Dream Theater Split

AsSiMiLaTeD

I know we've got a few DT fans on here. I'm not sure if you have heard, but drummer Mike Portnoy has departed ways with Dream Theater.

DT Press Release

Portnoy's Press Release

Apparently they're going to proceed without him, but he'll be very difficult to replace. The handful of drummers that are as capable as him are already tied up, and the influence and creative force will basically be impossible to replace.

I think it's safe to say that this is the end of Dream Theater as we know it. I'm kinda bummed because I never made it out to one of their concerts, and now I won't have that opportunity.

Knucklehead

Wow, that is crazy....I saw them when they opened for Iron Maiden recently, they were a good band.

Toolfan66

DT was one of those bands that makes you go WOW!!! did I just see that???

They put the Musician in Musicianship... TRUE ARTISTS they are.

messiah

Too bad it's the drummer, and not their singer .

ohskigod

they will find another drummer. yes, I know Portnoy is an amazing drummer, but there are drummers out there you have never heard of that are amazing too, so finding someone to step in, work with the band and tour so Dream Theater sounds like Dream Theater live will be a challenge, but certainly not impossible.

from a creative standpoint, i.e. what music they come up with from this point, given Portnoy was obviously a huge contributor in that department, can certainly be a valid point of concern. in that regard he band will obviously head in a different direction, but I think they will still be dream theater. we do realize the rest of those guys are not what I would call slouches in the musicality department right?


these things happen, surprising yes, but they happen. don't panic

Face

messiah wrote: »

too bad it's the drummer, and not their singer .

+1... :d

ohskigod

messiah wrote: »

Too bad it's the drummer, and not their singer .

I have a call on hold for "your lips" from a mr. "God's ears". will you accept the charges?

j allen

messiah wrote: »

Too bad it's the drummer, and not their singer .

+1 that as well

AsSiMiLaTeD

Their singer is kinda like Geddy from Rush, you either get used to his voice or you can't stand it. Initially his voice turned me off from Dream Theater, but now i really can't imagine their songs with another voice. I still wouldn't say that I 'like' it, but now it's part of the sound and would be wierd if it were replaced.

indyhawg

I have bummed about this for several days. I have been a Dream Theater fan for almost 20 years. I feel fortunate to have seen them live a few times. Mike Portnoy will be next to impossible to replace and DT as we know it is probably over. I actually like James LaBrie's voice. It will be interesting to hear what DT comes up with for their future projects.

dbaldus

That is all

LessisNevermore

I've been a huge fan since '92, or so. Seen them 14 times in concert, and met them numerous times, especially MP. I have become less than enthused with their last few offerings, and feel they jumped the shark. IMO, they need to regroup with a producer NOT named Kevin Shirley, preferably the one used on the Awake album.

As much as I like Portnoy's playing, he's not irreplaceable. If I had to bet on a replacement, I'd guess Nick D'Virgilio, or Mike Mangini.

We should start a Polk pool.:D

avelanchefan

Huge DT fan since Images and Words, but there music has been borderline aweful over the past few Albums. Black Clouds and Silver Linings was just down right cheesy, and MP's ending to the 12 step saga was just flat out lame, and uninsipred.

I actually kind of saw this coming. The more MP was interviewed, the more he made it sound like DT was his band, and the 4 other guys should have been lucky to be playing with him. He obviously did not come out and say that, but just the way he talked about DT made me feel bad for LaBrie, Myung, Rudess, and Petrucci.

And LessisNevermore summed it up best....get rid of Shirley....go back to the Awake formula. And talk Gavin Harrison into leaving Porcupine Tree.

indyhawg

avelanchefan wrote: »

Black Clouds and Silver Linings was just down right cheesy, and MP's ending to the 12 step saga was just flat out lame, and uninsipred.



And LessisNevermore summed it up best....get rid of Shirley....go back to the Awake formula. And talk Gavin Harrison into leaving Porcupine Tree.

I did not care for Black Clouds and Silver Linings, either. It sounded like they were on cruise control for that one. I would love to see them get back to the Awake formula. That is my favorite DT album.

avelanchefan

Well after re-reading Portnoy's press release, his ego pretty much summed it up. A few quotes:

"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..."

So everyone else just sat around? Sorry but you had your hand in everything Mike, from lyric writing, to singing, to management, to spokes person. Why not give some of the writing duties back to John Myung instead of you and Petrucci writing the lyrics as you wrote the songs? Myung's writing credits are for only four songs, but they are some of DT's best.....Learning to Live, Fatal Tragedy, Trial of Tears, and Lifting Shadows off a Dream

You DT fans are the greatest fans in the world and as you all know, I have always busted my **** 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!)

Except for those fans that complained about your bands direction that you went so far as to write the song "Never Enough" to call them out on it. Sorry Mike but that pissed a lot of people off.

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....

Again....can't you let some other people take control? And why not just take a break period (meaning you Mike), why all of the side projects? OSI...TransAtlantic...Liquid Tension....Neal Morse. (Although I do understand doing the drumming for Avenged Sevenfold, but they could have found a touring drummer)

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....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.

As to quote the song from Falling Into Infinity...."It's all about you....Not me" Seems like a six month break from touring is more than enough for the other 4 guys. I am sure Kevin Moore is smirking somewhere. Moore saw this a long time ago. And I am sure it pisses Portnoy off knowing one of DT's fans favorite songs is Moore's baby.

////END Rant....sorry. Just had to get that off my chest.

AsSiMiLaTeD

avelanchefan wrote: »

Black Clouds and Silver Linings was just down right cheesy, and MP's ending to the 12 step saga was just flat out lame, and uninsipred.

That's exactly why he thought the band needed a break...

Clearly you don't like Mike, and that's fine, but you're taking several quotes out of context. Listen to his interview on the Eddie Trunk show, it sheds more light on the situation.

Does he have a big ego? Of course he does, and so do JP and JR, that goes along with the terrotory - when you're one of the best in the world at what you do that tends to happen.

Mike has taken on most of the responsibilities in the band because no one else wants to do it, and they've openly said so. Everything from the fanclubs to the videos to the meticulous arranging of the setlists, all done by Mike. I've heard JP and JR say on multiple occasions that they're glad he handles all that stuff, JM doesn't really ever talk or address the fans so who knows what his take on it is...

As for their recent albums being crap, that's subjective and clearly your opinion, but I don't agree. Different isn't necessarily crap, people can't seem to get past that concept. I would say that the song writing isn't quite as good as their early stuff, but the musicianship is every bit as good and better in places. I prefer their earlier work, but their recent stuff is still better than 99% of the other crap that is out there today.

AsSiMiLaTeD

Oh, and as much of a badass as Gavin Harrison is, he's not a fit for Dream Theater, and I'd hate to see Porcupine Tree lose him

Squidmon

I think it'll be temporary if you read everything said since the announcement. On Eddie Trunk, 'it'll be a tragedy if I never perform with DT again'

AsSiMiLaTeD

^^^

Yeah after hearing that interview and what JP and JR have both posted online, I'd be shocked if he wasn't back with them after a year or two, but then I was shocked to hear this in the first place, so who knows.

avelanchefan

Look I like MP, but I never liked the way they had approached their last 3 CD's. I thought it was rushed. Its just an opinion, but come on, even their most ardent fans were becoming restless with these lyrics.

But see here is my issue, he had control, no one else said they wanted it while MP did it....so who is taking over the reigns? Who is going to do it? Are they going to divy up all the day to day chores? It just all seems odd to me. I just have a feeling there is more here, but they are all taking the high road and leaving it between the five of them. Which is admirable.

And honestly I just kept thinking about Mikael Akerfeldt of Opeth talking about their last CD, and how he really had to step back and not have a finger stirring the pot in everything the band did during their last recording. And how the band responded to the extra responsibilty and creativity, while not having to look over their shoulder wondering what Akerfeldt was going to change.

Just thoughts....still love DT. Would have liked to see them this past tour, but they skipped Phoenix and Tucson both times. They did come with Maiden but I did not have a desire to see a six song set from them.

MacLeod

This sucks, plain and simple. I've been a fan since Dream and Day but I have to admit to not being surprised. As mentioned, they haven't put out a great album since Train of Thought and you can tell they were starting to all sound like they were just punching a clock.

Mike Portnoy is a great guy. I drove 5 hours once to one of his drum clinics he held at a small college to fund raise for their music dept. It cost a measly $10 to get in and he put on a great show and sat for autographs and pictures for hours and was as cool to the 200th fan hugging on him for pics as he was the 1st. I thought that was above and beyond what somebody as well known as he is would do.

That being said, I think this is just as it seems, he's burnt out and wanted a break but the rest of the guys didnt. Granted him doing 70 different side projects certainly didn't help and he has nobody to blame but himself.

So I think he'll be gone for a little while, maybe an album and a tour, but he will be back. Maybe this will be better in the end and a refreshed DT will start putting out albums worthy of Train of Thought and Awake.

AsSiMiLaTeD

I agree that he'll be back and am hopeful that this will revive those guys.

Listening to his interview, I'm not sure how much the side projects really affected him. It sounds like he's not really tired of playing, it's all the other stuff that he does for DT that was wearing him down.

It looks like he's going to finish up this tour with Avenged Sevenfold, and he seems to like that because all he has to do is play drums.

You can say, 'well just share the other responsibilities with the other guys in Dream Theater' but I honestly don't think they're interested in those duties. Seriously, listen to those other guys in interviews, he's EASILY the most personable guy in the band and clearly has the best connection with the fans. Aside from his other duties though, you gotta realize that most of the relationships DT has are/were through him. Listen to all those voices chiming in at the end of "Repentence" (Wilson, Akerfelt, Satriani, etc) - those are all connections made by Mike. I'm sure they're friends with the whole band, but everything I've read and heard from those guys seems to indicate that Mike was their initial connection.

I'm not taking sides, but alot of people seem to be jumping to either blame or downplay the role that Portnoy had, I just wanted to present another viewpoint.

coolsax

This topic got me to thinking that I haven't listened to them in a long time, actually spinning some Dream Theater tonight.. Its been a long time since i've run one of their CDs, I have Awake and Change of Seasons, I forgot how good I thought the Awake album was, I haven't listened to this since college I don't think.. and am really enjoying it tonight...

zarrdoss

He would have to quit his teaching job but pretty sure Mike Mangini could pull iy off.

MacLeod

If it were up to me, Id draft Dave Lombardo to play for them. He'd, without a doubt, put the balls back in the music! He single handedly brought Testament up a level. The Gathering is their 2nd best album all thanks to him. But yeah, Mangini is a god! Would love to see him get the job as well. Always loved this video of Mangini just F'ing around in the studio. Nothing super amazing but cool:

** Work Safe Alert - "S" bomb at the end **

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That is a BLISTERING song to try and play!

Jason Rullo of Symphony X would also be a good match as he's used to some screwed up time signatures.

zarrdoss

Dave Lombardo is one of my all time favorite drummers, I would say yeah but Slayer is still putting out good albums, epically since they got Dave back. I like DT and understand when someone has been in a band too long and needs a fresh start, Maybe getting some new blood in the mix and they might put out some really great stuff more reminiscent of their earlier stuff.

Face

Scroll to 1:30 to hear Dave's latest side work.

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messiah

There's always Gene Hoglan

LessisNevermore

messiah wrote: »

There's always Gene Hoglan

Good point, he's ****'d himself out a ton. Could be a great seat warmer for MP. (I don't mean that in a bad way, just lack of better term)

AsSiMiLaTeD

I'm sure everyone who cares already knows, but Mike Mangini is the new drummer for DT.

LessisNevermore

LessisNevermore wrote: »

If I had to bet on a replacement, I'd guess Nick D'Virgilio, or Mike Mangini.

:cool::cool: