John Petrucci thinks metal guitar is “in a great place”: “When we first started, the prog metal moniker didn’t even exist”
Modern metal guitar is alive, thriving, and more diverse now than ever – at least, according to Dream Theater’s John Petrucci.
In a new interview with Ultimate Guitar, the prog-metal icon gives his take on where the genre stands today and shares some of his favourite players in the current scene.
READ MORE: “Each song has its own little mountains for me to climb. But I like it”: John Petrucci on why playing challenging songs is important
Asked to name some modern-day guitarists he enjoys, Petrucci replies: “There’s a lot of guys. I have a guitar camp that’s called John Petrucci Guitar Universe, and we’ve done four of them so far, and the fifth one is actually happening in Las Vegas in August of this year. And if any guitar players out there have not been to one of these camps, I suggest that they sign up and come, because it’s such an incredible experience. It’s such a big guitar community camaraderie event. And the campers make friends for life, and they experience up close and personal their favourite players.”
“Some of the guys that I have had are my favourite players, that’s why I bring them out. The last camp, I had Joscho Stephan, the gypsy jazz guitar player from Germany, and he was just mind blowing. From the beginning, I’ve had Tosin Abasi, who I love – really great friend. And Guthrie Govan. All these players that are just phenomenal.”
“A lot of the players that have been guest instructors in my camps are some of my favourites out there for sure,” he adds.
The guitarist also discusses the state of modern metal guitar, noting in particular just how much the community has grown over the years.
“I think it’s amazing,” says Petrucci. “I think about even just the genre that we’re known for, prog metal, and how, when we first started, the prog metal sort of moniker didn’t exist. Now, that family tree has just expanded to where there’s so many offshoots and bands doing some sort of version of metal with a more progressive influence.”
“And so, yeah, incredible musicians all over the place, including my nephew, Jake Bowen, who is in Periphery, and the stuff that they’ve been able to do. Metal is in a great place.”
“And even, sometimes, for people in the US, it’s hard to wrap their head around, ‘Oh, it seems like something that was from the ‘80s.’ But all you have to do is step outside of the US, and go to South America, Europe, Asia.”
Adding that “metal is alive and well”, Petrucci says that the existence of some of the biggest rock and metal festivals around the world are a testament to the huge metal community.
“And, of course, the guitar being really, to me – and maybe I’m biased – the biggest voice as far as defining the genre of metal,” he continues. “Because you can’t have metal music without metal guitar.”
In related news, Dream Theater have announced a 2025 US tour in support of their latest album Parasomnia. Set to kick off on 5 September, the tour will feature stops across 30 cities, interspersed with the band’s appearances at the Louder Than Life and Aftershock festivals.
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
