Fates Warning

Fates Warning
Ray Alder at Headway Festival, 2005
Background information
Origin	Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Genres	Progressive metal, power metal
Years active	1982−present
Labels	Metal Blade
Associated acts	Agent Steel, Anthrax, All That Is, Arch / Matheos, Armored Saint, Demonax, Dream Theater, Gordian Knot, OSI, Redemption, Slavior, Warlord
Website	www.fateswarning.com
Members
Jim Matheos Ray Alder Joey Vera Bobby Jarzombek
Past members
Victor Arduini John Arch Joe DiBiase Frank Aresti Steve Zimmerman Mark Zonder

Fates Warning is an American progressive metal band, formed in 1982 by vocalist John Arch, guitarists Jim Matheos and Victor Arduini, bassist Joe DiBiase, and drummer Steve Zimmerman in Hartford, Connecticut. Fates Warning has experienced numerous line-up changes. From 1982 to 1996 — and temporarily in 2010 — Matheos and DiBiase were the only original members of the band, with Matheos being the only constant member. Their current lineup consists of Matheos on guitar, Ray Alder on vocals and Joey Vera on bass. Drummer Bobby Jarzombek has been part of Fates Warning since 2007 but is only a live member. As a pioneer of the American progressive metal movement, Fates Warning rose to international fame in the 1980s and was ranked as one of the early "flagship bands of progressive metal" along with Queensrÿche and Dream Theater, who were responsible for creating, developing and popularizing that genre.

Fates Warning has released ten studio albums, two live albums, one compilation album, one VHS, three DVDs (each of them features live concerts) and four demo tapes. The band experienced major American commercial success with the 1986 release of their third studio album, Awaken the Guardian, which peaked at number #191 on the Billboard 200, and became the first album released on Metal Blade to enter that chart. Their next three albums, No Exit (1988), Perfect Symmetry (1989) and Parallels (1991), were also successful; the first two peaked at #111 and #141 on the Billboard 200 respectively. Fates Warning's most recent studio album, FWX, was released in 2004. As of June 2011, they are working on a follow-up to FWX, which is due for release sometime in 2012.

History

Early career and first three albums (1982−1986)

The first album, Night on Bröcken, was released in 1984, on the Metal Blade label, featuring a strong Iron Maiden influence. The Spectre Within, which featured a more progressive sound, was released in 1985.

In 1986, original guitarist Victor Arduini left the band and was replaced by Frank Aresti. The third album, Awaken the Guardian was released in that year, moving towards a more mythical atmosphere.

Lineup changes and rise to near fame (1987−1993)

In 1987, original vocalist John Arch left the band, prior to the start of work on the band's next album. Ray Alder joined the band in 1988. That year, the first album with Alder, No Exit was released.

Continuing the pattern of lineup changes, original drummer Steve Zimmerman left the band in 1988, and was replaced by Mark Zonder in 1989. Perfect Symmetry was released in the same year. Kevin Moore (keyboardist for Dream Theater at the time) was featured as a guest on the song At Fate's Hands.

1991 saw the release of Parallels, which was considered by some as a commercial release. New Dream Theater vocalist James LaBrie made a guest appearance on the song Life in Still Water.

Later years (1994−2008)

The next album, 1994's Inside Out, continued in the general vein of the previous album while adding more melody to the songs. It was followed by a 1995 compilation, Chasing Time, which included two previously unreleased songs.

In 1996, both Joe DiBiase and Frank Aresti left the group.

The three remaining members-—Alder, Matheos and Zonder—-released A Pleasant Shade of Gray in 1997. The album also featured work from guest musicians Joey Vera on bass and Kevin Moore performing piano and keyboards. Written as a concept album, A Pleasant Shade of Gray revealed a much darker and bleaker mood in songwriting style than had been heard before from the band. The album consists of a single 53-minute song split into twelve parts.

A live two-CD set, Still Life, was released in 1998, containing A Pleasant Shade of Gray" performed live in its entirety. Joey Vera (bass), Bernie Versailles (guitars) and Jason Keazer (keyboards) accompanied the group on this album. A Japanese version included a studio Scorpions cover, "In Trance."

In 2000, Moore and Vera again returned as guests to appear on the next album, Disconnected. In 2003, Frank Aresti was asked to fill in on a tour with Dream Theater and Queensryche, and subsequently rejoined the band.

Their tenth studio recording FWX was released in 2004. Drummer Mark Zonder stated it would be his last album with the band, as he wished to pursue other interests, and left in 2005. Although an official member again, Frank Aresti did not appear because the writing had been completed and contracts had been signed already.

Live in Athens, a concert DVD, was released in 2005; a CD version was also released. This DVD included guest drummer Nick D'Virgilio.

In the liner notes to the 2005 expanded edition of the Awaken the Guardian album, Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy noted that, "very often fans and critics credit Dream Theater for creating a whole new genre of progressive metal music in the late '80s/early '90s, . . . but the truth is Fates Warning were doing it years before us."

The band has recorded songs for various "tribute" albums, including "Closer to the Heart" on the 1996 Working Man Rush tribute, "Saints in Hell" on the 1997 Legends of Metal Judas Priest tribute, and "Sign of the Southern Cross" on the 2000 Holy Dio Ronnie James Dio tribute.

Recent history and future eleventh album (2009−present)

Fates Warning played select dates with the Parallels lineup (Alder, Matheos, Zonder, Aresti and DiBiase) to celebrate the 2010 reissued, remastered and expanded edition of the classic album.

At the beginning of 2011, an announcement was made that Matheos and original vocalist John Arch had formed a band called Arch / Matheos. Their debut album was released in the autumn of that year, also featuring Joey Vera on bass guitar, Bobby Jarzombek on drums and Frank Aresti on additional lead guitar.

Fates Warning's newest album is due for release in 2012.

Discography

Studio albums

• Night on Bröcken (1984, reissued and expanded 2002)
• The Spectre Within (1985, reissued and expanded 2002)
• Awaken the Guardian (1986, reissued and expanded 2005)
• No Exit (1988, reissued and expanded 2007)
• Perfect Symmetry (1989, reissued and expanded 2008)
• Parallels (1991, reissued and expanded 2010)
• Inside Out (1994)
• A Pleasant Shade of Gray (1997)
• Disconnected (2000)
• FWX (2004)

Live albums

• Still Life (1998)
• Live in Athens (2005)

Compilation albums

• Chasing Time (1995)

Miscellaneous releases

• Demo 1983 (1983)
• Misfit Demo (1983)
• Demo 1984 (1984)
• Dickie Demo (1985)
• Pale Fire (Single) (1994)
• A Pleasant Shade of Gray: Part II (Single) (1997)
• Awaken the Guardian Re-Release (Box Set) (2005)
  • CD1: Awaken the Guardian Remaster CD
  • CD2: Demos & Live CD
  • CD3: DVD: 28 December 1986 at Sundance, Long Island, NY
• Inside Out / Disconnected (combined re-release with bonus tracks) (2007)

Videography

Music videos

• "Kyrie Eleison" (1986)
• "Anarchy Divine" (1988)
• "Silent Cries" (1988)
• "Through Different Eyes" (1989)
• "Point of View" (1991)
• "Eye to Eye" (1992)
• "Monument" (1994)
• "Simple Human" (2004)

DVDs and VHSs

• A Pleasant Shade of Gray (1998, VHS)
• Live at the Dynamo (2000, DVD)
• The View from Here (2003, DVD)
• Live in Athens (2005, DVD)

Band members

Current members

• Jim Matheos: guitar (1982−present)
• Frank Aresti: guitar (1985−1995, 2003-present)
• Ray Alder: vocals (1987−present)
• Joey Vera: bass (2000-present; previously touring musician)
• Bobby Jarzombek: drums (2007–present)

2010 Parallels reunion lineup

• Ray Alder: vocals
• Jim Matheos: guitar
• Frank Aresti: guitar
• Mark Zonder: drums
• Joe DiBiase: bass

Former members

• Joe DiBiase: bass (1982−1996) (Reunion shows 2010)
• Steve Zimmermann: drums (1982−1988)
• John Arch: vocals (1982−1987)
• Victor Arduini: guitars (1982−1986)
• Mark Zonder: drums (1988−2005) (Reunion shows 2010)

Touring members

• Ed Roth: keyboards (1997)
• Jason Keazar: keyboards (1997−1998)
• Bernie Versailles: guitar (1998)
• Joey Vera: bass (1997−2000; full-time member since 2000)
• Shaun Michaud: keyboards, guitar (2000)
• Nick D'Virgilio: drums (2003–2005)
• Frank Aresti: guitars (2003-present)
• Bobby Jarzombek: drums (2007, 2009)

Touring guests

• Kevin Moore − keyboards (2005)
• Mike Portnoy − drums (2005)
• James LaBrie − vocals (2005)

External links

• Official website