Shakespeare’s Unexpected Role in Dream Theater’s Breakthrough Success
Dream Theater, the pioneering progressive metal band, owes an unlikely debt to William Shakespeare. The Bard’s influence extended across centuries to inspire “Pull Me Under,” the song that rescued the group from the brink of collapse and propelled them to unexpected mainstream recognition during the rise of grunge in the early 1990s.
Dream Theater guitarist John Petrucci reflected on the song’s impact, stating, “We got airplay with that song, and that was remarkable.” At a time when radio stations largely favored bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam, “Pull Me Under” defied expectations and secured crucial airtime.
As the 1990s began, Dream Theater found themselves in a precarious position. Despite critical acclaim for their 1989 debut album, When Dream and Day Unite, which positioned them as a bridge between Rush and Metallica, the band struggled to translate praise into record sales. This led to their dismissal from Mechanic/MCA Records and the difficult decision to part ways with vocalist Charlie Dominici, citing limitations in his vocal range. Facing a future without a label or a singer, and increasingly out of sync with the prevailing musical trends, the band seriously considered disbanding.
However, Dream Theater persevered, entering a two-year period of intense focus and songwriting. Without a vocalist, they diligently composed material, anticipating the arrival of a suitable frontman. It was during this time that keyboardist Kevin Moore penned “Pull Me Under,” initially viewing it as simply “another decent track we might be able to use in the future,” according to Petrucci.
Remarkably, Moore drew inspiration from Shakespeare’s Hamlet while crafting the song, even incorporating the line “Oh, that this too, too much solid flesh would melt” into the lyrics, framing the song from the perspective of the Danish prince. The band initially recorded a demo of the song with Moore handling the vocals, a common practice for the group at the time.
The demo eventually reached Derek Shulman, an A&R executive at Atco Records, who had previously signed successful 1980s hard rock acts like Bon Jovi and Cinderella. Shulman, a former vocalist for the progressive rock band Gentle Giant, immediately recognized Dream Theater’s musical sophistication and potential. “I heard the basic demo of Pull Me Under,” Shulman recalled. “It was one of four songs which persuaded me they were worth having on the label.”
By the time Dream Theater began recording their second album, Images and Words, they had enlisted Canadian singer James LaBrie, formerly of the glam-metal band Winter Rose. LaBrie quickly made his mark on “Pull Me Under,” experimenting with a raspy vocal delivery. “I had this idea for giving my voice a raspy feel,” LaBrie explained. “So I went into the vocal booth and got Doug [Oberkircher, the album’s engineer] to try some settings that would make me sound a little gruff.”
The finished track underwent one significant alteration from its original form. Petrucci explained, “The original version has a neo-classical guitar part in the middle, but when we began to record, we realized that it didn’t work. We took it out of Pull Me Under and it became the instrumental Eromania on our next album, Awake.” Despite its length – nearly eight minutes – the band believed they had created something special. Petrucci admitted to playing the song repeatedly for friends, eager for their feedback, but never anticipating its widespread popularity.
Shulman shared that belief, recognizing the song’s potential for radio play. In August 1992, he distributed an edited, five-minute version to DJs across the United States. To the band’s surprise, “Pull Me Under” began to gain traction. “At first it was one DJ on a radio station who picked up on it and decided off his own bat to play it over and over again,” Petrucci said, laughing. “And then it spread to other stations.”
LaBrie emphasized the significance of this success, noting that it “proved there was hope for a style of music that was totally out of favour in the early 90s.” The band quickly filmed a music video, utilizing footage from their live performances due to time constraints, which proved crucial in securing exposure on MTV.
“Pull Me Under” ultimately reached No. 10 on Billboard’s Hot Mainstream Rock Chart, a remarkable achievement given the musical landscape and the song’s complexity. This success revitalized Dream Theater’s career, leading to sold-out venues and a renewed sense of momentum.
The impact of “Pull Me Under” extended beyond Dream Theater’s own success. The band opened doors for the prog-metal genre in the United States, demonstrating that there was an audience for complex and ambitious music. LaBrie acknowledged that while the band didn’t necessarily inspire a wave of imitators, they “proved to them there was hope for a style of music that was totally out of favour in the early 90s.” For Dream Theater, “Pull Me Under” served as the foundation for everything they have accomplished since.
Dream Theater – Pull Me Under (Live At Luna Park) – YouTube
