Derek Sherinian - Wikiwand

Buddy Miles

Sherinian's first professional gig after leaving Boston was in 1988 with ex-Jimi Hendrix Band of Gypsies drummer Buddy Miles touring the Chitlin' Circuit. Sherinian paid tribute to Miles covering his song "Them Changes" featuring Joe Bonamassa on his 2020 solo album "The Phoenix".^[11][12]

Alice Cooper

Sherinian received his first big break with Alice Cooper in 1989 to tour in support of the platinum selling Trash album.^[7] Sherinian toured and recorded with Cooper on and off until 1998. Cooper said of Sherinian, "Derek Sherinian will be at least one chapter in my book when I write my autobiography. He is the Caligula of the keyboards. He was born with the rock star charisma. Reeking of self-esteem, he walked into our first rehearsal for the 'Trash' tour and flawlessly auditioned by playing every classic Bob Ezrin keyboard part to the note. Ten years later and thousands of exchanged poker chips later, the two of us have probably broken even. He once pulled four twos on the bullet train from Japan, and won a huge poker pot. I'll always remember that day... him jumping up on the very conservative bullet train, screaming that he'd pulled four twos, which is an awfully good hand in poker.^[13]

Dream Theater

In 1994, Sherinian replaced Kevin Moore in the progressive metal band Dream Theater, originally for the band's promotional tour for Awake. In February 1995, he was made a full-time member of the band. Dream Theater guitarist John Petrucci added "... Derek -considering the fact that he's heavily into guitarists and rock music, his history, and the range of all the great guitarists he's worked with —plays with a fire unheard of from most keyboardists."^[14] He recorded the albums A Change of Seasons (1995), Falling into Infinity (1997), and Once in a LIVEtime (1998) with Dream Theater before being replaced in January 1999 by Jordan Rudess due to creative differences and turmoil within the band.^{[9][15][16][17]} Sherinian reunited with Dream Theater for a one-off concert in 2004, which was recorded and released as When Dream and Day Reunite (2004). The band's performance of "Metropolis Pt. 1" featured an extended improvisation between Sherinian, Rudess, and guitarist John Petrucci.

During the late 1990s, Sherinian released two albums with the progressive rock supergroup Platypus, which featured Dream Theater bassist John Myung, Dixie Dregs drummer Rod Morgenstein, and King's X guitarist Ty Tabor. The group released two albums, t (1998) and Ice Cycles (2000), before disbanding in 2000.^[18] In 2002, he was part of the band Jughead, which also included Tabor, bassist/vocalist Matt Bissonette and drummer Gregg Bissonette.^[19] In January 2012, Sherinian performed at two shows with instrumental supergroup Mike Portnoy, Billy Sheehan, and Tony MacAlpine (PSMS) for the Guitar Center Drum Off, and Sabian Live. In the fall of that year, PSMS began rehearsing for a tour and a video of their rehearsal was released on DVD as "InstruMENTAL Inspiration". They toured Europe and Asia concluding with a live DVD/CD "Live in Tokyo" released on September 24, 2013. In 2014, PSMS performed two songs at the TAMA 40th Anniversary Party at the NAMM Show on January 25, and also the Progressive Nation at Sea cruise on the Norwegian Pearl February 18–22, co-promoted by Sherinian and Portnoy.

Michael Schenker

In 2021, Michael Schenker invited Sherinian to guest on his album "Immortal" album on the opening song "Drilled To Kill". Schenker said of Sherinian, "Derek and myself trading solos, it sounds unexpected and beyond my expectation," Michael says. "Absolutely fantastic!" ^[20] In 2022, Schenker returned the favor by guesting on Sherinian's Vortex album on the song "Die Kobra". In 2024, Sherinian appeared on Schenker's My Years With UFO album.

Yngwie Malmsteen

Sherinian joined Malmsteen's band in August 2001 for a South American tour. After the tour, Sherinian and Malmsteen performed on each other's albums. Sherinian on Malmsteen's "Attack!",and Malmsteen performed on Sherinian's "Black Utopia" album. Sherinian joined Malmsteen again in 2006 for a North American Tour, and shows in Finland, and Russia. Again, they recorded for each other, Sherinian on Malmsteen's "Perpetual Burn", and Malmsteen on Sherinian's "Blood Of The Snake". 1n 2017, Malmsteen and Sherinian rejoined the Generation Axe Asia Tour, featuring Zakk Wylde, Steve Vai, Nuno Bettencourt, and Tosin Abasi.

Solo career

Since 1999, Sherinian has recorded nine solo albums, featuring performances by highly acclaimed musicians.

Sherinian's first solo album, Planet X (1999), written and recorded with Australian drummer Virgil Donati, led to the formation of a band of the same name (Planet X). Guitar virtuoso Tony MacAlpine was recruited to complete the band. Sherinian has stated that his intention when forming Planet X was to create a group of musicians that "played their instruments so fiercely that they would strike fear in the hearts of all musicians". In 2017, the short documentary "Return to Planet X" reflected on the making of this album.^[21]

In 2001, Sherinian teamed with drummer Simon Phillips and guitarists Steve Lukather and Zakk Wylde to record Inertia,^[22] followed by Black Utopia (2003). For Black Utopia, three new faces joined Sherinian's group: bassist Billy Sheehan, rock guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen, and jazz fusion guitarist Al Di Meola.^[23][24] With respect to this fusion-influenced lineup, Sherinian stated:

"I have always been a fan of jazz fusion, but from the perspective of a rock player crossing over to jazz, not vice versa. I think that is how Jeff Beck (who Sherinian stated he hopes to play with in numerous interviews) approached his classic instrumental records and I like to follow in that path."^[7]

Sherinian also called the album "a lot darker and heavier than [Inertia]".^[25]

Sherinian extended further into the fusion realm by collaborating with guitarist Allan Holdsworth and violinist Jerry Goodman (formerly of the Mahavishnu Orchestra) on Mythology (2004).^[26] In addition to another appearance by Phillips, other musicians on the recording were Zakk Wylde, John Sykes, Steve Stevens, and Tony Franklin.^{[7][26][27][28]} Holdsworth said of the session, "When Derek was finishing his album, he told me he’d love for me to play a guitar solo on it, so I did. I recorded a solo for him in the specific length that he requested, and he put it on that track [which also features Zakk Wylde]. People have told me they really like that guitar solo, but I haven’t heard it in years so I don’t remember it. [laughs]"^[29]

Since 2002, Sherinian has toured with several artists, including Billy Idol and Yngwie Malmsteen.^[30] Derek's fifth solo album, Blood of the Snake (2006), features contributions from Idol, as well as Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash, John Petrucci of Dream Theater, and Brian Tichy; Phillips, Franklin and Lukather make return appearances.^[31][32] A video for a cover version of Mungo Jerry's "In the Summertime" was released along with the album.^[33] Sherinian also worked with duduk master Djivan Gasparyan on the song "Prelude To Battle" on the release, written for his great-grandmother who survived the Armenian genocide.^[34] In 2009, Sherinian released his sixth solo album, Molecular Heinosity, again featuring Zakk Wylde, Tony Franklin and Brian Tichy. Later that year, Sherinian performed a one-off acoustic gig with Alice in Chains to launch their Black Gives Way to Blue album.

In September 2011, Sherinian released his seventh solo album titled Oceana, reuniting with Simon Phillips and Steve Lukather, and featuring a guest appearance from BCC bandmate Joe Bonamassa.^[35]

In 2019, Sherinian signed a new solo deal with Sony Music, and released The Phoenix September 18, 2020.^{[citation needed]} In 2022, Sherinian released his 9th solo album Vortex, with Simon Phillips, Michael Schenker, Nuno Bettencourt, Steve Stevens and Mike Stern. Sherinian/Phillips "Live" album was released in August 25, 2023.

Black Country Communion

In 2009, Sherinian became a founding member of supergroup Black Country Communion with Glenn Hughes, Jason Bonham, and Joe Bonamassa,^[1] releasing their debut Black Country in 2010. In 2011, he performed on a second Black Country Communion record titled 2, followed by a nine-week tour of the United States and Europe. Sherinian recorded with Black Country Communion on their third studio release Afterglow. The band split up in September 2012 due to Bonamassa's solo touring schedule. Sherinian went on to join Bonamassa's solo band in July 2013^[36] until December 2014.^{[citation needed]} BCC reunited in 2017 to record their fourth album BCCIV. They released their 5th album BCCV in June 2024.

Whitesnake

Sherinian was hired by David Coverdale to replace the original keyboards on the previously released Whitesnake albums Slip of the Tongue and Restless Heart. Sherinian's performances resulted on the Red, White, and Blues Trilogy compilation records, containing the albums The Rock Album (2020), Love Songs (2020), The Blues Album (2021), Greatest Hits (2022) and The Purple Album: Special Gold Edition (2023 re-issue). Whitesnake singer David Coverdale explained, "One of the things that's very noticeable; it's all '80s keyboards, which I can't stand. They totally date it. Thank god, I found Derek Sherinian, who — and I know he won't mind me saying this — Derek's like the illegitimate son of Jon Lord. He just played his ass off for us, and you can hear it."^[37]

In April 2004, Sherinian was invited by ex-Whitesnake guitarist John Sykes to play three shows in Japan with Marco Mendoza bass, Tommy Aldridge on drums. The live album John Sykes (2004) "Bad Boy Live" was from this tour. Sykes later guested on the song "God of War" with Zakk Wylde on Sherinian's (2004) "Mythology" record.^[38]

Sons of Apollo

In August 2017, he and Mike Portnoy joined forces to form a progressive metal supergroup named Sons of Apollo and also featuring Billy Sheehan, vocalist Jeff Scott Soto and guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal.^[2] Sons of Apollo released their debut album Psychotic Symphony on October 21, 2017, followed by a world tour of 83 shows in 23 countries. Sons of Apollo released their second album, "MMXX", in January 2020 co-produced once again by Sherinian and Mike Portnoy.

Whom Gods Destroy

In December 2023, Sherinian and guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal unveiled a new progressive metal project named "Whom Gods Destroy". They announced Dino Jelusick on vocal duties, along with Yas Nomura on bass, and Bruno Valverde as their drummer. Their debut album "Insanium" was released March 2024. ^[39][40]

Guest live appearances