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Sherinian extended further into the ] realm by collaborating with noted guitarist ] and ] (formerly of the ]) on the 2004 release ]. In addition to another appearance by Phillips, other musicians appearing on this recording were ], ], ], and ]. A 2005 audio interview about "Mythology", as well as other aspects of Derek's career, can be heard here.
Sherinian extended further into the ] realm by collaborating with noted guitarist ] and ] (formerly of the ]) on the 2004 release ]. In addition to another appearance by Phillips, other musicians appearing on this recording were ], ], ], and ]. A 2005 audio interview about "Mythology", as well as other aspects of Derek's career, can be heard here.
Beginning in 2002, Sherinian has also regularly toured and recorded with rocker ] of ''"Rebel Yell"'' and ''"White Wedding"'' fame. Derek's fifth solo album ] (2006) features contributions from Idol, former ] guitarist ], ] and ], in addition to return engagements with Phillips, Franklin and Lukather. A video for a ] of ]'s "'']''" was released along with the album. In a nod to Idol, the bass drum is painted with the script "Derek Sherinian and The Rebellious Yellers!". Sherinian also worked with ] master ] on the song "''Prelude To Battle''" on the release, written for his great grandmother who fought the Turks in the ].
Beginning in 2002, Sherinian has also regularly toured and recorded with rocker ] of ''"Rebel Yell"'' and ''"White Wedding"'' fame. Derek's fifth solo album ] (2006) features contributions from Idol, former ] guitarist ], ] and ], in addition to return engagements with Phillips, Franklin and Lukather. A video for a ] of ]'s "'']''" was released along with the album. In a nod to Idol, the bass drum is painted with the script "Derek Sherinian and The Rebellious Yellers!". Sherinian also worked with ] master ] on the song "''Prelude To Battle''" on the release, written for his great grandmother who fought the Turks in the ].
] (2006)]]
] (2006)]]
Sherinian's Web site announced he would again be playing with Yngwie Malmsteen on a series of dates in the Far East and Australia in November, 2006. A new Planet X recording featuring ] and as guest guitarists is expected to be released in early 2007.
Sherinian's Web site announced he would again be playing with Yngwie Malmsteen on a series of dates in the Far East and Australia in November, 2006. A new Planet X recording featuring ] and as guest guitarists is expected to be released in early 2007.
Derek began taking piano lessons at the age of five in Santa Cruz, California, and after his junior year of high school received a scholarship to the highly-regarded Berklee College of Music in Boston. He has since studied with other noted keyboard players including T Lavitz, Mitchel Forman, and Russell Ferrante. His first notable gigs after leaving Boston were with legendary rock/jazz drummer Buddy Miles playing the "Chitlin' circuit". He then began touring and recording with long-time rocker Alice Cooper in 1989. After hearing Sherinian for two years, Cooper was quoted in an 1991 interview in Keyboard Magazine, describing Sherinian as "the Caligula of keyboards". Derek followed the Alice Cooper experience with a stint playing keyboards in support of the 1992 KISS Revenge tour.
Since 1999, Sherinian has recorded several solo albums on which artists including Yngwie Malmsteen, Zakk Wylde, Jerry Goodman, Steve Lukather and Simon Phillips have lent their talents. Sherinian's first solo project, 1999's Planet X, recorded with Australian drummer Virgil Donati, subsequently led to the formation of the group of the same name (Planet X), as Sherinian and Donati decided to expand on the concept by recruiting guitar virtuoso Tony MacAlpine. Sherinian has stated in a number of interviews that his intention when forming Planet X was to create a group of musicians that "played their instruments so fiercely, that they would strike fear in the hearts of all musicians". A full live version of the track "Atlantis : Apocalypse 1470 BC" from the Planet X Web site can be heard here.
In 2001, Derek teamed with drummer Simon Phillips and studio guitar ace Steve Lukather to record Inertia. Sherinian commented "These guys are two of the biggest cats in the business, to be exposed to them is just incredible". Lukather responded that "Derek's CD (Inertia) is probably my best recorded work in my whole career".
Inertia subsequently became the foundation for Black Utopia (2003). In addition to the returning members Lukather and Phillips, three new faces joined Sherinian’s all-star team: bassist Billy Sheehan, legendary rock guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen – with whom Sherinian had previously toured in 2001 – and jazz fusion guitarist Al Di Meola. Sherinian was quoted at the time as saying "One of the highlights of my career was flying to Miami to produce Yngwie, and the next day Al Di Meola - all for my record!". He went on to say “I have always been a fan of jazz fusion, but from the perspective of a rock player crossing over to jazz, not vice versa. I think that is how Jeff Beck approached his classic instrumental records and I like to follow in that path.”
Sherinian extended further into the fusion realm by collaborating with noted guitarist Allan Holdsworth and Jerry Goodman (formerly of the Mahavishnu Orchestra) on the 2004 release Mythology. In addition to another appearance by Phillips, other musicians appearing on this recording were Zakk Wylde, John Sykes, Steve Stevens, and Tony Franklin. A 2005 audio interview about "Mythology", as well as other aspects of Derek's career, can be heard here.
Beginning in 2002, Sherinian has also regularly toured and recorded with rocker Billy Idol of "Rebel Yell" and "White Wedding" fame. Derek's fifth solo album Blood of the Snake (2006) features contributions from Idol, former Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash, John Petrucci and Brian Tichy, in addition to return engagements with Phillips, Franklin and Lukather. A video for a cover version of Mungo Jerry's "In The Summertime" was released along with the album. In a nod to Idol, the bass drum is painted with the script "Derek Sherinian and The Rebellious Yellers!". Sherinian also worked with duduk master Djivan Gasparyan on the song "Prelude To Battle" on the release, written for his great grandmother who fought the Turks in the Armenian genocide.
Sherinian's Web site announced he would again be playing with Yngwie Malmsteen on a series of dates in the Far East and Australia in November, 2006. A new Planet X recording featuring Allan Holdsworth and Brett Garsed as guest guitarists is expected to be released in early 2007.
In a 2000 interview Sherinian cited his early influences as being Jan Hammer (Mahavishnu Orchestra), T Lavitz (Dixie Dregs), Keith Emerson (Emerson, Lake & Palmer & The Nice), Rick Wakeman (Yes), and Elton John. Other influences of Sherinian include Allan Holdsworth, Jeff Beck and Eddie Van Halen. Sherinian points to listening as a youth to Van Halen's guitar playing as having a direct influence on his own unique approach to keyboards both in terms of technique as well as tone, as his unique "Monster Lead" lead patch contains numerous elements one would attribute to guitar sounds such as distortion, harmonics, and palm-muting.
Instruments & Equipment
File:SherinianNord-1.jpgDerek Sherinian playing the Nord Electro 2, Nord G2X Modular & and KORG Triton Extreme mounted on vertical keyboard stands
Derek Sherinian currently uses and endorses Clavia Nord keyboards . Sherinian was presented the G2 Modular synth serial number 001 by Clavia representative Bengt Lilja in January 2004 . More detailed information about Derek's use of Nord keyboards can be found here. Two audio samples of Sherinian's work with Nord keyboards are available from the Clavia Web site, or directly by following the links at and . Derek's use of KORG products is detailed at the KORG Web site, where there is also a video of Derek checking out KORG prducts at the 2005 Winter NAMM show . Sherinian is also known for being one of the first keyboardists to use vertical keyboard stands. A more detailed list of equipment can be found here.
File:DerekAndBengt.jpgDerek Sherinian receives Nord 2 Modular Keyboard #001 from Clavia's Bengt Lilja (January, 2004)
