Kevin James LaBrie (born May 5, 1963) is a
Canadian vocalist who is best known for being the lead singer in progressive metal band Dream Theater.
Biography
He was born in Penetanguishene, Ontario, Canada and started singing and playing drums at age 5. By his mid-teens, LaBrie was a member of several bands as
a singer and/or drummer, and in 1981, at age 18, he moved to Toronto to further his musical
pursuits. He currently still resides in Toronto, with his wife Karen, daughter Chloe, and son Chance.
After stints with various bands, he became the vocalist for glam rock band Winter Rose, who released a self-titled album in 1987.
In 1991 he learned that an American progressive metal band called Dream Theater was in
the market for a singer, so he sent down a tape and was quickly flown to New York for a
full audition. The trial went well, and he was chosen ahead of 200 other hopefuls to fill the full-time vocalist position in that
band. [1]
Having two Johns (Myung and Petrucci) in the band
already, and with another Kevin in the band, LaBrie dropped his first name and adopted the
stage name James LaBrie.
In 1993, he was the first choice consideration to replace departed Iron
Maiden vocalist, Bruce Dickinson, as well as a consideration to replace
Rob Halford in Judas Priest. (Dream Theater went on to
record Deep Purple's "Perfect Strangers" at the BBC radio studios with Bruce Dickinson, as
well as perform an Iron Maiden medley live with Bruce in Los Angeles.) James has since had a significant impact on the vocal
melodies on each Dream Theater album, but continues to have little input into the musical side of Dream Theater. To date he has
written lyrics for at least one song on each album (excluding Images and Words) Dream
Theater has released with him in the band.
On December 29, 1994, while vacationing in Cuba, LaBrie suffered a severe case of food
poisoning and while vomiting, ruptured his vocal cords. He saw three throat specialists who all said there was nothing
they could do for him and the only thing he could do was rest his voice as much as possible. However, on January 12, 1995, and
against doctor's orders, he was on the "Awake" tour in Japan with his voice far from normal. James has said he didn't feel
vocally "normal" until at least 1997.
His musical inspiration comes from many different genres, including such artists as Metallica, Ludwig van Beethoven, Nat King Cole [1], Queen and
Sting, whose inspiration, according to LaBrie, is shown on the Dream Theater's album,
"Octavarium".
Throughout his career with Dream Theater, he has lent his voice to many other artists' records as well as tribute albums to
some influential artists. He has appeared on many Trent Gardner releases (including
and Explorer's
Club), as well as appearing on albums by such artists as Ayreon (The Human Equation, released 2004), Shadow Gallery,
Tim Donohue and Frameshift.
With Matt Guillory and Mike Mangini, LaBrie has
released three solo albums under various names (Mullmuzzler, James LaBrie's Mullmuzzler, and
simply James LaBrie). His latest, Elements of Persuasion, was released in March,
2005. A fourth solo album is widely rumored to be in the works.
Since 2004, LaBrie has been working with the True Symphonic Rockestra
project, along with Thomas Dewald, Vladimir Grishko, Dirk Ulrich, Christopher Jesidero, Sandro
Martinez, Paul Mayland, Marvin Philippi, and Igor Marin. Their 2006 album, TSR, has been finished since early July, with Brainworx and Marinsound working on a release.
LaBrie is also a featured vocalist on Henning Pauly's "Babysteps" project released in 2006, LaBrie plays the role of the
arrogant doctor.
James has said in many older interviews that he is Christian, and actively practices the religion. [2] However, more recent interviews, along with some of his lyrics
(including "Undecided" on Elements of Persuasion) imply a more spiritual
and deist perspective, separate from any form of organised religion.[3][4]
Discography
As James LaBrie
As a guest
Other
References
External links
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