b. May 5, 1963 as Kevin James Labrie in Penetanguishene, Ontario
From the small Georgian Bay port town of Penetanguishene, Ontario, LaBrie drew Inspiration from his father and started singing and playing drums at age 5. By his teenage years he began pursuing his love of rock music and by age 21 he began vocal training with opera singer and coach Rosemary Patricia Burns for 4 years.
After working with several Canadian bands, including a reformed Coney Hatch, Labrie became the vocalist for Winter Rose, who were minutes away from being signed to Atlantic Records.
Then Pierre Paradis, who managed the band Voivod, approached LaBrie about recording a solo album with Aquarius Records and another open door with an American band, Dream Theater out of New York, who were looking for a vocalist. Along with John Myung (bass), John Petrucci (guitars), Mike Portnoy (drums, percussion), Kevin Moore (keyboards), and former vocalist Charlie Dominici, Dream Theater carved out a niche as a thinking man's progressive rock band and become hugely successful in Japan of all places. They had released one album in 1989 called 'When Dream And Day Unite' on Mechanic/MCA. But conflicts with Mechanic and their lead vocalist caused them to sever ties with both and Dream Theater spent several years looking for a new singer.
After flying to New York to audition in 1991, LaBrie was invited to join the band. Signing with Atco/Atlantic Records, Dream Theater released its second album, 'Images & Words', in 1992. The video for the song "Pull Me Under," became a quick MTV hit.
With their fanbase growing and a strong third album, 'Awake', released in 1994, the group continued to be hampered by personnel changes. The band had a new keyboardist, Derek Sherinian, by their next album 'A Change Of Seasons', in September 1995.
Following a mini tour in 1996 the members of Dream Theater became involved with a variety of outside projects. LaBrie worked with Mull Muzzler, a group formed with Matt Guillory and Mike Mangini. After re-convening, the band released 'Falling Into Infinity' in 1997.
Following another keyboardist change, Dream Theater released 'Scenes From A Memory' in 1999. This was followed by 'Live Scenes From New York' in 2001, an album that stirred controversy when its original cover featured the city of New York burning and pulled from store shelves due to the unfortunate events of September 11.
The group has continued a steady stream of progressive metal records since with 2002's 'Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence', 2003's 'Train Of Thought', and 2005's 'Octavarium'.
Labrie still lives in north of Toronto in his hometown of Penetang with his wife.
Singles
1992 Pull Me Under [edit] (Warner Music)
1993 Take The Time [edit] (Warner Music)
1993 Another Day (Warner Music)
1993 Surrounded [unconfrimed] (Warner Music)
Albums
1992 Images And Words (Warner Music Canada)
1993 Live At The Marquee (Atco - UK)
1994 Awake (Warner Music Canada)
1995 A Change Of Seasons (Warner Music Canada)
1997 Falling Into Infinity (Warner Music Canada)
1998 Once In A Livetime (Warner Music Canada)
1999 Scenes From A Memory (Warner Music Canada)
2001 Live Scenes From New York (Warner Music Canada)
2001 Live Metropolis Pt. 2 (East West - JAPAN)
2002 Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence (Warner Music Canada)
2003 Train Of Thought (Warner Music Canada)
2004 Live At Budokan (Warner Music Canada)
2005 Octavarium (Warner Music Canada)
Video
1992 Pull Me Under
1993 Take The Time
1994 Images And Words: Live In Tokyo [full-length] (A Vision Entertainment)
Compilation Tracks
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