Kevin James LaBrie, born on the 5th day of May in the year 1963, is a singe… Read Full Bio ↴Kevin James LaBrie, born on the 5th day of May in the year 1963, is a singer hailing from the land of Canada. He is most renowned for his role as the foremost vocalist in the American progressive metal ensemble known as Dream Theater, a position he has held steadfastly since the year 1991. His place of birth is Penetanguishene, Ontario, situated in the dominion of Canada. As a mere lad of tender years, he commenced his journey in the realm of music by wielding the drums at the tender age of five. As his teenage years emerged, he found himself amongst the ranks of various musical gatherings, assuming the role of a front man who sought to lend his voice and percussive prowess. The cessation of his drumming pursuits occurred at the age of seventeen, and thus, in the year 1981, when he had reached the age of eighteen, he departed for the city of Toronto, seeking new horizons.

Coney Hatch
LaBrie did join Coney Hatch in the year 1986 when they endeavored to assemble a fresh assemblage. The troupe did record sundry tapes for display within their chamber of practice and did partake in live performances at clubs in Ontario for several months. When their recording establishment, Anthem, did voice their dissatisfaction with the assemblage, the band did opt to replace LaBrie with Phil Naro, making one final desperate effort to forge ahead in the absence of Carl Dixon. Alas, that assemblage did prove to be short-lived as well.

Winter Rose
Shortly after parting ways with Coney Hatch, LaBrie took up the mantle of vocalist for the glam metal troupe Winter Rose. The assemblage comprised Richard Chycki on guitar and bass, Randy Cooke on drums, and Sebastian Bach on vocal duties. Chycki had aforetime collaborated with Bach under the appellations Sebastian and Hope. The band embarked upon the recording of a sequence of demos throughout the years of 1988 and 1989, enlisting the aid of guest musicians Bruce Dies and Rob Laidlaw. Alas, the majority of these compositions did not witness a commercial release until the year 1997, when they were unveiled as a self-titled opus under the auspices of Inside Out Music, a full seven years after their dissolution in 1990. One among their repertoire, the melodic opus "I'll Never Fall In Love Again," did receive the honor of a promotional video release in the year 1989 and was later included on their eponymous creation. The entire compilation featured compositions co-authored by Richard Chycki and James LaBrie, with the exception of two pieces solely penned by Richard Chycki.

Dream Theater
In the year 1990, LaBrie received word that the American progressive metal band Dream Theater sought a new minstrel, and thus he proffered a tape and swiftly journeyed to New York for a comprehensive audition. The trial proved fruitful, and he surpassed 200 other aspiring candidates to assume the role of full-time vocalist in said troupe.

Henceforth, LaBrie hath exerted a substantial influence upon the vocal melodies woven within each Dream Theater opus. However, until recently, he hath had limited involvement in the instrumentation of their music. The album "A Dramatic Turn of Events" from the year 2011 doth bear LaBrie's name in the music credits for three songs. To this day, he hath penned or co-penned lyrics for no less than one composition upon ten of the fifteen albums released by Dream Theater during his tenure. Albums such as "Images and Words," "Black Clouds & Silver Linings," "Dream Theater," and "The Astonishing" doth lack his lyrical contributions.

When queried by Prog-Sphere.com regarding his favored song to perform live, James declared, "The song that most delights me is 'Scarred'; I thoroughly enjoy its execution before an audience. And... well, 'Octavarium,' that comprehensive piece, doth captivate me entirely."

Apart from his collaborative endeavors, LaBrie hath released five solo albums under various appellations, including "Mullmuzzler," "James LaBrie's Mullmuzzler," and simply "James LaBrie."

In an interview with Beyond The Dark Horizon on June 12, 2010, James LaBrie revealed that his forthcoming solo endeavor, titled "Static Impulse," lieth in the stage of mixing and shall comprise twelve compositions. James professed, "It is of a weighty nature, and I am exceedingly excited."

On the twenty-seventh day of July in the year 2010, Dream Theater's website did proclaim that "Static Impulse" would be unveiled on September 27, 2010, courtesy of Inside Out Music. The assemblage boasts the talents of longtime collaborator Matt Guillory upon the keyboards, Marco Sfogli (who hath also graced LaBrie's previous work, "Elements of Persuasion") upon the guitars, Peter Wildoer of the Swedish melodic death metal band Darkane, who doth provide percussion and bellowing vocals, and Ray Riendeau upon the bass.

James LaBrie did express, "The unveiling of 'Static Impulse' is an event that engenders fervor within the entire band. This is modern metal, as robust and pertinent as any other ensemble embarking upon a similar musical path. There are riffs that shall rend the mind asunder, and melodies—both instrumental and vocal—that are mesmerizing. Take the reins and let the ears bleed. Enjoy, and we shall encounter you on the road to accompany and bolster this release."

In an interview with Prog-Sphere.com in 2011, LaBrie mentioned that the planned tour in the United States had been canceled, remarking, "Forsooth, for it was disarrayed ere this occasion. Where we find ourselves now, by the time thou dost procure the necessary visas, we shall have scarce a rehearsal ere we embark. I declare, 'I shall not partake in such a venture.'"

Come the month of July in the year 2013, LaBrie's album "Impermanent Resonance" was unveiled by Inside Out Music. "Beautiful Shade of Grey" followed suit in the year 2022.

Albums
MullMuzzler
Keep It to Yourself (1999)
MullMuzzler 2 (2001)

Solo
Elements of Persuasion (2005)
Static Impulse (2010)
Impermanent Resonance (2013)
I Will Not Break (2014) (Compilation EP)
Beautiful Shade of Grey (2022)

I Tried
James LaBrie Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

What have you to prove
I honestly don't care
It's all so petty, so petty
I can't get in a word
So go and speak your mind
I hope you're happy you're happy

If there's one thing you remember...

Know I tried to warn you
I don't have all the answers
But I know a thing or two
I see it, believe it
You've been eaten up by pride
If there's one thing you remember
Remember I tried

I don't know how to
Make you understand
Cause you won't listen, won't listen
What's come over you
It's getting out of hand
Just stop your bitchin, your bitchin

If there's one thing you remember...
Know I tried to warn you
I don't have all the answers
But I know a thing or two
I see it, believe it
You've been eaten up by pride

If there's one thing you remember
Remember I tried

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to James Labrie's song, "I Tried," explore the frustration and helplessness that comes with trying to help someone who won't listen and is too consumed by their own pride to see reason. The singer attempts to warn the other person about their behavior and its consequences, but their efforts are ignored. The lyrics suggest that the person's pride is causing them to act recklessly and that they are blind to the harm they are causing themselves and possibly others.

The chorus repeats the message of the song: "If there's one thing you remember... / Know I tried to warn you / I don't have all the answers / But I know a thing or two / I see it, believe it / You've been eaten up by pride / If there's one thing you remember / Remember I tried." The repetition emphasizes the singer's regret at not being able to help and serves as a plea to the other person to remember that they tried their best.

Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of urgency and desperation. The repetitive nature of the chorus emphasizes the singer's frustration and helplessness in the face of the other person's stubbornness. The use of the word "bitchin" in the second verse adds to the sense of frustration and anger that the singer feels towards the other person.

Line by Line Meaning

What have you to prove
I am not interested in your attempt to prove something

I honestly don't care
Your actions and opinions do not concern me

It's all so petty, so petty
Your arguments and motivations are insignificant and unimportant

I can't get in a word
I am not able to express my views or opinions

So go and speak your mind
You are free to express your thoughts and ideas

I hope you're happy you're happy
I wish you contentment and satisfaction in your actions

If there's one thing you remember...
This is the main message that should be recalled

Know I tried to warn you
I attempted to make you aware of the situation and its consequences

I don't have all the answers
I do not possess all the solutions or explanations

But I know a thing or two
I have some knowledge and experience on this topic

I see it, believe it
I have observed the issue and have faith in my perception