NEW BAND: Billy Sheehan (bass), Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal (guitar), Mike Portnoy (drums), Jeff Scott Soto (vocals), Derek Sherinian (keyboards)

[treeduck]

...are THE SONS OF APOLLO!

 

 

For the past few months, rumors have been circulating about a new secret project including former DREAM THEATER members Mike Portnoy and Derek Sherinian. Now, the time has come to make the grand and highly anticipated introduction to their new band, SONS OF APOLLO.

 

Reuniting to form SONS OF APOLLO, Portnoy and Sherinian have joined forces with Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal (ex-GUNS N' ROSES), Billy Sheehan (THE WINERY DOGS, MR. BIG, DAVID LEE ROTH) and Jeff Scott Soto (ex-JOURNEY, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN'S RISING FORCE). Their debut album, "Psychotic Symphony", will be released October 20 on InsideOut Music. An album teaser can be seen below.

 

"Psychotic Symphony" was produced by the dynamic production duo of Portnoy and Sherinian, also affectionately known as "The Del Fuvio Brothers," which is the nickname given to them over 20 years ago during their time together in DREAM THEATER.

 

SONS OF APOLLO got together very organically, as Portnoy explains: "Derek and I reunited shortly after I left DREAM THEATER in 2010 and we put together an all-instrumental touring band with he and I, Billy Sheehan, and Tony MacAlpine. That was my first time working with Derek since the '90s when he was in DREAM THEATER and it was just great to be working with him again. Ever since that tour, which was really just a one-off live thing, he has been nudging me to start a real, original, full-time band. The timing just had never been right, because I had too many other things on my plate. Long story short, the time was finally right to take the bait and put together a band."

 

"Mike and I work at a relentless pace in the studio," continues Sherinian. "The music is modern, but we have an old-school soul. What is unique about SONS OF APOLLO is that we have true rock 'n' roll swagger along with the virtuosity — a lethal combination!”

 

But what to call the next great supergroup? "Derek was mainly the one behind the name," says Portnoy. "I have a list that I keep on my phone of about a hundred different band names, which I constantly have to refer to every time I have a new band every year. [Laughs] So, I pulled up the list and APOLLO was one of the names on the list. It was a word that both of us really liked. We started fiddling with different variations of the word. One of the original band names we were working with was APOLLO CREED, the character from the 'Rocky' movies, but after lots of different discussions on different variations, Derek suggested SONS OF APOLLO and it seemed to stick. Apollo is the God of music so with that in mind it seemed like a fitting name."

 

Mike Portnoy, Derek Sherinian and Billy Sheehan previously toured together in 2012 and 2013 as PSMS (along with guitarist Tony MacAlpine), playing all instrumental versions from each of their previously recorded music. SONS OF APOLLO is the next logical progression by adding a vocalist and creating all-original material. The band incorporates the progressive style and individual technical prowess that Portnoy and Sherinian shared together in DREAM THEATER combined with the swagger and groove of VAN HALEN, DEEP PURPLE and LED ZEPPELIN.

 

"I have known Mike and Derek for a long time, so when they came to me with SONS OF APOLLO, I jumped on this straight away," says Thomas Waber, label manager/A&R international of InsideOut Music. "However, the album they ended up recording exceeded my already high expectations by a long mile! We couldn't be happier about it!"

 

SONS OF APOLLO will hit the road in 2018 for their first worldwide tour.

 

"This is a real band," Portnoy declares. "This is going to pick up for me and Billy where THE WINERY DOGS left off, in terms of this being the next logical full-time thing for us. I'm not saying THE WINERY DOGS have broken up, because we haven't, we're just on a break. SONS OF APOLLO is absolutely going to be a full-time band and we plan on touring all over the world all throughout 2018 and, honestly, it is the priority for all five of us."

 

Sherinian agrees: "We will go on a worldwide crusade in 2018 to bring SONS OF APOLLO to as many people as possible. Apollo was the God of music, and we are his mighty offspring!"

 

[Mystic Slipperman]

Interesting. I'll check this out.

 

Sometimes I wish I was more of a Portnoy/Sherininan fan. I AM the target market but Dream Theater did absolutely nothing for me.

[Rick N. Backer]

Soto was the voice of Steel Dragon in the Rock Star movie. Sheehan was a part of Roth's band and was coveted by EVH for a long time. Thal was in GNR. Let's hope that the band sounds more like them, and less like the atrocity that is Dream Theater.

[Maverick]

I wonder what this means for Sherinian as part of Black Country Communion.

[Todem]

Soto was the voice of Steel Dragon in the Rock Star movie. Sheehan was a part of Roth's band and was coveted by EVH for a long time. Thal was in GNR. Let's hope that the band sounds more like them, and less like the atrocity that is Dream Theater.

 

Really man? Like really?'

 

Ok not your cup of tea....but atrocity? LMFAO.

[blueschica]

Sounds like it has potential to be interesting! I'm always glad to see Jeff Scott Soto doing well. He lived in our town in Colorado for a short time in the 80's and a coworker was very good friends with him. She came into work all excited one day and said, "We're having a good bye party! Jeff got a job with Yngwie Malmsteen and it's his big break!" We all died laughing at Yngwie's name and were like, "Yeah, right." Guess they showed us! :P :P Edited August 1, 2017 by blueschica

[bluefox4000]

Pretty soon Portnoy will be in every single band, lol

 

Mick

[treeduck]

I wonder what this means for Sherinian as part of Black Country Communion.

He's in the band and on the new album, he'll be in both bands!

[J2112YYZ]

Pretty soon Portnoy will be in every single band, lol

 

Mick

 

I thought that was his plan all along. Anything to fill the void of him not being in Dream Theater anymore.

[bluefox4000]

Pretty soon Portnoy will be in every single band, lol

 

Mick

 

I thought that was his plan all along. Anything to fill the void of him not being in Dream Theater anymore.

 

you know not for nothing. but that's what all these bands feel like. Truly i don't think he ever got over that.

 

7 years ago, lol

 

Mick

[Your_Lion]

I'm pretty sure the only Portnoy I own are the Transatlantic albums

[bluefox4000]

I'm pretty sure the only Portnoy I own are the Transatlantic albums

 

and that's actually Awesome portnoy to own.

 

Mick

[Rushman14]

Oh look, another supergroup!

[Fridge]

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ....

[Rick N. Backer]

Soto was the voice of Steel Dragon in the Rock Star movie. Sheehan was a part of Roth's band and was coveted by EVH for a long time. Thal was in GNR. Let's hope that the band sounds more like them, and less like the atrocity that is Dream Theater.

 

Really man? Like really?'

 

Ok not your cup of tea....but atrocity? LMFAO.

 

Would you prefer "pretentious garbage?"

[Rod in Toronto]

I'm looking forward to this release. Derek's tone is amazing.

[LyndseyG]

 

 

[ytserush]

Not sure I like the "rock and roll swagger: part. Hope it's original and pushes the envelope......

[ytserush]

Not sure I like the "rock and roll swagger" part.

 

Hope it's original and pushes the envelope....

[Rod in Toronto]

[The K Man]

I've lost track now of how many bands Mike Portnoy has insisted were full time in the last 7 years, only for him to leave the band, go on a break, etc. Seems like he keeps throwing shit against the wall to see what will stick.

 

He should just stick to Transatlantic, Neal Morse Band and Flying Colors.

Edited August 2, 2017 by The K Man

[Digital Dad]

Pretty soon Portnoy will be in every single band, lol

 

Mick

 

Except Rush. Lol

[djflex]

I for one , welcome this new project that will surely carry on for years to come

[bluefox4000]

I've lost track now of how many bands Mike Portnoy has insisted were full time in the last 7 years, only for him to leave the band, go on a break, etc. Seems like he keeps throwing shit against the wall to see what will stick.

 

He should just stick to Transatlantic, Neal Morse Band and Flying Colors.

 

yes i agree. Those 3 you mentioned are the only worthwhile ones.

 

Mick

[Rod in Toronto]

I´m sure there´s a more comprehensive list somewhere, but here´s the list of projects he´s been involved with outside Dream Theater:

 

Transatlantic

The Winery Dogs

Twisted Sister

Adrenaline Mob

Liquid Tension Experiment

PSMS

Sons of Apollo

Neal Morse Band

O.S.I.

Flying Colors

Metal Allegiance

The Shattered Fortress

 

I left out the tribute bands he´s put together and one-off collaborations with bands he didn´t exactly join (Avenged Sevenfold and Bigelf, for example - he played on full albums by those two bands and toured with Avenged Sevenfold, but was never a full time member). All those bands have awesome moments. My favourite is The Winery Dogs. But he was never able to leave Dream Theater behind 100%, and those bands, while very good, never captured the same audience as Dream Theater. On the other hand, Dream Theater is a more stable unit these days, but their shows have lost the spontaneity that MP brought, the different setlists every night, and they play to a click track now, with pre-recorded backing vocals, which make their shows a bit mechanic. They released two very good albums without MP, and one that´s "controversial", to say the least.

 

MP has played in 28 albums since leaving DT - four releases per year. Quality over quantity when you think about it, but you gotta admire the dude´s work ethic.