Mike Portnoy on wanting to rejoin Dream Theater

[MetropolisxPt1]

You're right Metrop, DT clearly considers MM a temp till MP can come back. This is best evidenced by DT not allowing MP back in the band when he wanted to.

considering they had already let mm in the band by the time he wanted back your point is invalid, Just because they lost a member doesnt mean they become classless.

Their is a reason MM is a renown session drummer.

[Adami]

You're right Metrop, DT clearly considers MM a temp till MP can come back. This is best evidenced by DT not allowing MP back in the band when he wanted to.

considering they had already let mm in the band by the time he wanted back your point is invalid, Just because they lost a member doesnt mean they become classless.

And because DT decided to take advantage of a new situation by writing music in a completely new way for them as a form of experimenting doesn't mean that the new guy isn't permanent.

Also they have explicitly stated that he is not temporary.


I mean I get the whole denial thing, but come on man.

[MetropolisxPt1]

You're right Metrop, DT clearly considers MM a temp till MP can come back. This is best evidenced by DT not allowing MP back in the band when he wanted to.

considering they had already let mm in the band by the time he wanted back your point is invalid, Just because they lost a member doesnt mean they become classless.

And because DT decided to take advantage of a new situation by writing music in a completely new way for them as a form of experimenting doesn't mean that the new guy isn't permanent.

Also they have explicitly stated that he is not temporary.


I mean I get the whole denial thing, but come on man.

Last time i checked removing a new member from the writing scenario seems contrary to new experimentation, the argument can be made that this is less experimental if they would have wrote it with MM and bounced ideas off him and wrote the music as a whole that would lead to a new sound and style then how they have written since TOT, Not to mention MM is just as competent in Music theory and composition as the rest of them. Mike's history shows him as a session drummer, he has yet to prove me wrong.

[wammabe]

I'd be very disappointed if Portnoy comes back.

[hefdaddy42]

You're right Metrop, DT clearly considers MM a temp till MP can come back. This is best evidenced by DT not allowing MP back in the band when he wanted to.

considering they had already let mm in the band by the time he wanted back your point is invalid, Just because they lost a member doesnt mean they become classless.

And because DT decided to take advantage of a new situation by writing music in a completely new way for them as a form of experimenting doesn't mean that the new guy isn't permanent.

Also they have explicitly stated that he is not temporary.


I mean I get the whole denial thing, but come on man.

Last time i checked removing a new member from the writing scenario seems contrary to new experimentation, the argument can be made that this is less experimental if they would have wrote it with MM and bounced ideas off him and wrote the music as a whole that would lead to a new sound and style then how they have written since TOT, Not to mention MM is just as competent in Music theory and composition as the rest of them. Mike's history shows him as a session drummer, he has yet to prove me wrong.

Sure he has.  He joined Dream Theater.

[MetropolisxPt1]

You're right Metrop, DT clearly considers MM a temp till MP can come back. This is best evidenced by DT not allowing MP back in the band when he wanted to.

considering they had already let mm in the band by the time he wanted back your point is invalid, Just because they lost a member doesnt mean they become classless.

And because DT decided to take advantage of a new situation by writing music in a completely new way for them as a form of experimenting doesn't mean that the new guy isn't permanent.

Also they have explicitly stated that he is not temporary.


I mean I get the whole denial thing, but come on man.

Last time i checked removing a new member from the writing scenario seems contrary to new experimentation, the argument can be made that this is less experimental if they would have wrote it with MM and bounced ideas off him and wrote the music as a whole that would lead to a new sound and style then how they have written since TOT, Not to mention MM is just as competent in Music theory and composition as the rest of them. Mike's history shows him as a session drummer, he has yet to prove me wrong.

Sure he has.  He joined Dream Theater.

Did he? news to me they must have added him in after the rest of the album was finished.

[RuRoRul]

I still think there's a reasonable chance of Mike Portnoy going back to them at some point as well, the same as I did when he first left...

I know saying that gets people jumping down your throat with "Stop being in denial / a MP fanboy, move on, he's not coming back!" But it's not really anything like that... saying Mike Mangini is a permanent member just means he's not a session drummer they've hired with no intention of keeping, that he's a full member of the band. It doesn't mean that he is guaranteed to be with DT from now until the end of time. "Permanent members" leave bands all the time. Mike Portnoy was a "permanent member" of DT. And can you honestly say that, if after a few albums / years, Mike Mangini wanted to / had to leave Dream Theater again, the guys would never consider bringing back Portnoy as their drummer? People come back to their bands years later pretty frequently, sometimes after fallouts far bigger than this.

There's a good chance it will never happen, that MM will stay with DT until all the band members stop, or that relations with MP will worsen / stay tense so that they wouldn't reunite even if MM left after some years. But it's definitely not something absolutely impossible like some people seem to think.

I do think people saying MM is a temp until MP comes back are wrong in the way they view it, but that's just my take on the whole MP coming back discussion that's been floating around for a while since MM was announced.

[Adami]

You're right Metrop, DT clearly considers MM a temp till MP can come back. This is best evidenced by DT not allowing MP back in the band when he wanted to.

considering they had already let mm in the band by the time he wanted back your point is invalid, Just because they lost a member doesnt mean they become classless.

And because DT decided to take advantage of a new situation by writing music in a completely new way for them as a form of experimenting doesn't mean that the new guy isn't permanent.

Also they have explicitly stated that he is not temporary.


I mean I get the whole denial thing, but come on man.

Last time i checked removing a new member from the writing scenario seems contrary to new experimentation, the argument can be made that this is less experimental if they would have wrote it with MM and bounced ideas off him and wrote the music as a whole that would lead to a new sound and style then how they have written since TOT, Not to mention MM is just as competent in Music theory and composition as the rest of them. Mike's history shows him as a session drummer, he has yet to prove me wrong.

Sure he has.  He joined Dream Theater.

Did he? news to me they must have added him in after the rest of the album was finished.

He joined the band when James LaBrie said "We want to welcome you to the family". As well as DT stating, explicitly (which you seem to keep ignoring) that he isn't a session drummer. And by experimenting, I meant experimenting in writing an album without the drummer, just the core members. They've never done that before, that's why it's called an experiment.

[MetropolisxPt1]

You're right Metrop, DT clearly considers MM a temp till MP can come back. This is best evidenced by DT not allowing MP back in the band when he wanted to.

considering they had already let mm in the band by the time he wanted back your point is invalid, Just because they lost a member doesnt mean they become classless.

And because DT decided to take advantage of a new situation by writing music in a completely new way for them as a form of experimenting doesn't mean that the new guy isn't permanent.

Also they have explicitly stated that he is not temporary.


I mean I get the whole denial thing, but come on man.

Last time i checked removing a new member from the writing scenario seems contrary to new experimentation, the argument can be made that this is less experimental if they would have wrote it with MM and bounced ideas off him and wrote the music as a whole that would lead to a new sound and style then how they have written since TOT, Not to mention MM is just as competent in Music theory and composition as the rest of them. Mike's history shows him as a session drummer, he has yet to prove me wrong.

Sure he has.  He joined Dream Theater.

Did he? news to me they must have added him in after the rest of the album was finished.

He joined the band when James LaBrie said "We want to welcome you to the family". As well as DT stating, explicitly (which you seem to keep ignoring) that he isn't a session drummer. And by experimenting, I meant experimenting in writing an album without the drummer, just the core members. They've never done that before, that's why it's called an experiment.

so if MM isnt a core member what is he? a session member?  they have also explicitly stated they did not want it to happen in the first place, which raises a conclusion of if they didnt want it to happen why wouldn't they let MP back in a couple of albums? Especially if the previous drummer is a more creative and inspiring player.

[Adami]

Fair enough, enjoy denial.

[MetropolisxPt1]

Fair enough, enjoy denial.

Are you saying Derek Sherrinian is in denial?

That aside actions speak louder then words and their actions have shown me they have yet to incorporate MM in the band as a full contributing member of DT.

[ZirconBlue]

MP suggested to the band that they just get a temporary replacement for him, and they refused to do that.

[rumborak]

DT would be stupid to have MP rejoin. If this forum is any indication of the greater fanbase, DT weren't the only ones invigorated by this change.

rumborak

[MetropolisxPt1]

DT would be stupid to have MP rejoin. If this forum is any indication of the greater fanbase, DT weren't the only ones invigorated by this change.

rumborak

I guess they weren't invigorated enough to let him contribute to the album.

[rmp0012002]

I think with the days of Portnoy controlling and pressuring everyone gone the band will not want to go back to that situation.  If the MM era is more relaxing then the less of a chance of MP returning.

[MetropolisxPt1]

I think with the days of Portnoy controlling and pressuring everyone gone the band will not want to go back to that situation.  If the MM era is more relaxing then the less of a chance of MP returning.

From interviews from BC&SL they seemed pretty content putting out a heavy album on a metal label.

[phentalmyst]

oh nevermind. i'm not giving into trolling...

[Dream Team]

oh nevermind. i'm not giving into trolling...

No kidding, this is pure comedy. 

[King Postwhore]

DT would be stupid to have MP rejoin. If this forum is any indication of the greater fanbase, DT weren't the only ones invigorated by this change.

rumborak

I guess they weren't invigorated enough to let him contribute to the album.

Oh dear god stop it.  MP screwed up and the band wanted to move on.  So should you.  Enjoy what the new DT will bring and enjoy MP's new output.  It's a win/win for us.

[snapple]

I think with the days of Portnoy controlling and pressuring everyone gone the band will not want to go back to that situation.  If the MM era is more relaxing then the less of a chance of MP returning.

From interviews from BC&SL they seemed pretty content putting out a heavy album on a metal label.

Did you read Lifting Shadows?

I doubt it.


If you've read that, you'd see that any time they have had member changes to the band, they've always been weird about letting the new members contribute musically the first time around. Yes, even Jordan Rudess was a tad uncomfortable until SDOIT came out.

Take your denial/trolling elsewhere. It is understandable to have that opinion, but it is painfully obvious you are squealing for attention. You've had it now, and been made a proper ass.

[abydos]

So, since most recent DT albums have been written with close to zero input from JLB, does that make him a session member as well?

[clinks63]

is there a poll where dt forum members will vote if they think mp will rejoin..let's see if how many has still faith in MP or has moved to MM era..

[ReaPsTA]

Re: Derek Sherinian - He was fired for a very specific reason - DT wanted Rudess all along.  In this case, it seems they got the guy they wanted from the get go.

is there a poll where dt forum members will vote if they think mp will rejoin..let's see if how many has still faith in MP or has moved to MM era..

You're confusing two different things.  What you think of MP vs. MM as a drummer has nothing to do with whether you believe based on the facts of the situation DT will switch back.  At least not logically.

Metropolis - I guess what I don't understand is why you think DT isn't fully committed to MM as a band member.  They wrote one album without him because they wanted to rediscover the core writing chemistry.  Even if they keep using this writing method (which I certainly hope they don't), there's still every reason to believe they want MM for how he performs the drum parts and as someone to ride in a tour bus with.  Even if he ends up being more or less a session musician in DT, then they want him for that role.

Right after MP left, I figured MP coming back after a couple albums was a possibility.  Things would be different, everyone would have been in a different place emotionally, and MP/JP/JR/JLB/JM would have collectively decided they had a good thing and it was time to bring it back together.  But the MP/DT breakup has been too bitter and has exposed too many fundamental differences between the parties.  How they'd ever work together again as a band is beyond me.  I could maybe (maybe) see at some point MP doing G3 shows with Petrucci, but why do you think JP/JM/JR/JLB would ever want him in Dream Theater again?  Do you think DT will fail with Mangini as a drummer due to lower quality music or lack of fan acceptance?  And even if that's the case, given how generally accepting/welcoming DT's fans have been to Mangini, why is Portnoy the only option to return?  Even though it's extremely unlikely, if DT makes any drummer switch it'd be Mangini for Minnemann.

I guess I'm saying it in a nicer way, but I agree with everyone else here.  It seems you're projecting your feelings about MP leaving onto the band.  I mean, it seems obvious to me, but like, you don't accept Mangini as the new drummer, so you don't think DT is.  You want Portnoy back, so you think DT wants Portnoy back.  You want to talk about actions, they already rejected that offer.

Meh, I dunno.  I tried.

[Knguro]

DT would be stupid to have MP rejoin. If this forum is any indication of the greater fanbase, DT weren't the only ones invigorated by this change.

rumborak

I guess they weren't invigorated enough to let him contribute to the album.

Hey MP how are you doing buddy? How's the denial phase? I didnt know you had join the forum too!

[orcus116]

DT would be stupid to have MP rejoin. If this forum is any indication of the greater fanbase, DT weren't the only ones invigorated by this change.

rumborak

Just remember, for every member of this forum there's 2 dozen "PLAY SCENES IN CHILE!!!!!!" fans around in the world.

[tri.ad]

is there a poll where dt forum members will vote if they think mp will rejoin..let's see if how many has still faith in MP or has moved to MM era..

Expect a landslide. In favour of MM, of course.

The fact that this post needed a disclaimer like this is pretty sad imo.

[ubit]

I'm shocked how quickly people have come to dislike Mike Portnoy. 

I would love if he came back, but I'm fine that he will not.  Mangini will do great in his place.  But wow - people seem totally anti-MP now. 

[orcus116]

Depends on how you look at it. I do feel bad for Portnoy the person but as a musician and a leader his priorities seemed to stale as a member of Dream Theater. This is working two ways, as it seems the members have found other outlets to enhance the band in his absence, ones that weren't previously available under his guidance. Whether or not it will work remains to be seen but I can't say I'm not genuinely more excited now that they have something to prove again.

[hefdaddy42]

is there a poll where dt forum members will vote if they think mp will rejoin..let's see if how many has still faith in MP or has moved to MM era..

Again, you need to let that shit go.

[Super Dude]

I'm shocked how quickly people have come to dislike Mike Portnoy. 

I would love if he came back, but I'm fine that he will not.  Mangini will do great in his place.  But wow - people seem totally anti-MP now. 

I mean anti-MP sentiments have been around this particular forum for a number of years, so it's not *that* new.  And I realize you're new so you wouldn't know that, so I just thought I'd clear that up.

[Slain]

DT would be stupid to have MP rejoin. If this forum is any indication of the greater fanbase, DT weren't the only ones invigorated by this change.

rumborak

Just remember, for every member of this forum there's 2 dozen "PLAY SCENES IN CHILE!!!!!!" fans around in the world.

It's so true... it's even sadder when you read comments that say "HEY MIKE, YOU AND DT COME PORTUGAL" even to this day. Or even people that think Mike is still in avenged sevenfold, and that's why he left DT.

[phentalmyst]

and that's why he left DT.

irony...

[JasonScandopolous]

is there a poll where dt forum members will vote if they think mp will rejoin..let's see if how many has still faith in MP or has moved to MM era..

Again, you need to let that shit go.

well, theres no harm in letting him do a poll.... he would maybe see how outnumbered he is, despite being a wise Prophet.

[ZirconBlue]

It seems you're projecting your feelings about MP leaving onto the band.  I mean, it seems obvious to me, but like, you don't accept Mangini as the new drummer, so you don't think DT is.  You want Portnoy back, so you think DT wants Portnoy back.  You want to talk about actions life-long mistakes, they already rejected that offer.

ftfy 

[reo73]

*Speculation Alert*

On the issue of MP coming back, I think it may come down to how their respective careers go from this point forward.  If DT find themselves in a few years with low album sales, declining concert attendance and just a lack of general interest in them and then on the flip side Portnoy's career flounders, I could see them coming to mutual agreement about reconnecting to help spark something.

If both their careers go well then I can maybe see a reunion show somewhere down the line but not a getting back together.

But if only one of their careers goes well then I see bad blood here to stay for a long time.  Especially if it's DT career that keeps on pace.