Posted on YouTube is a six-minute interview with Mike Portnoy, Dream Theater drummer, the interview was aired recently on Japanese TV.

Dream Theater’s new album ‘Systematic Chaos’ was released earlier this year in simultaneous standard and special editions.

SOURCE: BLABBERMOUTH

Megadeth bassist spoke with TotalRock at this years’ Download Festival. He spoke about getting in Megadeth, their new album ‘United Abominations’, their show and set list plus lots more! You can download and listen to the interview at this location.

SOURCE: BLABBERMOUTH

Dream Theater’s Mike Portnoy (drummer), John Petrucci (guitarist) and John Myung (bassist) were interviewed by Berklee Today. Snippits from their interview are shown below:

Berklee Today: Tell me about the band's writing process.

John Petrucci: For the past few albums, we've set up in the studio in a circle so we could see each other. We start jamming, and ideas develop out of that. We record everything while we do this. We write things down on a big board and start developing an inventory of ideas. We name them, sometimes after bands we feel they sound like. Ideas become a section of a song. Once we start to see a direction and begin arranging the song, the ideas become more solid. After we have something, we demo it, listen to it a lot, and then record it. We may stay in the studio for several months.

Mike Portnoy: The process is really the same now as it was in 1985. At Berklee it was the three of us in Room E19 bouncing ideas off of each other and creating music. The format of writing instrumental pieces first remains the same 22 years later. These days, John Petrucci and Jordan Rudess will be the most hands-on with the notes, riffs, runs, and chord progressions. They kind of mold the song. I tend to be the grand architect, working out the form using a blackboard behind the drum kit and directing. We write something and then start recording it. We focus on one song before we start another.

Berklee Today: What role do the other band members play in crafting songs?

John Myung: I contribute by listening and taking in what is going on, and then reacting to parts of a song as it develops. I also try to come up with things that spark an idea for a song.

John Petrucci: James LaBrie is there taking everything in, but his part comes later. Since we write as an instrumental band, it's hard for him to contribute in the early phase since he doesn't play an instrument. But he knows what's happening. As a song evolves, he'll make comments.

Berklee Today: Does James write the melodies?

Mike Portnoy: Not exclusively. Once the music is done, the lyricist will have the biggest part in writing melodies. Usually, we'll discuss the melodies, but on the new album we left the melodies solely up to the lyricist. John, James and I take turns writing the lyrics.

John Petrucci: Since I'm a lyricist, I'm always thinking about the sections that will feature the vocals. We don't write an instrumental tune and slap vocals on it. The melodies may come from a keyboard or guitar part. Mike, James, and I write most of the lyrics. I'm a fan of creative writing and telling stories. John Myung has written lyrics in the past but not recently, and Jordan Rudess hasn't written any.

Mike Portnoy: I think having the three of us work out the melodies gives uniformity to our style, but our lyrical styles are different. John's lyrics on the new album tap into fantasy; they're fictional. My lyrics have a harder edge and are straightforward. James tends to be more poetic. We have different styles, but in the end, it all sounds like DREAM THEATER.

Berklee Today: How do you conform your personal lives to the rigors of a heavy touring schedule?

John Myung: I've grown accustomed to it for the most part. I have a family with two sons. When I'm home, I try to play catch-up with everything. This aspect is hard for me personally, it can be challenging, but you grow accustomed to it and manage.

John Petrucci: I love playing live, but our tours generally last about a year. I could never do this without the understanding and support of my wife. She's also a guitar player, and we knew each other before DREAM THEATER started touring. We have three children, and the sacrifice they make by not having their dad home for months at a time is unbelievable. It's almost too much to ask. This is the hardest issue for a musician, because your calling and passion is your livelihood and it takes you away. But I'm thankful every day that I'm able to do it.

Read the entire interview at Berklee Today.

Also online is a video interview with vocalist James LaBrie conducted in Germany earlier this month has been posted at YouTube.

SOURCE: BLABBERMOUTH

Madina Lake have a feature interview on Digital Entertainment. Read the interview and check out photos HERE. Get a sneak peak at their new video for “Here I Stand” with this new set of photos, including the lovely Adalia.

Blender Magazine is hosting a hometown Madina Lake hoedown on June 28th, 2007 in Chicago, IL. If you happen to be in the area Go here it to RSVP (if you're 21+).

Madina Lake, whose debut album From them, through us, to you is available online, will join the Projekt Revolution tour with Linkin Park this summer.

www.madinalake.com

www.myspace.com/madinalake

www.youtube.com/madinalake

Cradle of Filth guitarist Paul Allender created an eye-catching video for the band's song “Tonight in Flames” from their latest release Thornography. The video combines imagery created by Allender with live footage of the band in concert. Watch it HERE.

www.cradleoffilth.com

Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine was interviewed by Channel 4, the short interview along with Megadeth performing their track ‘Washington is Next!’ at this years Download festival has been posted online at YouTube.

SOURCE: BLABBERMOUTH

Eyal Levi, Daath guitarist will be the featured guest on KNAC.com’s ‘Manic Metal’ radio show on 1st July between 1.00 p.m. and 3.00 p.m. PST.

Daath have launched their own YouTube channel where you can view a collection of videos and interviews.

Daath are set to release an exclusive digital remix of ‘Dead on the Dance Floor’ which is a track from their awesome album, ‘The Hinderers’.

SOURCE: BLABBERMOUTH

Coming Friday June 29th at 7pm and midnight, Rockworld.TV brings you… The Two Faces of Download 2007. This year marked a distinct change in the traditional lineup of the festival so in two immense one hour shows we will be talking to bands from both sides of the spectrum. In one show, representing the new upstarts there is Linkin Park, My Chemical Romance, 30 Seconds To Mars, Enter Shikari and more. In the second the focus switches to the old guard, the more typical Download line-up, including Megadeth, Slayer, Mastodon, Machine Head and many more.

These shows will be available both on Sky Digital Channel 368 and from their free webstreaming at www.rockworld.tv.

Your phone feeling a little tired and unloved?

As reported by our friends at Blabbermouth, an unfortunate Cradle of Filth fan was recently mugged by a gang of goons (or perhaps ghouls) while walking through an English cemetery!

Click HERE for full details; no word on whether the victim was actually planning on robbing some graves when she was robbed…which would be, like, ironic and stuff.

www.cradleoffilth.com