| Wither | |
| Cover: | Wither_EP.jpg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Dream Theater |
| Album: | Black Clouds & Silver Linings |
| B-Side: | The Best of Times |
| Released: | September 15, 2009 |
| Recorded: | 2008–2009 |
| Genre: | Power ballad |
| Length: | 5:25 |
| Label: | Roadrunner |
| Producer: |
|
| Prev Title: | The Silent Man |
| Prev Year: | 1995 |
| Next Title: | On the Backs of Angels |
| Next Year: | 2011 |
Wither is a single by American progressive metal band Dream Theater,[1] released on September 15, 2009.[2] The single contains the album version of the song "Wither", an alternative version of "Wither" with vocals and piano only, a demo of "Wither" with John Petrucci on vocals, and a demo of "The Best of Times" with Mike Portnoy on vocals. It is the band's last official release with Portnoy, who left the band in September 2010 until his return in October 2023. This is the only studio release without the Majesty symbol in its front cover.
It was released exclusively as a digital download.[2]
The video shows the band on tour in support of the album Black Clouds & Silver Linings. Scenes are shown of the band playing live and as well as offstage events including meeting and greeting fans during their Progressive Nation Tour. Mikael Åkerfeldt of Opeth can be seen in the video alongside Mike Portnoy during the band interviews.
The concert venues in the video:[3]
"Wither" is a ballad written by the band's guitarist John Petrucci about the process that he goes through during the writing of the song. It is the third song on the band's tenth album, Black Clouds & Silver Linings and the shortest song on the album. The music starts quietly with an acoustic guitar before moving to a powerful tone.