Derek Sherinian

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Derek Sherinian
Background information
Born August 25, 1966 (age 40)
Laguna Beach, California
Genre(s) Rock
Progressive rock
Progressive metal
Metal fusion
Occupation(s) Musician, Composer,
Producer
Instrument(s) Keyboard
Years active 1982-Present
Label(s) InsideOut Music
Magna Carta
Associated
acts		 Dream Theater
Planet X
Alice Cooper
KISS
Yngwie Malmsteen
Billy Idol
Website http://www.dereksherinian.com

Derek Sherinian is a ‎rock and fusion keyboardist based in Los Angeles, California. His most notable achievements are as a member of Dream Theater and Planet X, Alice Cooper, Billy Idol and Yngwie Malmsteen's bands, and as a session musician for KISS. Sherinian is of Greek-Armenian descent and has a special interest in Armenian history.

Contents

Derek began taking piano lessons at the age of five in Santa Cruz, California, and after his junior year of high school received a scholarship to the highly-regarded Berklee College of Music in Boston. He has since studied with other noted keyboard players including Mitchel Forman, T Lavitz, and Russell Ferrante. His first notable gigs after leaving Boston were with legendary rock/jazz drummer Buddy Miles playing the "Chitlin' circuit". He then began touring and recording with long-time rocker Alice Cooper in 1989. After hearing Sherinian for two years, Cooper was quoted in an 1991 interview in Keyboard Magazine, describing Sherinian as "the Caligula of keyboards". Derek followed the Alice Cooper experience with a stint playing keyboards in support of the 1992 KISS Revenge tour.

In 1994 Derek replaced Kevin Moore in the progressive metal band Dream Theater, originally just as a replacement for the band's promotional tour for Awake, but by the end of the tour he was a full time member for 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 1999 by Jordan Rudess. A video of the song "Hollow Years" with Derek can be seen here.

Since 1999, Sherinian has recorded several solo albums on which artists including Yngwie Malmsteen, Zakk Wylde, Jerry Goodman, Steve Lukather and Simon Phillips have lent their talents. Sherinian's first solo project, 1999's Planet X, recorded with Australian drummer Virgil Donati, subsequently led to the formation of the group of the same name (Planet X), as Sherinian and Donati decided to expand on the concept by recruiting guitar virtuoso Tony MacAlpine. Sherinian has stated in a number of interviews 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". A full live version of the track "Atlantis : Apocalypse 1470 BC" from the Planet X Web site can be heard [1] here.

In 2001, Derek teamed with drummer Simon Phillips and studio guitar ace Steve Lukather to record Inertia. Sherinian commented "These guys are two of the biggest cats in the business, to be exposed to them is just incredible". Lukather responded that "Derek's CD (Inertia) is probably my best recorded work in my whole career"[2].

“Derek Sherinian is the Caligula of keyboards” – Alice Cooper
“Derek Sherinian is the Caligula of keyboards” – Alice Cooper

Inertia subsequently became the foundation for Black Utopia (2003). In addition to the returning members Lukather and Phillips, three new faces joined Sherinian’s all-star team: bassist Billy Sheehan, legendary rock guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen – with whom Sherinian had previously toured in 2001 – and jazz fusion guitarist Al Di Meola. Sherinian was quoted at the time as saying "One of the highlights of my career was flying to Miami to produce Yngwie, and the next day Al Di Meola - all for my record!". He went on to say “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 approached his classic instrumental records and I like to follow in that path.”

Sherinian extended further into the fusion realm by collaborating with noted guitarist Allan Holdsworth and Jerry Goodman (formerly of the Mahavishnu Orchestra) on the 2004 release Mythology. In addition to another appearance by Phillips, other musicians appearing on this recording were Zakk Wylde, John Sykes, Steve Stevens, and Tony Franklin. A 2005 audio interview about "Mythology", as well as other aspects of Derek's career, can be heard [3] here.

Beginning in 2002, Sherinian has also regularly toured and recorded with rocker Billy Idol of "Rebel Yell" and "White Wedding" fame. Derek's fifth solo album Blood of the Snake (2006) features contributions from Idol, former Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash, John Petrucci and Brian Tichy, in addition to return engagements with Phillips, Franklin and Lukather. A video for a cover version of Mungo Jerry's "In The Summertime" was released along with the album. In a nod to Idol, the bass drum is painted with the script "Derek Sherinian and The Rebellious Yellers!". Sherinian also worked with duduk master Djivan Gasparyan on the song "Prelude To Battle" on the release, written for his great grandmother who fought the Turks in the Armenian genocide.

Blood of the Snake (2006)
Blood of the Snake (2006)

Sherinian's Web site [4] announced he would again be playing with Yngwie Malmsteen on a series of dates in the Far East and Australia in November, 2006. A new Planet X recording featuring Allan Holdsworth and Brett Garsed as guest guitarists is scheduled to be released in May, 2007.

Derek 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. [5]

In a 2000 interview [6] Sherinian cited his early influences as being Jan Hammer (Mahavishnu Orchestra), T Lavitz (Dixie Dregs), Keith Emerson (Emerson, Lake & Palmer & The Nice), Rick Wakeman (Yes), and Elton John. Other influences of Sherinian include Allan Holdsworth, Jeff Beck and Eddie Van Halen. Sherinian points to listening as a youth to Van Halen's guitar playing as having a direct influence on his own unique approach to keyboards both in terms of technique as well as tone, as his unique "Monster Lead" lead patch contains numerous elements one would attribute to guitar sounds such as distortion, harmonics, and palm-muting.

Derek Sherinian playing the Nord Electro 2, Nord G2X Modular & and KORG Triton Extreme mounted on vertical keyboard stands
Derek Sherinian playing the Nord Electro 2, Nord G2X Modular & and KORG Triton Extreme mounted on vertical keyboard stands

Derek Sherinian currently uses and endorses Clavia Nord [7] and Korg Triton-series keyboards. [8] Sherinian was presented the G2 Modular synth serial number 001 by Clavia representative Bengt Lilja in January 2004 [9]. More detailed information about Derek's use of Nord keyboards can be found [10] here. Two audio samples of Sherinian's work with Nord keyboards are available from the Clavia Web site, or directly by following the links at [11] and [12]. Derek's use of KORG products is detailed at the KORG Web site, where there is also a video of Derek checking out KORG prducts at the 2005 Winter NAMM show [13].

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 [14], 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, as can be seen during his touring with Billy Idol and Yngwie Malmsteen, for whose "Unleash The Fury 2006 Asia/Australia Tour" rehearsals he "picked up" a 61-key Korg Triton Extreme [15]. Sherinian has commented that "My most identifiable sound is on the Korg Triton and Trinity. I think the ability of expression and the amazing quality of the sounds on Korg keyboards really helps me to be unique, I use Korg products on everything. They’re everywhere. I would say that I use the Korg Triton for 70% of my work” [16].

Derek also is very much a fan of the Hammond B3 organ in heavy music genres, as his first professional was backing famed drummer Buddy Miles in which it was used extensively. He's been quoted as saying "I think that every rock keyboardist should have a Leslie and a distorted Hammond as part of their hammond sound. It just gives it edge." [17] Sherinian owns and records with a vintage B3 but on tour uses digital emulations from his Nord and Korg 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". [18]. 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, and can be seen playing guitar live with Dream Theater during their Nightmare Cinema performances in 1997 and '98 [19].

Derek is also known for being one of the first keyboardists to use vertical keyboard stands, as well as one of the first keyboardists 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[20] here.

Derek Sherinian receives Nord 2 Modular Keyboard #001 from Clavia's Bengt Lilja (January, 2004)
Derek Sherinian receives Nord 2 Modular Keyboard #001 from Clavia's Bengt Lilja (January, 2004)


Current Gear

Vintage Gear

  • Moog Taurus Pedals
  • Hammond B3
  • Leslie 127
  • Rhodes 73 Suitcase
  • Wurlitzer Electric piano



Mythology {2004)
Mythology {2004)

As A Leader

With KISS

With Alice Cooper

Black Utopia (2003)
Black Utopia (2003)

With Dream Theater

With Planet X

Tribute Recordings

Other projects (further listings on [21]

Planet X (1999)
Planet X (1999)

Quantum (2007)
Quantum (2007)

(Also see discussion)

‎

Dream Theater
James LaBrie | John Myung | John Petrucci | Mike Portnoy | Jordan Rudess
Chris Collins | Charlie Dominici | Kevin Moore | Derek Sherinian
Discography
Albums and extended plays: When Dream and Day Unite | Images and Words | Awake | A Change of Seasons | Falling into Infinity | Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory | Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence | Train of Thought | Octavarium | Systematic Chaos
Live albums: Live at the Marquee | Once in a LIVEtime | Live Scenes from New York | Live at Budokan | Score
Videos and DVDs: Images and Words: Live in Tokyo | 5 Years in a Livetime | Metropolis 2000: Scenes from New York | Live at Budokan | Score
Songs: Pull Me Under | Another Day | Metropolis | A Mind Beside Itself | The Glass Prison | Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence | Stream of Consciousness | Instrumedley
Related articles
Dream Theater discography | History of Dream Theater | Jelly Jam | Liquid Tension Experiment | Majesty demos | MullMuzzler | Nightmare Cinema | OSI | Platypus | Songs by lyricist | Songs covered | Transatlantic | True Symphonic Rockestra | YtseJam Records
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