Mike Portnoy interview today

Adami · April 22, 2011, 10:05:16 PM

Quote from: njdtfan on April 22, 2011, 10:04:33 PM
and to say the drummers you noted could play circles around Mike is just down right ridicoulus.

I believe Portnoy himself has said this about several of the drummers.

Progmetty · April 22, 2011, 10:29:08 PM

I hope he never regrets his decision cause I want him to continue to be happy and productive like this, best of luck MP

yeshaberto · April 22, 2011, 10:42:31 PM

I thought the way he referred to DT several times indicated to me that he is moving forward

Progmetty · April 22, 2011, 10:44:44 PM

Yeah cause the guy conducting the interview didn't mention DT at all.

liquidtension · April 22, 2011, 10:45:01 PM

I am happy to see him in a setting where he doesn't come off as whining about DT or whatever. He's always been a musician I greatly admire and am eager for the new stuff too.

Good interview.

KevShmev · April 22, 2011, 10:46:11 PM

Good interview. He came off well there, although I don't buy him being happier than ever. The DT split is not something that you get over right away, which is probably why he is keeping himself super busy with multiple projects.

darkshot · April 22, 2011, 10:48:23 PM

Yeah he seems to be keeping himself very busy with all of these countless projects he's working on. Hopefully that will satisfy his urge to be playing all different kinds of music nonstop, and he won't necessarily be tied down to any of them. He definitely sounds like he's doing ok.

He did look thinner which was probably why people say something seems off about him, as far as his personality goes, he seems to be the same MP as always I don't see anything wrong. I think he really is telling the truth about being happy with where he is, he's accepted that DT is in his past now, and hes moving forward full throttle. I wish him all the best in his projects.

rumborak · April 22, 2011, 11:18:24 PM

Quote from: njdtfan on April 22, 2011, 10:01:03 PM
But Portnoy got lazy? Based on what.

Based on the records. IMHO his drumming in DT got predictable and formulaic. And seemingly others agreed; he used to dominate drumming awards, but since the early 2000s that has dried up quite a bit.
Listen, I'm not on a crusade against MP. But, to say that MP is in the top 5 is just not realistic.

rumborak

SystematicThought · April 22, 2011, 11:18:37 PM

He seemed fine to me. The interview was great. The ending seemed a bit Charlie Sheen-esque but it also seemed fitting and cleared up some things, he does seem like he wants to move on. And towards the end, he seems to say that he loves the music he had with DT and loves that music.

Concerning what someone brought up about teeth, in my opinion, none of the DT guys have had the best teeth from what I've seen.

atmyne · April 23, 2011, 01:37:17 AM

Quote from: SystematicThought on April 22, 2011, 11:18:37 PM
He seemed fine to me.

robwebster · April 23, 2011, 02:32:56 AM

Quote from: Adami on April 22, 2011, 08:20:03 PM
What a strange room for an interview.

I've seen weirder. I've interviewed in weirder, even. For good reason, though. They've almost certainly picked it for its acoustic - those cardboard boxes will be ideal. Sounds gorgeous as a result. Thank god. Video interviews rarely do. But here, the levels are perfect and the audio lovely and crisp.

More interviews should be done in rooms made of cardboard.

FlashCE · April 23, 2011, 02:57:04 AM

Did everyone miss the part where he said he would work out with A7X everyday?

Mladen · April 23, 2011, 02:58:53 AM

Lets try to leave behind everything that happened in the last seven months or so, because it was some really tough time for him - Mike Portnoy is still one of my all time favorite drummers, and one hell of a guy.

hefdaddy42 · April 23, 2011, 03:10:34 AM

Quote from: rumborak on April 22, 2011, 11:18:24 PM
Quote from: njdtfan on April 22, 2011, 10:01:03 PM
But Portnoy got lazy? Based on what.

Based on the records. IMHO his drumming in DT got predictable and formulaic. And seemingly others agreed; he used to dominate drumming awards, but since the early 2000s that has dried up quite a bit.
Listen, I'm not on a crusade against MP. But, to say that MP is in the top 5 is just not realistic.

rumborak

MP himself has described most of the drummers that rumby listed as being miles ahead of himself. MP has also stated that he "never" practices - he just shows up to the studio to record, and shows up to perform when the band gets ready to tour. But he doesn't practice. That is probably where rumby's "lazy" comment comes from. And frankly, it shows that he doesn't practice - his drumming, although very effective, is very formulaic. He doesn't come up with anything new anymore, he just dips into his "bag of tricks" - which he has also referenced himself on numerous occasions.

So rumby is exactly right. But hey, if he is your favorite drummer, then fine, no reason he shouldn't be. But nothing rumby said about him is untrue, and it has all come straight from MP's own mouth multiple times.

ReaPsTA · April 23, 2011, 03:44:35 AM

Quote from: hefdaddy42 on April 23, 2011, 03:10:34 AM
MP himself has described most of the drummers that rumby listed as being miles ahead of himself. MP has also stated that he "never" practices - he just shows up to the studio to record, and shows up to perform when the band gets ready to tour. But he doesn't practice. That is probably where rumby's "lazy" comment comes from. And frankly, it shows that he doesn't practice - his drumming, although very effective, is very formulaic. He doesn't come up with anything new anymore, he just dips into his "bag of tricks" - which he has also referenced himself on numerous occasions.

So rumby is exactly right. But hey, if he is your favorite drummer, then fine, no reason he shouldn't be. But nothing rumby said about him is untrue, and it has all come straight from MP's own mouth multiple times.

All of this is why I liked him more to a degree on the side-projects near the end of his DT career. It seemed like he stretched himself more as an artist.

ariich · April 23, 2011, 04:28:38 AM

He's looking good, you can see that he's a bit tired in that vid but he looks healthy and slim. Does take some getting used to though!

As for the content, it was a pretty interesting interview. Not the most exciting questions being asked, but Mike gave some pretty interesting responses. I guess it's because we're not seeing so many interviews from him these days, that he actually has new things to say, which is really good.

phentalmyst · April 23, 2011, 04:45:43 AM

Quote from: njdtfan on April 22, 2011, 10:04:33 PM
and to say the drummers you noted could play circles around Mike is just down right ridicoulus.

except for the fact that MP himself has said this many times...

Mladen · April 23, 2011, 04:58:24 AM

Quote from: Mladen on April 23, 2011, 02:58:53 AM
Lets try to leave behind everything that happened in the last seven months or so, because it was some really tough time for him - Mike Portnoy is still one of my all time favorite drummers, and one hell of a guy.

And I forgot to say that the interview is incredible.

hefdaddy42 · April 23, 2011, 05:04:26 AM

Quote from: phentalmyst on April 23, 2011, 04:45:43 AM
Quote from: njdtfan on April 22, 2011, 10:04:33 PM
and to say the drummers you noted could play circles around Mike is just down right ridicoulus.

except for the fact that MP himself has said this many times...

And that it's true.

King Postwhore · April 23, 2011, 05:18:30 AM

Very good interview. But like other people said, what a strange place for an interview!! Mike Portnoy, drum fill, aisle 5!

Quarter_Cask · April 23, 2011, 05:26:36 AM

mike looks fine
i look forward to hearing those projects he is working on

robwebster · April 23, 2011, 05:32:21 AM

Quote from: majo on April 23, 2011, 05:26:36 AM
mike looks fine
i look forward to hearing those projects he is working on

Same! Absolutely pumped to hear the big collab one with the alternative rock singer. Wasn't excited until the singer was announced - it just sounded like yet another collaboration with Neal Morse - but it sounds now like he's doing something absolutely brand new. Which is very exciting.

In fact, I think this has panned out as well as humanly possible. Mike wanted to leave the band to do something fresh, which would've meant putting the band on hold. Now that he's left, though, we still get to hear Portnoy doing new and exciting things, but we get a new Dream Theater album on top of that. Plus, Dream Theater have been mixed up a bit, too which could give them a new lease of life. Certainly gives them something to prove. Not to mention that if you change the songwriters, the music's inevitably going to change anyway. No matter how many influences you incorporate, every songwriter has his own distinct style, and Petrucci's style is different to Portnoy's. And, as much as I love DT - and as much as I've loved the last four albums, actually - I feel ready for a change.

Whoa. What a tangent. Still - point is, this is a very good time to be a DT fan. And to be a Mike Portnoy fan.

hefdaddy42 · April 23, 2011, 05:44:45 AM

I agree, rob. I am definitely excited.

FretMuppet · April 23, 2011, 06:19:23 AM

Quote from: robwebster on April 23, 2011, 05:32:21 AM
Quote from: majo on April 23, 2011, 05:26:36 AM
mike looks fine
i look forward to hearing those projects he is working on

Same! Absolutely pumped to hear the big collab one with the alternative rock singer. Wasn't excited until the singer was announced - it just sounded like yet another collaboration with Neal Morse - but it sounds now like he's doing something absolutely brand new. Which is very exciting.

In fact, I think this has panned out as well as humanly possible. Mike wanted to leave the band to do something fresh, which would've meant putting the band on hold. Now that he's left, though, we still get to hear Portnoy doing new and exciting things, but we get a new Dream Theater album on top of that. Plus, Dream Theater have been mixed up a bit, too which could give them a new lease of life. Certainly gives them something to prove. Not to mention that if you change the songwriters, the music's inevitably going to change anyway. No matter how many influences you incorporate, every songwriter has his own distinct style, and Petrucci's style is different to Portnoy's. And, as much as I love DT - and as much as I've loved the last four albums, actually - I feel ready for a change.

Whoa. What a tangent. Still - point is, this is a very good time to be a DT fan. And to be a Mike Portnoy fan.

Black cloud, silver lining

Quite a few silver linings in fact...

reneranucci · April 23, 2011, 07:32:12 AM

Quote from: KevShmev on April 22, 2011, 10:46:11 PM
Good interview. He came off well there, although I don't buy him being happier than ever. The DT split is not something that you get over right away, which is probably why he is keeping himself super busy with multiple projects.

But he was keeping himself super busy with multiple projects when he was in DT, too. And he seems really happy in the interview, the same talkative, over the top MP as ever.

abydos · April 23, 2011, 07:52:25 AM

He looks a bit pale but other than that - fine. The weight loss thing doesn't seem anything else than just working out, imo. Wish him all the best in the future, definitely looking forward to the thing with R. Allen.

KevShmev · April 23, 2011, 08:06:28 AM

Quote from: reneranucci on April 23, 2011, 07:32:12 AM
Quote from: KevShmev on April 22, 2011, 10:46:11 PM
Good interview. He came off well there, although I don't buy him being happier than ever. The DT split is not something that you get over right away, which is probably why he is keeping himself super busy with multiple projects.

But he was keeping himself super busy with multiple projects when he was in DT, too. And he seems really happy in the interview, the same talkative, over the top MP as ever.

I don't know, it seems like he is in more projects than normal right now. And I am not saying he didn't look happy - How could you tell? He was wearing sunglasses, and if someone is sad or not happy, you can usually see it in their eyes - just that I don't buy him being happier than ever.

Mebert78 · April 23, 2011, 08:19:45 AM

Next Blabbermouth headline: "Portnoy: I don't like making Blabbermouth headlines"

CrimsonSunrise · April 23, 2011, 08:24:27 AM

I think overall he looked good. I don't think he's fallen off the wagon, or at least that he wasn't loaded in this interview. He's not a youngster anymore, and with his level of energy/output, it's understanding that he might seem a bit tired or "Off". Like someone else mentioned, he's been going full bore since the split... that's going to take a toll on anyone. I hope Mike finds happiness and success, he works hard, he's talented beyond imagination, and he deserves it. I do agree a bit that he has tapered off creativity wise, maybe like Hef mentioned he's gotten a bit complacent when it comes to growth as a drummer. That being said, he's still in the top tier of rock drummers to me.

ariich · April 23, 2011, 09:14:25 AM

Quote from: KevShmev on April 23, 2011, 08:06:28 AM
Quote from: reneranucci on April 23, 2011, 07:32:12 AM
Quote from: KevShmev on April 22, 2011, 10:46:11 PM
Good interview. He came off well there, although I don't buy him being happier than ever. The DT split is not something that you get over right away, which is probably why he is keeping himself super busy with multiple projects.

But he was keeping himself super busy with multiple projects when he was in DT, too. And he seems really happy in the interview, the same talkative, over the top MP as ever.

I don't know, it seems like he is in more projects than normal right now. And I am not saying he didn't look happy - How could you tell? He was wearing sunglasses, and if someone is sad or not happy, you can usually see it in their eyes - just that I don't buy him being happier than ever.

Yeah, I would guess "as happy as usual" would be more accurate, but Portnoy is never one to say things in moderation.

JPX · April 23, 2011, 10:20:19 AM

Quote from: hefdaddy42 on April 23, 2011, 03:10:34 AM
Quote from: rumborak on April 22, 2011, 11:18:24 PM
Quote from: njdtfan on April 22, 2011, 10:01:03 PM
But Portnoy got lazy? Based on what.

Based on the records. IMHO his drumming in DT got predictable and formulaic. And seemingly others agreed; he used to dominate drumming awards, but since the early 2000s that has dried up quite a bit.
Listen, I'm not on a crusade against MP. But, to say that MP is in the top 5 is just not realistic.

rumborak

MP himself has described most of the drummers that rumby listed as being miles ahead of himself. MP has also stated that he "never" practices - he just shows up to the studio to record, and shows up to perform when the band gets ready to tour. But he doesn't practice. That is probably where rumby's "lazy" comment comes from. And frankly, it shows that he doesn't practice - his drumming, although very effective, is very formulaic. He doesn't come up with anything new anymore, he just dips into his "bag of tricks" - which he has also referenced himself on numerous occasions.

So rumby is exactly right. But hey, if he is your favorite drummer, then fine, no reason he shouldn't be. But nothing rumby said about him is untrue, and it has all come straight from MP's own mouth multiple times.

This...which is why many of us are excited at the prospect of hungry new drummer. No more mailed in performances.

hefdaddy42 · April 23, 2011, 04:40:30 PM

Quote from: ariich on April 23, 2011, 09:14:25 AM
Portnoy is never one to say things in moderation.

ariich · April 24, 2011, 02:02:40 AM

Zydar · April 24, 2011, 02:03:28 AM

Lowdz · April 24, 2011, 06:01:19 AM

If only his internet postings were as tactful as this interview, would have saved alot of shit between the guys. I suppose he's had a while to get used to the idea and it's not so raw (though still painful probably).
I agree that he looks and sounds fine. He is getting older of course and fatigue will set in more than before when he stays this busy.
I'm looking forward to each of these projects and am interested in the two yet to come. The longer he stays away from forming a band, the more it will fuel the "MP back in DT rumours".
I wish him all the best.

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Mike Portnoy interview today