MIKE PORTNOY: I Tried To Rejoin DREAM THEATER But Was Rebuffed

[cygnusaz]

MIKE PORTNOY: I Tried To Rejoin DREAM THEATER But Was Rebuffed - Dec. 20, 2010

https://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=151189

Ex-DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Portnoy has revealed that he made a recent attempt to rejoin his former bandmates but was rebuffed by the group he formed and led for 25 years. Writing on his official forum, Portnoy states, "Just for the record, this is indeed true..

"Fairly recently, I reached out to the guys to try and make amends and offered to reconcile for the sake of having peace back in our lives... (plus I know how much it meant to a lot of the fans...)

"I figured it was still possible to try and save us, because they hadn't made any announcements yet or begun any public activity with another drummer... but sadly, they declined my offer (well, actually their lawyer did... they didn't even tell me themselves....)

"Sorry, gang, I honestly gave it my all...

"So now the fans on my Twitter and Facebook can please stop asking me to go back to DREAM THEATER... I tried, and the door is now shut... The ball is now in their court, not mine...

"I'm not crying or looking for mercy by posting this... I am merely trying to set the record straight as that is always the most important thing about my relationship with you guys... No BS, no spins, nothing to hide... and for better or for worse, I tell it like it is... I've also recently seen some people accuse my online activity of 'looking for attention or media coverage,' or 'looking for sympathy,' but it's honestly none of the above... I merely value having an open and active communication with my fans... Always have, always will... It is the cornerstone of everything I've done since day #1 with DREAM THEATER...

"This was posted here FOR YOU GUYS to know about...here on MY message board on MY website.... If it ends up on Blabbermouth or wherever else, that is THEIR choice to spread, I did not request it or send out a 'press release'....

"Anyways, onward and upward...

"I've got a lot of great music and ideas waiting to come out of me and alot of exciting collaborations in the works....so goodbye 2010...bring on 2011!"

AVENGED SEVENFOLD issued a statement late on Friday (December 17) regarding the dismissal of Portnoy, who played on the band's latest album, "Nightmare", and toured with them during the past year following the death last December of original drummer Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan. The band's statement read in part, "For the past few months, we've been blessed with Mike Portnoy's talent and humanity. When Mike agreed to tour with us, it was only through the end of 2010. We always knew we'd need to find another solution for 2011 and beyond. And it's time for us to take that next step."

As for why Portnoy himself was not their man, the statement said, "(Portnoy) is a brilliant writer, producer and of course drummer. Because of that, the world and we would always see it as AVENGED SEVENFOLD with Mike Portnoy. We take a lot of pride in AVENGED SEVENFOLD being about something greater then any individuals."

Portnoy himself broke the news via his Facebook page on Thursday, following several days of rumors about his status.

AVENGED SEVENFOLD frontman M. Shadows told The Pulse Of Radio that the band was not happy about the public way in which Portnoy's split with DREAM THEATER was played out, which may have soured Portnoy's relationship with AVENGED. "We were actually a little more shocked," M. Shadows said. "We felt that maybe both parties could have handled it a little more internally without being so press release-happy about what had happened between them. Because we're a band that, really, when it comes to news all over web sites or this or that about bands, you know, we don't tweet much, we don't try to put ourselves out that much, and all the drama and controversy wasn't something that we wanted at all."

In an interview over the weekend with LA Weekly, AVENGED manager Larry Jacobson said, "The plan had always been for Mike Portnoy to play with the band through 2010. Nothing changed there but it was confusing (because) Mike gave interviews suggesting he may be touring with the band beyond 2010."

[cygnusaz]

See general discussion. Just wanted to let the folks here know about this development

[zerogravityfat]

lol he crawled back only to be kicked to the curb, good for the band members.

i guess he is not wanted by boy bands or his old band, he can tour with britney spears, it's good money.

[Adami]

See general discussion. Just wanted to let the folks here know about this development

We know. It's in like three different threads.

[cygnusaz]

Unbelievable.  He quits DT to join A7X, they boot him out, and he asks for his job back.

This is classic. The guy who left his wife for a younger broad, she dumps him, and tries to come running back home, lmao!

But the wife has found herself a new stud, she'll play with him for a few years and then maybe take her husband back...

Too funny. And sad.

[Perpetual Change]

::sigh::

https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=19205.msg711304#msg711304

Cygnus, we spend all day here. We know. You don't need to start a new thread every time you finally learn something happened.   

[Adami]

Do we really need to go through all of this again?


He didn't quit to join A7X. He was touring with them before he quit.

[Perpetual Change]

How many different threads and places is cygnus going to post this old news in 

I'd report this, but TV is already gandering, so InB4tehLOCK

[cygnusaz]

Do we really need to go through all of this again?


He didn't quit to join A7X. He was touring with them before he quit.

Oh come on. Read between the lines. He saw a bigger paycheck and bigger gigs and the chance to be 'cool' and get that #1 album which he never had with DT, lol.

Mike even stated a week ago he would be with A7X throughout the Nightmare cycle into 2011. Until they went whoooaaaa.... lol.  

Mike took a gamble and he lost. The 'trust' is broken, how does DT know if they take him back he won't jump ship again for the next younger cool band that wants him?

[TheVoxyn]

I AM THE GOOD GUY, THEY ARE EVIL.

[cygnusaz]

How many different threads and places is cygnus going to post this old news in 

I'd report this, but TV is already gandering, so InB4tehLOCK

This isn't old news, it just came out this morning, lol. I posted it in the DT forum just to bring attention to it. My apologies though if I have caused you strife, that was not my intention.

[Adami]

Do we really need to go through all of this again?


He didn't quit to join A7X. He was touring with them before he quit.

Oh come on. Read between the lines. He saw a bigger paycheck and bigger gigs and the chance to be 'cool' and get that #1 album which he never had with DT, lol.

Mike even stated a week ago he would be with A7X throughout the Nightmare cycle into 2011. Until they went whoooaaaa.... lol.  

Mike took a gamble and he lost. The 'trust' is broken, how does DT know if they take him back he won't jump ship again for the next younger cool band that wants him?

Oh, so you're saying Portnoy didn't tour with A7X until he quit DT.

Or are you just spouting the same old thing that's been discussed a thousand times and again?

[cygnusaz]

::sigh::

https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=19205.msg711304#msg711304

Cygnus, we spend all day here. We know. You don't need to start a new thread every time you finally learn something happened.   

Okay Okay Okay... my bad.

[Aniland]

Wait, that article doesn't say anything about Portnoy being rebuffed. I just got back from vacation. Link?

[yorost]

Good for the band.  If they hired someone no way should they take him back.

[theusualmadness]

Wait, that article doesn't say anything about Portnoy being rebuffed. I just got back from vacation. Link?

Its in this thread https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=19134.280

I personally think it should be its own thread, like this one.

[XJDenton]

cygnusaz:

1. Don't post multiple copies of threads in different forums. Keep it in the most relevant forum. The threads have been merged. I notice this isnt the first time you have done it as well so consider this a warning not to do so again.

2. If this kind of news could be confined to an existing thread, do so. We don't need a new thread for every new bit of news.

[Tick]

Well, at least Neal Morse hasn't rejected Mike. Does anyone think he will now push to make Transatlantic a much more regular project? I hope he doesn't because he will suffer more rejection there if he does.

[Implode]

I was expecting the band to let him back in after one album, but if he keeps up this public whining, they might not let him back in at all.

[antigoon]

I'll be honest. I feel bad for the guy.

[Sir GuitarCozmo]

Oh, for Christ's sake this is getting to be ridiculous.

[bodiesinflight]

does Mike realise that he's coming out of this worse and worse every time he posts something?

I mean all this lastest one has done is made me doubt his motiviations for leaving the band in the first place and made me feel worse about him for thinking he could just waltz back into the band as if nothing had happened just a couple of months later...pretty pathetic really tbh.

[EPICVIEW]

The whole situation is very sad.

The band better come out with a great CD with the new drummer, or many will think the band should have taken Mike back..PERIOD

[Nick]

So many of you argued with me, but I fucking called it.

I told you that in order to get someone of any quality and name recognition they'd have to offer some sort of job security in the case that Mike wants to return. So now that (most likely) Mangini has quit his job they are continuing on with him because it would be wrong to let Mike back in at this stage and screw him over.

I still think Mike could be back in an album or two but they will have a run with the new guy first.

[Zook]

I wish we never gave him those damn KrotchRaut stickers...

[tri.ad]

More of the same.

[LCArenas]

I'll be honest. I feel bad for the guy.

This.


My guess: They'll record the '11 album with the new guy but they'll bring Mike back for that album's tour.



Edit: IF THERE'S OOOONE THING YOU REMEMBER, REMEMBER I TRIED

[tri.ad]

That would be a huge bummer for the new drummer, to be honest. I don't think that JP would tell the DT fans, but not the drummer that they're looking for a permanent replacement. And judging from the current circumstances, the probability has become even slimmer.

[Perpetual Change]

So many of you argued with me, but I fucking called it.

I told you that in order to get someone of any quality and name recognition they'd have to offer some sort of job security in the case that Mike wants to return. So now that (most likely) Mangini has quit his job they are continuing on with him because it would be wrong to let Mike back in at this stage and screw him over.

I still think Mike could be back in an album or two but they will have a run with the new guy first.

Mangini's a sure thing?

[yeshaberto]

i hate situations like this.  
there is little chance than anyone can win.
the media only escalates the loss of it, though

[emindead]

@PC: Nah. It's just a strong feeling due to the evidence we've got.

And we need to merge this thread.

[volwrath]

Mike definitely has some ballz to ask to rejoin after being jilted by his a7x lover.  

If at some point, Mike does rejoin DT, it appears the dynamics have changed and he won't be running the show like he used to.  That in itself is a beautiful thing.

[Mebert78]

This is embarrasing, mike.  what happened to shutting off ur computer?  just hush up, dude.

[j]

That would be a huge bummer for the new drummer, to be honest. I don't think that JP would tell the DT fans, but not the drummer that they're looking for a permanent replacement. And judging from the current circumstances, the probability has become even slimmer.

Portnoy left it up in the air how long he was wanting a "hiatus", and it was unclear whether he'd come back at all.  So DT had to operate under the assumption that they DID need a permanent replacement.

i hate situations like this.  
there is little chance than anyone can win.
the media only escalates the loss of it, though

This.  I really do feel bad for Portnoy, but it continues to be hard to defend him, and he's got to understand that he's put his buddies in a very tough situation.  I think they'll take him back eventually down the line, if he's still interested.

-J

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

If at some point, Mike does rejoin DT, it appears the dynamics have changed and he won't be running the show like he used to.  That in itself is a beautiful thing.

You, good man, just put a great point in there.