Derek Sherinian

Derek Sherinian (born August 25, 1966) is an American keyboardist of Armenian descent who has toured and recorded for Alice Cooper, Billy Idol, and Joe Bonamassa, among others.

Sherinian received his first big break with Alice Cooper in 1989 to tour in support of the platinum selling Trash album.

During the late 1990s, Sherinian released two albums with the progressive rock supergroup Platypus, which also featured Dream Theater bassist John Myung, Dixie Dregs drummer Rod Morgenstein, and King's X guitarist Ty Tabor.

He was also a member of Dream Theater from 1994 to 1999, is the founder of Planet X and also one of the founding members of Black Country Communion, Sons of Apollo, and Whom Gods Destroy.

He has released nine solo albums that have featured a variety of prominent guest musicians, including guitarists Slash, Yngwie Malmsteen, Allan Holdsworth, Steve Lukather, Joe Bonamassa, Michael Schenker, Steve Vai and Al Di Meola, and extensively drummer Simon Phillips.

Sherinian has distinguished himself by his versatility, and aggressive "guitaristic" approach to his signature keyboard style.

MusicRadar.com declared, "A true shredder, his virtuoso playing has seen him dubbed the keyboard-playing version of Eddie Van Halen."

In 2021, he was voted "Greatest Keyboardist Of The 21st Century", and #8 Greatest of All Time by MusicRadar.com.

Sherinian was voted #1 Keyboardist in Japan's BURRN!

In 1994, Sherinian replaced Kevin Moore in the progressive metal band Dream Theater, originally just for the band's promotional tour for Awake.

In February 1995, however, he was made a full-time member of the band.

Dream Theater guitarist John Petrucci added "...Derek -considering the fact that he's heavily into guitarists and rock music, his history, and the range of all the great guitarists he's worked with —plays with a fire unheard of from most keyboardists."

He recorded the albums A Change of Seasons (1995), Falling into Infinity (1997), and Once in a LIVEtime (1998) with Dream Theater before being replaced in January 1999 by Jordan Rudess due to creative differences and turmoil within the band.

Sherinian toured and recorded with Cooper on and off until 1998.

Cooper said of Sherinian, "Derek Sherinian will be at least one chapter in my book when I write my autobiography. He is the Caligula of the keyboards. He was born with the rock star charisma. Reeking of self-esteem, he walked into our first rehearsal for the 'Trash' tour and flawlessly auditioned by playing every classic Bob Ezrin keyboard part to the note. Ten years later and thousands of exchanged poker chips later, the two of us have probably broken even. He once pulled four twos on the bullet train from Japan, and won a huge poker pot. I'll always remember that day... him jumping up on the very conservative bullet train, screaming that he'd pulled four twos, which is an awfully good hand in poker.

The group released two albums, When Pus Comes to Shove (1998) and Ice Cycles (2000), before disbanding in 2000.

Sherinian joined Malmsteen's band in August 2001 for a South American tour.

after the tour, Sherinian and Malmsteen exchanged performances on each other's albums.

Sherinian on Malmsteen's "Attack!",and Malmsteen performed on Sherinian's "Black Utopia" album.

In 2002, he was part of the band Jughead, which also included Tabor, bassist/vocalist Matt Bissonette and drummer Gregg Bissonette.

Sherinian reunited with Dream Theater for a one-off concert in 2004, which was recorded and released as When Dream and Day Reunite (2004).

The band's performance of "Metropolis Pt. 1" featured an extended improvisation between Sherinian, Rudess, and guitarist John Petrucci.

Sherinian joined Malmsteen again in 2006 for a North American Tour, and shows in Finland, and Russia.

Again, they exchanged recorded performances, Sherinian on Malmsteen's "Perpetual Burn", and Malmsteen on Sherinian's "Blood Of The Snake".

He has also appeared on the cover of numerous keyboard magazines around the world, including the November 2011 issue of Keyboard, which declared Sherinian a "Keyboard Hero for a New Generation".

He has also been called the "King of the Keys" by Guitar World magazine and the "Caligula of Keyboards" by Alice Cooper.

His musical influences include Elton John, Edward Van Halen and Jan Hammer.

Born in Laguna Beach, California, Sherinian is of Greek and Armenian descent.

He began taking piano lessons at age five in Santa Cruz, California.

After his junior year at Soquel High School, he received a scholarship to the Berklee College of Music in Boston where he attended with future Megadeth guitarist and Trans-Siberian Orchestra musical director Al Pitrelli, and Living Colour drummer Will Calhoun.

He has since studied with other keyboardists, including Mitchel Forman, T Lavitz, Russell Ferrante, and Alex Alessandroni.

Sherinian's first professional gig after leaving Boston was with ex-Jimi Hendrix Band of Gypsies drummer Buddy Miles touring the Chitlin' Circuit.

In January 2012, Sherinian performed at two shows with instrumental supergroup Mike Portnoy, Billy Sheehan, and Tony MacAlpine (PSMS) for the Guitar Center Drum Off, and Sabian Live.

In the fall of that year, PSMS began rehearsing for a tour and a video of their rehearsal was released on DVD as "InstruMENTAL Inspiration".

They toured Europe and Asia concluding with a live DVD/CD "Live in Tokyo" released on September 24, 2013.

In 2014, PSMS performed two songs at the TAMA 40th Anniversary Party at the NAMM Show on January 25, and also the Progressive Nation at Sea cruise on the Norwegian Pearl February 18–22, co-promoted by Sherinian and Portnoy.

1n 2017, Malmsteen and Sherinian rejoined on Generation Axe Asia Tour, also featuring Zakk Wylde, Steve Vai, Nuno Bettencourt, and Tosin Abasi.

In 2018, he was voted #9 Greatest Keyboardist Ever in Prog magazine.

Magazine in 2020, 2022, and 2023.

Sherinian paid tribute to Miles covering his song "Them Changes" featuring Joe Bonamassa on his 2020 solo album "The Phoenix".