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)
Superstar
James LaBrie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The spotlights glare
Exquisite fads to view
Your every move
Fixated eyes on you
The camera waits as you prepare
It comes so easily
Now high society
A celebrity
Your dreams
Are now reality
You've got everything
Adored
A two edged sword
Magazines, Silver screens
A Superstar
You cannot stand what you've become
It's lost all its appeal
Your entourage
Has no clue what you feel
This time it's for real
Your dreams
Are now reality
You've got everything
Adored
A two edged sword
Magazines, Silver screens
A Superstar
Not sure you like what you've become
How you think, what you feel
Should you care, how you look
What you're paid to put on
Know your part of the deal
Your dreams
Are now reality
You've got everything
Adored
A two edged sword
Magazines, Silver screens
A Superstar
Influence the youth
Adored
Unbecoming of you
Exposed
One will never know
Nothing they can prove
A true Superstar's
What you are
The lyrics to James LaBrie's song Superstar paint a picture of the highs and lows of becoming a celebrity. The song begins with the excitement and thrill of becoming a public figure. It describes the lights and cameras and the attention that a "Superstar" receives. The lyrics talk about the surreal nature of this life, where borrowed shoes become high society, dreams become reality, and everything is adored. However, this glitz and glamour come at a cost. The life of a superstar is a two-edged sword, and every move they make is scrutinized by the public eye. Over time, the lyrics reveal that the celebrity is not happy with the person they have become. They feel like they have lost their appeal and that their entourage cannot understand what they are feeling. They wonder if they should care about how they look or what they are paid to say. Despite the uncertainty, the song ends on a hopeful note. The world may never know the truth, but this person is a true superstar.
Line by Line Meaning
A masquerade
Being a celebrity is like wearing a mask and playing a role.
The spotlights glare
Being in the public eye is both illuminating and blinding.
Exquisite fads to view
The public is enamored by fleeting trends and fads that surround celebrities.
Your every move
Every single action taken by the celebrity is watched and scrutinized.
Fixated eyes on you
Everyone is glued to observing and judging what the celebrity does.
The camera waits as you prepare
Cameras are omnipresent and the celebrity never gets a break from being followed and filmed.
It comes so easily
Once you are famous, success becomes easy and is achieved without much effort or hard work.
Once borrowed shoes
The celebrity started from scratch and borrowed everything to get to where they are now.
Now high society
The celebrity is now part of the elite class of society.
A celebrity
The celebrity is famous and widely recognized.
Your dreams
Becoming a famous superstar is a dream for many people.
Are now reality
The celebrity has achieved their dream and it is now a reality.
You've got everything
The celebrity has it all, including fame, wealth, and success.
Adored
The public loves and idolizes the celebrity.
A two edged sword
Being a celebrity has its benefits but also has drawbacks and negative consequences.
Magazines, Silver screens
Being in magazines and movies is part of being a celebrity.
A Superstar
The celebrity has reached the highest level of fame and success.
You cannot stand what you've become
After achieving fame, the celebrity realizes that they do not like who they have become.
It's lost all its appeal
The glamour of being a celebrity has worn off and is no longer exciting or enjoyable.
Your entourage
The people surrounding the celebrity and helping them achieve success do not understand how the celebrity truly feels.
Has no clue what you feel
Despite being surrounded by people, the celebrity feels alone and misunderstood.
This time it's for real
The celebrity is going through a genuine and significant change in how they view themselves and their fame.
Not sure you like what you've become
The celebrity is unsure if they like the person they have become after achieving fame.
How you think, what you feel
The celebrity is concerned about their thoughts and feelings towards what they have become.
Should you care, how you look
The celebrity questions if they should be concerned about their appearance to maintain their status as a superstar.
What you're paid to put on
The celebrity is aware that they are paid to promote a particular image and message.
Know your part of the deal
The celebrity acknowledges that they agreed to certain terms and responsibilities when they signed up for fame.
Influence the youth
Being a celebrity means having a large impact on younger generations.
Adored
Despite feeling conflicted, the celebrity is still loved and appreciated by their fans.
Unbecoming of you
The celebrity's behavior or image is criticized to be below their status as a superstar.
Exposed
Being a celebrity means being vulnerable to public criticism and judgment.
One will never know
Despite much scrutiny, there are certain things about the celebrity that the public will never know.
Nothing they can prove
Despite rumors and speculations, the public cannot prove anything about the celebrity.
A true Superstar's
The celebrity is a genuine and authentic superstar despite the challenges and conflicts that come with their status.
What you are
The celebrity will always be a superstar and that is a part of who they are.
Contributed by Lily T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.