Mike Portnoy has left Dream Theater

[TechBoyJK]

http://www.mikeportnoy.com/forum/m2585154.aspx

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 DT 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 DT'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 DT 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 DT 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 & 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 DT 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 DT 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 DT 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 MP projects!)

Sadly...
Your fearless ex-leader and drummer,
MP

 

[deadlyapp]

He'll be a welcome fit with avenged. It'll be interesting to see what he cooks up with them.

 

[AFurryReptile]

He'll be a welcome fit with avenged. It'll be interesting to see what he cooks up with them.

I think I would lose all respect for the guy if he went to that band. Their new album was horrible.

 

[deadlyapp]

I think I would lose all respect for the guy if he went to that band. Their new album was horrible.

Was he on the new album? I don't even remember.

I really like dream theater but I also really like some of avenged stuff - although it has blended together and hasn't really...evolved so to speak. I think portnoy could help them out.

 

[Anubis]

Was he on the new album? I don't even remember.

.

yea he filled in when their drummer died

 

[deadlyapp]

yea he filled in when their drummer died

Ah, thought he only toured with them. He probably didn't have much emphasis on the album though. I haven't listened to it much.

 

[Ika]

holy shit. I just finished the end of The Count of Tuscany when I hit this thread, too. Damn.

 

[Whisper]

Ah, thought he only toured with them. He probably didn't have much emphasis on the album though. I haven't listened to it much.

Yeah, pretty sure the songs--and his parts in them--had already been written largely before the former drummer died. When I heard one of Avenged Sevenfold's new songs, I'd wondered who'd they gotten to replace "the Rev," given that the guy was pretty damn talented; then I heard it was Portnoy, and it all made sense.

 

[Ns1]

1. WTF can't believe it.
2. The Rev wrote the drum lines, MP played them

 

[A Casual Fitz]

I'm utterly shocked. If he stays with Avenged Shitfold long term I will lose a ton of respect for him.

 

[Dedpuhl]

Yea, I can't believe it either. I'm a huge fan. I've met them backstage, gotten autographs, etc. Portnoy was the best to talk to.

If he ends up joining Avenged Sevenfold, I will be pissed and lose a lot of respect for him. I think he burnt himself out on the dozen other projects he was working. It almost seems like he stayed around in DT long enough to finish his "12-Step Suite."

It's a sad day for progressive metal fans....

 

[hiromizu]

what's the point if petrucci can play the drum parts while playing a guitar solo at the same time on his guitar?

 

[Ika]

what's the point if petrucci can play the drum parts while playing a guitar solo at the same time on his guitar?

what?

 

[Platypus]

it was probably time... DT should have stopped making records awhile ago. Their last few had some gems but also some utterly tired music on them and after reading that post, Mike has felt the same way for awhile too it seems.

 

[Eli]

Wow. Well, I look forward to what he will bring in his future projects, whatever they may be.

 

[SP33Demon]

I'm utterly shocked. If he stays with Avenged Shitfold long term I will lose a ton of respect for him.

Money talks, BS walks. Avenged > DT in sales and cash. You won't get money/fame playing in an unknown band, just ask Chris Pennie after leaving DEP for Coheed. Honestly I don't blame Portnoy, he's way too big for DT and should be playing arena/stadiums not clubs. Avenged going progressive would really do wonders for that band, they aren't short on talent (just vision).

 

[Beev]

Darn, I was hoping the vocalist had left. Then I could actually listen to Dream Theater and not cringe.

 

[TechBoyJK]

Money talks, BS walks. Avenged > DT in sales and cash. You won't get money/fame playing in an unknown band, just ask Chris Pennie after leaving DEP for Coheed. Honestly I don't blame Portnoy, he's way too big for DT and should be playing arena/stadiums not clubs. Avenged going progressive would really do wonders for that band, they aren't short on talent (just vision).

That, and having MP on board should be a reality check to them as to where they are on a musicianship level, and maybe it will give them more freedom to write really proggy stuff, like the did on teh song "save me" which is amazing and is not radio friendly at all. (has mp on drums)

 

[TechBoyJK]

The MP message boards lighting up about replacements, and I think this guy is probably the best choice. Portnoy even said in an interview that this guy is amazing and as a band, Between the Buried and Me have surpassed dream theater in technicality and diversity.

Blake Richardson. This guy is amazing. (song has death metal elements, but is very diverse as it goes on).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snGxAUBMZHY

 

[Kev]

This is awesome. I hope he stays with Avenged Sevenfold, their last album was fantastic.

 

[TechBoyJK]

Darn, I was hoping the vocalist had left. Then I could actually listen to Dream Theater and not cringe.

Believe it or not, James Labrie just released his solo CD, and his vocals are very good. He's seems to have moved on from the Operatic style and is really focusing on all the styles and traits he picked up over the past few years. It's quite nice to listen to considering how he usually sings. Ironically, we never get to hear him like this in dream theater. =/

 

[Platypus]

The MP message boards lighting up about replacements, and I think this guy is probably the best choice. Portnoy even said in an interview that this guy is amazing and as a band, Between the Buried and Me have surpassed dream theater in technicality and diversity.

Blake Richardson. This guy is amazing. (song has death metal elements, but is very diverse as it goes on).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snGxAUBMZHY

BTBAM are amazing, but I really hope he doesn't jump for DT... that corpse needs to die. BTBAM are lightyears ahead of them.

 

[TechBoyJK]

BTBAM are amazing, but I really hope he doesn't jump for DT... that corpse needs to die. BTBAM are lightyears ahead of them.

This could be true. I wonder how the rest of the guys are going to want to move forward.

I can just imagine John Petrucci's search for a new band to join.. lol

Like I said, Portnoy has even admitted that BTBAM are more diverse, and in one interview he said it was the first band to "melt his face off" in like 15-20 years.

 

[pontifex]

This could be true. I wonder how the rest of the guys are going to want to move forward.

I can just imagine John Petrucci's search for a new band to join.. lol

Like I said, Portnoy has even admitted that BTBAM are more diverse, and in one interview he said it was the first band to "melt his face off" in like 15-20 years.

I listened to part of that song that was posted in the youtube. that is terrible.
That screaming death metal vocal just made me cringe the entire time. Everything else was mediocre at best.

I'd rather listen to DT's worst songs than that one.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Hmm, Dream theater is not Dream Theater without Mike Portnoy.
It's sad, but, they had a good run.

I wonder if this will speed up the Akerfeldt, Portnoy, Wilson project at all.... that is something I am dyin to hear....