Dream Theater

1985
SEP Dream Theater (originally called Majesty) is formed by Berklee School of Music students guitarist John Petrucci, bassist John Myung and drummer Mike Portnoy

Chris Collins (vocals) and Kevin Moore (keyboards) complete the band line-up

1986
MAY [28] The first ever Dream Theater (Majesty) show

Various concert dates in and around the New York City area.

The Majesty Demos. The initial run of 1,000 sold out within six months

OCT [25] Chris Collins last show with the group

NOV After a few months of writing and performing together, Chris Collins left the band due to creative differences

1987
NOV Charlie Dominici joins as vocalist for Dream Theater

1988
JUNE [23] Dream Theater signed their first record contract with Mechanic

JULY [18] to AUGUST [12] The band record their debut album at Kajem Victory Studios in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania. Recording the basic tracks took about 10 days, and the entire album was completed in about 3 weeks

NOV [25] They play at Bayshore, Long Island, NY. This is the first show played with their new name - Dream Theater

1989
MARCH [6] Dream Theater's debut album When Dream and Day Unite is released

1990
In mid-1990, at a gig in New York, Dream Theater introduced Steve Stone as their new singer. He performed just three songs with the band before he was fired for performing less than adequately

NOV [17] Dream Theater play at Bayshore, Long Island, NY without a vocalist as an instrumental group

1991
Kevin James LaBrie, of glam metal band Winter Rose, is flown from Canada to New York for an audition. LaBrie jammed on three songs with the band, and was immediately hired to fill the vocalist position

OCT [14] to DEC The band record Images & Words at BearTracks Studio in New York

1992
JULY [7] Their second and breakthrough album, Images & Words is released

1993
European tour

A show at the London's famed Marquee Club

SEP [3] First live album Live at the Marquee is released

NOV [16] The video compilation Images and Words: Live In Tokyo is released

1994
MAY to JULY Dream Theater back in the studio to record Awake

OCT [4] Third album Awake is released

Kevin Moore leaves the band

Jordan Rudess first plays with Dream Theater for a trial gig but opted to tour with Dixie Dregs

Derek Sherinian is hired to fill in for the Awake tour

1995
FEB [2] Images and Words is certified Gold

APRIL The group entered BearTracks Studio in New York to rewrite and record the 23 minute epic "A Change of Seasons"

1996
At the end of 1996, they entered the studio to write their next album

1997
JUNE [2] to JULY [30] The album Falling Into Infinity is recorded at Avatar Studios, NY

SEP [23] The album Falling Into Infinity is released

1998
OCT [27] The live album Once In A LIVEtime is released

[27] The video 5 Years In A Livetime is released

1999
Jordan Rudess become the third keyboardist for the band replacing Sherinian

FEB to JUNE The group enter BearTracks studio to write and record their fifth studio album

OCT [26] The album Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From a Memory is released peaking at #73 on the US album chart

A massive world tour followed recording the album, taking over a year to complete, by far their largest to that point.

2000
For one extra special show, at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City, actors were hired to play characters in the story, and a gospel choir was enlisted to perform in some sections of the performance.

This show, the last North American date of the tour, was recorded for the band's first DVD release

2001
After many technical delays, the DVD, titled Metropolis 2000, was released in early 2001

MARCH [12] to AUG Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence is recorded at BearTracks Studios, NY

The cover for the CD version of the concert, titled Live Scenes from New York, depicted one of Dream Theater's early logos (the Images and Words-era burning heart, modeled on the Sacred Heart of Christ) modified to show an apple (as in "Big Apple") instead of the heart, and the New York skyline, including the twin towers of the World Trade Center, in the flame above it. In an unfortunate coincidence, the album was released on the same date as the September 11 attacks. The album was quickly recalled by the band and was re-released with revised artwork later

2002
JAN [29] The group release their sixth studio album Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence. It debuts at US #46 and #1 on the Billboard Internet chart

NOV [8] Metropolis 2000: Live Scenes From New York is certified Gold

2003
to APRIL Entered the studio to write and record Train of Thought 

on special tour with Queensryche and Fates Warning (The Escape From the Studio Tour)

NOV [14] The group's seventh album Train of Thought is released

2004
APRIL [26] Dream Theater play at the Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan. The concert was filmed and recorded for later release

JUNE [29] Images and Words: Live in Tokyo/5 Years In A Livetime is released for the first time on DVD

OCT [5] Live at Budokan is released as a 3 CD set and 2 DVD set

NOV Dream Theater entered the Hit Factory studios in NYC to record their eighth album. As it turned out, they would be the last group ever to record in that famous studio, and after they wrapped up their final session, the lights were turned off at the studio forever

2005
JAN [26] Live at Budokan (DVD) is certified Platinum

FEB [25] The group finish recording Octavarium

JUNE [7] The album Octavarium is released

AUGUST [2] During a show in Dallas, the band paid tribute to Pantera's late guitarist Dimebag Darrell by performing the song "Cemetery Gates" as an encore. In addition was the unexpected appearance of fellow musicians Russell Allen, Burton C. Bell and Dave Mustaine, who joined the band on stage to perform parts of the song

OCTOBER [11] The band cover the Pink Floyd album The Dark Side of the Moon in Amsterdam

[25] The band cover the Pink Floyd album The Dark Side of the Moon in London

DECEMBER [4] The group play the whole of Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From A Memory in Buenos Aires

[6] Dream Theater's largest audience as a headlining act was 20,000 in Santiago, Chile

[11] The group play the whole of Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From A Memory in São Paulo

2006
JANUARY [13] Dream Theater cover Deep Purple's live album Made In Japan in Tokyo

[15] Dream Theater cover Deep Purple's live album Made In Japan in Osaka

MAR [22] Live In Tokyo/5 Years In A Livetime is certified Platinum

APRIL [1] Dream Theater's 20th anniversary tour concluded with a show at Radio City Music Hall in New York. Though the show had minimal promotion, it was sold out days after tickets were made available. This show, which was recorded for a CD/DVD. It was the band's first concert accompanied by a full symphonic orchestra (the "Octavarium Orchestra").

AUGUST [29] The live release Score is released as 2 DVD and 3 CD

SEP Dream Theater start work on their next album at Avatar Studios, NY

OCTOBER [11] Score (DVD) is certified Platinum

2007
FEB Dream Theater finish recording Systematic Chaos 

Dream Theater sign to Roadrunner Records

JUNE [3] The 2007/2008 Chaos In Motion World Tour started off in Italy at the Gods of Metal concert

[5] The album Systematic Chaos is released. Their first release through Roadrunner. It peaked at #19 in the US.

[10] Dream Theater make their first UK festival appearance at the Download Festival at Donington Park

JULY [14] The video for "Constant Motion" is released. It is their first video since "Hollow Years" in 1997.

[24] Dream Theater start the North American leg of the tour in San Diego, CA which will finish on August 26 in Philadelphia, PA

[30] At Dream Theater's Salt Lake City show, Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. signed a proclamation making this day "Dream Theater Day"

The authorized book entitled Lifting Shadows, detailing their first twenty years, is released

DEC Dream Theater is chosen as Xbox Live's artist of the month

First time playing in Australia

Dream Theater's music video "Constant Motion" was voted second in the Headbanger's Ball 2007 competition

2008
APRIL [1] A two-disc compilation album entitled Greatest Hit (...and 21 Other Pretty Cool Songs) is released by the band

JUNE [2] Drummer Mike Portnoy announces that the band would be entering the studio to record a new album

SEP [30] A DVD called Chaos in Motion 2007-2008 is released

OCT [7] Dream Theater began work on their 10th album at Avatar Studios, NY

Dream Theater's music video "Forsaken" was voted fifth in the Headbanger's Ball 2008 competition

Recorded a cover of the Iron Maiden song "To Tame A Land"

2009
MAR Dream Theater finish recording Black Clouds & Silver Linings 

MAY [8] The music video for "A Rite of Passage" is released

[11] The single "A Rite of Passage" is released

JUNE [23] Dream Theater's 10th album Black Clouds & Silver Linings is released

JULY [1] Black Clouds and Silver Linings debuts at #6 in the US, with first weeks sales of 40,285

AUGUST [14] Dream Theater played the Rush song "The Camera Eye" during a Toronto show

SEP [15] The EP Wither is released