John Petrucci is best know for being the founder, guitarist, producer, songwriter, and vocalist for the progressive metal band Dream Theater.
John Peter Petrucci was born July 12th, 1967 in Kings Park, New York. In his childhood around age eight he began to pick up the guitar and start playing. At age twelve, he and Dream Theater keyboardist, Kevin Moore, met and played in a cover band together. In 1985 during his time at college, he and childhood friend and bassist John Myung met their drummer Mike Portnoy. They then formed the band Majesty, later changing their name to Dream Theater.
He has released eleven albums with Dream Theater and a solo album “Suspended Animation” in 2005. Dream Theater’s debut album was released in 1989 “When Dream and Day Unite”, and their latest release being in 2009 called “Black Clouds and Silver Linings”.
Petrucci’s play’s on a signature seven string, using a vast variety of styles from high speed alternate picking, technique, and reverb effects. His skill and talent has made Petrucci a huge influence and a legend for many guitarist. Some of his influences are, David Gilmore, Steve Morse, Alex Lifeson, and James Hetfeild.
He has an instructional video called ” Rock Discipline”. In it includes warm up exercises, exercises to avoid injury while playing, sweep and alternate picking, chords, and techniques. He also has a book called ” Guitar World Presents John Petrucci’s Wild Stringdom”.
In 2001 he was invited by Joe Satriani and Steve Vai to go on the popular G3 guitar tour. He has done the G3 tour six times, that’s more than any other invited guitarist.
His achievements: He has made #2 guitarist in the book “100 Greatest Metal Guitarist”. One of the “Top 10 Greatest Shredders of All Time” by GuitarOne Magazine. G3 tour. Voting member of NARAS. He is also the uncle of Periphery guitarist Jake Bowen.