Alcoholics Anonymous Suite

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The Alcoholics Anonymous Suite ( Anonymous Alcoholics result , even 12 Step Suite , Anonymous Alcoholics series , AA Saga or AA cycle called) is a series of titles of the US progressive metal band Dream Theater . All individual pieces, written by Mike Portnoy , the band's former drummer, deal with his experiences with alcoholism and alcohol withdrawal , each representing 2-3 stages of the twelve-step alcohol withdrawal program . The pieces contain some recurring motifs and text passages; and all of them - with the exception of "Repentance" - are among the hardest and loudest dream theater pieces. In an interview, Portnoy explained that “Repentance” is quieter than the other pieces for physical reasons. All parts of the song begin with “Re”. The total length is 57 minutes and 13 seconds.

The five titles of the suite are:

The cycle on the tenth Dream Theater album Black Clouds & Silver Linings has come to an end with “The Shattered Fortress” . It was planned that the entire suite would be released in one piece on a future live album. It is very unlikely that this will be realized after Portnoy's exit in 2010, but Portnoy played the suite entirely on the Cruise To The Edge in 2017.

The dedication of all titles is "Bill W. and his friends". What is meant is William Griffith Wilson , one of the founders of the Alcoholics Anonymous movement .

Furthermore, the song "The Mirror" ( Awake ) was written on the theme of Portnoy's alcoholism and is considered by many fans as the prologue of the suite. The text for steps II, III, IV and VIII refers to it, and the titles of step I ("Reflection") and step IV ("Reflections of Reality") provide further clues, the latter even being a quote from " The Mirror " (" Reflections of reality are slowly coming into view ... ") .

There are various text references between the individual pieces within the suite:

  • "This Dying Soul":
    • The text “ I can't break out of this prison all alone ” also occurs in “The Glass Prison”.
  • "The Root of All Evil":
    • The initial guitar riff is identical to the final riff in "This Dying Soul", albeit slower.
    • The text “ I can't break out of this prison all alone ” appears again.
    • The passage “ Heal this dying soul ” refers to “This Dying Soul”.
  • "Repentance":
    • The starting melody is identical to the corresponding one in "This Dying Soul".
    • The first lines " Hello mirror, so glad to see you my friend / It's been a while " are identical to those in "This Dying Soul".
  • "The Shattered Fortress":
    • In general, many motifs from the preceding titles are cited:
    • The text passage " Sometimes you've got to be wrong and learn from mistakes " is identical to the one in "Repentance" (" Sometimes you've got to be wrong and learn the hard way ") except for the last two words .
    • The text " Now that you can see all you have done / It's time to take that step into the kingdom / All your sins will only make you strong / And help you break right through the prison wall " is taken from "This Dying Soul" .
    • The text passage “ Keep all of me / The desires that once burned me deep inside / Help me live today / And help to give me grace / To carry out your way / I am ready, help me be all I can be / I am ready "Help guide me and keep me free " follows the same melody as the chorus of "The Root of All Evil" and there are also parallels lyrically.
    • The final passage of "The Shattered Fortress" is analogous to the beginning of "The Root of All Evil".
    • In addition, "The Shattered Fortress" ends with the same noise that "The Glass Prison" initiated.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Dream Theater, "Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence," Elektra Entertainment Group Inc., 2001; Cat.-No. 7559-62742-2
  2. ^ Dream Theater, "Train of Thought," Elektra Entertainment Group Inc., 2003; Cat.-No. 7559-62891-2
  3. ^ Dream Theater, "Octavarium," Atlantic Records Corporation, 2005; Cat.-No. 7567-83793-2
  4. ↑ Dream Theater, "Systematic Chaos," Roadrunner Records, 2007; Cat.-No. RR 7992-8
  5. ^ Dream Theater, "Black Clouds & Silver Linings," Roadrunner Records, 2009;
  6. ↑ Eddie Trunk Live March 16, 2009