Nightmare Cinema
Encyclopedia
Nightmare Cinema was a spoof
rock
band
whose lineup comprised members of Dream Theater
playing instruments other than their usual instrument of choice. During concert encores, starting on November 1, 1997 at the House of Blues
in Chicago
, Nightmare Cinema began their tradition of jamming on one song, with James LaBrie remaining the vocalist. The song they would usually play was Deep Purple
's "Perfect Strangers". However, on one occasion they played Ozzy Osbourne
's "Suicide Solution".
When keyboardist Derek Sherinian
was replaced by Jordan Rudess
, it spelled the end of Nightmare Cinema, despite the fact that Rudess is also a capable guitarist.
Derek Sherinian named one of the songs on his solo album Black Utopia
"Nightmare Cinema" after this band.
A similar "joke" band, fronted by Derek Sherinian, was "Nicky Lemons and the Migraines", who performed a punk-style song called "I Don't Like You". Dressed in a feather boa, Nicky Lemons (Sherinian) was described by Mike Portnoy as a cross between Elton John
and David Lee Roth
.
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
whose lineup comprised members of Dream Theater
Dream Theater
Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of their studies to further concentrate on the band that would...
playing instruments other than their usual instrument of choice. During concert encores, starting on November 1, 1997 at the House of Blues
House of Blues
House of Blues is a chain of 13 live music concert halls and restaurants in major markets throughout the United States. House of Blues first location was in Cambridge's Harvard Square. It was opened in 1992 by Isaac Tigrett, co-founder of Hard Rock Cafe, and Dan Aykroyd, star of The Blues Brothers...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Nightmare Cinema began their tradition of jamming on one song, with James LaBrie remaining the vocalist. The song they would usually play was Deep Purple
Deep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...
's "Perfect Strangers". However, on one occasion they played Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
's "Suicide Solution".
When keyboardist Derek Sherinian
Derek Sherinian
Derek Sherinian is a rock keyboardist who has toured and recorded for Alice Cooper, Billy Idol, Yngwie Malmsteen, Kiss, and Alice In Chains. He was also a member of Dream Theater and is the founder of the instrumental metal-fusion band Planet X...
was replaced by Jordan Rudess
Jordan Rudess
Jordan Rudess is an American keyboardist best known as a member of the progressive metal band Dream Theater and the progressive rock supergroup Liquid Tension Experiment.-Biography:...
, it spelled the end of Nightmare Cinema, despite the fact that Rudess is also a capable guitarist.
Derek Sherinian named one of the songs on his solo album Black Utopia
Black Utopia
Black Utopia is the third solo album by keyboard player Derek Sherinian. In addition to the returning members Zakk Wylde, Simon Phillips and Steve Lukather, three new musicians joined Sherinian: bass guitarist Billy Sheehan and guitarists Yngwie Malmsteen – with whom Sherinian had toured in 2001 –...
"Nightmare Cinema" after this band.
A similar "joke" band, fronted by Derek Sherinian, was "Nicky Lemons and the Migraines", who performed a punk-style song called "I Don't Like You". Dressed in a feather boa, Nicky Lemons (Sherinian) was described by Mike Portnoy as a cross between Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
and David Lee Roth
David Lee Roth
David Lee Roth is an American rock vocalist, songwriter, actor, author, and former radio personality. Roth was ranked nineteenth by Hit Parader on their list of the 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Singers of All Time....
.
Line-up
While playing in Nightmare Cinema, the band members took on alternate stage names. The original names and instruments are enclosed in parentheses.- Abdul Matahari (James LaBrieJames LaBrieKevin James LaBrie is a Canadian vocalist who is best known as the lead singer of the American progressive metal band Dream Theater.-Early life:...
) - vocals - Nicky Lemons (Derek SherinianDerek SherinianDerek Sherinian is a rock keyboardist who has toured and recorded for Alice Cooper, Billy Idol, Yngwie Malmsteen, Kiss, and Alice In Chains. He was also a member of Dream Theater and is the founder of the instrumental metal-fusion band Planet X...
) - guitar (keyboards) - Johnny James (John PetrucciJohn PetrucciJohn Peter Petrucci is an American guitarist and songwriter best known as a founding member of the progressive metal band Dream Theater. Along with his former bandmate Mike Portnoy, he has produced all Dream Theater albums since their 1999 release, Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory...
) - drums (guitar) - Juice Malouse (John MyungJohn MyungJohn Ro Myung is an American bassist, Chapman Stick player and a founding member of the progressive metal group Dream Theater. He is considered a virtuoso player who is widely recognized for his technical proficiency....
) - keyboards (bass) - Max Del Fuvio (Mike PortnoyMike PortnoyMichael Stephen "Mike" Portnoy is an American drummer primarily known as the former drummer, backing vocalist, and a co-founder of the progressive metal band Dream Theater, as well as the temporary drummer for the hard rock band Avenged Sevenfold. Known for his drumming prowess and technical...
) - bass (drums)