Portnoy's Alcoholism

[emindead]

I said this[/] thread. Or I'm not following you?

[Perpetual Change]

I said this[/] thread. Or I'm not following you?

I'm not sure exactly what you meant, but people posting in this thread are not a bigger problem for Mike's sobriety than, well, anything. People on the internet shouldn't be a concern for Mike at all. Him taking internet commentary so seriously is something he already seems to struggle with.

[KevShmev]

When I read most of the comments on this page I somehow notice that if Mike ever read this thread he will know for certain that his biggest demon is not himself but the guys with their baseless remarks. 

You are kidding, right?

[Rina]

I think Mike should try to not be heavily affected by what strangers have to say, if that's the case.

[zerogravityfat]

portnoy is in a mid life crisis so he hangs with young men who party, it's sad really.

[Mebert78]

portnoy is in a mid life crisis so he hangs with young men who party, it's sad really.

Idk if it's that.  I just think MP has become a different kind of rock-and-roll guy than the others in DT.  Just look at how loaded he has become with tattoos, for example.  The other DT guys don't have any.  Not that tattoos are a big deal these days, but it's a small indicator of how his character and interests have drifted from the other DT guys.  Then there's the colored beard.  For the most part, prog guys are considered nerdy and boring.  He's more of a "metal" guy now image-wise and fits in better with metal guys.

But apart from that, I think it would have been smart for him to steer clear of AX7 in particular just because of their past drug issues.  It just doesn't seem like a smart decision to unnecessarily surround yourself with those kinds of people when you've had a past problem yourself -- and you've spent the past five DT albums writing lyrics about it.

Also, I feel that by writing so many lyrics about his alcoholism battle that MP has made it an issue to be discussed by fans.

[emindead]

When I read most of the comments on this page I somehow notice that if Mike ever read this thread he will know for certain that his biggest demon is not himself but the guys with their baseless remarks. 

You are kidding, right?

Not quite. Most of the comments here are saying that he's an inch away (hyperbole) of relapsing. Apparently fans don't know a thing about him if they are still thinking he's going to have a drink again.

[ariich]

I for one am curious about how Mike's handled his time on the road with A7X. Anyone who's watched All Excess knows what those guys are like and it'd be interesting to see how things work behind the scenes now, not because I have some sick obsession with Mike Portnoy but just because I'm just getting into A7X and am interested in how the overall band dynamic works. It IS something I'd like to see Mike comment on eventually.

All Excess was before The Rev died, wasn't it? Do we even know if they still party and drink that much anymore? I would have thought something like a death from OD'ing would make them a little more careful.

[Adami]

I for one am curious about how Mike's handled his time on the road with A7X. Anyone who's watched All Excess knows what those guys are like and it'd be interesting to see how things work behind the scenes now, not because I have some sick obsession with Mike Portnoy but just because I'm just getting into A7X and am interested in how the overall band dynamic works. It IS something I'd like to see Mike comment on eventually.

All Excess was before The Rev died, wasn't it? Do we even know if they still party and drink that much anymore? I would have thought something like a death from OD'ing would make them a little more careful.

Oddly enough that rarely does the job. Usually the pain of the death causes the people to consume more drugs/alcohol. After all, these are people who already did tons of them anyway, it's a pretty immediate and familiar way to numb the pain.

Not always the case, but often enough.

[ariich]

A death generally, yes. But when it is a death directly relating to drugs and alcohol, I can't see it happening.

[KevShmev]

A death generally, yes. But when it is a death directly relating to drugs and alcohol, I can't see it happening.

You'd think so, but never underestimate the power of addiction.  My aunt passed away from lung cancer as a result of smoking over 20 years ago, and to this day, three of my cousins, her kids, still smoke cigarettes.

When I read most of the comments on this page I somehow notice that if Mike ever read this thread he will know for certain that his biggest demon is not himself but the guys with their baseless remarks. 

You are kidding, right?

Not quite. Most of the comments here are saying that he's an inch away (hyperbole) of relapsing. Apparently fans don't know a thing about him if they are still thinking he's going to have a drink again.

So, how exactly does that make fans his biggest demon, then?  Is he gonna start drinking again because some fans talk about it?

[ariich]

A death generally, yes. But when it is a death directly relating to drugs and alcohol, I can't see it happening.

You'd think so, but never underestimate the power of addiction.  My aunt passed away from lung cancer as a result of smoking over 20 years ago, and to this day, three of my cousins, her kids, still smoke cigarettes.

Oh I'm not underestimating the power of addiction, but I wasn't aware that any of the A7X guys had an addiction problem?

[wkiml]

A death generally, yes. But when it is a death directly relating to drugs and alcohol, I can't see it happening.

You'd think so, but never underestimate the power of addiction.  My aunt passed away from lung cancer as a result of smoking over 20 years ago, and to this day, three of my cousins, her kids, still smoke cigarettes.

Oh I'm not underestimating the power of addiction, but I wasn't aware that any of the A7X guys had an addiction problem?

I don't think its about the guys in A7X having addiction problems, but they have indulged in huge amounts of alcohol and drugs, and yes it does numb the pain of losing someone close. Not everyone who partys hard is an addict, some can handle it, some cannot, which is what baffles doctors when they look at addictions, that no 2 people are exactly alike.

[KevShmev]

A death generally, yes. But when it is a death directly relating to drugs and alcohol, I can't see it happening.

You'd think so, but never underestimate the power of addiction.  My aunt passed away from lung cancer as a result of smoking over 20 years ago, and to this day, three of my cousins, her kids, still smoke cigarettes.

Oh I'm not underestimating the power of addiction, but I wasn't aware that any of the A7X guys had an addiction problem?

No, but Portnoy does, and this is pure speculation, but if those guys are still drinking a lot, it can make it difficult for him to resist those urges.  It's like when people who are trying to quit smoking say how much more difficult it is to quit or even not start again if they are around people who are always smoking.

[ariich]

A death generally, yes. But when it is a death directly relating to drugs and alcohol, I can't see it happening.

You'd think so, but never underestimate the power of addiction.  My aunt passed away from lung cancer as a result of smoking over 20 years ago, and to this day, three of my cousins, her kids, still smoke cigarettes.

Oh I'm not underestimating the power of addiction, but I wasn't aware that any of the A7X guys had an addiction problem?

No, but Portnoy does, and this is pure speculation, but if those guys are still drinking a lot, it can make it difficult for him to resist those urges.  It's like when people who are trying to quit smoking say how much more difficult it is to quit or even not start again if they are around people who are always smoking.

I know, but I was questioning whether the band still drink a lot. Hence my post where I questioned whether the band still drink a lot.

[KevShmev]

No, you asked if they had an addiction problem.  Just because someone drinks a lot doesn't mean that they are addicted, ya know.

[ariich]

No, you asked if they had an addiction problem.

No I didn't:

I for one am curious about how Mike's handled his time on the road with A7X. Anyone who's watched All Excess knows what those guys are like and it'd be interesting to see how things work behind the scenes now, not because I have some sick obsession with Mike Portnoy but just because I'm just getting into A7X and am interested in how the overall band dynamic works. It IS something I'd like to see Mike comment on eventually.

All Excess was before The Rev died, wasn't it? Do we even know if they still party and drink that much anymore? I would have thought something like a death from OD'ing would make them a little more careful.

[bosk1]

Ariich, if you only knew the power of the dark side...

[ariich]

But fear leads to hate...

[Rina]

But fear leads to hate...

Fear can turn to love, you'll learn to see to find the man behind the monster...

[ariich]

But fear leads to hate...

Fear can turn to love, you'll learn to see to find the man behind the monster...

WRONG FILM!

[bosk1]

@Rina:



Rina, you've just been Rina'd.

[Rina]

But fear leads to hate...

Fear can turn to love, you'll learn to see to find the man behind the monster...

WRONG FILM!

BETTER WORDS!!!

@ Bosk: OH, GOD, HOW'D I END UP IN HERE?!?!??!

[ariich]

Rina, you've just been Rina'd.

Mind.... splode...

[Perpetual Change]

I for one am curious about how Mike's handled his time on the road with A7X. Anyone who's watched All Excess knows what those guys are like and it'd be interesting to see how things work behind the scenes now, not because I have some sick obsession with Mike Portnoy but just because I'm just getting into A7X and am interested in how the overall band dynamic works. It IS something I'd like to see Mike comment on eventually.

All Excess was before The Rev died, wasn't it? Do we even know if they still party and drink that much anymore? I would have thought something like a death from OD'ing would make them a little more careful.

I don't have source, so you'll just have to trust my memory which can be VERY faulty. But, as far as I know, they were scared to drink at first and then decided to start again as early as the funeral. Also, it'd be silly for them not too. I don't think drinking is a problem for those guys. For the Rev, it was kind of obvious that he, like Mike, had some other issues that made drinking much worse for him.

[Chino]

MP will not crack. He has too many people on the web that look up to him.

[Dublagent66]

drinking alcohol is a strictly social activity.

That's not entirely true.  Especially for alcoholics.  They have more of a tendency to fall off the wagon in a non social setting because in social settings they are keeping up appearances.  I have a younger brother who is a recovered alcoholic, so I do know what I'm talking about.

[wkiml]

drinking alcohol is a strictly social activity.

That's not entirely true.  Especially for alcoholics.  They have more of a tendency to fall off the wagon in a non social setting because in social settings they are keeping up appearances.  I have a younger brother who is a recovered alcoholic, so I do know what I'm talking about.

Your right about the alcoholic and drinking, I myself used to have one or two socially, but than go home and knock of a 1.75 by myself, but what makes it hard for the alcoholic is that alcohol is "socially/legally acceptable" and putting yourself in those settings/situations is tempting fate.

[rumborak]

MP will not crack. He has too many people on the web that look up to him.

Errrr ... I don't think you understand addiction. At all.

rumborak

[ZBomber]

MP will not crack. He has too many people on the web that look up to him.

Errrr ... I don't think you understand addiction. At all.

rumborak

Seriously.  In this thread, we have people who view the world with rose colored glasses.

[bosk1]

And MP has stated, and I quote, "I don't believe I wear rose-colored glasses." 

[ZBomber]

And MP has stated, and I quote, "I don't believe I wear rose-colored glasses." 

[Perpetual Change]

MP will not crack. He has too many people on the web that look up to him.

Errrr ... I don't think you understand addiction. At all.

rumborak

Yeah, people give up their kids, wives, husbands, parents, etc for addiction. I highly down the web-fan base which Portnoy willingly turns on all the time is going to be the thing that either keeps him on the straight and narrow or pushes him over the edge. 

[ReaPsTA]

MP will not crack. He has too many people on the web that look up to him.

Errrr ... I don't think you understand addiction. At all.

rumborak

Are we sure that post wasn't a joke?