Liquid Tension Experiment

Lore & Background

Liquid Tension Experiment was formed by Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy after Magna Carta gave him the green light for 'whatever he wanted to do'. Portnoy first invited keyboardist Jordan Rudess and progressive rock icon Tony Levin (bass, Chapman Stick) of King Crimson and Peter Gabriel's band. His first choice for guitar was Dimebag Darrell, but conflicting schedules prevented his participation; other choices Steve Morse and Jim Matheos were also unavailable. Portnoy then turned to fellow Dream Theater member John Petrucci, despite initially wanting to keep the project separate from Dream Theater. Both Mike and John confirmed on the 5 Years in a Livetime DVD commentary that Rudess was asked to join Dream Theater largely because of the success of Liquid Tension Experiment and the chemistry of the three working together.

The band released two albums, Liquid Tension Experiment (1998) and Liquid Tension Experiment 2 (1999), on Magna Carta Records, and played a few live shows in New York, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and London. During recording sessions for the second album, John Petrucci had to leave when his wife went into premature labor; the remaining members continued to write music in improvisation, later released in 2007 as Liquid Trio Experiment's Spontaneous Combustion. The band was active up until 1999, when Jordan Rudess formally joined Dream Theater. In 2008, LTE reunited for a series of live shows, including a headlining slot at NEARfest 2008. During a concert in Chicago on June 25, 2008, Jordan Rudess' keyboard malfunctioned, leading to an improvised performance by the other three musicians, later released as Liquid Trio Experiment 2's When the Keyboard Breaks: Live in Chicago.

After an interim period with occasional reunions of members, the band regrouped in 2020 to record a third studio album featuring all band members, which was released on April 16, 2021. Mike Portnoy revealed the group had signed a two-album deal with InsideOut, humorously adding that a fourth album would probably not take another 20 years.

Reader's Guide

Liquid Tension Experiment holds significance as a supergroup that bridged the progressive metal scene of the late 1990s and early 2000s, directly influencing the lineup of Dream Theater by bringing Jordan Rudess into the fold. Their two initial studio albums showcased intricate instrumental compositions that became staples in Dream Theater's live performances, such as excerpts from 'Paradigm Shift' and 'Universal Mind' incorporated into the 'Instrumedley'. The band's legacy extends to its spontaneous side projects—Liquid Trio Experiment and Liquid Trio Experiment 2—which captured improvisational sessions when members were absent, highlighting the musicians' adaptability and chemistry. The 2021 reunion album, Liquid Tension Experiment 3, demonstrated the enduring appeal of the project, with Portnoy noting a two-album deal that suggests continued activity. The group's work remains a touchstone for instrumental progressive metal, emphasizing technical prowess and collaborative creativity without vocals.

Did You Know?

• Mike Portnoy's first choice for guitar was Dimebag Darrell, but conflicting schedules prevented his participation.
• During the recording of the second album, John Petrucci left because his wife went into premature labor, leading to the Liquid Trio Experiment sessions.
• In 2008, a keyboard malfunction during a Chicago concert forced the band to improvise the entire show, later released as Liquid Trio Experiment 2's When the Keyboard Breaks: Live in Chicago.
• The third studio album, Liquid Tension Experiment 3, was delayed from March 26, 2021 to April 16, 2021 due to printing errors by the manufacturer.