Dream Theater

[Nicky007]

who am I to wish for such things *runs*

You'r the Captain of the Room alright, but fortunately not of DT 

So

let it be

Beatles 

Bicky.

[Nicky007]

Quote from: John Petrucci:

"To me, Dream Theater's story is one of defying the odds, standing for true integrity in music and creating our own success through perseverance and hard work, so although Mike's leaving is heartbreaking, I still look forward to an amazing musical journey that continues on with some of the most talented and respected musicians and composers on the planet!"

So true ! - and I'm fully in 

Nicky.

[maddox]

Quote from: John Petrucci:

"To me, Dream Theater's story is one of defying the odds, standing for true integrity in music and creating our own success through perseverance and hard work, so although Mike's leaving is heartbreaking, I still look forward to an amazing musical journey that continues on with some of the most talented and respected musicians and composers on the planet!"

So true ! - and I'm fully in 

Nicky.

So he's still hungry.
The band is too.

What troubles me though is that they could so easily except or better yet, drive Mike into the position of leaving.

That puzzles me.

Especially after I read the story Tom posted.

I'm ... sad actually.

I can't possibly explain how sad I'm feeling right now. Dream Theater is my abolute favourite band (and has been for more than 10 years) and Mike Portnoy is my all-time favourite musician. I admire and look up to this man so much! I'm really shocked by this.



Tom

I perfectly know what you mean, Tom.
I basically feel the same thing.

Indescribable. 

[maddox]

Edit: Reading the messages again, and this time pondering along the way, I got the impression that Petrucci and Co. already have a drummer in waiting position. What do you guys think ? 

Nicky.

I don't think so, though they must already have a short-list by now.
I think that the rest of the band, though they probably saw it coming was still surprised.
Mike was struggling with it for over a year, I'm sure as friends and band-mates they felt it too.
I don't think it is a hasty decision of both of them, the band and MP.
DT wanted to move further, Mike couldn't. How hard it might be.

Though I always thought that Dream Theater as a band would split up in it's entirety, or maybe the retreat of let's say either James or John Myung (I always felt that the main force in DT are Mike, John P. and Jordan Rudes), I never could've guessed that Mike Portnoy would be the first one to throw the towel in.
I respect his decicion to leave the band on his terms, in good harmony and friendship before anything would blow up in their faces.
It's a brave way to leave the building like that.
Especially for someone who's been the engine (together with John Petruci) of DT for so long.
On one hand I'm thrilled that the band already pointed that Black Clouds won't be their swan-song but on the other hand I'm afraid that something bad will come out of this.

There are a lot of doom thinkers (is this correct in English? ) on this planet but the story that was posted by Tom doesn't bring me good vibes in my system.
Maybe (and hopefully) I'm too negative about this.
But somehow these negative thoughts keep roaming my mind. 

But ... let's brainstorm about this.
Dream Theater without Mike.

Who could possibly become the new drummer of Dream Theater?

In the past few days I've heard a few rumors or suggestions about who the new drummer would or should be. (how strange this would seem but life does go on).
Funnily enough, the name that you could hear the most was...Nick D'virgilio. (Spock's Beard anyone?)

No doubt in my mind that he is a great drummer and would probably easily fit the melodic Dream Theater but he's not a metal kind of guy.
More a prog rock drummer.
He could always do the drums for the record and then Dream Theater could go on tour with a different drummer, especially for the metal-stuff but somehow I don't think that that would fit in Dream Theater's agenda.
They aren't the kind of band that hire one man for the studio and hire a different man for the tour.
I know, in retrospect Derek Sherinian was what you call a hired gun but the band only recruited him because Jordan was working with the Dixie Dregs on that time.

But...maybe I'm way off on this ...

What about Mark Zonder? (<---formally the drummer of Fates Warning)

Besides the fact that he's a superb technical drummer, he also has the 'metal' touch.
I know he has his own band/project right now (slaviour) but to my knowledge it doesn't really do what Mark hoped it would do.

To me he would fit quite well.

What do you guys think?

In fact, come to think of it, as a drummer (not as the engine of DT) it might be quite easy to replace Mike.
Let's face it, though he is an excellent drummer, he is not the only one that can chop the sticks that way.
In fact, go surf through Youtube and you can see a lot of so called amateurs who record whatever cover of DT they are playing. And most of the time they do that quite well to say the least.

[Nicky007]

Mike Portnoy is my all-time favourite musician.

I'm actually surprised about this. I would'v thought a guitarist 

But sure, Mike certainly has some real great qualities: a fabulous drummer, and at the same time down to earth, eye-to-eye, and humorous 

DT won't be the same ... but there's still enuff genius left to give us a good ride 

Dream Theater is my absolute favourite band (and has been for more than 10 years)

I actually didnt know this either, Tom, altho I have no problems at all understanding it 

I too had DT as overall fave band for some years.

Now it's Priest, as I must have rubbed in by now.

Nicky.

[Nicky007]

What about Mark Zonder?

What do you guys think?

I'd be very happy with that. He's always been one of my fave drummers, and as you say, Mad, his playing would fit well into DT + he has the natural authority to match Petrucci and Rudess + there's an age-old bond between DT and FW + as you say, Mad, Slaviour has not really been a success (I still have'm on my SL, but they sink lower and lower there).

In fact, come to think of it, as a drummer (not as the engine of DT) it might be quite easy to replace Mike.

I'm sure that's wrong.

You know how picky the DT guys are, Mad.

Back in the days after Charlie's departure, they tried out a whole telephone catalog of singers, and it took them a painstakingly long time before they chose James. And it's questionable whether he really was the right choice, but maybe the best among those available (not to cater to Cap's and Greenie's antipathies, I personally would have preferred a more metal singer like Russ Allen or Rob Halford, but I'm quite happy with Jamie).

But today it should be easier for them to find a good drummer, with all the respect, and solid economy, they have - merited 

Nicky.

 

[Iggy]

The point I got from MP is that he is happier being in a band than leading a band. I guess it would have been too difficult to hand the reins over top someone else. At least they all seem to want to be friends which is a good thing.

He did seem insanely happy when I wnet to see Transatlantic.

[maddox]

He did seem insanely happy when I wnet to see Transatlantic.

I know what you mean!
I had the same feeling when I saw them in Tilburg.
It may have to with recording and touring with Avanged Sevenfold.
They're young, fresh and with no bonds if you know what I mean.
Call it a mid-life crisis or something but maybe Mike just want that fresh feeling back.

That might be a valid reason you give there, Iggy.

[maddox]

Here's an interview with Mike regarding his departure from Dream Theater (thanks Pink <--though you probably won't see this. ) :

Former DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Portnoy discussed his departure from the band for the first time during an appearance on tonight's (Friday, September 10) edition of Eddie Trunk's "Friday Night Rocks" radio show on New York's Q104.3 FM. A BLABBERMOUTH.NET transcript of the chat follows below (only slightly edited for clarity).

Q: Clearly you weren't just some drummer — you were very much a focal point and driving force [behind DREAM THEATER]. So what went down and how did we arrive at this point that you are no longer a member of DREAM THEATER?

Portnoy: Well, I don't know how to sum it up, but I guess I could sum it up by just saying I was put in a position where I kind of had to quit in order to move forward. I love DREAM THEATER, I love the guys, it's been my baby for 25 years, but I just needed a break from DREAM THEATER. And a lot of people have already misinterpreted my press release, saying, "Well, if he needs a break, why is he playing with all these other bands?" I didn't need a break from playing and from touring and doing projects — I really just felt like DREAM THEATER needed a break. We have been on a write-record-tour cycle for a solid 12, 15 years — almost 20 years at this point — without any real breaks, and I was just feeling like it was... I don't know... It was just a pattern that needed to be broken. And this isn't something that I just started feeling and decided overnight; I mean, this dates back to last year. I was already feeling it [back then]. We were in Europe on the Progressive Nation tour last fall and I even suggested to the guys, "Why don't we not tour as much in 2010?" We were gonna do an American tour in the spring and we ended up blowing that out — just 'cause I really felt the need to shake up the cycle and break the pattern that we'd been doing for so long because it was starting to become a little stale to me. I would go off and do these other projects and they were very refreshing to me and yet I'd come back to DREAM THEATER, and as much as I love the music and as much me and the bandmembers are brothers, I just felt like we needed a break from each other in order to reignite the flame. Dating back to last fall I was feeling it, and then when I was out with TRANSATLANTIC this last spring, I was talking about it with some people on that tour. And then when we were out with [IRON] MAIDEN this summer, I knew it was coming to a head. And finally I brought it up to the guys and suggested, "Why don't we just take a little bit of a break? We've been going non-stop for so many years, I think maybe a couple of years' hiatus would do us good. It would give us each a chance to recharge our batteries and be reinspired." And those guys didn't agree with me. They wanted to keep going, and they wanted to start a new album in January [2011], and I just really felt strongly that a break could do us some good. And we just disagreed on that point. And, basically, it came to... After this initial discussion, we went off for about a week or so to think about it, and we came back together a couple of nights ago to talk about it, and they didn't wanna budge; they really wanted to start the album in January — with or without me. And I really felt if I was forced to go into the studio in January feeling the way I'm feeling that my heart wouldn't be in it and I would be going through the motions and not really doing what I really, really felt in my heart I should be doing, which is getting a breather... And that's what happened. Basically, I was put in the position where I either had to do the album in January against my will or I had to say goodbye, and I chose to say goodbye. It was the hardest decision I've ever made in my life and I feel really sad about it, and those guys are really sad about it. It's kind of weird that it came to this because none of us really wanted it, but inevitably this is the way it went down.

Q: You didn't wanna quit and obviously they didn't want you out. It really just seems like it was a disagreement as to where you were in your life with the band and what they wanted to do, and I guess the odds came out to four against one, and they decide they're going without you.

Portnoy: That's exactly it. I mean, I didn't wanna quit and they didn't want me to leave, but yet here we are; it was the only way that they could happily move on and I could happily move on. It's a weird kind of break-up, because it was a break-up where we still loved each other. I got, like, the nicest e-mail today from John Petrucci [DREAM THEATER guitarist] and I got a great e-mail today from Jordan [Rudess, DREAM THEATER keyboardist]. They miss me and they're sad about this, and I'm sad about it and I'm heartbroken, but we just strongly disagree. I really think that the band could have used a few years to recharge our batteries and so many bands have done it — whether it be SOUNDGARDEN, ALICE IN CHAINS, JANE'S ADDICTION, PHISH, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE... A lot of bands, when you're going this long and this strong, they take a break and then come back bigger and better than ever, and that's kind of what I hoped would happen with DREAM THEATER, and I was hoping that would be the path we could take together, but it was not to be.

Q: How much do you think that playing with AVENGED SEVENFOLD and the other projects that you do — you're always busy working creatively, doing other things, whether it's DREAM THEATER or not — played a role in this coming down, if any?

Portnoy: Well, it absolutely had nothing to do with my initial thoughts, because, like I mentioned earlier, I was already discussing this with the guys last fall. And last fall, The Rev [late AVENGED SEVENFOLD drummer] was still alive and well and I had nothing to do with AVENGED SEVENFOLD and I was already feeling these feelings last September/October. If you watch the "Wither" video that we shot on that tour, almost all the footage is me hanging out with Mikael Åkerfeldt [of OPETH] or Damon Fox [of BIGELF]; I was already feeling some separation from the guys in DREAM THEATER. The groundwork in those feelings was already laid down back then. So, really, the feelings had nothing to do with AVENGED SEVENFOLD, and once 2010 rolled around, I went and did some shows with HAIL!, and then I went and did a couple of months of touring with TRANSATLANTIC, and then I started the tour with AVENGED SEVENFOLD, and all three of those projects — not just AVENGED, but all three of those projects — equally showed me how I was feeling very comfortable and happy and refreshed with some of these other bands. And I go back to DREAM THEATER, like on the MAIDEN tour, and the relationships between the five of us in DREAM THEATER were a bit strained; everybody was kind of just burnt out on each other — sitting in different dressing rooms and not hanging out, and like I mentioned, if you watch the "Wither" video... There was a bit of that strain, and 25 years together sometimes will do that. We love each other, we're brothers, and we're family, but sometimes you kind of grow apart and need some space, and that's what I was feeling. Honestly, this all was brewing way before AVENGED SEVENFOLD, but AVENGED SEVENFOLD, the experience with them kind of just opened my eyes a bit, as did the TRANSLATLANTIC tour, and as did the HAIL! shows. It just opened my eyes up to what a fresh relationship can be... I don't know... It's real tough for me to put in words and I really don't wanna be misnterpreted. I really don't want people to think that I left DREAM THEATER for AVENGED SEVENFOLD — I am not a member of AVENGED SEVENFOLD; I'm just touring them and helping them out, and we're having a great time. I just felt like I wouldn't have my heart into going back to DREAM THEATER in January without having some sort of a break. I mean, the way it is now with AVENGED, I guess we'll just ride this out together, because they're a band without a drummer, and now I'm a drummer without a band. We haven't made any decisions or have even discussed where we go from here. It's just for now I will continue playing with them and we'll see where we go from there.

Q: The first thing I thought about when I heard about this, and I'm sure a lot of fans did as well, was that the other guys in DREAM THEATER probably said , "Well, he's playing with all these other bands, but when need to work, he doesn't have time for us, so that's that." But you're saying that really wasn't it.

Portnoy: I don't know... Yeah, maybe they do feel that way.

Q: Kind of like your girlfriend is off doing other stuff and then when you need her, she's not available.

Portnoy: You know, I cannot ever be accused of not having my heart into DREAM THEATER. I mean, I've literally spent 25 years... It's my baby . . . I mean, I almost felt like I had to sacrifice myself from the situation so I wouldn't be holding them back and I wouldn't be doing something against my will. It's incredible for me to think that they're carrying on without me, but I guess that they're... I used to joke with them all the time. I used to say, "If I ever die, don't say 'He would have wanted us to carry on.' Because I wouldn't want you to carry on without me.'" The last thing I ever wanted to see was a DREAM THEATER without Mike Portnoy in it, so I used to always joke with them about that. But now, here when faced with this reality... I mean, sure, the selfish side of me doesn't wanna think of that band without me, and I kind of wish we would have just taken a break, but then there's the side of me that... I can't hold them back. They're my friends and they're my brothers and if they really wanna continue, then I can't say no; I don't wanna be an a-hole and do that to them. It's a strange situation, and luckily it ended on good terms and those guys have made it blatantly clear that the door is always open for me. So, I mean, it's a weird thing because I would go back to them in a heartbeat, just not now. I just need a break.

Q: How much time did you feel that you needed that you told them that you wanted away [from DREAM THEATER]?

Portnoy: When I proposed it, I proposed an indefinite hiatus, as so many bands go on, and all of whom have come back bigger and better than ever. But that didn't go over [well with the other guys], so then, after talking about it, I said, "Well, then how about, let's say, a year [or] a year and a half? Why don't we take off 2011 and reconvene in 2012?" John Petrucci could do a solo album — he's been talking about that for the longest time — and James [LaBrie] just did a solo album, and John Myung just did a JELLY JAM album, and Jordan's got plans... It made sense. It's like, "Let's just take off 2011 — everybody could do their own thing — and reconvene in 2012." And that didn't go over [well] either; they didn't wanna do that either. I even offered to do various work with them in 2011 — even though it wasn't what I wanted, I was willing to do it just to keep the band afloat. It just didn't fly. It's just unfortunate that that's the way that the chips fell.

On how his role in DREAM THEATER and whether he thinks he can be easily replaced:

Portnoy: The two situations I could think of that are similar [to this] — Tommy Lee with MÖTLEY CRÜE and maybe Phil Collins with GENESIS — and in both of those cases they both left, and in both of those cases they came back, so you know what?! Maybe that will be the case here... I don't know. But to be honest with you, to me the thing that is so weird about this is that my role in DREAM THEATER just went so beyond the drumming. Honestly, I think there's thousands of drummers that could walk into DREAM THEATER right now and could do a great job drumming-wise, but what about the other thousand things that I had to do in DREAM THEATER?! . . . I think they'll have no problem getting a great drummer — there's lots of great drummers out there — but I think they're gonna have to really step up to the plate to cover all of the other responsibilities; they're gonna each have to put in 500 percent more to cover that ground. And I guess they're up to it. I've already seen John Petrucci doing Q&As [question-and-answer sessions] on his web site, which in all these years I've never seen him do, so I guess they're each gonna step up to the plate and cover that ground that I used to cover. You know, I never in a million years thought I would ever see a DREAM THEATER concert, and I'm looking forward to one day doing it. [Laughs]

Q: If I'm a betting man, I have to say that it won't be more than a year or two before you return to that gig under some circumstance.

Portnoy: Well, you know what?! If that was to happen, then I got what I wanted [laughs] — I got my break from them and they got what they wanted; they got to continue on. Maybe a couple of years from now we'll get back together and we'll live happily ever after. I don't know. But there's been so many cases — you've seen it; history has shown — and I've already cited MÖTLEY CRÜE and GENESIS, but you could talk about... AEROSMITH went on without Joe Perry and MAIDEN went on without Bruce [Dickinson] and [JUDAS] PRIEST without [Rob] Halford... Ultimately, they all came back together and I would love it if some day that happens with us . . . The whole thing is as tough for me to swallow as it is for the fans. I feel really bad for the fans, 'cause I spent my entire career making decisions for them and trying to feed the fanbase, and I knew this was one decision that wouldn't be a popular one with the fans, but for once in my life — for once — I had to do what Mike Portnoy felt was right and not what was best for DREAM THEATER. I mean, what would have been best for DREAM THEATER, in my opinion, would have been to just take a few years off — everybody do their own thing, recharge the batteries and come together. But we're five different people with five different personalities, and I guess we differed on that subject . . . We've mentioned these other scenarios [where the members parted ways and then] all [came] back together. The thing that scares the crap out of me, though, is I see a similarity to maybe Roger Waters with PINK FLOYD and that never came back together, and that scares the crap out of me. It would be a tragedy if I never got to be on stage with DREAM THEATER again . . . I'm at peace with [my decision to leave the band] — I really am. I'm depressed and sad and shocked over it, but I am indeed at peace with it, and I think it was the right thing [to do], because I had to follow my heart. I've never been a fake or a B.S. person, and if I would be forced to go into the studio in January, I would feel resentments, and I can't do that. I need to love what I'm doing, and I've never done a project or an album or anything with any other musician that I didn't believe in.

Q: You're out with AVENGED SEVENFOLD, which is gonna continue into the New Year, so at this point, you're just gonna hold with that gig and continue playing with those guys and I imagine you're having fun doing it, right?

Portnoy: Well, yeah. I am indeed having a great time with these guys, so there's no denying that. They're a great bunch of guys, the show is awesome, their fans are awesome, and they've been great to me. The thing with them is they need to take small baby steps because of the situation they just went through with their drummer dying, so they're really in no rush to get a permanent drummer, and they're taking baby steps one day at a time. And I'm in the same boat now, because I don't wanna make any major decisions right now either and now I'm gonna take baby steps and just take this one day at a time. And I guess right now there's no pressure for me, and there's no pressure for them, to make any decisions for awhile now; we can just carry on with their tour, and we have the luxury of time now without any pressure hanging over either of our heads. So I'll carry on with them and then when the time comes that I have to make a decision to do something else, I'll climb that hill when I get there. But right now, it's nice to not have the pressure and I could just play.

[Nicky007]

Thanx for all the material that you'v supplied, Mad 

Anyone listened to Jelly Jam, where John M plays bass (when he's not doin it in DT) ? 

Nicky.

[Nicky007]

Further, Jordan posted his musical reaction to the news: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgqm8g95wwI

Thanx to you too, Tom 

Wonderful - and sad - piece of music 

Here's another fine piece by Jordan:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UxKFwAXWTU&feature=related

Nicky.

[maddox]

Here's another one I'd like to add:

What about...Rod Morgenstein?

Not unfamiliar with Jordan and I bet that also counts for DT.

[Nicky007]

What about...Rod Morgenstein?

Yup, very convincing 

Nicky.

[maddox]

Mike's sister Sam also reacted about Mike's departure and most of all about the misunderstanding regarding his departure.

Here it is:

Before I write this, understand that this is MY statement.  Mike might kill me for speaking up, but I just can't sit by quietly.  I guess I'm like Mike in that way.

PLEASE stop reading between the lines with this whole situation. There is no hidden meaning in all of this (is there ever with Mike?  The guy is an open book with his fans!!).  Everything Mike said in his interview with Eddie Trunk, in his press release or otherwise is everything he has been saying to me for the past year, at least.  He LOVES the other (DT) guys and their families.  They have grown up together, married women that were (and are) best friends, have raised their kids as best friends.  They are family.  This was not an easy decision for him as a drummer, founding band member (and band leader) or person. 

Let's put 25 years into perspective.  I am 40.  I met John and John when I was 15.  How many friends do I still have that I have had to live AND work with for the past 25 years?  Not a single one.  I can't imagine looking at the same group of people for that many years and being able to come up with new, fun ideas (that will then be judged the world over).  My friends and I get stuck on doing the same things on random weekend gatherings!     


Remember, this is strictly my perspective here...

You'd think that being a rock star would be 100% fun 100% of the time.  But I know that Mike works extremely hard and takes every bit of this experience to heart.  You might think you know, but you have no idea (to borrow a line from Behind the Music).  It is a part of who he is as a person, it is definitely not just a job.  He's been running at a pace (WITH DREAM THEATER) most people couldn't keep up for a few months, much less 25 years.  He just wants a break.  He wants to have the chance to play with other musicians and be reminded of how special this all is.  He wants to have fun and not be in charge of every detail for a bit.  (And for those of you thinking he should just let others take the reins in DT, all I'll say is that you have no idea what you are talking about.) 

The way I see it, it's not a matter of Mike not wanting to be in DT (Remember, he DOES want to be in DT... he NEVER wanted or planned to leave the band).  Giving up Dream Theater must be like giving up a child for him.  I know it's been horribly painful.  But I am extremely proud of him for recognizing that he needs to be reinvigorated and for doing what he needs to do to make that happen.  You know Mike.  He does not do anything half-assed.  He wants every drop of music that Dream Theater releases to be perfect and fulfilling for everyone.  Right now, he is guaranteeing that he can't do that.  Maybe (apparently) the other guys don't feel the same about this situation, I can't speak to that, but he knows that he needs a break to be able to bring the best of himself to the table.  There is no alterier motive.  He genuinely just needs a break.  He needs a break that allows him to find new inspiration and have some down time.  When he has done his other side projects, if you think he was not also working on DT stuff, you'd be incredibly mistaken.   

I guess I got a bit long-winded there... sorry, but it's torture to sit back and watch my brother getting ripped apart or criticized for making this incredibly INCREDIBLY hard choice.  And for those of you who are supporting/understanding of his decision, I want you to know HOW MUCH it is appreciated. 

Thanks for listening...
~ Sam

[The Butterfly Man]

I'm actually surprised about this. I would'v thought a guitarist 

But sure, Mike certainly has some real great qualities: a fabulous drummer, and at the same time down to earth, eye-to-eye, and humorous 

Yeah, that might seem a little strange to you, but he's mainly my favourite musician because of everything he does/did for DT apart from just drumming, if that makes any sense at all...

He would produce DT's cd's (together with JP), he directed every DVD, he was managing and overseeing every aspect of DT's music in general, the Official Bootleg-series were made possible by him and the way he keeps in touch with the fans through his forum is second to none. Next to all of this he also seems to be a very like-able and - as you said - down to earth kind of guy. And of course he is a great drummer as well... Actually, he is the only drummer I can watch without ever getting bored.

I actually didnt know this either, Tom

You didn't?

By the way, here are professionally recorded video's of A Rite Of Passage and Wither from what would be MP's last performance with Dream Theater. Make sure you watch them in HD!

A Rite Of Passage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njOOt-THock
Wither: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxJKqpYYWy0

Knowing what we know now, I think you can clearly see that MP looks a bit burned out, especially on Wither. Don't you think?

Tom

[Nicky007]

drumming, if that makes any sense at all...

I'v actually drummed myself (both senses) a few times for fun. I can pretty well keep the basic beat, but that's about it 

Actually, he is the only drummer I can watch without ever getting bored.

  ... altho Hellhammer, Danny Carey, and Adel Moustafa (of Deadsoul Tribe) can keep me attentive too 

MP looks a bit burned out, especially on Wither.

Kinda fits, dunnit ?

Nicky.

[Iggy]

Here is some perspective for you. In 12 days it will be 30 years since one of the greatest drummers of all time died. I am sure most of the older roomies will remember it well. 

Thank goodness MP has only left a band he is still alive and making music. 

[PH]

Just read this horrible news on the interwebs. I think this is one of the worst things to have happened in Prog Land.
Who can imagine Dream Theater without Mike???
When I read it, I couldn't believe it at first. And to be completely honest with you guys: it almost feels like my parents divorce. I felt a very deep and black sadness when I read about it.

I have a very big respect for Mike. Not only because of his drumming (he's good, but not the only good drummer), but also his dedication to the band, the fans, the music. He was the heart, but also the face of the band. And he was the one with humour.

All the stuff behind the scenes, it was all up to Mike.

I might regret the following statement later, but I think it would be better to temporarily rename the band.
Hopefully Mike will be back in a few years.


--Paco--

[Nicky007]

Hi Paxi 

You think you might wanna stay for a beer or two this time ? 

When I read it, I couldn't believe it at first. And to be completely honest with you guys: it almost feels like my parents divorce. I felt a very deep and black sadness when I read about it.

Yeah 

it would be better to temporarily rename the band.

How about anagrammatising it to Threat Deamer 

And he was the one with humour.

He sure has. But so do the others. Those guys are full of dedication, warmth, and humor 

Hopefully Mike will be back in a few years.

Maybe, maybe not 

Priest got Rob back after 12 years, and they were a completely transformed band, particularly with Nostradamus.

Conversely, Kevin left DT, and (after Derek) they got Jordan, who was much more like Petrucci and Portnoy, much wilder than Kevin. I sure hope that Jordan stays, and it seems like he thrives with the other DT guys 

We simply don't know what would'v happened if ..... - only God does, Paxi 

Nicky.

[Nicky007]

I think it makes sense that Mike left at this point:

He had finished his 12-point AA series, and that with bravura !  So that's his Fortress, and now it can be shattered.

His Dad had died, who had conjured up the name Dream Theater, and had stood by Mike's side all along the way. Mike's tribute to his father is the excruciatingly beautiful The Best Of Times !

And so some doors had closed, and some new exciting ones had opened, especially A7 and Transatlantic.


And it's understandable that the other guys wanna continue with DT: Altho Mike was DT's liason with the fans, Petrucci was the philosopher, and the one with the magic touch of melody, so in a deeper sense I think that DT was more Petrucci's baby than Mike's. Jordan joined with Scenes, so it's understandable that he as a superartist in a superband wants to get more outta DT. Jamie's side projects havent really yielded much of interest, his identity is really as the singer of DT. And I guess it's a similar thingy with Myung.

And I can only be happy that DT don't hiatus. If you fathom how they have progressed from album to album, I think ya can only be excited about the upcoming one.

In a word: Formidable band 

Nicky.

[maddox]

Read this story/rumour.

Went searching for this fellow on Youtube among others and he's gifted alright.

Marco Minnemann.

A Name to Remember?

[Nicky007]

A Name to Remember?

Yup, Minnemann 

Sounds real promising 

Interesting that he's played in Necrophagist 

Nicky.

[maddox]

Yup, Minnemann 

Ah, you mean 'myman'? 

Interesting that he's played in Necrophagist 

Nicky.

Don't know that band.
Black metal?

[Nicky007]

Don't know that band.

That's where Sami comes from    - but of course, you always fall asleep when you read my posts

 

Nicky.

[The Butterfly Man]

Read this story/rumour.

Obviously I don't really know what's going on behind the scenes but Blabbermouth is a site that is mainly based on 'rumors'. If you read the article you'll notice they don't even have a source for these rumors, so... maybe they made it up? Wouldn't surprise me the least!

If it turns out to be true after all I will swallow my words of course...

Tom