Mike Portnoy on wanting to rejoin Dream Theater

[jonnybaxy]

So who did MP go crazy at and why?

Go through it.... Word for word.

[Kotowboy]

He went mad at DT for having inspiration from other bands after he left the band.

Because it was HIS idea.

[Super Dude]

Edit: Derp.

[jonnybaxy]

I meant people were saying that MP went crazy at someone off here for pissing him off or something

[Victor Alexandrov]

https://www.mikeportnoy.com/forum/tm.aspx?high=&m=2455985&mpage=1#2456294

PetDick

[rumborak]

The guy probably wasn't too smart to go to town about that song on MP's own site. Then again, the lyrics *are* cringeworthy to the max.

[EdenHazard]

Oh my, that thread is quite embarrassing.

[MoraWintersoul]

Well that was... uhm, painful.

[Elaitch]

The guy probably wasn't too smart to go to town about that song on MP's own site. Then again, the lyrics *are* cringeworthy to the max.

Seems like he might as well have gone and spat on Mike's father's grave It would roughly have been equally as tactful.

[wasteland]

I read it right when it happened. I can both understand the matter but not the form of PetFish's criticism as well as Mike's reaction.

Anyway, not sure it's for the best for this discussion to dig up again such an unpleasant moment. PetFish is a member of this community now, and I would understand him if he felt quite unconfortable to see his mistake, for which he promptly and sincerely apologized in the very same thread page, catching up with him once again.

[yeshaberto]

the anonymity factor of the internet is definitely one of the downsides

[SeRoX]

Well that was quite disturbing.

I mean the thread was all about discussing the lyrics of BCSL and The Best Of Times has the worst lyrical theme, close with TCOT. And what's wrong with that? It can be personal, it can mean so much to someone but that does not change the fact it's truly bad. I don't judge Mike's writing ability. We have ACOS which I think his peak point and while ACOS and TBOT are about his losses I understand the sensitive point but let's look at ACOS and see how its lyrics are amazing as a whole and look TBOT, it's simply plain, far from being emotional. That is the whole point. What makes beautiful TBOT is James' vocal and JP's solo. And I don't see Petfish comment so offensive. He is just being honest like MP (?!) in every case. To be honest, I lol'd when I saw the comment Petfish step aside from his thoughts.

I know this thread is not about this but just saying. Actually we don't need to answer to the doubtful MP fans if he has a quick tempered personality or not. He already answers this himself.

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

The guy probably wasn't too smart to go to town about that song on MP's own site. Then again, the lyrics *are* cringeworthy to the max.

Seems like he might as well have gone and spat on Mike's father's grave It would roughly have been equally as tactful.

Yeah, because criticizing lyrics for a song are equivalent on spitting on a dead man's grave.

[robwebster]

In fairness to PetFish, I can't particularly fault what he posted. Not how I'd have phrased it, but I've seen far more scathing posts in our own front garden. Besides, he's right, the lyrics do say "days" a lot. Not the right place to post it, but MP.com's about the only place it would stand to get a reaction like that. Seems like an honest mistake - and one that happened, and finished. Ages ago! I'm with wasteland, bit classless to dredge it up.

[BlobVanDam]

The guy probably wasn't too smart to go to town about that song on MP's own site. Then again, the lyrics *are* cringeworthy to the max.

Seems like he might as well have gone and spat on Mike's father's grave It would roughly have been equally as tactful.

Yeah, because criticizing lyrics for a song are equivalent on spitting on a dead man's grave.

That's a gross oversimplification. It was harshly insulting lyrics about MP's recently deceased father, on his own forum of all places.

Not that the extent of his reaction was justified, but I can fully understand it the reaction considering how personal it is.


And do we really need to dig up news from 3 years ago to find ammo now?

[philmcson]

And do we really need to dig up news from 3 years ago to find ammo now?

This. First I thought it was some recent post, but then.... 2009?!? Well, hopefully no one has saved a file on their computer with all of MP's fails throughout the years and will post one every month.....

[bosk1]

Holy shit, never looked at it that way. I'm in the very small club of having had two former DT members being pissed at me.
Might even be 3 if Chris Collins read my "leprechaun vocals" comment.

Yeah, whatever.  Once you've had Mike Pornoy get Neal Morse worked up enough to challenge you to step outside and throw down, then come talk to me. 

[bobs23]

The guy probably wasn't too smart to go to town about that song on MP's own site. Then again, the lyrics *are* cringeworthy to the max.

Seems like he might as well have gone and spat on Mike's father's grave It would roughly have been equally as tactful.

Yeah, because criticizing lyrics for a song are equivalent on spitting on a dead man's grave.

In the context of TBOT, yes it is the equivalent of spitting on his fathers grave. You may prefer MP's lyrics on ACOS, but like them or not TBOT lyrics are just as personal to him. This song was not about a fictional count or vampire or any other story from imagination. This was a true story and tribute to a persons father. In this case, the "guise" of message board discussion is full of crap. You don't like the song or lyrics, fine. Leave it there.

[wasteland]

And do we really need to dig up news from 3 years ago to find ammo now?

This. First I thought it was some recent post, but then.... 2009?!? Well, hopefully no one has saved a file on their computer with all of MP's fails throughout the years and will post one every month.....

Yup. Let's get back IT, come on

[Perpetual Change]

Personally, I also do not like the lyrics to The Best of Times. I used to sit on a submissions panel for an annual publication of short stories, and every year there would ALWAYS be a flood of heartfelt pieces writers wrote after they lost a friend or loved one.  These were almost always sentimental and sincere, and were often nice pieces, but they were rarely well-written or interesting enough to be included in the publication. It was always tough to turn such pieces down, but it was necessary for the sake of creating a magazine that people would want to read. Likewise, it's tough to admit I dislike TBoT when asked, and even tougher to voice a criticism of it when pressed for one, but it's better than misleading people and being dishonest.

[abydos]

Just compare the TBoT lyrics to ACOS. Nothing more needs to be said I think.

[TAC]

I have always looke at the criticism to TBOT's lyrics akin to opening the obituary section of the paper, reading some family's poem to a passed loved one, calling them up, and saying the poem was lame.
Where's the decency? I have always felt that those lyrics, above all, should be respected.

The difference between ACOS and TBOT, really? Sure ACOS may be more "artful" and imaginative, but TBOT were words that he specifically wanted to say to his father. I actually find them quite touching.

[Perpetual Change]

I have always looke at the criticism to TBOT's lyrics akin to opening the obituary section of the paper, reading some family's poem to a passed loved one, calling them up, and saying the poem was lame.
Where's the decency? I have always felt that those lyrics, above all, should be respected.

The comparison just does not work. A more honest comparison would be, someone hands you an eulogy they wrote for a family member and then markets it to you and asks you to purchase it for your personal entertainment.

DT and MP are commercial artists, who write and perform music for private profit. I'm sure the fact that they love doing it doesn't hurt either, but popular entertainment is never beyond criticism, and that's the risk artists take when they package their spilled guts and/or broken hearts to the masses.

[philmcson]

I'd like to add that as far as I know, he wrote the lyrics to ACOS a few years AFTER his mother's death; writing TBOT with his father on the deathbed he maybe had some "inner clock" ticking (not knowing whether the song would be done before he'd pass away) and as he was facing this imminent threat, he certainly was in a different state of mind and surely didn't care as much about avoiding to write the word "days" too much as about just creating a farewell message for his father.

[rumborak]

I agree with PC. MP and DT are commercial artists who know that everything they put out is and will be subject to criticism. That is very different from an obituary.

[TAC]

Yeah I understand that.

But as DT fans we know the spirit on which those lyrics were written. Sure, they were included on an album and sold to the public, but c'mon. Let's stop hiding behind that.

[PetFish]

Great, thanks a lot guys, I really appreciate you digging up this crappy episode from a long time ago.

I had to put up with A LOT of shit and hate mail over poorly chosen wording and inappropriateness and people are *still* harassing me about it when I try and post stuff at MP's site, which isn't even very often.

I partly came here to get away from this and it was going well until now.  You can already see people starting to make negative judgments about me since this was dug up.

God dammit.

PS - Thanks to those who are being understanding (again) about this.

[rumborak]

Yeah I understand that.

But as DT fans we know the spirit on which those lyrics were written. Sure, they were included on an album and sold to the public, but c'mon. Let's stop hiding behind that.

I actually see it exactly the other way around. To be perfectly honest, IMHO MP was hiding behind the subject matter of the song.
In the end, MP wants to be an artist. An artist bares himself to the world, but to quote on of my favorite movies: "A pie in the face comes with the job."
When you put a song on an album that will be sold to thousands of people, you should expect that for every aspect of it, somebody will vocally dislike it. If you don't want that to happen, don't put it on the CD. He just as well could have simply recorded it just for his dad and left it at that.
Mind you, it probably wasn't PetFish's smartest move in the world to put this on MP's forum. But MP's reaction wasn't warranted either.

[Perpetual Change]

[

Yeah I understand that.

But as DT fans we know the spirit on which those lyrics were written. Sure, they were included on an album and sold to the public, but c'mon. Let's stop hiding behind that.

I actually see it exactly the other way around. To be perfectly honest, IMHO MP was hiding behind the subject matter of the song.
In the end, MP wants to be an artist. An artist bares himself to the world, but to quote on of my favorite movies: "A pie in the face comes with the job."
When you put a song on an album that will be sold to thousands of people, you should expect that for every aspect of it, somebody will vocally dislike it. If you don't want that to happen, don't put it on the CD. He just as well could have simply recorded it just for his dad and left it at that.
Mind you, it probably wasn't PetFish's smartest move in the world to put this on MP's forum. But MP's reaction wasn't warranted either.

Bingo. From the fans point of view, maybe I spent $80 on a super deluxe box set before hearing more than a tenth of the music on the record. I have to hide complaints and criticism if I think it's bad? If that's the case, maybe DT should make ALL their songs about their faithfully departed

[TAC]

I get that it's out there and OPEN to criticism. I understand people's rights to not like it, and even criticise it.

For me, and I can only speak for myself, I just feel that regarding the subject and the spririt for which it was written, I would draw a line and leave it alone.

[MoraWintersoul]

Great, thanks a lot guys, I really appreciate you digging up this crappy episode from a long time ago.

I had to put up with A LOT of shit and hate mail over poorly chosen wording and inappropriateness and people are *still* harassing me about it when I try and post stuff at MP's site, which isn't even very often.

I partly came here to get away from this and it was going well until now.  You can already see people starting to make negative judgments about me since this was dug up.

God dammit.

PS - Thanks to those who are being understanding (again) about this.

Oh dude, don't feel bad about it, it's by-gones! I don't think anyone here is mad at you or judging you. It's just one thing you in speed posted on the internet and you feel bad about it but I'm sure even Mike forgot about it by now.

[DT2003]

Picture one of the most important people in your life in his final days.... you pour your heart and soul into creating a song with the most meanginful lyrics you've ever written and then someone calls it embarrassingly cringeworthy and accuses you of not putting thought into the words.  I'm sorry but IMO Mike was not out of line at all with what he said.  To me what was done was no better than if you are at a funeral and you criticize someone for not putting enough thought into their eulogy. 

[rumborak]

Your analogy would be comparable if the person had uploaded the eulogy to Youtube and charged money for watching it.

[bosk1]

And this thread is not about The Best Of Times or a 3-year-old thread on MP.com that is about that song.  Clearly, this thread has long ago run its course.