Dude, I know that the whole point of joining a forum is to discuss things, but I just don't have the time or energy to argue with you on this. Go for it...
I think it's patently unfair to criticize Mike for "being the bandleader" and "not being there in person while the vocals are being recorded".
What a surprise.
One, it's 2017. I largely work out of my house, and have no problem being "present" with the things I do in my company. Two, you have NO idea what was discussed previously with Derek and/or "The Singer", and what direction was given. Three, you don't even KNOW The Singer, and have no idea what direction might be needed. Four, it's not your fucking band.
Wow, that's your argument?
Shut down the forums! I just figured out it's not my band...or anyone else's band that posts here. I guess there's no point in posting.
I honestly don't see the problem in being a band leader versus having things done over the internet. This is the way the world works now. It would all be nice and cool to have band members being a surrogate family hanging out together jamming all the time, but it's simply not possibile with other commitments, families and maybe some side-job for people who don't live only off their music. If Dream Theater can record an album with the singer in literally another country on his own, Portnoy can have the singer record with the keyboard player as well.
MirrorMask, thank you for having a constructive argument. It's nice to see one of those occasionally on this forum.
I think there is a HUGE difference between having James record his vocals in Canada and what Mike is doing. First of all, James did that as a strategy. He felt he records his vocals better in a small setting with just him and Richard Chycki. For ADTOE he basically said, "Hey we're starting over in several ways. Let me do this how I want." For DT12, he recorded them in New York since Richard Chycki was producing them. TA was a different beast and James said that with all the different voices, emotions, etc., he wanted to record them with just him and Richard again.
If this was the strategy with Mike, I would respect that. As it stands, it really just seems like he couldn't fit it into his schedule like it wasn't a top priority. It reminds me of when those tribute CD were coming out every few weeks. You would have someone like Kip Winger on vocals, Brad Gillis on guitar, Rex Brown on bass, and Eric Singer on drums. They would do a tribute to Ozzy or something yet they never met each other in person. It was still cool and I still own way too many of those tribute CDs but they weren't organic and it really was just a gimmick. Obviously Mike's project isn't that inorganic but by doing this he is approaching that level. Maybe not all that close but still just a step closer than I am comfortable with.
My guesses:
John Arch
Jeff Scott Soto
Man, if it was John Arch that would be a game changer.