"I get it, I get, okay. But you're also wrong. Like... and you know that too." might be the most relatable thing you've ever said. LOL. Love it Michael.

I WAS THERE! I'm not kidding...there were people in tears. As blazingly amazing as his crazy stuff is...Petrucci puts a gargantuan amount of feeling and soul into his playing.

What amazes me the most is that it's freaking technical, it's freaking fast and yet it is so melodic and soulful. JP is on another level of guitar playing. It's shockingly good.

“Try it… for 22 years… then tell me if you even get close!” 😂

This is why John Petrucci will always be my favorite guitarist of all time. He is just seriously unbelievable. Great video

When Live at Budokan came out on DVD, I asked my girlfriend at the time to watch Hollow Years with me as I couldn’t get over this solo. It was at that moment I realised I love John Petrucci. I don’t remember her leaving. I just kept shredding.

Sure, there are a million G3 shredders out there who can play as fast or faster. But something about JPs phrasing, tone, feel etc. has always elevated him above the rest for me.

I admire your candor, Michael: “ah, I can’t do it.” For an excellent guitarist like you to recognize another’s talent like JP’s is rare. Kudos to you.

"That's some serious top of the mountain, legendary [...]" And this was 20 years ago, and he ain't been slowing down!

J.P has it all. People say he has no feel. I think he's probably the most complete Guitar player he has all the skill not to mention he's humble as hell about it.

Lol love it. John is the man. Super nice humble guy too. He'll take time to talk to anyone.

Watching these guys live, playing at this level for three hours straight was one of the highest musical blessings of my lifetime

(Whispers)"Spec-f*cking-tacular" Classic

This solo was my introduction to John Petrucci. 4 years later and he is my favorite guitarist.

JP is the perfect blend of technicality, writing, and feel. He's my favorite of all time.

This solo gets me every time, not originally on the record either, he started improvising this during the tour which culminated to this performs for the Budokan DVD. This DVD of theirs is probably the greatest live show DVD i've ever seen, this song, Beyond this Life with the improve middle section, In the Name of God with the added outro solo, Instrumedley?!?!?!, it's just absolutely incredible. It's been inspiring me for years. And now I have the joy of introducing it to my kids. Life is good. Cheers brother.

Dream Theater made everyone step up their game! I have been playing bass for 30 years and I still have no idea what Myung is doing most of the time. I catch riffs here and there, but that is about it. Thanks for showing this!

So bummed you didn't watch the begining solo... It's so good

John Petrucci has so much emotion in his playing. 🥹

Thanks for doing this video. Petrucci has been amongst my favorite all time guitarists for about 30 years now. He is one of the only virtuoso guitarists that hasn’t seemed to lose technique and playing ability as he’s aged. I’m not sure what’s happened to some other of his guitar peers (I won’t name names) but they seem to regress in their playing after they get into their 40’s, 50’s and beyond. Not Petrucci. He remains a standard for metal guitarists to this day.

I don't care what anyone says. This is the best live guitar solo ever performed. I dare someone to show me better. He will always be the goat in my eyes.

John Petrucci is a legend. You can't watch him play and not have your jaw drop open. He is my absolute favorite player - technical skill, tone, style, emotion, and raw power. They DEFINE and OWN the progressive metal genre. I have been seeing him live for almost 20 years and he gets better every time - it is incredible. Thanks for your professional perspective on his greatness.

What makes it so tough is the seamless transition between positions and the flawless string hopping. Few players can do this.. it’s like he’s playing with a bow instead of a pick.

There is no 'best' in guitar playing. Having said that, John Petrucci is the best. 🎸

After a 15 year hiatus from playing guitar this was the guy that I found my inspiration from after getting back into it around 2006. He's just so damn good!

They don't call it a guitar god for nothing 😂 he's on a Divine level

Huge DT and guitar virtuoso fan here.. I have never seen a solo with a better combination of speed, musicality/feel and precision as this one. Staggering really.

Been watching these dudes for over four decades and am always blown away by the musicality. It's ridiculous.

John will always be my favourite. All the other guitar greats are great. But John has speed, precision, bluesy licks, everything. I dont believe there isn't a genre he can't absolutely crush

Petrucci is just a cybernetic freak of nature, man. All we can do is bow down and appreciate his greatness while he's making music. He's just on another level.

i will forever LOVE JP solos. the tech is there...but it's so musical. i am so glad i got to catch a G3 tour back when i lived in myrtle beach. John's set was absolutely mindblowing. i am SO stoked to hear their new stuff with Mike back in the band again.

Next to Dave's solo on comfortably numb from the Pulse live dvd/cd This is my second favorite of all time. I got spinal meningitis it was pretty bad I was in ICU for nearly a week. Anyway, as a welcome home present my wife got me this dvd. I remember by the time I could actually watch tv without getting sick, I put it in, and when he got to the part where you said, "That was shockingly clean, even for john" that's why I started to tear up. When he hits the melodic part after that going up the scale, I remember i had tears just running down my cheeks. I don't recall ever hearing a blistering shred fest of a solo have this kind of emotion coming out of it. incredible. . That's when you know it's a great solo. When the emotion in it can bring a pretty manly man to tears.. Thanks for reviewing this. Thing is, is the song is what builds up to the emotion to that solo.. just hearing the solo is good, but the song is what helps make it great.

I have waited for more than a decade for someone to react to this masterpiece.

For me this was the PEAK of DT's live performance prowess. Everything came together SO RIGHT on the Train of Thought Tour. I saw them front row in Toronto on this tour and it's was absolutely STUNNING. You can actually see a variation of this solo from that night on the internet. Look up Dream Theater - Hollow Years (Live in Toronto 2004) You can actually see me and my brother front row (stage left, right in front of John) - my brother is the kid with the long hair that brought his drumsticks and air drummed along with Mike ALLLLLL night. Anyway - My point in saying that is this was not "off the dome" (or off the top) as they say. Petrucci wrote/worked this out every night of the tour and perfected, and perfected and perfected until you get his absolutely BEAST of a live version. You also can see his hands quite clearly in that version to work out what he's playing! ;) That doesn't take away the prowess and the power...but it does give us mortals a "glimpse" of hope? (maybe?)

Holy smokes, that oh yeah opening lick was so smooth!! Thank you for keeping the dream alive❤

Your reaction facial expression progression is more impressive than any chord/solo progression John Petrucci can ever come up with! Great video!

"Ouuww shitt, one more time 🙂" It makes me laugh 🤣

Petrucci is a BEAST! No matter what anyone says. Guitar legend

Easily my favorite guitarist. Love him so much.

Best living guitarist imo. He's been number one for me ever since I was using his rock discipline vhs tapes as a teen.

The whole concert is just amazing, watch “In the Name of God”. Perfection

Love Petrucci and Dream Theater ❤️🥳

John put more feeling in that shred than any blues guitarist I’ve ever heard

Bought the Budokan dvd as a blind purchase around 2005, not really knowing anything about Dream Theater. JP's playing on the DVD and on this track and solo in particular, opened my eyes and DT became my favorite band since. This is that one solo I always go back to. It has it all and it's largely improvised and extended over the original much shorter acoustic solo.

I remember when this came out watching this with my brother and us just looking at each other laughing the whole time.

I had that concert on DVD, it was epic. And there were multiple moments like that.

THE BEST. EVER.

Used to play that version of the song, including the solo, many years ago and it's very challenging just speed-wise. But it's a great way to learn scales since this is exactly that at lightning speed all over the fretboard. It really helps to slow it down and see what exactly he's doing. Even if I couldn't come anywhere close to JP's performance here, it was enough to wow the crowd and a great learning experience for me.

Acid Rain-Live in LA is my favorite Petrucci's solos

I think the best part is: that solo is 70%improv, including the runs

Oh my. That speed and so clean with a cleanish tone, man.

My favourite DT solo. Technically and melodicwise. The reason why I also adore Symphony X.

Is this solo overwrought and wankalicious, yes. Is it still tasty, organic, completely in the pocket, and meshes perfectly to the melancholy vibe of the song, yes. I'd normally say bursts of 32nd note arpeggios and scale runs over the whole neck have no place in a ballad, but when you're Petrucci, it's Tuesday.

My teenage years were a steady diet of Dream Theater and Rush with a side of Yngwie. You go through that phase and find Tommy Emmanuel later in life. People like Petrucci and Emmanuel were put on this earth to play guitar and we are all better for it.

John petrucci is collected all things that guitar and music needed ❤❤❤❤❤

Short hair Petrucci = best version of himself

AND, they're currently in the studio with Mike Portnoy back on drums...can't wait to see them back out on the road!

I love the giddyness when you’re trying to replay it.

This solo worth all the concert. Tears drop to my eyes....beautiful ever

This is the best live solo of all time for me!!

the "i cant do it" its always me when i get to a dream theater solo 🤣🤣

Beautiful!

JP jazz III guitar picks are great. Only pick I use.

Been watching and subbed for a while. I always enjoy your videos but I don’t think I’ve told you that enough. John P is one of my favorites so this video hits home for me.

I was in this Budokan that day. I cried for the first time when I listened to the guitar solo. It's so technical, but it's so emotional!

One could say 99% of every Petrucci solo is his best solo ever. They just get better and better. This is what happens when you don't party and just focus on your music and practice.

I also have to thank you Michael. In recent months you've reacted to my my 3 favorite musicians...JP, Mark Tremonti and Myles Kennedy. Thank you brother!

I'll recommend Breaking All Illusions solo from them. Super bluesy, super clean solo that might not be the same blistering speed, but still delivers a fantastic ending.

What makes it even more mind blowing is that he plays it completely different every night! 😬 🤯

I would happily spend my time watching your face reacting to JP, it would never get old. Thanks so much.

iv never replayed solos more by anyone else, absolutely fantastic

I remember being like 15-16 or something and I'd bought the Live at Budokan DVD. This solo blew my young guitarist mind. Still does 20 odd years later. haha

That sound @6:12 coming from Michael's mouth explains it all lol

seen Dream Theater live 5 times with 3 of those times being in first few rows. It is so cool to be that close and just watch them play.

05:39 - "Shit! One more time" it always got me hahaha

even the most relax plaing from petrucci make time to learn it, he is my favorite guitar player ever, and can do a decent solo cover, speed, tech. emotional and clean player i ever see

This is my most favourite solo ever. Had listened to it a hundreds of times and it was this one which made me pick up guitar again after selling my bass some years ago ;)

"IT'S DREAM THEATER...." hahaha YES

xD "i can't do it" 🤣

Jeff went to my High School a few years before me. Kings Park, NY in the house!!!

I always go back to this solo... It's the best ever. Gary Moore the Messiah will come again #2

Dude nearly melts the fretboard

Spec fu**in tacular - I fully agree Micheal! ❤

But the guitar solo before intro, just so amazing!

Check out liquid tension experiment, and a song called rhapsody in blue. It's a classical peace, made into a prog metal. There is some astonishing guitar on it ✌️

John wrote this song when his father passed away if i remember correctly so it always comes across as more emotional when he plays it.

The Best of Times and Voices, while not my favorite overall DT tunes, contain 2 of my favorite album version solos.

By far his best solo ever!

Damn, I gotta watch that DVD again. Been a while.

His Purple Rain is so amazing

You should do John’s solo stuff. Like Glasgow Kiss from the G3 tour. Awesome song

5:02 reminds me of his brilliant tuition video Rock Discipline. He was pushing the envelope with his chromatic runs. Then he applied the technique to his solo. All those years later he sounds even better than he did then. JP is such a maestro on the guitar.

Also check out his Lines in the Sand solo from their 2002 concert in Bucharest.

JP is called God for a reason......

During those years he was at his best

How do you just nail that shit live. You are right. It’s dream theater.

Haha man you are amazing and so talented! and I %100 Agree wiyh what u said.! and btw to the people who say no soul in shred?!: yeah many players can shred but only JOHN PETRUCCI ( and a few other players)CAN MAKE YOU CRY WHILE SHREDDING IN LIGHTING FAST.. THATS WHY he is one of the greatest of all time..

I think you just tapped into an iceberg-rabbit hole. Check out some of his legendary early work when he was in his 20's. Learning to Live is probably my favorite track he's done. Sooooo much cool stuff there.

🙌

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