What year did you first hear Dream Theater ?

I don't remember the exact year I heard them, but it would have been early or mid 90s. My sister had several of their albums. It was often on in the background. I liked Caught in a Web and Pull Me under but didn't give it much thought. I heard Space Dye Vest and fell in love with the song. I bought Awake and liked it. But I really became a fan when I picked of Scenes From a Memory.

Proggy Pogo wrote: It was Christmas 2008, when my brother (Roj M30 on here) bought me Scenes From A Memory as a gift.  It took me a few listens but one day it "clicked" and I absolutely love it now.  DT are one of my fave bands now and I'm gradually collecting all their albums.

You're Roger's sister!!! WOW!!!

1998--a bloke introduced me to LTE 2. Then checked out DT, shrugged, went back to LTE. Where I happily remain. For me, I guess Levin is the difference maker.

I was very enthusiastic when I first heard dream theater  I still like them only not as much .. their later releases seem to lack something... not Keyboard driven enough I think 

It was Christmas 2008, when my brother (Roj M30 on here) bought me Scenes From A Memory as a gift.  It took me a few listens but one day it "clicked" and I absolutely love it now.  DT are one of my fave bands now and I'm gradually collecting all their albums.

2007 for me as well. I heard them when we were visiting family in Cananda and we got to sleep in my nephew's room. There in a stack of CDs was SDOS and upon playing the first track I was hooked. Since then  I have since bought pretty much everything they have done and seen them on both their UK tours since then.  

2003. i had a burnt mix cd with The Glass Prison on it, and immediately loved it. Bought Train of Thought when it came out and worked my way backwards chronologically. Octavarium was the first album to come out while being an actual fan and knowing their material, and that album changed my life. been a fan ever since.

2007. I got a demo CD with a rock mag, which had Porcupine Tree, Megadeth, Opeth, and DT on it. I enjoyed their song, so I bought an album of theirs. Octavarium. I loved it immediately, and over the last two years, i have bought their entire discography.

I should also add that after seeing Dream Theater in concert in 2002, the first album I picked up of theirs was Awake.  It is still one of my favorite DT albums.  If I recall correctly they played "The Mirror", "6:00", and possibly another song or 2 from Awke that evening.  I used to have a copy of the setlist for the show, but I can't find it or the website I retrieved it.  

I believe it was 2007, when Octavarium came out. I was over at a friend's house and we started watching the "Live at Budokan" DVD. He lent me a copy of Octavarium and I really enjoyed them.