Bands

Biography:

Dream Theater is an American progressive-metal band known for their technical prowess and stunning live performances. The band was formed by three Berklee College of Music students, John Petrucci (guitar), John Myung (bass) and Mike Portnoy (drums). The current lineup of the band includes the three founding members plus James LaBrie (vocals) and Jordan Rudess (keyboards).

Throughout their multi-decade career, Dream Theater's musical style has been wide ranging and drawn from a variety of influences. Dream Theater releases usually contain a blend of heavy metal, classical, and progressive music - sometimes in the same song. The notable exception is their album, Train of Thought, which was heavy throughout.

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Biography:

The enduring Allman Brothers Band were one of the originators of American Southern Rock and because of their improvisational style they are also often labeled a jam band. A number of their albums have gone either Gold or Platinum and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995. Four members of the Allman Brothers Band have also been named to Rolling Stone Magazines 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time: Duane Allman, Warren Haynes, Dickey Betts, and Derek Trucks.

The band's founding guitarist Duane Allman began as a session musician and recorded with major artists like Aretha Franklin and Wilson Pickett. His performance on the Derek and the Dominos album Layla...and Other Assorted Love Songs is renowned and perhaps overshadowed that of legendary guitarist Eric Clapton. Tragically, Duane Allman died in a motorcycle accident just a few years after forming the Allman Brothers Band with his brother Gregg. The band's next recording after Duane Allman's death, the double-album Eat a Peach, featured studio sessions done with Duane prior to his death, live tracks from Fillmore East (most recorded at the same show that resulted in their earlier live album), and tracks recorded with the second lineup of the band.

Over the years, The Allman Brothers Band would see many personnel changes, with Gregg Allman and Butch Trucks being the only members to remain constant through their whole career. The Allman's other founding guitarist, Dickey Betts, left in 2000 for personal reasons shortly after Butch Trucks son, Derek, joined the band as guitarist. Derek Trucks and longtime Allman guitarist Warren Haynes represent the guitar parts in the current lineup.

The band has recorded a number of instrumentals during their career, including the immediately recognizable and Grammy-winning Jessica. Their instrumental Instrumental Illness was nominated for a Grammy twice - once on the studio album Hittin' the Note and a second time on the live recording One Way Out. Showing they don't lack anything to say musically, the band's instrumental, Mountain Jam has been known to clock in at over a half hour when performed live.

Biography:

England's King Crimson is a progressive rock phenomena that, despite never reaching mainstream appeal, has amassed a devoted following over their long career. Their music blends many genres - including rock, jazz, classical and heavy metal - and often features long improvisations. In fact, several albums have been made up completely of improvisational pieces.

The band was a creation of guitarist Robert Fripp and he has been the only consistent member throughout the many lineup changes over the years. Other King Crimson members have also played in other important rock bands, like Yes, Genesis, Bad Company, and Emerson, Lake and Palmer.

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Biography:

Despite numerous personnel changes throughout the years, Genesis has had a highly successful career that has included a number of rock instrumentals. Their original progressive rock style is known for highly-orchestrated (and often long) songs as well as stunning live performances. Since the departure of original singer Peter Gabriel, their music has taken on more pop/rock elements while still maintaining progressive aspects of their earlier sound.

Their current studio lineup features Phil Collins on vocals and drums, Mike Rutherford on guitar, and Tony Banks on keyboards. Longtime touring companions Chester Thompson (drums) and Daryl Stuermer join in for live performances but not considered part of the "official" lineup. The Collins/Rutherford/Banks trio took over after original members Peter Gabriel and Steve Hackett departed and has gone on to be the longest-running lineup for the band. When Genesis recorded it's first album with this lineup, And Then There Were Three, it marked a more streamlined approach to their song-writing that arguably made their music more accessible to a wider audience. Consequently, the Collins/Rutherford/Banks version of Genesis has gone on to be the most commercially successful.

However, many die-hard Genesis fans point to the early lineup of Peter Gabriel (vocals), Steve Hackett (guitar), Mike Rutherford (guitar), Tony Banks (keyboard), and Phil Collins (drums) as being the definitive version of the band. During this period, their progressive sound was marked by mythic lyrics and complex song arrangements. The albums Selling England By The Pound and Lamb Lies Down on Broadway are considered two of their best during this period.

Biography:

Although their greatest popularity was during the 1960s, the Ventures remain the best-selling instrumental rock band of all time.

Despite their long career and commercial success, The Ventures have not been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

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Top Ten Jams:

1.	Walk Don't Run
2.	Hawaii Five-O
3.	Perfidia
4.	Telstar
5.	Frosty the Snowman
6.	Lullaby of the Leaves
7.	Slaughter On Tenth Avenue
8.	Walk Don't Run '64
9.	Ram-Bunk-Shush
10.	Yellow Jacket

Biography:

The Canadian trio Rush has recorded a number of instrumentals throughout its career and is known for their stunning live performances.

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Top Ten Jams:

1.	2112 Overture
2.	La Villa Strangiato
3.	YYZ
4.	Where's My Thing?
5.	Leave That Thing Alone
6.	2112 Grand Finale
7.	R30 Overture
8.	Broon's Bane
9.	Rhythm Method
10.	Limbo

Biography:

Booker T. and the MG's were the house band for Stax Records and appeared on over 600 recordings with major artists like Otis Redding. They also recorded their own albums and had numerous instrumental hits, including the 1962 instrumental "Green Onions". Booker T. and the M.G.'s were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 and were awarded a Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2007.

Booker T. and the MG's developed a unique sound and as the backing band for many Stax Records' artists, their sound quickly gained notoriety and many imititators. Core members of the band included Booker T. Jones (keyboards), Steve Cropper (guitar), Donald "Duck" Dunn/Lewie Steinberg (bass), and Al Jackson Jr. (drums). Other members of the band have included Isaac Hayes, Carson Whitsett, and Willie Hall.

[Full Biography Coming Soon.]