Future prog metal master discovered his Canadian counterpart at just the right time in his life – and he soon had friends including John Myung joining in
Dream Theater guitarist John Petrucci has always been open about the profound impact Rush and their guitarist Alex Lifeson had on him at a crucial time in his life. In a 2019 interview with Prog, Petrucci reflected on how deeply Lifeson’s influence shaped his musical journey.
“Alex Lifeson has had a tremendous impact on me in so many aspects. Discovering a band during your teenage years often leads to a deep connection, and that was certainly the case for me with Rush.
I learned every song from their early albums, and my friends, including [Dream Theater bassist] John Myung, and I would often jam to those tracks. Those songs became ingrained in my playing style over time.
I vividly recall dissecting ‘YYZ,’ mastering the guitar solo, and learning various techniques like hammer-ons, pull-offs, and even the scales Alex used. These techniques are still a big part of my work with Dream Theater.
Rush introduced me to progressive rock and metal, showing me that song structures didn’t need to follow the typical three-minute format. Their music was perfect for storytelling and conceptual lyrics, as seen in works like ‘2112.’ This had a significant impact on my approach to writing in a progressive style.
Lifeson’s guitar sound changed how I approach effects creation.
The unusual time signatures and multi-part songs, like ‘La Villa Strangiato,’ which is divided into sections similar to how Genesis did it, were huge influences. His guitar sound also inspired how I create my effects. Lifeson’s approach to chordal playing and his ability to make a band sound massive with just one guitar were big lessons for me.
With Rush being a trio, the guitar had to fill a lot of space, and Alex’s expansive approach, using open strings, pedal tones, richer chords, and chorusing, really filled out that space.
When I do solo work or tour with G3 as part of a trio, it reminds me of Lifeson’s influence, especially when I’m trying to make the guitar cover a lot of ground in the absence of keyboards or a second guitarist, particularly during instrumental sections without vocals.
Alex has a unique way of playing the guitar, bringing it to the forefront and making it fill out a space in such a beautiful manner.”
