Contents
Introduction
Roxy Petrucci and John Petrucci are two of the most influential and talented rock musicians of their generation. Roxy is best known as the drummer of the heavy metal bands Madam X and Vixen, while John is the guitarist, producer and lyricist of the progressive metal band Dream Theater. Both have also released solo albums and collaborated with other artists in various projects.
But are they related by blood or by name only? This is a question that many fans have wondered about for years, especially since they share a common Italian-American heritage and a passion for music. In this article, we will explore the facts and myths behind their family ties and reveal the truth behind the rock legends.
Roxy Petrucci: The Metal Queen
Roxy Petrucci was born on March 17, 1962 in Rochester, Michigan. She started playing drums at the age of 11, inspired by her older sister Maxine, who played guitar. She and Maxine formed their first band, Madam X, in 1984 with vocalist Bret Kaiser and bassist Chris Doliber. Madam X released one album, We Reserve the Right, in 1984, before Roxy left to join Vixen in 1986.
Vixen was an all-female hard rock band that achieved commercial success in the late 1980s and early 1990s with hits like “Edge of a Broken Heart”, “Cryin’” and “Love Is a Killer”. Roxy stayed with Vixen until 1991, when the band broke up due to musical differences. She reunited with Vixen in 1997, bringing in her sister Maxine as the new guitarist, but the lineup had to be dissolved in 1998 for legal reasons.
Roxy later rejoined Vixen in 2001, 2004 and 2013, with different lineups and members. She is currently still active with Vixen, as well as Madam X, which reformed in 2014. She has also played drums for Roktopuss, a band featuring former Femme Fatale vocalist Lorraine Lewis, who is now the singer of Vixen.
Roxy has also released one solo album, Titania, in 2006, under her sister’s name Maxine Petrucci. She has also appeared as a guest on albums by other artists, such as Docker’s Guild and Explorer’s Club.
John Petrucci: The Prog Master
John Petrucci was born on July 12, 1967 in Kings Park, New York. He picked up the guitar at the age of eight, but quit soon after. He resumed playing at the age of 12, influenced by bands like Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Rush and Iron Maiden. He attended Berklee College of Music in Boston with his childhood friend John Myung (bass), where they met Mike Portnoy (drums). The three of them formed Majesty in 1985, which later became Dream Theater.
Dream Theater is one of the most successful and influential progressive metal bands of all time, known for their complex compositions, technical virtuosity and conceptual albums. John is the main songwriter and producer of Dream Theater, as well as one of the most acclaimed guitarists in the world. He has also released two solo albums: Suspended Animation (2005) and Terminal Velocity (2020).
John has also been involved in several side projects and collaborations with other musicians. He is a founding member of Liquid Tension Experiment, an instrumental supergroup featuring Portnoy, Tony Levin (bass) and Jordan Rudess (keyboards). He has also toured with Joe Satriani and Steve Vai on the G3 guitar tour in 2001 and 2005. He has also appeared as a guest on albums by artists such as Neal Morse , Ayreon , Periphery , Dave LaRue , James LaBrie , Spock’s Beard , Jordan Rudess , Derek Sherinian , Transatlantic , Planet X , Pain of Salvation , Steven Wilson , Sons of Apollo , Flying Colors , LTE3 , Plini , Andy James , Jason Richardson , Nick Johnston , Marco Minnemann , and more.
The Family Connection
So, are Roxy and John Petrucci related? The answer is yes, but not very closely. They are distant cousins, sharing a common ancestor in Italy. According to Roxy, they met for the first time in 2001, when John invited her to play drums on his solo album Suspended Animation. They discovered their family connection through their grandparents, who came from the same region in Italy.
Roxy and John have since maintained a friendly and respectful relationship, and have expressed admiration for each other’s work. They have also performed together on several occasions, such as the G3 tour in 2005, where Roxy joined John on stage for a jam session. They have also appeared together on the cover of Modern Drummer magazine in 2018.
Conclusion
Roxy Petrucci and John Petrucci are two of the most respected and influential rock musicians of their generation. They are also distant cousins, sharing a common Italian-American heritage and a passion for music. They have collaborated and performed together on several occasions, and have a mutual admiration for each other’s talents. They are not related by name only, but by blood and by music.