Derek Sherinian | |
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| Born | (1966-08-25)August 25, 1966 (age 59) Laguna Beach, California, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1982–present |
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| Website | https://dereksherinian.com |
Derek Sherinian (born August 25, 1966) is an American keyboardist who has toured and recorded forAlice Cooper,Billy Idol, andJoe Bonamassa, among others. He was also a member ofDream Theater from 1994 to 1999, is the founder ofPlanet X and also one of the founding members ofBlack Country Communion,[1]Sons of Apollo,[2] andWhom Gods Destroy. He has released nine solo albums that have featured a variety of prominent guest musicians, including guitaristsSlash,Yngwie Malmsteen,Allan Holdsworth,Steve Lukather,Joe Bonamassa,Michael Schenker,Steve Vai andAl Di Meola, and drummerSimon Phillips.
Sherinian has distinguished himself by his versatility, and aggressive "guitaristic" approach to his signature keyboard style. MusicRadar.com declared, "A true shredder, his virtuoso playing has seen him dubbed the keyboard-playing version ofEddie Van Halen."[3] In 2021, he was voted "Greatest Keyboardist Of The 21st Century", and #8 Greatest of All Time by MusicRadar.com. Sherinian was voted #1 Keyboardist in Japan's BURRN! Magazine in 2020, 2022, 2023, and 2024. In 2018, he was voted #9 Greatest Keyboardist Ever inProg magazine. He has also appeared on the cover of numerous keyboard magazines around the world, including the November 2011 issue ofKeyboard, which declared Sherinian a "Keyboard Hero for a New Generation". He has also been called the "King of the Keys" byGuitar World magazine and the "Caligula of Keyboards" by Alice Cooper.[4] His musical influences includeElton John,Edward Van Halen andJan Hammer.
Born inLaguna Beach, California, Sherinian is of Greek and Armenian descent.[5][6] He began taking piano lessons at age five inSanta Cruz, California.[7][8] After his junior year atSoquel High School, he received a scholarship to theBerklee College of Music in Boston where he attended with futureMegadeth guitarist andTrans-Siberian Orchestra musical directorAl Pitrelli, andLiving Colour drummerWill Calhoun.[7][9] He has since studied with other keyboardists, includingMitchel Forman,T Lavitz,Russell Ferrante, and Alex Alessandroni.[10]
Sherinian's first professional gig after leaving Boston was in 1988 with ex-Jimi HendrixBand of Gypsies drummerBuddy Miles touring theChitlin' Circuit. Sherinian paid tribute to Miles covering his song "Them Changes" featuringJoe Bonamassa on his 2020 solo album "The Phoenix".[11][12]
Sherinian received his first big break withAlice Cooper in 1989 to tour in support of the platinum sellingTrash album.[7] Sherinian toured and recorded with Cooper on and off until 1998. Cooper said of Sherinian, "Derek Sherinian will be at least one chapter in my book when I write my autobiography. He is the Caligula of the keyboards. He was born with the rock star charisma. Reeking of self-esteem, he walked into our first rehearsal for the 'Trash' tour and flawlessly auditioned by playing every classicBob Ezrin keyboard part to the note. Ten years later and thousands of exchanged poker chips later, the two of us have probably broken even. He once pulled four twos on the bullet train from Japan, and won a huge poker pot. I'll always remember that day... him jumping up on the very conservative bullet train, screaming that he'd pulled four twos, which is an awfully good hand in poker.[13]
In 1994, Sherinian replacedKevin Moore in theprogressive metal bandDream Theater, originally for the band's promotional tour forAwake. In February 1995, he was made a full-time member of the band.Dream Theater guitaristJohn 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."[14] He recorded the albumsA Change of Seasons (1995),Falling into Infinity (1997), andOnce in a LIVEtime (1998) with Dream Theater before being replaced in January 1999 byJordan Rudess due to creative differences and turmoil within the band.[9][15][16][17] Sherinian reunited with Dream Theater for a one-off concert in 2004, which was recorded and released asWhen Dream and Day Reunite (2004). The band's performance of "Metropolis Pt. 1" featured an extended improvisation between Sherinian, Rudess, and guitaristJohn Petrucci.
During the late 1990s, Sherinian released two albums with the progressive rock supergroupPlatypus, which featured Dream Theater bassistJohn Myung, Dixie Dregs drummerRod Morgenstein, andKing's X guitaristTy Tabor. The group released two albums,When Pus Comes to Shove (1998) andIce Cycles (2000), before disbanding in 2000.[18]In 2002, he was part of the bandJughead, which also included Tabor, bassist/vocalistMatt Bissonette and drummerGregg Bissonette.[19]In January 2012, Sherinian performed at two shows with instrumental supergroupMike Portnoy,Billy Sheehan, andTony MacAlpine (PSMS) for the Guitar Center Drum Off, and Sabian Live. In the fall of that year, PSMS began rehearsing for a tour and a video of their rehearsal was released on DVD as "InstruMENTAL Inspiration". They toured Europe and Asia concluding with a live DVD/CD "Live in Tokyo" released on September 24, 2013. In 2014, PSMS performed two songs at the TAMA 40th Anniversary Party at theNAMM Show on January 25, and also the Progressive Nation at Sea cruise on theNorwegian Pearl February 18–22, co-promoted by Sherinian and Portnoy.
In 2021,Michael Schenker invited Sherinian to guest on his album Immortal, on its opening song "Drilled To Kill". Schenker said of Sherinian, "Derek and myself trading solos, it sounds unexpected and beyond my expectation," Michael says. "Absolutely fantastic!"[20]In 2022, Schenker returned the favor by guesting on Sherinian'sVortex album on the song "Die Kobra".In 2024, Sherinian appeared on Schenker'sMy Years With UFO album.
Sherinian joinedYngwie Malmsteen's band in August 2001 for a South American tour. After the tour, Sherinian and Malmsteen performed on each other's albums. Sherinian on Malmsteen's "Attack!", and Malmsteen performed on Sherinian's "Black Utopia" album.Sherinian joined Malmsteen again in 2006 for a North American Tour, and shows in Finland, and Russia. Again, they recorded for each other, Sherinian on Malmsteen's "Perpetual Burn", and Malmsteen on Sherinian's "Blood Of The Snake". In 2017, Malmsteen and Sherinian rejoined the Generation Axe Asia Tour, featuringZakk Wylde,Steve Vai,Nuno Bettencourt, andTosin Abasi.
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Since 1999, Sherinian has recorded nine solo albums, featuring performances by highly acclaimed musicians.
Sherinian's first solo album,Planet X (1999), written and recorded with Australian drummerVirgil Donati, led to the formation of a band of the same name (Planet X). Guitar virtuosoTony MacAlpine was recruited to complete the band. 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". In 2017, the short documentary "Return to Planet X" reflected on the making of this album.[21]
In 2001, Sherinian teamed with drummerSimon Phillips and guitaristsSteve Lukather andZakk Wylde to recordInertia,[22] followed byBlack Utopia (2003). ForBlack Utopia, three new faces joined Sherinian's group: bassistBilly Sheehan, rock guitaristYngwie Malmsteen, andjazz fusion guitaristAl Di Meola.[23][24] 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 howJeff Beck (who Sherinian stated he hopes to play with in numerous interviews) approached his classic instrumental records and I like to follow in that path."[7]
Sherinian also called the album "a lot darker and heavier than [Inertia]".[25]
Sherinian extended further into the fusion realm by collaborating with guitaristAllan Holdsworth and violinistJerry Goodman (formerly of the Mahavishnu Orchestra) onMythology (2004).[26] In addition to another appearance by Phillips, other musicians on the recording were Zakk Wylde,John Sykes,Steve Stevens, andTony Franklin.[7][26][27][28]Holdsworth said of the session, "When Derek was finishing his album, he told me he’d love for me to play a guitar solo on it, so I did. I recorded a solo for him in the specific length that he requested, and he put it on that track [which also features Zakk Wylde]. People have told me they really like that guitar solo, but I haven’t heard it in years so I don’t remember it. [laughs]"[29]
Since 2002, Sherinian has toured with several artists, includingBilly Idol and Yngwie Malmsteen.[30] Derek's fifth solo album,Blood of the Snake (2006), features contributions from Idol, as well asGuns N' Roses guitaristSlash,John Petrucci of Dream Theater, andBrian Tichy; Phillips, Franklin and Lukather make return appearances.[31][32] A video for acover version ofMungo Jerry's "In the Summertime" was released along with the album.[33] Sherinian also worked withduduk masterDjivan Gasparyan on the song "Prelude To Battle" on the release, written for his great-grandmother who survived theArmenian genocide.[34] In 2009, Sherinian released his sixth solo album,Molecular Heinosity, again featuring Zakk Wylde, Tony Franklin andBrian Tichy. Later that year, Sherinian performed a one-off acoustic gig withAlice in Chains to launch theirBlack Gives Way to Blue album.
In September 2011, Sherinian released his seventh solo album titledOceana, reuniting with Simon Phillips and Steve Lukather, and featuring a guest appearance from BCC bandmate Joe Bonamassa.[35]
In 2019, Sherinian signed a new solo deal withSony Music, and releasedThe Phoenix September 18, 2020.[citation needed] In 2022, Sherinian released his 9th solo albumVortex, withSimon Phillips,Michael Schenker,Nuno Bettencourt,Steve Stevens andMike Stern. Sherinian/Phillips "Live" album was released in August 25, 2023.
In 2009, Sherinian became a founding member of supergroupBlack Country Communion withGlenn Hughes,Jason Bonham, andJoe Bonamassa,[1] releasing their debutBlack Country in 2010. In 2011, he performed on a second Black Country Communion record titled2, followed by a nine-week tour of the United States and Europe. Sherinian recorded with Black Country Communion on their third studio releaseAfterglow. The band split up in September 2012 due to Bonamassa's solo touring schedule. Sherinian went on to join Bonamassa's solo band in July 2013[36] until December 2014.[citation needed] BCC reunited in 2017 to record their fourth albumBCCIV. They released their 5th albumBCCV in June 2024.
Sherinian was hired byDavid Coverdale to replace the original keyboards on the previously releasedWhitesnake albumsSlip of the Tongue andRestless Heart. Sherinian's performances resulted on theRed, White, and Blues Trilogy compilation records, containing the albumsThe Rock Album (2020),Love Songs (2020),The Blues Album (2021),Greatest Hits (2022) andThe Purple Album: Special Gold Edition (2023 re-issue). Whitesnake singerDavid Coverdale explained, "One of the things that's very noticeable; it's all '80s keyboards, which I can't stand. They totally date it. Thank god, I found Derek Sherinian, who — and I know he won't mind me saying this — Derek's like the illegitimate son of Jon Lord. He just played his ass off for us, and you can hear it."[37]
In April 2004, Sherinian was invited by ex-Whitesnake guitaristJohn Sykes to play three shows in Japan withMarco Mendoza bass,Tommy Aldridge on drums. The live album John Sykes (2004) "Bad Boy Live" was from this tour. Sykes later guested on the song "God of War" with Zakk Wylde on Sherinian's (2004) "Mythology" record.[38]
In August 2017, he andMike Portnoy joined forces to form aprogressive metal supergroup namedSons of Apollo and also featuringBilly Sheehan, vocalistJeff Scott Soto and guitaristRon "Bumblefoot" Thal.[2] Sons of Apollo released their debut albumPsychotic Symphony on October 21, 2017, followed by a world tour of 83 shows in 23 countries. Sons of Apollo released their second album, "MMXX", in January 2020 co-produced once again by Sherinian and Mike Portnoy.
In December 2023, Sherinian and guitaristRon "Bumblefoot" Thal unveiled a new progressive metal project namedWhom Gods Destroy. They announcedDino Jelusick on vocal duties, along withYas Nomura on bass, andBruno Valverde as their drummer. Their debut album "Insanium" was released March 2024.[39][40]
On the recommendation of Eric Singer, Sherinian was hired to play off-stage keyboards onKiss' Revenge Tour. Sherinian is on theAlive III live album and also guested with Kiss on the song "Do You Remember Rock & Roll Radio?" on theRamones tribute albumWe're a Happy Family, andAlive IV.[41]
On July 14, 2009, Sherinian performed a one-off acoustic gig atRicardo Montalbán Theatre in Hollywood withAlice in Chains to launch theirBlack Gives Way to Blue album.[42]
On September 10, 2012, Sherinian was special guest to the Armenian bandDorians performing a concert inYerevan and the first rock concert ever inArtsakh. On September 13, 2012Glenn Hughes and Sherinian metBako Sahakyan, the president of de facto independentNagorno-Karabakh Republic and organized a concert there.[43] After his visit to Artsakh, Sherinian was placed on the Azerbaijan black list due to conflict between the two countries.
On March 6, 2013, Sherinian was a special guest keyboardist withBlack Label Society for theirUnblackened acoustic set at the Club Nokia in Los Angeles. The performance aired live on AXS TV, and was released in September 2013 on CD/DVD/Blu-ray formats.Zakk Wylde officially "patched" Sherinian in as president of the Black Label Society Burbank Chapter.
On December 12, 2015, Sherinian co-organized and participated in the Tony MacAlpine Benefit Concert at the Wiltern Theater in L.A. backing up Zakk Wylde along with Mike Portnoy and Billy Sheehan.
In August 2023, guitaristJoe Satriani invited Derek to play four East Coast concerts with him, which included drummerKenny Aronoff on drums.
Sherinian was personally invited by guitaristsSteve Vai, andYngwie Malmsteen to join theGeneration Axe Asia / A Night of Guitars Tour also featuringZakk Wylde,Nuno Bettencourt, andTosin Abasi.[44]
In a 2000 interview, Sherinian cited his early keyboard influences as beingJan Hammer (Mahavishnu Orchestra),Jon Lord (Deep Purple),Keith Emerson (Emerson, Lake & Palmer andThe Nice),Rick Wakeman (Yes), andElton John.[8] Other influences include guitaristsAllan Holdsworth,Jeff Beck, andEddie Van Halen. Sherinian said," When it comes to soloing, I have always been influenced and inspired by the great guitarists, specifically Edward Van Halen, Allan Holdsworth, Yngwie Malmsteen, Randy Rhoads, Jeff Beck, Michael Schenker. You can hear elements of all of these players in my DNA. I have managed to take my favorite qualities of all these great players, and process through my instrument, creating a totally unique signature style."[44] Sherinian enjoys co-writing material with fellow musicians, and often finds that he writes better material with drummers.[45] Sherinian cites Van Halen's guitar playing as having a direct influence on his aggressive unique approach to keyboards in terms of technique as well as tone; his unique signature lead patches contain numerous elements of guitar sounds such as distortion, harmonics, and palm-muting, eventually leading to playing a gig with Eddie for a party at Van Halen's home in 2006, of which Sherinian said "It was the highlight of my career, it was completely surreal." Sherinian's work with notedToto guitaristSteve Lukather on the 2001 solo CDInertia was cited by Lukather as "probably my best recorded work in my whole career. Great record! I'm very proud of it!".[7]
Sherinian's collaborations with top musicians were featured in a 2007 article inGuitar World magazine, where guitaristZakk 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 complexBeethovensonatas with ease." 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 for specific guitarists, such as Holdsworth and Wylde for "Day of the Dead" (offMythology);[14] in this respect, he seeks to take certain aspects of genres and make them"collide in an eloquent way".[25]
Sherinian uses vintage instruments, primarily the Hammond organ, Moog, Rhodes, and Nord Lead 3 mixed in with some modern sounds. Sherinian was presented the G2 Modular synth serial number 001 byClavia representative Bengt Lilja in January 2004.[46] As a Korg endorsee, Sherinian was one of the first artists to adopt theKorg Trinity keyboard series in 1996. In collaboration with KORG sound designer Jack Hotop, they created Sherinian's signature "guitaristic" lead sound (the "Monster Lead", made famous on the Dream Theater album "Falling into Infinity") on the Trinity, as well as other, more "modern" and "aggressive" keyboard patches, owing to his fondness of guitar tones and technique.He also uses theHammond B3 organ; he thinks that "every rock keyboardist should have a B3 and overdriven Leslie as part of their sound."[47]
Sherinian is also known for being one of the first keyboardists to use vertical keyboard stands, influencing a new generation of keyboardists.
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