Dream Theater's Jordan Rudess: 'We Are Each Very Connected With Our Roots, So This Induction Feels Especially Awesome!'

New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ RoadRunner Relations) - Just last night, The Long Island Music Hall of Fame held it's official ceremony to induct this year's crop of talented musicians and industry insiders alike into it's hallowed halls. And standing alongside rock icon Lou Reed and hip-hop legends Eric B & Rakim were none other than Long Island, NY-born prog masters Dream Theater.

To explore what this honor bestowed upon the band means to them, especially in light of the celebration of their 25th anniversary, we checked in with DT's keyboardist Jordan Rudess.

"It is so cool that on my career path I ended up in a band with a bunch of guys from Long Island NY. I grew up in Great Neck, and I lived on the island from the age of 7 until 18

I actually had very little to do with rock music during my time there however In fact I was a Juilliard trained classical pianist, having spent much of my young life traveling back and forth to New York city for my lessons. Years later, after leaving Juilliard and discovering synthesizers, my path had changed significantly, leading me into the world of rock music.

In 1994 I got the call from Dream Theater- a bunch of Long Island guys doing a very cool blend of Prog and metal. I remember this all feeling very synchronous to me, since I grew up in a neighboring town! Not only that, but there must be something in the water on the island, because I could totally relate to this wild blend of prog and metal combined with a healthy dose of virtuosity! Skip forward though to 1999 when I actually joined the band, after a few years to think about it!!

It's been a great ride with the boys and it's so cool that although I came into the band at a different point in time and from another LI town, that we could share this history and now be honored together as Dream Theater by the Long Island Hall Of Fame!
We are each very connected with our roots, so this is induction feels especially awesome!"