It's also worth noting that in the Lifting Shadows book, Mike was the most vocal about looking into changing vocalists. JP only said something along the lines of, "We wanted to sit down with him and ask, 'Are you still into this?'" Jordan said he was still new so didn't have an opinion. JM was not quoted at all regarding this and their manager expressed hesitance. It's pretty safe to assume based on all the quotes that do appear in the book (and other interviews) that it was Mike driving this discussion. I think it is also safe to assume that JP going along with Mike's ultimatum may have been more along the lines of telling James, "We're worried this is going to become a big problem" rather than "This is a big problem now and we're on the verge of letting you go."
There has never been any indication that John was that unhappy with James. Mike, on the other hand, has been very open on multiple platforms that he was not happy at all with James.
Keep in mind that MP, more than any other member of the band, lets it all hang out, good, bad and ugly. JP, OTOH likes to avoid addressing any controversies from within the band, and so therefore is far more diplomatic on how he speaks about everything - you will never get a memoir from him where he digs up any dirt. So the fact that MP - from the public's perception - was more vocally critical of JL than JP was doesn't mean that he (JP) wasn't at the same level as MP was.
Madman, correct, and let's remember that Portnoy's condition to stay in the band in the late 90's was that he basically be given full control over the band, so while Petrucci was a co-leader when it came to the creative side, he was not when it came to everything else*. <snip>
*Which I believe to be the case, going from memory, and I am sure if anything is slightly inaccurate, DTF's resident fact checker will let us all know.
Actually, that's incorrect. The agreement that they forget the fake democracy was instead to simply acknowledge that JP and MP would be the equal leaders of the band. Whether it was determined at that time what roles each would take, I don't know. But as things worked out, MP ended up taking the lead to a greater degree in the creativity of the band, and JP was more focused on the business side of the band. Coincidentally, that's exactly how things are in SoA, with MP taking the lead creatively, and DS replacing JP in the business aspect.
Factor in the many shots that Portnoy took at La Brie over the years, combined with Petrucci never saying a bad word publicly about him, and you don't have to read between the lines to know who was behind the "James need to get better or we'll fire his ass" mantra.
Keep in mind that JP is also far more concerned about the perfect performance than MP ever has been (hence the static setlist, the dreaded click track that the band has used live post-MP, etc.), so don't be so quick to dismiss JP's role in talking to JL about his performance after World Tourbulence concluded.
But I'm not holding my breath for MP to return, nor do I expect it. I don't imagine MM ever being ousted from the band - if at some point he's no longer in the band, it will be due to his leaving, and I don't foresee that happening unless he tires of road life again and wants to go back to teaching at Berklee.
Well, it only lends credence to the fact that if MM ever did leave, with MP on good terms with JP, he'd undoubtably be back.
Undoubtedly? I'm not so sure about that.
Agreed. Just because you are good friends with someone doesn't mean you want to work with them again.
For once, I fully agree with Madman Shepherd and KevShmev. (Has hell frozen over?!?!
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