Did Portnoy make a mistake leaving?

[Ben_Jamin]

didn't see samsara's post...he pretty much said it all. Now we all just have to play the waiting game.

[Mladen]

He quoted me in his signature, he obviously likes being appreciated. 

[Orbert]

From now on, whether he likes it or not, he is on the decline.

I don't see how that's a given.  For all we know, breaking from DT and being "just a drummer" for a while rather than spokesman, producer, arranger, and all that, is just what he needed.  He's worked with Neal and them before, but never with Avenged Sevenfold, and the Mike who returned to DT may have been quite different from the Mike on the last album and tour.  Okay, that didn't happen and instead he moved on, but during the month or so of second-guessing and soul-searching, he may well have come into the mental attitude that enables him to reach even greater heights than before.

The project with the Dregs guys, Neal's next album, or any future project, could blow us away and have us thinking "Holy shit, that's Portnoy?!"  Someday people might look at the amazing career of Mike Portnoy and how he got his start with that progmetal band Drum Theatre or something, but once he left them, things really starting clicking.

Personally, I'd really be surprised if that happened, but I don't like absolutes.  I really believe that people can change and that somebody, anybody, can put out an album that really surprises me, because it's happened a few times.


Oh yeah, did he make a mistake?  No.  A "mistake" is when you do something "wrong" and in music there is no right or wrong.  There's the music you make today, the music you made in the past, and the music you will make in the future.  He left DT.  It was his choice.  It may have been a hasty or not completely thought out decision, but it was his to make and he made it.  As I said, for all we know, he could go on to make some astounding music that never would have happened if he'd stayed with DT.

[Metabog]

From now on, whether he likes it or not, he is on the decline.

I don't see how that's a given.  For all we know, breaking from DT and being "just a drummer" for a while rather than spokesman, producer, arranger, and all that, is just what he needed.  He's worked with Neal and them before, but never with Avenged Sevenfold, and the Mike who returned to DT may have been quite different from the Mike on the last album and tour.  Okay, that didn't happen and instead he moved on, but during the month or so of second-guessing and soul-searching, he may well have come into the mental attitude that enables him to reach even greater heights than before.

The project with the Dregs guys, Neal's next album, or any future project, could blow us away and have us thinking "Holy shit, that's Portnoy?!"  Someday people might look at the amazing career of Mike Portnoy and how he got his start with that progmetal band Drum Theatre or something, but once he left them, things really starting clicking.

Personally, I'd really be surprised if that happened, but I don't like absolutes.  I really believe that people can change and that somebody, anybody, can put out an album that really surprises me, because it's happened a few times.


Oh yeah, did he make a mistake?  No.  A "mistake" is when you do something "wrong" and in music there is no right or wrong.  There's the music you make today, the music you made in the past, and the music you will make in the future.  He left DT.  It was his choice.  It may have been a hasty or not completely thought out decision, but it was his to make and he made it.  As I said, for all we know, he could go on to make some astounding music that never would have happened if he'd stayed with DT.

MP is the new Phil Collins. Just watch.

[rumborak]

Does MP play anything but drums actually?

EDIT: Actually, he played guitar on Nightmare Cinema, right?

rumborak

[ariich]

Does MP play anything but drums actually?

EDIT: Actually, he played guitar on Nightmare Cinema, right?

rumborak

Bass I think. Transatlantic do a similar instrument-swapping thing sometimes and he plays bass then.

[Samsara]

He quoted me in his signature, he obviously likes being appreciated. 

It was too good not to use in my sig.  lol.

On a serious note, thank you for the compliment on my post.

[Voyage 34]

(and frankly, rightfully should have, considering MP made DT second potatoes in my opinion, whereas the rest of the guys knew not to bite the hand that feeds).

This is what irritated me the most about MP leaving. I thought it was a little too presumptuous to ask the other guys to take a break from their main source of income.

[MetropolisxPt1]

he will be back for dt 12 bet ur life on it

[j]

From now on, whether he likes it or not, he is on the decline.

I don't see how that's a given.  For all we know, breaking from DT and being "just a drummer" for a while rather than spokesman, producer, arranger, and all that, is just what he needed.  He's worked with Neal and them before, but never with Avenged Sevenfold, and the Mike who returned to DT may have been quite different from the Mike on the last album and tour.  Okay, that didn't happen and instead he moved on, but during the month or so of second-guessing and soul-searching, he may well have come into the mental attitude that enables him to reach even greater heights than before.

The project with the Dregs guys, Neal's next album, or any future project, could blow us away and have us thinking "Holy shit, that's Portnoy?!"  Someday people might look at the amazing career of Mike Portnoy and how he got his start with that progmetal band Drum Theatre or something, but once he left them, things really starting clicking.

Personally, I'd really be surprised if that happened, but I don't like absolutes.  I really believe that people can change and that somebody, anybody, can put out an album that really surprises me, because it's happened a few times.


Oh yeah, did he make a mistake?  No.  A "mistake" is when you do something "wrong" and in music there is no right or wrong.  There's the music you make today, the music you made in the past, and the music you will make in the future.  He left DT.  It was his choice.  It may have been a hasty or not completely thought out decision, but it was his to make and he made it.  As I said, for all we know, he could go on to make some astounding music that never would have happened if he'd stayed with DT.

Excellent post.

-J

[ricky]

Ask him in a couple of years and you'll get a worthwhile answer with some perspective behind it.

best answer thus far.

[54_diplomats]

Definitely wasn't a mistake, but I hope he comes back soon..

[Ħ]

Yeah, I think so.  DT won't be the same without him.

[hefdaddy42]

he will be back for dt 12 bet ur life on it

I highly doubt it.

[Tick]

I don't give a hoot!

but don't pollute.



says Woodsy the Owl.

[Orbert]

[ricky]

he will be back for dt 12 bet ur life on it

I highly doubt it.

+1

Although, I think while we both doubt it, we both kinda wish it.

[Perpetual Change]

I don't wish it.

[RaiseTheKnife]

Do you think Portnoy knows who the new drummer is, or is he in the dark just like the rest of us?

[SnakeEyes]

He made a mistake for himself, but not for the rest of us, in my opinion. 

[Global Laziness]

Do you think Portnoy knows who the new drummer is, or is he in the dark just like the rest of us?

I've wondered that myself. If it is a legal thing holding DT up, I could definitely see him knowing.

[RaiseTheKnife]

Yeah, I suppose MP could have been told who the new drummer is through
settlement negotiations. 

[hefdaddy42]

he will be back for dt 12 bet ur life on it

I highly doubt it.

+1

Although, I think while we both doubt it, we both kinda wish it.

I certainly don't.

[?]

I'm sure he started to regret his decision after his time with A7X ended. Who'd try to rejoin their former band if they didn't regret their departure? But I guess he'll get over it after some time.

[bloop]

he will be back for dt 12 bet ur life on it

I'd rather not.

[rumborak]

So, I just went over to mp.com to see the thread about SDV, but I kinda stopped at the front page, because (I didn't realize) the current incarnation of the opening text is "MP is a founding member and drummer of Dream Theater". Now, I know one could interpret that sentence as "a founding member + a drummer of", but it just strikes me as absolutely bizarre that he would make no direct mention of that he is a former drummer of that band.

rumborak

[TAC]

Rumbo, he changed that weeks ago. It originally listed him as "ex drummer", then he switched it back to "Drummer", even capitalizing the word "Drummer".

[Orbert]

Yeah, there was much controversy when that happened, as there seems to be whenever Mike does anything these days.  What does it mean?  What was he trying to say?  Was he trying to imply that is still the drummer, or even the Drummer?  It was a dark and turbulent time.

[Quadrochosis]

Did MP make a mistake leaving DT? Yes.

Is DT better off because MP left? Yes.

[Miyazaki74]

It amazes me that many people on here think that Mike leaving is the best thing for DT. I'm sorry but MP is DT. No one in DT has Mike's charisma. He was the captain of that ship and without him the ship is gonna sink. Whatever popularity and mainstream success they have is because of his hard work and labor he did for that band, both in and outside the studio.  I think a lot of people are forgetting what Mike really meant to DT and the access he gave to their fans. DT will suffer without him. 

[bosk1]

It amazes me that many people on here think that Mike leaving is the best thing for DT. I'm sorry but MP is DT. No one in DT has Mike's charisma. He was the captain of that ship and without him the ship is gonna sink. Whatever popularity and mainstream success they have is because of his hard work and labor he did for that band, both in and outside the studio.  I think a lot of people are forgetting what Mike really meant to DT and the access he gave to their fans. DT will suffer without him. 

I wouldn't say it is the "best thing for DT," and I think there are few here who would actually go that far.  However, although Mike's hard work, commitment, and contribution to DT contributed significantly to the band's signature sound and their success, you are WAY overstating his role.  He will surely be missed by both the fans and the band members.  But I'm sure the band will continue and will be just fine without him.

[manticore999]

It amazes me that many people on here think that Mike leaving is the best thing for DT. I'm sorry but MP is DT. No one in DT has Mike's charisma. He was the captain of that ship and without him the ship is gonna sink. Whatever popularity and mainstream success they have is because of his hard work and labor he did for that band, both in and outside the studio.  I think a lot of people are forgetting what Mike really meant to DT and the access he gave to their fans. DT will suffer without him. 

Well, if he was captain of the ship then I'm sure the next album has to be fantastic!  The last one was horrible and the 2 before it weren't much better.  Maybe it's time for a new skipper at the helm!

[Miyazaki74]

It amazes me that many people on here think that Mike leaving is the best thing for DT. I'm sorry but MP is DT. No one in DT has Mike's charisma. He was the captain of that ship and without him the ship is gonna sink. Whatever popularity and mainstream success they have is because of his hard work and labor he did for that band, both in and outside the studio.  I think a lot of people are forgetting what Mike really meant to DT and the access he gave to their fans. DT will suffer without him. 

I wouldn't say it is the "best thing for DT," and I think there are few here who would actually go that far.  However, although Mike's hard work, commitment, and contribution to DT contributed significantly to the band's signature sound and their success, you are WAY overstating his role.  He will surely be missed by both the fans and the band members.  But I'm sure the band will continue and will be just fine without him.

I guess time will tell if I'm overstating his role or not. I hope I'm wrong by the way.

[millahh]

This idea that everything will collapse w/o MP running the show just baffles me.

It's like a controlling helicopter parent who won't let a kid do anything for themselves, then tell's the kid that they could never make it on their own.  The kid never even gets a change to demonstrate their abilities!  Of course, in this case we know that the other guys are capable, as they were more active back when the band (appeared to) have a greater balance of power.

I'm very excited to see who steps up to the plate and how they do so.

[yeshaberto]

it is mostly sentimental for me...I'm sure DT will do great, and I'm sure MP will do great.  who knows, they might both even do better.  it is just hard for me because I love MP and I love DT and I prefer to see them together.  even if the album is better, it will take me a while to grow into it