Ayreon Universe – The Best of Ayreon Live

Ayreon Universe – The Best of Ayreon Live, alternatively known as Ayreon Universe – Best of Ayreon Live or simply Ayreon Universe, is a live album and DVD/Blu-ray by Arjen Anthony Lucassen's progressive rock/metal rock opera project Ayreon, released on 30 March 2018. Unlike Ayreon's first live album The Theater Equation, which was a stage performance of the album The Human Equation, Ayreon Universe was performed as a traditional concert, with two additional songs from Star One, another project by Lucassen. It was recorded during a series of concerts in September 2017, which were the first ever official Ayreon concerts, although The Theater Equation was released (but not performed) as an official Ayreon product.

The performance featured 16 singers, all of whom had previously worked together with Lucassen on his studio albums.

Recording
It was recorded during a series of concerts in September 2017, which were the first ever official Ayreon concerts; over 9000 fans were present in the attendance, with 30 cameras used for the filming.

Promotion
Lucassen officially announced the album in January 2018.

On 30 January 2018 Lucassen released the video for "Everybody Dies" on YouTube to promote the upcoming release, calling the track "a personal favorite".

Release
The album was released on seven different formats: single-disc Blu-ray, 2 DVDs, 2 CDs, 3 black LPs, a 3 gold LPs edition limited to 500 copies, a digital download version, and a "Limited Edition" featuring the contents from all first three editions.

Track listing
1 In order of appearance.

Personnel

 * Vocalists
 * Floor Jansen (Nightwish, ex-After Forever, ex-ReVamp)
 * Damian Wilson (Headspace, ex-Threshold)
 * Hansi Kürsch (Blind Guardian)
 * Tommy Karevik (Kamelot, Seventh Wonder)
 * Anneke van Giersbergen (Anneke van Giersbergen, The Gentle Storm, VUUR, ex-The Gathering)
 * Marko Hietala (ex-Nightwish, ex-Tarot)
 * Jonas Renkse (Katatonia, Bloodbath, ex-October Tide)
 * Mike Mills (Toehider)
 * Marcela Bovio (MaYaN, ex-Stream of Passion, ex-Elfonía)
 * Irene Jansen
 * Robert Soeterboek (ex-Erik Norlander)
 * John Jaycee Cuijpers (Praying Mantis)
 * Edward Reekers (ex-Kayak)
 * Jay van Feggelen (ex-Bodine)
 * Maggy Luyten (Nightmare)
 * Lisette van den Berg (Scarlet Stories)


 * Instrumentalists
 * Ed Warby - drums except on "Comatose" and "And the Druids Turned to Stone", additional vocals in "Day Eleven: Love"
 * Johan van Stratum (VUUR, ex-Stream of Passion) - bass, except on "Intergalactic Space Crusaders"
 * Peter Vink - bass in "Intergalactic Space Crusaders"
 * Marcel Coenen (Lemur Voice, Sun Caged) - lead guitar
 * Ferry Duijsens - guitar
 * Joost van den Broek (ex-After Forever) - keyboards
 * Ben Mathot - violin
 * Jeroen Goossens - flutes, woodwinds
 * Maaike Peterse - cello
 * Rob Snijders - percussion in "Comatose" and drums on "And the Druids Turned to Stone"
 * Arjen Anthony Lucassen - additional guitar and vocals in "Amazing Flight in Space" and "The Eye of Ra"