2003 saw the formation of MADMEN & SINNERS, a collaboration between fretless guitar hero TIM DONAHUE, the DREAM THEATER, MULLMUZZLER and FRAMESHIFT credited James LaBrie and the ANNIHILATOR, STEVE VAI and EXTREME credited drummer Mike Mangini. The guitarist is a virtual superstar in Japan.

The MADMEN & SINNERS concept had actually been formulated by Donahue shortly after his 2000 solo album release 'Into The Light', the guitarist plotting music with James LaBrie's vocals in mind, even though at this stage the two had never talked. A chance meeting with a friend of the vocalist secured a path in which to submit demos and, suitably intrigued, LaBrie arranged talks in July of 2002, suggesting Mike Mangini after having worked with the drummer on his MULLMUZZLER side venture. Recording took place in January of 2003, with Mangini put to tape in Boston whilst LaBrie's vocals were recorded in Barrie, Ontario. Subsequently Donahue pieced the parts together, recording all the guitar, bass and keyboard parts, engineering and mixing the album himself.

MADMEN & SINNERS signed to the Toshiba EMI label for a March 2004 release and the Italian Frontiers label for an April European issue.