Derek Sherinian (born August 25, 1966) is an American keyboardist who has toured and recorded for Alice Cooper, Billy Idol, and Joe Bonamassa, among others. He was also a member of Dream Theater from 1994 to 1999, is the founder of Planet X and also one of the founding members of Black Country Communion, Sons of Apollo, and Whom Gods Destroy. He has released nine solo albums that have featured a variety of prominent guest musicians, including guitarists Slash, Yngwie Malmsteen, Allan Holdsworth, Steve Lukather, Joe Bonamassa, Michael Schenker, Steve Vai and Al Di Meola, and drummer Simon Phillips.

Sherinian has distinguished himself by his versatility, and aggressive "guitaristic" approach to his signature keyboard style. MusicRadar.com declared, "A true shredder, his virtuoso playing has seen him dubbed the keyboard-playing version of Eddie Van Halen." In 2021, he was voted "Greatest Keyboardist Of The 21st Century", and #8 Greatest of All Time by MusicRadar.com. Sherinian was voted #1 Keyboardist in Japan's BURRN! Magazine in 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024.and 2025. In 2018, he was voted #9 Greatest Keyboardist Ever in Prog magazine. He has also appeared on the cover of numerous keyboard magazines around the world, including the November 2011 issue of Keyboard, which declared Sherinian a "Keyboard Hero for a New Generation". He has also been called the "King of the Keys" by Guitar World magazine and the "Caligula of Keyboards" by Alice Cooper. His musical influences include Elton John, Eddie Van Halen and Jan Hammer.

Early life

Born in Laguna Beach, California, Sherinian is of Greek and Armenian descent. He began taking piano lessons at age five in Santa Cruz, California. After his junior year at Soquel High School, he received a scholarship to the Berklee College of Music in Boston where he attended with future Megadeth guitarist and Trans-Siberian Orchestra musical director Al Pitrelli, and Living Colour drummer Will Calhoun. He has since studied with other keyboardists, including Mitchel Forman, T Lavitz, Russell Ferrante, and Alex Alessandroni.

Professional career

Buddy Miles

Sherinian's first professional gig after leaving Boston was in 1988 with ex-Jimi Hendrix Band of Gypsies drummer Buddy Miles touring the Chitlin' Circuit. Sherinian paid tribute to Miles covering his song "Them Changes" featuring Joe Bonamassa on his 2020 solo album "The Phoenix".

Alice Cooper

Sherinian received his first big break with Alice Cooper in 1989 to tour in support of the platinum selling Trash album.

Dream Theater

In 1994, Sherinian replaced Kevin Moore in the progressive metal band Dream Theater, originally for the band's promotional tour for Awake. In February 1995, he was made a full-time member of the band. Dream Theater guitarist John Petrucci added "...Derek -considering the fact that he's heavily into guitarists and rock music, his history, and the range of all the great guitarists he's worked with —plays with a fire unheard of from most keyboardists." He recorded the albums A Change of Seasons (1995), Falling into Infinity (1997), and Once in a LIVEtime (1998) with Dream Theater before being replaced in January 1999 by Jordan Rudess due to creative differences and turmoil within the band.

Sherinian reunited with Dream Theater for a one-off concert in 2004, which was recorded and released as When Dream and Day Reunite (2004). The band's performance of "Metropolis Pt. 1" featured an extended improvisation between Sherinian, Rudess, and guitarist John Petrucci.

During the late 1990s, Sherinian released two albums with the progressive rock supergroup Platypus, which featured Dream Theater bassist John Myung, Dixie Dregs drummer Rod Morgenstein, and King's X guitarist Ty Tabor. The group released two albums, When Pus Comes to Shove (1998) and Ice Cycles (2000), before disbanding in 2000.

In 2002, he was part of the band Jughead, which also included Tabor, bassist/vocalist Matt Bissonette and drummer Gregg Bissonette.

In January 2012, Sherinian performed at two shows with instrumental supergroup Mike Portnoy, Billy Sheehan, and Tony MacAlpine (PSMS) for the Guitar Center Drum Off, and Sabian Live. In the fall of that year, PSMS began rehearsing for a tour and a video of their rehearsal was released on DVD as "InstruMENTAL Inspiration". They toured Europe and Asia concluding with a live DVD/CD "Live in Tokyo" released on September 24, 2013. In 2014, PSMS performed two songs at the TAMA 40th Anniversary Party at the NAMM Show on January 25, and also the Progressive Nation at Sea cruise on the Norwegian Pearl February 18–22, co-promoted by Sherinian and Portnoy.

Michael Schenker

In 2021, Michael Schenker invited Sherinian to guest on his album Immortal, on its opening song "Drilled To Kill". Schenker said of Sherinian, "Derek and myself trading solos, it sounds unexpected and beyond my expectation," Michael says. "Absolutely fantastic!"

In 2022, Schenker returned the favor by guesting on Sherinian's Vortex album on the song "Die Kobra".

In 2024, Sherinian appeared on Schenker's My Years With UFO album. In 2026, Schenker invited Sherinian to join his My Years With UFO Tour in Japan for three dates, including a sold-out Budokan show that is set to be released as a live DVD.

Yngwie Malmsteen

Sherinian joined Yngwie Malmsteen's band in August 2001 for a South American tour. After the tour, Sherinian and Malmsteen performed on each other's albums. Sherinian on Malmsteen's "Attack!", and Malmsteen performed on Sherinian's "Black Utopia" album.

Sherinian joined Malmsteen again in 2006 for a North American Tour, and shows in Finland, and Russia. Again, they recorded for each other, Sherinian on Malmsteen's "Perpetual Burn", and Malmsteen on Sherinian's "Blood Of The Snake".

In 2017, Malmsteen and Sherinian rejoined the Generation Axe Asia Tour, featuring Zakk Wylde, Steve Vai, Nuno Bettencourt, and Tosin Abasi.

Solo career

thumb|Sherinian performing in 2006

Since 1999, Sherinian has recorded nine solo albums, featuring performances by highly acclaimed musicians.

Sherinian's first solo album, Planet X (1999), written and recorded with Australian drummer Virgil Donati, led to the formation of a band of the same name (Planet X). Guitar virtuoso Tony MacAlpine was recruited to complete the band. Sherinian has stated 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". In 2017, the short documentary "Return to Planet X" reflected on the making of this album.

In 2001, Sherinian teamed with drummer Simon Phillips and guitarists Steve Lukather and Zakk Wylde to record Inertia, followed by Black Utopia (2003). For Black Utopia, three new faces joined Sherinian's group: bassist Billy Sheehan, rock guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen, and jazz fusion guitarist Al Di Meola. With respect to this fusion-influenced lineup, Sherinian stated: