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

[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.

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.

So are you trying to say that DT will take MP back whenever he wants to return? Do you really think that DT would do that? I don't.

[j]

No, I think at the very least they'll record an album or two with the new guy, and possibly more than that.  But I think at some point in the future, they'll let him back in, if the circumstances are right.

All speculation, it's hard to tell how the relationship between them is holding up, or how any of the other four guys really feel about the prospect of Portnoy returning.  There's just not enough information to even make educated guesses, really.

-J

[volwrath]

I get the feeling that JLB, JMX, and JR have no desire to have Mike back.  JR has said as much and JLB should be pissed after the things MP has said about him in the past. I imagine the only one in Mike's court would be JP and thats shaky.

[TheKillingHand]

Hang on a sec, people are saying that he asked to rejoin DT because A7X turfed him out? He first revealed that he attempted to rejoin DT in an interview before an A7X show in Holland in November. And A7X didnt leave him go until December I thought?

[Bertielee]

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?

Same question here. Are we sure it's Mangini?

[SnakeEyes]

Portnoy is ridiculous.  

First, he leaves DT to go play in Avenged Sevenfold so he can:  a) make more money and b) have bigger gigs with more people

Then, he starts bashing the other guys by blaming them ("THEY didn't return my e-mails, THEY didn't want to take a break, etc")

And, then he gets kicked out of A7X and has the audacity to say that he's, "reaching out to DT to regain peace and because the fans wanted it"?  Who is he trying to kid?  If he had really wanted "peace," he wouldn't have been bashing the other guys for a month after he quit DT.  

What nonsense.  I wish there was an ignore button for famous people.  

[Lowdz]

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.

No, they'd get the lawyer to do it!!!

[Implode]

I don't think the lawyer telling him necessarily has to be a dick move. The rest of DT could've said yes, but not now. And he really couldn't come back if they already hired a new drummer for the next album, hence the no from the lawyer and not the band. Also, MP should consider one of these points:

1. He was only trying to get back for what he said—the fans and to fix relationships. I think that's wrong reason. He should only get back in if he misses DT and wants to create fresh music again.

2. He does miss DT music, and he realizes his mistake. He needs to realize that his public statements are putting him in a very bad light. He should just relax and stop posting to FB and Twitter for a bit. Also, for the above reason, he should've realized that they wouldn't take him back now. He has to wait until the new drummer has had his fill.

Also, there's no way he left DT for A7X. I do believe what he said in that he had been gripping with that decision for a year. I do believe his work with A7X helped him make his decision, but not because he expected to be playing with them for more money or bigger gigs. The nonprog sound probably made him think he needed a break from DT. Now that ship has sailed and he's done with A7X, he may realize that his precious thoughts were like a phase that lived out through A7X.

[bosk1]

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

No you didn't.  JP called it months ago.  JP said point blank they were looking for a permanent drummer, not a session guy for the album or hired gun just for the tour.  They conducted auditions and said they have already hired somebody.  So of course Mike wasn't going to be able to come back.  

[Nosirp Ssalg]

Hang on a sec, people are saying that he asked to rejoin DT because A7X turfed him out? He first revealed that he attempted to rejoin DT in an interview before an A7X show in Holland in November. And A7X didnt leave him go until December I thought?

Yep. I was thinking of the same thing. If MP wanted to rejoin DT for recording in January, he didn't plan to tour in 2011. Although there was a forum post by MP about having plans to tour into 2011.

The thing is, if A7X have let him known their intention to replace him for 2011 from the beginning (which we may never know), MP's request to rejoin DT made him look really bad.

[TTTSTA]

This is total Shit. Mike fucked up, by trying to go back he is admitting that. He should be let back be let back in the band. He is a founder and made it what it is today. What happened to JP saying he would be welcomed back with open arms?

[tri.ad]

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

No you didn't.  JP called it months ago.  JP said point blank they were looking for a permanent drummer, not a session guy for the album or hired gun just for the tour.  They conducted auditions and said they have already hired somebody.  So of course Mike wasn't going to be able to come back.  

This! Also, it's really irritating how so many people are unable to see this and are still led by their wishful thinking of DT taking MP back after a few years.

[SnakeEyes]

I think it's a little naive to think that Portnoy didn't leave DT for Avenged.  If he didn't have that gig at the moment, I don't believe for a second that he would have left DT.  If A7X didn't just tell him to get lost, he wouldn't have been "reaching out to DT."  The plain and simple truth is that Portnoy played a bad hand.  

My opinion is that: first, he thought he was going to control the other guys by taking a break and going to have his fun in a more famous band.  When that didn't work out, he figured he'd make the other guys look bad, as if it was "their" fault.  When THAT didn't work out, he "left the internet."  Now, A7X is done with him and he wants back, only to be doing the same thing he started out doing initially - bashing DT by saying it's, "their fault."

[emindead]

Portnoy is ridiculous.  

First, he leaves DT to go play in Avenged Sevenfold so he can:  a) make more money and b) have bigger gigs with more people

DUDE, FOR FUCKS SAKE. THOSE ARE NOT THE REASONS WHY!

[The Dark Eternal Knight]

Yeah, I gotta feel sorry for Portnoy.

For the best part of 20 years we loved him being in dream theater. He was great to us fans and he did a lot of stuff some bands would never do. He was great with fans and did most everything for DT.

Now it just seems like fans are treating him like crap. And that's not cool.

Yeah, he quit DT. Yeah, he made a (probably pathetic) attempt to re-join. I just wish the fans would have a little bit of respect for the man, that's all. I just can't dislike a guy (who helped give us WDADU-BC&SL, by the way) over something like this.  

[John94]

If DT hadn't gone through the whole audition and selection process then I would have expected him to come back. Unfortunately for Mike, they have their guy.

See ya in a few years Mike.

[tri.ad]

This is total Shit. Mike fucked up, by trying to go back he is admitting that. He should be let back be let back in the band. He is a founder and made it what it is today. What happened to JP saying he would be welcomed back with open arms?

He never said that. He said that he'd love to play with MP again. That doesn't mean that they will reunite in DT at all.

[TheKillingHand]

ok..people still arent getting that MP reached out to rejoin DT BEFORE A7X kicked him out.

[ZBomber]

I don't feel sorry for MP at all. He did ALL of this to himself.

[SnakeEyes]

DUDE, FOR FUCKS SAKE. THOSE ARE NOT THE REASONS WHY!

We all have our own opinions and I stand by what I said. 

[Bacong]

This is total Shit. Mike fucked up, by trying to go back he is admitting that. He should be let back be let back in the band. He is a founder and made it what it is today. What happened to JP saying he would be welcomed back with open arms?

MP thinks everything revolves around him and that he can do whatever he wants.

He is going to have to realize this is not true. He left DT. They owe him nothing.

[j]

1. He was only trying to get back for what he said—the fans and to fix relationships. I think that's wrong reason. He should only get back in if he misses DT and wants to create fresh music again.

This is a good point that I haven't seen mentioned.  Maybe the other guys feel the same way.

No you didn't.  JP called it months ago.  JP said point blank they were looking for a permanent drummer, not a session guy for the album or hired gun just for the tour.  They conducted auditions and said they have already hired somebody.  So of course Mike wasn't going to be able to come back.  

This! Also, it's really irritating how so many people are unable to see this and are still led by their wishful thinking of DT taking MP back after a few years.

Nobody knows what's going to happen either way.  DT HAD to look for a permanent drummer, because for all they knew, Mike might never come back!  At this point, they're not gonna shaft the new guy because of Portnoy's waffling, so of course they're gonna say "sorry, Mike, not right now".  Does that mean they never want Portnoy back in the band again?  I don't think so, they've been best friends for 20+ years, but who knows?

Personally, I don't have an opinion either way whether Portnoy should be let back in or not.  It's their business, and it's their call, and whatever happens, hopefully this shake-up will result in some fresh good musical ideas.

-J

[EPICVIEW]

looking at the objectively, I dont think Mike was "jilted by AX7"... Mike's a smart guy, he knew this was not going to be a long term band for him, Im sure he knew when his contract would be up for service. with that siad Im sure everyone , Mike, AX7, and DT all know/knew that Mike wanted to return, Mike said he didnt want to leave, just wanted some "time" off from DT.  so really nothing is a revelation here BUT that things in Mike's world progressed faster then he thought, MAYBE this is why Mike was stunned when the band told him they wouldnt wait, as Mike might have known that he could be back faster, and all the guys do work outside of DT. Mike must have sisd "look my agreement with AX7 takes me to Dec 10, and if I dont resign to go back in the studio I can be back then, but there is an option for me to do another CD with them etc, but give  me to then to decide guys

this begs the question ..WTF is really going on behind the scene?? logic tells me that there is a bigger issue, rub within the band and Mike, and what we argue and discuss is really the "red herring" that the band wants us to be discussisng as the real issue has not come out yet.

[tri.ad]

"sorry, Mike, not right now".

I hardly believe that JP declaring that they're looking for a permanent replacement equals "Not right now" in any way possible.

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

If MP was to continue the A7X tour with 'em, he would never had contacted the DT guys in an attempt to rejoin the band. It just doesn't make any sense.

[Bacong]

I really don't think they've been "best friends", running through rainbows and tucking each other into bed and shit. They're grown men, and to the people in DT, this is their livelihood. This is not something they're going to fuck around with. How many of you would let a girl break up with you, go fuck some other dude for awhile, and then try and get back with you when she's bored of him?

I'm sure some of you would. But you'd deserve no respect.

[purpleplanet10]

i'm like... then you should have not left Dream Theater and said anything, done the AX7 tour and see what the end of the year could bring. No you are back tracking what you said. you wanted the time off... well now you got it.

[EPICVIEW]

If MP was to continue the A7X tour with 'em, he would never had contacted the DT guys in an attempt to rejoin the band. It just doesn't make any sense.

it  coould make some sense as far as contracts and timing, many bands have to supplement a player because a player has to leave for another commitment"

[Ben_Jamin]

I honestly don't care about this anymore. It all leads to the usual speculation and bashing. No new discussion. It just feels like spam to me now.

[j]

"sorry, Mike, not right now".

I hardly believe that JP declaring that they're looking for a permanent replacement equals "Not right now" in any way possible.

"Equals"?  The two statements were made weeks (months?) apart and have nothing to do with each other.

Of course DT looked for a new permanent member, because FOR ALL THEY KNEW, they needed one.  They were looking to move forward.  If I'm not mistaken, they've also said stuff about Portnoy being "welcome back" at some point.

Like I said 2352351 times, I don't KNOW that they'll take Portnoy back someday.  But I think there's a good possibility.  You disagree; that's fine.  There's no way for us to know.

-J

[Bacong]

Also, I think it's absurd the way some people are hoping Portnoy returns eventually. Why? What are you holding onto so badly? Do you really think MP is the best drummer in the world?

DT have been running through the motions for almost a decade. Portnoy himself has said they have nothing to prove. Do you really think everyone in the band was content with that? Do you fans not see how stagnant they had become?

MP is a good drummer and it's not like he's evil or a bad guy. He simply thinks he can do whatever he want and that he controls DT. It's not HIS band. It's everyone's band, and I'm fairly convinced this will be way better for the guys.

It's kind of like that old sports analogy...when a team has the same head coach for awhile, and they look uninspired, what do they usually do? Fire the coach. They get new blood in order to change things up.

Do you really want a guy who has nothing to prove and is going through the motions to be the leader and drummer of your favorite band?

[bosk1]

1. He was only trying to get back for what he said—the fans and to fix relationships. I think that's wrong reason. He should only get back in if he misses DT and wants to create fresh music again.

This is a good point that I haven't seen mentioned.  Maybe the other guys feel the same way.

No you didn't.  JP called it months ago.  JP said point blank they were looking for a permanent drummer, not a session guy for the album or hired gun just for the tour.  They conducted auditions and said they have already hired somebody.  So of course Mike wasn't going to be able to come back.  

This! Also, it's really irritating how so many people are unable to see this and are still led by their wishful thinking of DT taking MP back after a few years.

Nobody knows what's going to happen either way.  DT HAD to look for a permanent drummer, because for all they knew, Mike might never come back!  

No they didn't.  They could have just brought in a session guy for the album and hired a temporary touring drummer (like A7X did with Mike for the tour).  Or they could have brought someone in on an interim basis like DT initially did with Derek.  They didn't have to hire a permanent drummer at all.

[TTTSTA]

This is total Shit. Mike fucked up, by trying to go back he is admitting that. He should be let back be let back in the band. He is a founder and made it what it is today. What happened to JP saying he would be welcomed back with open arms?

He never said that. He said that he'd love to play with MP again. That doesn't mean that they will reunite in DT at all.

Mike stated in his Eddie Trunk interview that the guys had made it clear that the door is. Always open for him. I don't care if they already went through an audtion process. Mike is one of the most important reasons why DT is who they are. I dont understand why the band it some of us fans can simply over look that fact. Some of you are being totally ungreatful about this. I'm. Sure the new drummer is great and he can play Mike's parts but what about all the other things Mike has done over the years? Everyone needs to get over themselves.

[Bacong]

Of course not, bosk, but I think that's bordering on semantics. Of course they didn't have to, but there had to be something there that told them they should.

I just think it's pretty telling they tried replacing him permanently. Either MP let them know he was done forever, or they were so anxious to be rid of him they hired someone permanently.

[wkiml]

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

The Media maybe at some fault, But Mike needs to stop going public with everything, some things should just be kept behind closed doors