra
| [[Jordan Rudess]] as new keyboard player for [[Dream Theater]], the band's first [[concept album]].
|-
| 2000
| ''[[An Evening with John Petrucci and Jordan Rudess]]''
| Sound Mind Music
| A Live album with Keyboard Player [[Jordan Rudess]]
|-
|-
| 2001
| 2001
| ''[[Feeding the Wheel]]''
| ''[[Metropolis 2000: Scenes From New York]]''
|
| Magna Carta
| [[Jordan Rudess]] solo album, Petrucci is featured on guitar.
|-
| 2001
| ''[[Live Scenes From New York]]''
| Elektra
| 3CD recorded in [[New York]], [[United States|U.S.]].
|-
|-
| 2002
| 2002
| ''Rock Discipline'' – DVD
| ''[[Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence]]''
|
| Elektra
| Dream Theater's first studio [[double album]].
|-
| 2003
| ''[[Train of Thought (Dream Theater album)|Train of Thought]]''
| Elektra
| [[Dream Theater]]'s heaviest album released to date.
|-
|-
| 2004
| 2004
| ''[[Live at Budokan (Dream Theater)|Live at Budokan]]''
| ''[[Live at Budokan (Dream Theater)|Live at Budokan]]''
|
| Atlantic
| [[Dream Theater]] 3CD/2DVD combination recorded in [[Tokyo]], [[Japan]].
|-
| 2005
| ''[[Suspended Animation (John Petrucci album)|Suspended Animation]]''
| Sound Mind Music
| First solo album.
|-
|-
| 2005
| 2005
| ''[[G3: Live in Tokyo]]''
| ''[[G3: Live in Tokyo]]''
|
| Sony
| Plays on G3, with Guitarists [[Steve Vai]] and [[Joe Satriani]]
|-
| 2005
| ''[[Octavarium]]''
| Atlantic
| [[Dream Theater]]'s last album with Atlantic Records Group.
|-
| 2006
| ''[[Score (album)|Score]]''
| Rhino Entertainment
| 3CD/2DVD recorded at the Radio City Music Hall on April 1, 2006 [[New York]], [[United States|U.S.]].
|-
| 2006
| ''[[Blood of the Snake]]'' - [[Derek Sherinian]]
| Inside Out Music
| Played Guitar on first track "Czar Of Steel".
|-
|-
| 2006
| 2006
| ''[[Score (Dream Theater album)|Score]]''
| ''[[Loudspeaker (album)|Loudspeaker]]'' - [[Marty Friedman (guitarist)|Marty Friedman]]
| 2DVD's recorded at Radio City Music Hall on April 1, 2006, New York, US Celebrating Dream Theater's 20th Anniversary. They performed this concert with a symphony orchestra.
| Mascot/Avex
| Special Guest Guitarist
|-
|-
| 2007
| 2007
| ''[[Systematic Chaos]]''
| ''Chaos in Progress: The Making of [[Systematic Chaos]]''
| DVD included in the special edition of ''[[Systematic Chaos]]''
| [[Roadrunner Records]]
| First album released under [[Dream Theater]]'s new contract with [[Roadrunner Records]] on June 5th, 2007. Released in two different formats, a CD-only release and a "Special Edition" which contained the CD as well as a DVD with the album mixed in [[Dolby Digital|Dolby Digital 5.1]] and a 90-minute documentary chronicling the writing and recording of the material entitled "Chaos In Progress" directed by drummer [[Mike Portnoy]].
|}

==Videography==
{| style="border: 1px solid #a0a0aa; background-color: #f0f0ff; width: 90%; margin-left:8px;"
|-
|-
| 2008
| width=5% | <u>'''Year'''</u>
| ''[[Chaos in Motion 2007–2008]]''
| width=30% | <u>'''Title'''</u>
| Released September 30, 2008. Documents the band's 2007/2008 Chaos in Motion and Progressive Nation tours.
| width=50% | <u>'''Notes'''</u>
|-
|-
| 1993
| 2013
| [[Images and Words: Live in Tokyo]]
| ''[[Live at Luna Park]]''
|
|
|-
|-
| 1995
| 2014
| ''[[Breaking the Fourth Wall (album)|Breaking the Fourth Wall]]''
| Rock Discipline - VHS
| 2DVD's recorded live at the Boston Opera House on March 25, 2014, released on September 29, 2014, on CD, DVD, and Blu-ray.
|
|-
|-
|2020
| 1998
|''[[Distant Memories – Live in London]]''
| [[5 Years in a LIVEtime]]
|Recorded on February 21 and 22, 2020.
|
|-
| 2001
| [[Metropolis 2000: Scenes From New York]]
|
|-
| 2002
| Rock Discipline - DVD
|
|-
| 2004
| [[Live at Budokan (Dream Theater)|Live at Budokan]]
|
|-
| 2005
| [[G3: Live in Tokyo]]
|
|-
| 2006
| [[Score (album)|Score]]
|}
|}


==See also==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
*[[Dream Theater]]
*[[Liquid Tension Experiment]]
*[[G3 (tour)]]

== References ==

{{reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.johnpetrucci.com John Petrucci official web site]
* [http://www.petrucciforum.com John Petrucci official forum]
* [http://www.johnpetrucci.com Official website]
* [http://www.dreamtheater.net Dream Theater official web site]
* [http://www.myspace.com/g3live Myspace: G3]


{{Dream Theater|state=plain}}

{{Liquid Tension Experiment}}
{{Dream Theater}}
{{G3 (tour band)}}
{{G3 (tour band)}}
{{Explorers Club}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Petrucci, John}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Petrucci, John}}
[[Category:1967 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Dream Theater members]]
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[[Category:American heavy metal guitarists]]
[[Category:American rock guitarists]]
[[Category:American heavy metal singers]]
[[Category:American male singers]]
[[Category:Record producers from New York (state)]]
[[Category:American Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:American Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Seven-string guitarists]]
[[Category:Seven-string guitarists]]
[[Category:Berklee College of Music alumni]]
[[Category:Berklee College of Music alumni]]
[[Category:Italian-American musicians]]
[[Category:American people of Italian descent]]
[[Category:1967 births]]
[[Category:G3 (tour)]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Kings Park, New York]]
[[Category:G3]]
[[Category:American lead guitarists]]
[[Category:Progressive rock guitarists]]

[[Category:Progressive metal guitarists]]
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[[Category:20th-century American guitarists]]
[[id:John Petrucci]]
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[[Category:Liquid Tension Experiment members]]
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Latest revision as of 12:11, 14 November 2024

John Petrucci
Petrucci performing with Dream Theater in Milano 2024
Petrucci performing with Dream Theater in Milano 2024
Background information
Birth nameJohn Peter Petrucci
Born (1967-07-12) July 12, 1967 (age 57)
Kings Park, New York, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • songwriter
  • producer
InstrumentGuitar
Years active1984–present
Labels
Member of
Formerly ofExplorers Club
Websitejohnpetrucci.com

John Peter Petrucci (born July 12, 1967) is an American guitarist, best known as a founding member of the progressive metal band Dream Theater. He produced or co-produced (often with Mike Portnoy before Portnoy's absence from the band 2010-2023) all of Dream Theater's albums from Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory (1999), and has been the sole producer of the band's albums released since A Dramatic Turn of Events (2011). Petrucci has also released two solo albums: Suspended Animation (2005) and Terminal Velocity (2020).

Early life and influences

[edit]

John Peter Petrucci was born on July 12, 1967, in Kings Park, New York, to an Italian American family. He picked up the guitar at around the age of eight because his older sister was allowed to go to bed later in order to practice the organ. However, he decided to quit the guitar when his attempts to stay up late were unsuccessful. He picked up the guitar again at the age of 12. Petrucci has said he committed to practicing guitar six hours a day when he discovered it was his passion. His early influences were bands like Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, AC/DC, and later developed an interest in progressive rock and heavy metal, exemplified by Rush, Yes, Iron Maiden, Dixie Dregs and Metallica.[1][2] His other influences as a guitarist include Jimmy Page,[3] Brian May,[3] Eddie Van Halen,[3] Steve Morse, Al Di Meola, Steve Howe, Allan Holdsworth, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Randy Rhoads, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Alex Lifeson, Yngwie Malmsteen and David Gilmour.[4][5]

Career

[edit]

Eventually, his childhood friend and future Dream Theater keyboardist Kevin Moore invited Petrucci to join his cover band. Petrucci attended Berklee College of Music in Boston with childhood friend John Myung (bass), where they met future bandmate Mike Portnoy (drums). While in Berklee they often covered two of their biggest influences, Iron Maiden and Rush. These three, in addition to Kevin Moore, formed the band Majesty. Because there was already another band with the same name, the group later became Dream Theater.

While Petrucci is most commonly associated with Dream Theater, he is also in the project band Liquid Tension Experiment, and has appeared as a guest on records by other artists, such as the Age of Impact album by the Explorer's Club.

Petrucci has released a guitar instructional video, Rock Discipline, which covers warm-up exercises, exercises to avoid injury while playing, alternate picking, sweep picking, chords and other techniques for developing one's guitar playing. Petrucci also has a book named "Guitar World presents John Petrucci's Wild Stringdom", which was compiled from columns he wrote for Guitar World magazine under that title.

In 2001, Joe Satriani and Steve Vai invited Petrucci to tour with them on the popular G3 guitar tour, which exposed him to a massive number of new fans and inspired a solo album. The album, Suspended Animation, was released on March 1, 2005, and was available for order from his web site. Petrucci also appeared on the 2005 and 2006 G3 tours, and in 2007, went on G3 tour again, this time with Paul Gilbert and Joe Satriani. In a video with Larry DiMarzio, Petrucci announced that he is working on a follow-up to his 2005 album, Suspended Animation and a new Dream Theater album.[6]

Petrucci also wrote and recorded two instrumental soundtrack songs for a Sega Saturn game titled Digital Pinball: Necronomicon. Each track is roughly two minutes long, and are named simply Prologue and Epilogue. In a spoof rock band, Nightmare Cinema (which was the Dream Theater members changing instruments for encores), he used the "alternate stage name" Johnny James.

In 2012, Petrucci was invited once again to join Joe Satriani on the G3 tour, along with Steve Morse. He was accompanied by bassist Dave LaRue and drummer and Dream Theater bandmate Mike Mangini.

In 2018, Petrucci joined Joe Satriani on the G3 tour. They were accompanied by Uli Jon Roth on the European leg of the tour, and Phil Collen in North America. His second solo album, titled Terminal Velocity was released in 2020.[7] Petrucci's first solo album in 15 years, it reunited him with Mike Portnoy for the first time since the drummer left Dream Theater in 2010.[8]

Musical style

[edit]

Guitar technique

[edit]
Petrucci in 2007

Petrucci is respected for his variety of guitar styles and skills. One of the most notable of these is his high-speed alternate picking which, as he himself claims, requires a "strong sense of synchronization between the two [playing] hands." He is notable for frequent use of the seven-string electric guitar, which he says he uses as a writing tool, taking advantage of the extended range for heavier riffing and to play extended range runs as part of a solo. Moreover, Petrucci often combines his metal shredding technique with a slower, emotive soloing style.

Lyrics

[edit]

Petrucci is Dream Theater's most prolific lyricist, with each album including at least three songs featuring his lyrics. Some of Petrucci's notable songs include "Metropolis, Pt. 1: The Miracle and the Sleeper", "The Spirit Carries On", "The Great Debate", "In the Presence of Enemies", and "Through Her Eyes". Petrucci has occasionally used real-life experiences for lyrical inspiration, as heard in songs such as "The Count of Tuscany", "A Nightmare to Remember" and "Endless Sacrifice".

Singing

[edit]

Petrucci has acted as a backing vocalist live since the Awake Tour. He is a baritone, producing a sound darker than that of James LaBrie's tenor voice. He has also written vocal melodies for Dream Theater. Petrucci's role as a vocalist expanded following the departure of Mike Portnoy, who had been Dream Theater's primary backing vocalist and occasionally even shared lead vocals with LaBrie. In live performances, Petrucci now replicates some vocal parts originally sung by Portnoy, with others being recorded samples.

Accolades and praise

[edit]

Regarded as "one of the most celebrated guitarists alive" by Premier Guitar,[9] Petrucci has performed as the third guitarist on the G3 tour seven times, more than any other invited guitarist. In their article "John Petrucci: The Ultimate Evolved Guitarist",[9] Premier Guitar calls Petrucci "one of the best who's ever laid a hand on a fretboard".[9] He was voted "Best Prog guitarist" by The Prog Magazine[10] and the "Greatest Guitarist" by Burrn magazine[11] and Mariskalrock.[12] Guitar World magazine lists Petrucci among the "Fastest Guitarists of All Time"[13] and calls him "the most celebrated and popular guitarist in the world of progressive metal" and "arguably the most versatile and proficient player in his realm, with a highly developed melodic sense and an alternate picking technique that is virtually untouchable as far as speed and precision", while also ranking him among the top 5 "Best Guitarists of the Decade".[14]

In 2019, Petrucci won the SENA Performers European Award.[15] Joel McIver's 2009 book The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists ranks Petrucci second, after Dave Mustaine.[16] He was also named as one of the "Top 10 Greatest Guitar Shredders of All Time" by GuitarOne magazine.[17] In 2012, Petrucci was ranked the 17th greatest guitarist of all time by a Guitar World magazine reader's poll.[18] According to Forbes, the Ernie Ball-Music Man John Petrucci JP6 is the second-best-selling signature model of all time, behind only the Gibson Les Paul.[19]

Equipment

[edit]

Petrucci is a long-time user of Music Man JP and Majesty series guitars and Mesa/Boogie amplifiers. While his pedalboard, controller, effects and overdrives have undergone changes over the years, the core of Petrucci's guitar sound remains DiMarzio pickups and Mesa/Boogie amplifiers. Most recently the signature JP-2C amplifier based on the Mark IIC+ series and other Mark and Rectifier series amplifiers, such as during the recording of Train of Thought.[20][21][22]

A number of brands have released signature guitar equipment designed or endorsed by Petrucci:

  • Ibanez released the first John Petrucci signature guitars, made from 1995 to 1999
  • DiMarzio have produced several pickups designed in collaboration with Petrucci, and released a signature guitar strap bearing his emblem.
  • Ernie Ball Music Man (USA) began producing John Petrucci signature guitars in 2001 and have made numerous models bearing his name since.
  • Dunlop produce John Petrucci signature guitar picks including the Jazz III and flow
  • TC Electronic released the Dreamscape John Petrucci signature modulation pedal in 2013.

At the beginning of 2016 two new releases were announced: the Dunlop John Petrucci signature Cry-Baby wah, and the Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci head. The latter is a three-channel amplifier, which is available both as a stand-alone amp head and as a rack-mounted amp head. It differs from other Mesa/Boogie Mark series amps in that it features two separate graphic EQs, an exclusive "Shred" circuit, midi connection and CabClone direct out, resulting in increased versatility.[23]

Personal life

[edit]

Petrucci lives in St. James, New York, with his wife Rena Sands, a guitarist in the all-female heavy metal band Meanstreak, and they have three children. Sands is the aunt of Jake Bowen, a guitarist in the progressive metal band Periphery.[24]

Petrucci is an avid fan of bodybuilding and dedicates much of his off time to weight training. He is a voting member of The Recording Academy.[25]

Dream Theater bandmate Jordan Rudess revealed in an interview that Petrucci is a practicing Catholic. Petrucci also spoke about his faith in a Dream Theater Q&A with DreamTheaterForums and in an interview with Mark Small from Berklee Today magazine.[26][27][28]

Discography

[edit]

Solo albums

[edit]

With Dream Theater - Studio albums

[edit]
Main article: Dream Theater discography

With Liquid Tension Experiment

[edit]

With G3

[edit]

With Jordan Rudess

[edit]

As a guest

[edit]

Others

[edit]

Videography

[edit]
Year Title Notes
1993 Images and Words: Live in Tokyo First Dream Theater live DVD. Includes extended version of "Take the Time."
1995 Rock Discipline – VHS John Petrucci does a DVD on guitar warmups, tricks, exercises, and his gear.
1998 5 Years in a LIVEtime The only live Dream Theater DVD with Derek Sherinian.
2001 Metropolis 2000: Scenes From New York
2002 Rock Discipline – DVD
2004 Live at Budokan
2005 G3: Live in Tokyo
2006 Score 2DVD's recorded at Radio City Music Hall on April 1, 2006, New York, US Celebrating Dream Theater's 20th Anniversary. They performed this concert with a symphony orchestra.
2007 Chaos in Progress: The Making of Systematic Chaos DVD included in the special edition of Systematic Chaos
2008 Chaos in Motion 2007–2008 Released September 30, 2008. Documents the band's 2007/2008 Chaos in Motion and Progressive Nation tours.
2013 Live at Luna Park
2014 Breaking the Fourth Wall 2DVD's recorded live at the Boston Opera House on March 25, 2014, released on September 29, 2014, on CD, DVD, and Blu-ray.
2020 Distant Memories – Live in London Recorded on February 21 and 22, 2020.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Interview with John Petrucci (Dream Theater)". Wikimetal. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014.
  2. ^ "John Petrucci: Biography". johnpetrucci.com. Archived from the original on November 27, 1999.
  3. ^ a b c "John Petrucci | Similar Artists". AllMusic.
  4. ^ "John Petrucci: Biography". johnpetrucci.com. Archived from the original on November 27, 1999.
  5. ^ "John Petrucci Talks About the New Dream Theater Album in the November 2011 Issue of Guitar World". guitarworld.com.
  6. ^ John Petrucci and his DiMarzio® Pickups. on YouTube
  7. ^ Munro, Scott (June 19, 2020). "Dream Theater's John Petrucci announces new solo album Terminal Velocity". Prog. Future plc. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  8. ^ "Terminal Velocity Review". August 27, 2020. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  9. ^ a b c Reiff, Corbin (September 24, 2013). "John Petrucci: The Ultimate Evolved Guitarist". premierguitar.com. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
  10. ^ "Prog Awards 2019: Dream Theater, Big Big Train, Hawkwind among this year's winners". September 12, 2019.
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  13. ^ "Need for speed: The 50 fastest shred guitarists of all time". March 11, 2015.
  14. ^ "The 20 best guitarists of the decade". December 30, 2019.
  15. ^ "John Petrucci winner of the Sena Performers European Guitar Award 2019". April 23, 2019.
  16. ^ "Dave Mustaine Discusses 'The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists'". Ultimate-Guitar.
  17. ^ "Top Shredders of All Time". RandyCiak.com. Archived from the original on March 9, 2008. Retrieved February 26, 2008.
  18. ^ "Readers Poll Results: The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time". Guitar World. Retrieved October 13, 2012
  19. ^ "These Are 7 Best Selling Models of Big Guitar Manufacturers".
  20. ^ "Gear". johnpetrucci.com. Archived from the original on January 26, 2013. Retrieved May 17, 2010.
  21. ^ "Rig Rundown - Dream Theater's John Petrucci". October 25, 2011.
  22. ^ "John Petrucci's Gear and Equipment (2015)".
  23. ^ "Dream Theater's John Petrucci Gear Guide".
  24. ^ Artist On Artist: John Petrucci (Dream Theater) & Jake Bowen (Periphery) - Roadrunner Records on YouTube
  25. ^ The Official John Petrucci Web Site Archived July 11, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  26. ^ The Dream Theater official FAQ Archived April 18, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
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  29. ^ Ewing, Jerry (January 11, 2021). "Liquid Tension Experiment reveal artwork and tracklisting for new album". Louder Sound.
  30. ^ Exclusive: Periphery Officially Announce July 3 Release Date for New Album
  31. ^ "The Mutual Admiration Society | Sterling Ball, John Ferraro, and Jim Cox".
  32. ^ "Dream Theater's guitarist John Petrucci featured in Super Mario Bros. main theme remix with FamilyJules". Loudwire. February 3, 2018.
  33. ^ "VIDEO: Super Mario Bros. theme by FamilyJules (feat. John Petrucci)". YouTube. January 30, 2018. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
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