- Planet X (band)
Infobox musical artist
Name = Planet X
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Img_capt = Left to right: Virgil Donati, Tony MacAlpine, Derek Sherinian.
Background = group_or_band
Years_active =1999 - present
Genre =Instrumental rock Progressive metal Jazz fusion
Origin =United States
Label =InsideOut Music
Current_members =Derek Sherinian Virgil Donati Rufus Philpot
Past_members =Tony MacAlpine T. J. Helmerich
URL = [http://www.xplanetx.com/ Official website]Planet X is an evolution of keyboardist
Derek Sherinian 's 1999 solo album "Planet X". Sherinian has stated in several interviews that his intention when forming Planet X was to create a band that "played their instruments so fiercely, that they would strike fear in the hearts of all musicians". Sherinian has called the band's style "metal fusion".Background
After recording an eponymous solo album,
Derek Sherinian (formerly of theprogressive metal bandDream Theater ) expanded the album's line-up to full time duty in conjunction with drummerVirgil Donati . To date they have released three studio albums and one live CD. On the recorded albums, the band works with multiple guest guitarists. (Tony MacAlpine is the guitarist on the first three Planet X albums - in 2004 he left to tour withSteve Vai ).Planet X's sound is far removed from standard radio fare - Virgil Donati once remarked, "Our most exotic time signature is four." In any one composition, it is not uncommon to hear dozens of time changes. The compositions are strictly instrumental, except for occasional rare spoken words. Taking a page from
jazz , most of the songs are extended solo sections punctuated by breakdowns or choruses. However, sonically they bear almost nothing in common with all but the most avant-gardejazz fusion .Following "Universe", Planet X released "
Live From Oz " recorded during their Australian tour in 2002. A full version of the track "Atlantis : Apocalypse 1470 BC" from the CD and the [http://www.xplanetx.com/multimedia-sounds.html Planet X] Web site can be heard here [http://www.xplanetx.com/sounds/lfo/px-lfo-atlantisFULL.mp3] . The next studio release, "MoonBabies ", was released later that same year. The record was mixed and co-produced by drummerSimon Phillips who remarked that "Planet X is a band that is playing the almost impossible." Guest bassists featured on the release were Tom Kennedy, Jimmy Johnson andBilly Sheehan .Planet X has toured worldwide including Japan, Australia, Holland, USA, Canada, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Greece and Armenia.
The most recent album "Quantum" released in 2007 features long-time fusion guitarist
Allan Holdsworth , guitarist Brett Garsed, who appeared on Sherinian's 1999 solo album "Planet X", and bassists Jimmy Johnson and Rufus Philpot.Discography
* "Universe" (2000)
* "Live from Oz " (2002)
* "MoonBabies " (2002)
* "Quantum" (2007)Members
;Current
*Derek Sherinian - Keyboards
*Virgil Donati -Drum s
*Rufus Philpot - Bass;Former
*Tony MacAlpine - Guitar
*T.J. Helmerich - Guitar;Guests
*Philip Bynoe - Bass
*Ric Fierabracci - Bass
*Brett Garsed - Guitar
*Allan Holdsworth - Guitar
* Jimmy Johnson - Bass
*Tom Kennedy - Bass
*Dave LaRue - Bass
*Billy Sheehan - BassExternal links
* [http://www.xplanetx.com/ Official site]
* [http://myspace.com/planetxsite Official MySpace site]
* [http://www.dereksherinian.com/ Official Derek Sherinian site]
* [http://www.virgildonati.com/ Official Virgil Donati site]
* [http://www.myspace.com/virgildonaticom Official Virgil Donati MySpace site]
* [http://www.tonymacalpine.com/ Official Tony MacAlpine site]
* [http://www.myspace.com/tonymacalpine Official Tony MacAlpine MySpace site]
* [http://www.rufusbass.com/ Official Rufus Philpot site]
* [http://www.myspace.com/rufusbass Official Rufus Philpot MySpace site]
* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:14820r8au48v All Music Guide - Planet X]
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