Music MIKE PORTNOY Quits DREAM THEATER - Page 5

chiefs1111 · 09-08-2010, 09:44 PM

Drummer Mike Portnoy of progressive metal giants DREAM THEATER has released the following statement:

"I am about to write something I never imagined I'd ever write.

"After 25 years, I have decided to leave DREAM THEATER... the band I founded, led and truly loved for a quarter of a century.

"To many people this will come as a complete shock, and will also likely be misunderstood by some, but please believe me that it is not a hasty decision...it is something I have struggled with for the last year or so....

"After having had such amazing experiences playing with HAIL!, TRANSATLANTIC and AVENGED SEVENFOLD this past year, I have sadly come to the conclusion that I have recently had more fun and better personal relations with these other projects than I have for a while now in DREAM THEATER.

"Please don't misinterpret me, I love the DREAM THEATER guys dearly and have a long history, friendship and bond that runs incredibly deep with them... it's just that I think we are in serious need of a little break.

"DREAM THEATER was always my baby...and I nurtured that baby every single day and waking moment of my life since 1985... 24/7, 365... never taking time off from DREAM THEATER's never-ending responsibilites (even when the band was 'off' between cycles)... working overtime and way beyond the call of duty that most sane people ever would do for a band.

"But I've come to the conclusion that the DREAM THEATER machine was starting to burn me out...and I really needed a break from the band in order to save my relationship with the other members and keep my DREAM THEATER spirit hungry and inspired.

"We have been on an endless write/record/tour cycle for almost 20 years now (of which I have overseen EVERY aspect without a break) and while a few months apart from each other here and there over the years has been much needed and helpful, I honestly hoped the band could simply agree with me to taking a bit of a 'hiatus' to recharge our batteries and 'save me from ourselves'...

"Sadly, in discussing this with the guys, they determined they do not share my feelings and have decided to continue without me rather than take a breather... I even offered to do some occasional work throughout 2011 against my initial wishes, but it was not to be...

"While it truly hurts for me to even think of a DREAM THEATER without Mike Portnoy (hell, my father named the band!!), I do not want to stand in their way...so I have decided to sacrifice myself and simply leave the band so as to not hold them back against their wishes.

"Strangely enough, I just read an interview that I recently did that asked me about the future of DREAM THEATER and I talked about 'always following your heart and being true to yourself'... Sadly, I must say that at this particular moment, my heart is not with DREAM THEATER...and I would simply be 'going through the motions,' and would honestly NOT be true to myself if I stayed for the sake of obligation without taking the break I felt I needed.

"I wish the guys the best and hope the music and legacy we created together is enjoyed by fans for decades to come... I am proud of every album we made, every song we wrote and every show we played....

"I'm sorry to all the disappointed DREAM THEATER fans around the world... I really tried to salvage the situation and make it work... I honestly just wanted a break (not a split)... but happiness cannot be forced, it needs to come from within.

"You DREAM THEATER fans are the greatest fans in the world and as you all know, I have always busted my ass for you guys and I hope that you will stay with me on my future musical journey, wherever it may lead me.... (and as you all know my work ethic, there will surely be no shortage of future Mike Portnoy projects!)"

http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/bla...sitemID=145749

**Lzen** · 05-12-2011, 02:43 PM

In a recent interview with Music Radar, Dream Theater have revealed why they rejected former drummer Mike Portnoy when he tried to re-join the band.

The story began when Portnoy, their founding drummer, split from the group last September after 25 years together. He continued full-time with Avenged Sevenfold, but admitted his regret attempt to re-join the band.

So why did the group turn him down?

It turns out that the audition process, which was filmed for a forthcmoming documentary, found them a new drummer in Mike Mangini, who had already quit his day job as a professor at Berklee.

"Mike Mangini's life changed dramatically", explains guitarist John Petrucci. "He was a professor at Berklee, and he had to give notice that he was leaving. He's got a wife and two kids - the whole thing. So he came down and we started making a record. And then Mike asked if he could get back in... [shakes head]."

Keyboardist Jordan Rudess continued: "So Mike Portnoy came to us and asked to rejoin: 'Hey, guys I've reconsidered, I've made a mistake'".

"It was like, 'Oh my God, you can't do this to us. You can't pull the rug out from under us like this.' It was hard. Here we went through this whole drama, and we finally found this new guy who we were happy with. At a certain point, you just throw up your hands and go, 'This can't be happening!'"

Rudess also revealed the emotional impact he felt when he first heard the news of Portnoy's departure:

"After we got off the phone with him, when he told us what was going to happen, that he was leaving... I literally sat on the steps of my studio and cried. This is a guy who's a friend of mine, who we all love and admire. We didn't want to see it come crashing down."

"The whole thing brought me to tears. But we all realized that we had to find a way to keep going. This is our business."

http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/...nt_rejoin.html

DMAC · 05-12-2011, 03:07 PM

He can find a job.

Maybe he can join Bad Boy records due to his rapping ability.

**Lzen** · 05-13-2011, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMAC

He can find a job.

Maybe he can join Bad Boy records due to his rapping ability.

"Day after day

and night after night..."

DMAC · 05-13-2011, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lzen

"Day after day

and night after night..."

"Everybody's happy, cause everybody's fine. Nobody's hurt, and we laugh about it now. Let's all go get milkshakes and play some mini golf..."

RAAAAAAWWWWRRRRRRR

Huffmeister · 05-13-2011, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMAC

He can find a job.

Maybe he can join Bad Boy records due to his rapping ability.

Maybe he and Neal Peart can start a rapping drummers record label.

09-08-2010, 09:44 PM
chiefs1111 In Search of a Life Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Parts Unknown Casino cash: $-2306834	MIKE PORTNOY Quits DREAM THEATER Drummer Mike Portnoy of progressive metal giants DREAM THEATER has released the following statement: "I am about to write something I never imagined I'd ever write. "After 25 years, I have decided to leave DREAM THEATER... the band I founded, led and truly loved for a quarter of a century. "To many people this will come as a complete shock, and will also likely be misunderstood by some, but please believe me that it is not a hasty decision...it is something I have struggled with for the last year or so.... "After having had such amazing experiences playing with HAIL!, TRANSATLANTIC and AVENGED SEVENFOLD this past year, I have sadly come to the conclusion that I have recently had more fun and better personal relations with these other projects than I have for a while now in DREAM THEATER. "Please don't misinterpret me, I love the DREAM THEATER guys dearly and have a long history, friendship and bond that runs incredibly deep with them... it's just that I think we are in serious need of a little break. "DREAM THEATER was always my baby...and I nurtured that baby every single day and waking moment of my life since 1985... 24/7, 365... never taking time off from DREAM THEATER's never-ending responsibilites (even when the band was 'off' between cycles)... working overtime and way beyond the call of duty that most sane people ever would do for a band. "But I've come to the conclusion that the DREAM THEATER machine was starting to burn me out...and I really needed a break from the band in order to save my relationship with the other members and keep my DREAM THEATER spirit hungry and inspired. "We have been on an endless write/record/tour cycle for almost 20 years now (of which I have overseen EVERY aspect without a break) and while a few months apart from each other here and there over the years has been much needed and helpful, I honestly hoped the band could simply agree with me to taking a bit of a 'hiatus' to recharge our batteries and 'save me from ourselves'... "Sadly, in discussing this with the guys, they determined they do not share my feelings and have decided to continue without me rather than take a breather... I even offered to do some occasional work throughout 2011 against my initial wishes, but it was not to be... "While it truly hurts for me to even think of a DREAM THEATER without Mike Portnoy (hell, my father named the band!!), I do not want to stand in their way...so I have decided to sacrifice myself and simply leave the band so as to not hold them back against their wishes. "Strangely enough, I just read an interview that I recently did that asked me about the future of DREAM THEATER and I talked about 'always following your heart and being true to yourself'... Sadly, I must say that at this particular moment, my heart is not with DREAM THEATER...and I would simply be 'going through the motions,' and would honestly NOT be true to myself if I stayed for the sake of obligation without taking the break I felt I needed. "I wish the guys the best and hope the music and legacy we created together is enjoyed by fans for decades to come... I am proud of every album we made, every song we wrote and every show we played.... "I'm sorry to all the disappointed DREAM THEATER fans around the world... I really tried to salvage the situation and make it work... I honestly just wanted a break (not a split)... but happiness cannot be forced, it needs to come from within. "You DREAM THEATER fans are the greatest fans in the world and as you all know, I have always busted my ass for you guys and I hope that you will stay with me on my future musical journey, wherever it may lead me.... (and as you all know my work ethic, there will surely be no shortage of future Mike Portnoy projects!)" http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/bla...sitemID=145749
Posts: 21,099

05-12-2011, 03:07 PM	#62
DMAC MVP Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Springfield, MO Casino cash: $10008735	He can find a job. Maybe he can join Bad Boy records due to his rapping ability.
Posts: 11,651