Prog fans, you may want to check your pants for splooge. DREAM THEATER have announced they will be heading out with OPETH, BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME & 3. Seriously! Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy hand picked the opening bands. He commented:
"I've been wanting to assemble a package tour like this for many years now. With all of the festivals and package tours that go through America, I've been talking with our manager and agent for over 10 years now about doing something that focuses on the more progressive, musician-oriented side of hard rock and metal. I decided it was time to stop talking the talk, lace up and finally walk the walk."
OPETH guitarist/vocalist Mikael Åkerfeldt comments:
"We're very excited about this upcoming tour with DREAM THEATER. It will be the first tour that we're doing in support of our upcoming record, and also somewhat of a dream come true personally as I've been a fan of theirs for a long time. It's quite intimidating to be on the bill with such amazing musicians but obviously we'll try and give them a run for their money and pull out a few nice licks of our own. I guess we'll need to practice a little bit for this….how boring! Yet, I can't wait for this tour to start and I'm sure we'll have a blast with the DT guys as well as together with the other bands on the bill!"
BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME vocalist Tommy Rogers was quoted as saying:
"We are very excited to be touring with two bands that have been such an integral part of our musical upbringing. It is a wonderful opportunity to have our music heard by new ears."
3 also released a statement:
"3 is very pleased to announce its participation in the Progressive Nation tour. For well over a decade DREAM THEATER has been the vanguard of progressive rock and we are completely psyched to flex with these heavyweights, playing much of our new record 'The End is Begun'. This package will rock and awe fans everywhere as one of the most important tours of the year. It's a progressive way of music, a progressive way of life….welcome to the Progressive Nation tour."
Tour dates have yet to be announced, but it will most likely happen after the New Year.