Portnoy leaves Dream Theater

[jgcable]

I think its a smart move. A7X is a good solid band and they actually have chops. The A7X fans seem to love the switch. I heard the new album is a big hit with their fanbase too.
Good for Mike. Maybe he will start getting paid for being such an incredible drummer.

[lerxstcat]

I think its a smart move. A7X is a good solid band and they actually have chops. The A7X fans seem to love the switch. I heard the new album is a big hit with their fanbase too.
Good for Mike. Maybe he will start getting paid for being such an incredible drummer.

Portnoy says that A7X has nothing to do with this and that he wanted to take a break after touring the rest of the year with them. Meanwhile DT has been on hiatus most of the year anyway, as all they did was the handful of dates opening for Iron Maiden. I doubt Maiden paid them enough to to take a year and a half off.

Chances are that A7X will offer him the permanent drum slot but that actually hasn't happened yet, or hasn't been publicly announced anyway. Maybe the offer has been made in private since DT let him go, you'd think so. But he IS 15 years older than the rest of them, and is an AA preacher while the rest of them love drugs and booze. You have to wonder if it's been rough for them not to party as much on the road, or if they have pulled Mike off the wagon.

It'll be interesting to see how it all shakes out. If he DIDN't get the permanent A7X gig after all this, that would be a pretty bizarre scenario.

[Tekky]

Being a huge Dream Theater fan, I am a little heartbroken over this news. (can't you tell, it took this long for me to post about it) However, I don't hate A7X over Portnoy's involvement or decision. That said, I won't be going out and buying the new A7X album. They're just a band that I can't really get into.

As far as DT is concerned, I still anticipate their next move. Without MP, this will be an interesting time for the band. Either Petrucci or someone else in the band has to stand up and fill MP's shoes. (Maybe someone could actually get audio/video of John Myung speaking.) Portnoy was the driving force behind DT's extensive catalog. Can they keep it up without him? As for the songs, this is old hat with DT, they have a relatively different sound with each album. I don't think that MP being gone will change that aspect drastically.

[khabibissell]

Even though I'm a guitar player, I love watching Portnoy play. His drumming is actually what draws me to DT.

As for Avenged, I like them. I'm not a huge fan, but City of Evil is a friggen GREAT record. Say what you will, but the songs are cool, there are some "proggy" twists in there, cool arrangements, the drumming is great, and the guitar tone is fantastic. I listen to it almost every day at the gym. The new one is okay too, though it's a little dark for me. It makes sense that Mike would do this... A7X is a big draw and they already have their team in place. Mike can make more money and have less responsibility and stress. It would also be nice to look out in the crowd and see some hot chicks instead of a bunch geeky musician types staring at you...

DT without Portnoy? Seems impossible to imagine. Not that there aren't drummers out there capable of playing like that, but he was such a huge part of the creative process.

[lerxstcat]

A tangent, but: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-kG0Oz4ECA

[Hellbat]

I just stumbled across this other Gilbert/Portnoy/Sheehan/Cherone project. Good groove, Cherone isn't my favorite singer though...

[Tekky]

It's a great album. Gilbert and Portnoy have done at least four of these things so far... Beatles, Led Zeppelin, The Who, and Rush.

[TommyD]

Portnoy leaves Dream Theater

> I'm not sure how to feel about this. They've been my fave band for 15 years or so,and now that may never be the same.

First,good fuckin' luck finding another drummer with those chops AND good songwriting skills,and articulate enough to relate them. Chops-wise,maybe Jacob Armen?

Can the rest of the band REALLY be broke enough that they need to run into the studio or whatever? Is it the label pushing them?

What is the world coming to when a musically lame (compared to DT) band like A7X is more "viable" than a bunch of musical Einsteins with years of chemistry? Tommy D.

[Tekky]

What is the world coming to when a musically lame (compared to DT) band like A7X is more "viable" than a bunch of musical Einsteins with years of chemistry? Tommy D.

You just wake up from a long sleep? It's been happening in the music industry for years. Hellooooo... Poison? Backstreet Boys? Justin Bieber??

[texasfury]

..................

[jim777]

I just stumbled across this other Gilbert/Portnoy/Sheehan/Cherone project. Good groove, Cherone isn't my favorite singer though...

I saw this band in NYC at B.B. King's, and Cherone was awesome. The whole band was great, really sounded like a band and not just 4 guys thrown together.

[lerxstcat]

> I'm not sure how to feel about this. They've been my fave band for 15 years or so,and now that may never be the same.

First,good fuckin' luck finding another drummer with those chops AND good songwriting skills,and articulate enough to relate them. Chops-wise,maybe Jacob Armen?

Can the rest of the band REALLY be broke enough that they need to run into the studio or whatever? Is it the label pushing them?

What is the world coming to when a musically lame (compared to DT) band like A7X is more "viable" than a bunch of musical Einsteins with years of chemistry? Tommy D.

You realize they took nearly a year off already for him to do A7X, right? Now he wants to take a break, they've BEEN on break, for his sake. Kinda selfish of him to spring these 2 things on them back to back.

Many think Portnoy's domination has hurt the band recently. It's not like the rest of them can't write - but Portnoy wanted to run the show, so they went with it. He forgot that he didn't own the band by himself. To think they can't do GREAT without him is to give him way too much credit.

I have great respect for Portnoy, and wish him well, but he was unreasonable to want them to stay inactive this long and then do the "I need a rest" trip. I think DT will do just fine without him. Maybe even break the rut he's put them into in recent years.

[RobRR]

You realize they took nearly a year off already for him to do A7X, right? Now he wants to take a break, they've BEEN on break, for his sake. Kinda selfish of him to spring these 2 things on them back to back.

Many think Portnoy's domination has hurt the band recently. It's not like the rest of them can't write - but Portnoy wanted to run the show, so they went with it. He forgot that he didn't own the band by himself. To think they can't do GREAT without him is to give him way too much credit.

I have great respect for Portnoy, and wish him well, but he was unreasonable to want them to stay inactive this long and then do the "I need a rest" trip. I think DT will do just fine without him. Maybe even break the rut he's put them into in recent years.

Couldnt have said any better! ToT was the last decent album they put out. I have a ton of faith in the rest of the guys that they can put together a STELLAR album... I mean come on, theyre all top notch, world class musicians that havent had much input in the band theyve been in for the past 20+ years. Theyve gotta be busting at the seams with ideas, and Im excited to finally hear them!

[nor]

Dude.

http://thesilvertongueonline.com/?p=20746

[toejam]

LOL It was announced last week that he's no longer in A7X.