Makes me remember when times were so simple when this song came out and friends I have lost were still alive, R.I.P. Mike! We will Jam together again one-day!
This is going to sound cliched as hell, I know, but twenty-eight years ago, I heard this song, and I didn’t know it just that instant, but my life was about to change in a profound way. I was at Dallas City Limits waiting for a band to go on stage (I forget which). This song came over the house PA. About two minutes in, I looked over at my friend Jim standing next to me, and asked him, “who the fuck is this?” The little hairs on my nuts stood on end. Mike Portnoy’s drums, and John Myung’s bass, came from everywhere. Then, I heard John Petrucci’s glorious pre chorus lead guitar work for the first time. I’d been playing the guitar for about the three years at the time. I flipped out.
I went and got the album the next day, and the world opened up to me. Soon I was listening to Fates Warning, and other heavier prog bands. I started listening to Savatage, too. Hearing John Petrucci and Criss Olivia for the first time about a week apart was thrilling beyond words. I saw what was possible. I hadn’t had that kind of a feeling since hearing Rush for the first time when Moving Pictures came out.
Everything became possible.
I still remember being so proud of myself when I was 12 and learned how to play this song on drums, this whole album really pushed me into metal drumming.