This (MP Leaving) has happened before....

[cygnusaz]

Remember when Chris Degarmo left Queensryche?

That turned out great for the remaining 4 original members: Sales tanked. Music went off into awful tangents. 3 different replacement guitarists so far.

QR has never recovered. 

DT will take a step down in sales, and concert attendance. Mike will enjoy some good times with AX7, and then will vanish into obscurity.

In about 5 years, they will all realize what a disaster this has been and reform.

It's happened many, many times folks: Motley Crue, Van Halen, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, etc etc etc etc....

The bands that don't reform with the original members rarely make it back out of the abyss. The bands like the aformentioned ones that do, usually achieve new hieghts of popularity.

Flash Forward to 2015:

DT announce the return of Mike Portnoy for 30th Anniversary World Tour. Then the reformation album will come, and DT will be bigger than ever.

Yawn.

[Arcaeus]

[ScioPath]

One big facepalm to this entire day.

[Adami]

Stop with these threads, please. Or else we should just rename this forum "500 threads about everybody and their dogs thoughts on MP leaving DT".

[yorost]

...so you're saying Tarja is back soon?

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

RICHARD WRIGHT AIN'T COMING BACK

[ReaPsTA]

I don't know about the band's image, but some people are seriously underestimating Petrucci's ability to carry the band musically.

[Arcaeus]

RICHARD WRIGHT AIN'T COMING BACK

I BETCHA SYD IS, YOU JUST WAIT AND SEE

[ehra]

SPOCK'S BEARD IS DEAD WITHOUT NEAL.

[LCArenas]

WHY JASON NEWSTED WHY

[zxlkho]

[ddtonfire]

IBtL! IBtL!

[ariich]

Stop with these threads, please. Or else we should just rename this forum "500 threads about everybody and their dogs thoughts on MP leaving DT".

Urgh, tell me about it.