Dream Theater drummer Mike Mangini is featured in a new gear talk interview with TM Play. He talks working with Zildjian cymbals, his favourite kit, and how Bruce Lee inspired his playing style.

Mangini: "I've chosen the model of drums, cymbals and basically everything here for the show because of a combination that when I play to this music, I need to be like an orchestra; in other words, with high notes and low notes. So I need the small drums and the big drums. Also, I must reflect a vast Dream Theater catalog before I was in the band, so I had to have some of those sounds too, and I set up asymmetrically and choose the types of cymbals and things so that the tones are similar on each side but different enough that I can play lefty or righty and get a similar sound."

Dream Theater recently spoke to eonmusic about the transition of drummers from Mike Portnoy to Mike Mangini. The prog rock icons spoke to the site at the Progressive Music Awards in London, where they received two awards. Collecting the "International Band Of The Year" and the "Chris Squire Vitruoso" awards were guitarist John Petrucci and keyboard player Jordan Rudess.

Rudess praised Mangini saying; "He had big shoes to fill, but Mike Mangini is from another planet; he’s amazing, out of this world, and he blew us away when he came in and played our songs. The day he auditioned, we could have went on stage and played a show; it really was like that. There was no contest! The guy came in and just nailed it!"

In conclusion, Petrucci joked; "Yeah, and his name is ‘Mike’, so that helps!"

Read the full interview here.  

Dream Theater have announced the European leg of their “Evening With” touring cycle; featuring a celebration of the band’s latest record, Distance Over Time, and their acclaimed milestone achievement, Metropolis Part 2: Scenes From A Memory.

The Distance Over Time Tour - Celebrating 20 Years Of Scenes From A Memory takes place across Europe through January/February 2020. The 28-date leg will see the band traverse 16 countries, including the UK, Germany, France, Netherlands, and many more. Full dates are below and information on tickets for all upcoming shows, as well as VIP packages, can be found at dreamtheater.net/tour/.

The initial US leg of this tour garnered both critical commendation and audience acclaim due in large part to its diverse setlist of fan favourites spanning the quintet’s venerable 30-plus year career. Featuring tracks from Dream Theater’s latest release, Distance Over Time (InsideOutMusic/Sony Music), and selections from their comprehensive discography along with a nightly celebration marking the 20th anniversary of their seminal concept album Metropolis Part 2: Scenes From A Memory, the band established a precedent on this tour of a nightly not-to-be-missed standout performance. Dream Theater will continue that trend on the European tour, creating an evening of over 2 hours and 45 minutes of iconic Dream Theater at their masterful best, making this a milestone concert event that long-time fans and newcomers alike will remember for years to come.

Dream Theater guitarist John Petrucci comments, "The response to Distance Over Time has been overwhelmingly positive and we are really looking forward to playing some of the songs from that album live for our European audiences in an ‘Evening With’ setting along with our full headlining show production.

"For those of you who were there when we premiered Scenes From A Memory live in Europe 20 years ago, this will not only be a trip down memory lane but also the chance to see it presented in a completely new light and the way it was always intended to be. Our updated presentation has all-new animated video content depicting the characters and storyline through the entire show as they’ve never been ‘scene’ before!

For those of our fans who were either not born yet, too young, or had not yet been introduced to DT 20 years ago, this will be a fresh opportunity to experience Scenes live for the first time in its entirety. We can’t wait to perform for all of you!"

See Dream Theater at the following dates:

January
11 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - AFAS Live
12 - Oberhausen, Germany -Turbinenhalle 1
14 - Stockholm, Sweden - Cirkus
15 - Stockholm, Sweden - Cirkus
17 - Helsinki, Finland - Icehall
18 - Oulu, Finland - Teatri Oulu
20 - Trondheim, Norway - Spektrum
21 - Oslo, Norway - Spektrum
23 - Hamburg, Germany - Sporthalle
24 - Helsingor, Denmark - Kulturvaerftet Hal 14
26 - Paris, France - Seine Musicale
27 - Lyon, France - Halle Tony Garnier
29 - Barcelona, Spain - St Jordi Club
31 - Madrid, Spain - Wizink Center

February
1 - Porto, Portugal - Gondomar Pavilion
2 - Lisbon, Portugal - Campo Pequeno
5 - Ludwigsburg, Germany - MHP Arena
6 - Frankfurt, Germany - Jahrhunderthalle
8 - Budapest, Hungary - Arena
9 - Munich, Germany - Zenith
11 - Rome, Italy - Palazzo dello Sport
12 - Milan, Italy - Mediolanum Forum
14 - Zurich, Switzerland - Samsung Hall
15 - Prague, Czech Republic - Tipsport Arena
16 - Wroclaw, Poland - Orbita Hall
18 - Hannover, Germany - Swizz Life
21 - London, England - Eventim Apollo
23 - Glasgow, Scotland - SEC Armadillo