New Mike Mangini interview

[jamhet]

But the important thing here is that we now know that there are at least six tracks on the new Dream Theater album.

I would even dare to say there are at least 7, on the assumption that if there were six, he would refer to it as "the last track" 

[randymarsh]

I'm pretty sure that MM is still writing his own parts for the most part...he is just not writing the songs themselves. He is letting the rest of the guys be the songwriters, and then he comes in. I think the interview confirms that, actually.

Exactly. For all we know, MM has 0 song-writing talent or experience.

not sure how you arrived to this conclusion. MM has written a few songs on Nuno's Schizophonic

[slycordinator]

Yes, the interview totally confirmes it.
But you gotta wonder, how this came about: Did the other members not invite him to the writing process or did MM himself said he doesn't need to be there?
What do you guys think?

This is assuming he was in the band when they did their primary writing sessions. Or that when they had already scheduled time for that, he didn't have other engagements set up already. You can't simply assume that if he wasn't there, they didn't want him there or he didn't want to be there.

[bosk1]

Dear god you are condescending jamhet.

I'm sorry if I sound like that. Have my word that I'm definitely not trying to.

Okay.  But here is what you need to take into account:  Several people on this forum, including at least one forum moderator and the forum administrator, feel that you are being condescending and insulting both toward forum members and toward Dream Theater.  Whether that is your intention or not, you need to understand that some members of this forum and the forum leadership feel that way, which should cause you to take a step back and re-evaluate what it is about your posts that are making people feel this way and what you need to change.  I cannot recommend strongly enough that you do this.  And taking another quick read through the forum rules wouldn't be a bad place to start either.

[purpleplanet10]

God, family, career. He's gonna fit in just fine with this band.

I was surprised to read that sequence actually, given that he played drums on an Extreme tune called "There is no God".

rumborak

Mangini only played on three songs on that Extreme album and "There Is No God" was not one of them, but the lryics are not saying there is no God, it's sayin that man is trying to say that there is no God, and that man is trying to justiy himself.
"a fool that says there is no God
don't feel for that sorry sod
who needs proof then he'll believe
i wonder if he's been deceived"
 Gary Cherone (along with Mangini and Pat Badger) used this song also in their band Tribe Of Judah live. ToJ was a border line Christian band.

[Raoul Sanchez]

Mike got the job and everyone was subject to the same parameters so it was fair across the board.

Dude, who said it wasn't? Who did even mentioned the aspect of fairness? Did anybody?

And jahmet, do you only listen to bands where the drummer is involved in writing the music?

No. Does anybody?

If you've drawn a conclusion that I think that the involvement of the drummer is neccessary to facilitate composing in any band and in any genre of music, then you clearly haven't even tried to understand what I've said. ;/

We're talking about a particular band, operating in a particular genre of music, aren't we?
We're talking about DT, not some any other band; not a blues band, a rock band, a pop band, where the drums just add a generic beat.

We're talking about a band playing a highly rhythmically complex music, which you don't compose by putting it into a consistent framework of a 4/4 metre, but you begin from building that very framework from the scratch.
Taking the instrument that will constitute that framwork out of the creative process....  man.

I've already given a good example. Either you question it or you don't. Do you?

It's not especially far fetched to write rhythmically complex music without a drummer. I tend to write stuff with a fair few time changes and I don't think about drums at all when writing, it all depends on the individuals approach.

I highly doubt DT just stuck on a generic drum loop and jammed over that, they're all highly skilled musicians who know what they're doing, and judging by MM's "while multi time signature shifts were going on, I was playing in a time signature that was completely different from those with one limb on one side of my body" comment they're still as intricate from a rhythmic perspective as ever.

[dongringo]

Then there's JR's test songs which he wrote himself and sent to JM and JP to learn. All the drummers found it difficult on the fly.

[JPX]

Mike got the job and everyone was subject to the same parameters so it was fair across the board.

Dude, who said it wasn't? Who did even mentioned the aspect of fairness? Did anybody?

Well this is a thread about Mike Mangini where he specifically referenced the audition process - then you chose to elaborate on the importance of warming up.

[Funkafonik]

Exactly. For all we know, MM has 0 song-writing talent or experience.

not sure how you arrived to this conclusion. MM has written a few songs on Nuno's Schizophonic

MM didn't write anything on Schizophonic, Nuno wrote/played/produced everything. MM only played on 2 tracks.
The only stuff he helped writing and was credited for was the 3 songs on Punchline.

[userx]

Sorry guys, but I gave a concrete example of why I think the way I think here:
https://www.dreamtheaterforums.org/boards/index.php?topic=22811.msg873417#msg873417
If you disagree, then you are welcome to refute it. Please do.

exactly. you gave a reason for why YOU THINK the things you THINK. on the other hand, you gave no example (and no one could give any such example) that would support your argument that writing without a drummer for a band like DT is something that would considerably worsen the compositions. alter them? definitely. but for better or for worse or just different, no one can tell but even so, it is not because there is a drummer present but because there's another person who contributes in the writing process. so what would be missing is MP's input, not a drummer's input. who knows what will happen. maybe it'll be better, maybe it'll be worse but what am I saying is that we cannot know that beforehand or even pinpoint it exactly afterwards because of the possible other variables

they are all professional musicians and the example of the beats you gave can be easily inside their heads already or added afterwards

anyhow, there are all sorts of things that can influence the writing process for us to just stress the drums

[skydivingninja]

I like this guy.  eh argues well and doesn't afraid of anything.

[clinks63]

i'm very happy with this one:

https://www.drummagazine.com/features/post/how-i-got-the-gig-mike-mangini/

DRUM!: Were you involved in writing new Dream Theater songs?
Mangini: I was zero involved in it. It's the four of them. This new material is stuff that they've never had the opportunity to do without a drummer. My involvement is going to be worrying about the drums and backing this band. I have too much work to do, you know? I've been off the stage as a full-time job for much too long. I just want to sit on a drum stool. I want to see those orange and magenta lights reflecting off my drums. I want to hear the crowd. I want to play drums – that's what I want to do right now. That's all I want to do. I didn't want to get involved in anything at that time. If I have strengths to offer the band, those will show themselves in time.

this shows the band is respecting MP in a very very great way..and respect of MM to MP as well, he will just play for the band..

i think i can listen to DT11 when released..

**sorry for repost..i have read this thread backwards..

[tri.ad]

 

[reneranucci]

[ReaPsTA]

[Perpetual Change]

clinks truly is not as might as we all once expected.

[kennedymichael]

The way I look at it is that we get the best of both worlds. 

DT11 will be an album by DT-MP.  We get to hear what is missed by MP not in the writing process, which is something I am very curious about.

Perhaps DT12 will be DT+MM.  I happen to think MM could provide valuable input during the writing process.  By the time they would start writing this album he should feel very comfortable with their relationship.

[hefdaddy42]

clinks truly is not as might as we all once expected.

what

[bosk1]

DT11 will be an album by DT-MP.  We get to hear what is missed by MP not in the writing process, which is something I am very curious about.

Yes, but I think people are kidding themselves if they think it will be vastly different than what the band has put out in the past.

[Kosmo]

clinks truly is not as might as we all once expected.

what

I have the same question.

[phentalmyst]

DT11 will be an album by DT-MP.  We get to hear what is missed by MP not in the writing process, which is something I am very curious about.

Yes, but I think people are kidding themselves if they think it will be vastly different than what the band has put out in the past.

you're going to start thinking i'm just out to argue with you, but i'm really not. we just have differing opinions on a lot of this.

i actually think it'll be vastly different because...

A) they wrote without the drums being involved. that doesn't mean it'll suck or anything like that, but it WILL change the dynamic

B) MP had a lot of say in the overall song structure and i personally think he was the one pushing to have riffs varied via key and time signatures. of course JR and JP can handle those tasks, but i'm willing to bet the outcome is gonna have a different flow than what it would if MP had stuck around.

C) JM is *apparently* much more involved this time around. i don't think he's REALLY been involved in the writing since SFAM or prior. so that's gonna change up the game.

D) this is just my hunch, but i'm betting because JLB is recording his parts in canada while JR is tracking keys at Cove, that his vocals are gonna sound more natural and like that of his solo cd. that, to me, is a VAST difference.

[Perpetual Change]

I don't think it will be vastly different, but it should theoretically have far fewer of those problems caused by writing and recording on the fly which we've seen on the last three or four Dream Theater discs. I mean, they actually demoed this record. And then they went in to record months later. I'm sure it won't be words away from what they've done previously, especially since the last two records are the most similar two Dream Theater records ever, but on the flipside I don't think we'll be hearing anything as jarringly un-reflected upon as "Dark Master," "Day after day..." and "My blood spilled on your brand new floor".

[JPX]

this shows the band is respecting MP in a very very great way..and respect of MM to MP as well, he will just play for the band..

i think i can listen to DT11 when released..

Say what? DT owes Portnoy zero respect regarding their output from the point he left.

I don't want Mangini to be here to just play Mike's parts and sit their in silence. He's here because of his talent and what he can bring to Dream Theater.

I appreciate that for this record it made sense for him to just contribute his drum parts to pre composed ideas but after this album bring it on!

[JPX]

DT11 will be an album by DT-MP.  We get to hear what is missed by MP not in the writing process, which is something I am very curious about.

Yes, but I think people are kidding themselves if they think it will be vastly different than what the band has put out in the past.

you're going to start thinking i'm just out to argue with you, but i'm really not. we just have differing opinions on a lot of this.

i actually think it'll be vastly different because...

A) they wrote without the drums being involved. that doesn't mean it'll suck or anything like that, but it WILL change the dynamic

B) MP had a lot of say in the overall song structure and i personally think he was the one pushing to have riffs varied via key and time signatures. of course JR and JP can handle those tasks, but i'm willing to bet the outcome is gonna have a different flow than what it would if MP had stuck around.

C) JM is *apparently* much more involved this time around. i don't think he's REALLY been involved in the writing since SFAM or prior. so that's gonna change up the game.

D) this is just my hunch, but i'm betting because JLB is recording his parts in canada while JR is tracking keys at Cove, that his vocals are gonna sound more natural and like that of his solo cd. that, to me, is a VAST difference.

Don't forget much less of 'inspiration corner'.

"Hey guy's, lets write a bunch of songs that sound like Muse because their my favorite band right now"

[phentalmyst]

yes! that!

[Raoul Sanchez]

I don't see it being vastly different, especially stylistically. But a very dominant personality has left their writing process, which is bound to have an impact on the writing dynamic which will show in the finished product.

[Perpetual Change]

phentalmyst, I totally agree with point D. James' vocals were recorded completely on the fly during Systematic Chaos and, to a lesser extent, Black Clouds. It really showed.

Can't wait to hear what he does at this more relaxed pace.

[ronrule]

Don't worry about his compositional chops.  It's all good guys...

from AllMusic's Mangini page:

2000    Who Let the Dogs Out    Baha Men       Mixing, Guitar, Engineer, Composer, Producer, Programming

He specifically got composer credit (along with others) for "Get Ya Party On"

[emtee]

I'm guessing we will be in for a treat. Seems like from all the comments the members (except Mangini) were
all participating in the creative process. Did I read correctly that JLB is recording vocals in Canada? Yep
I think I did, and that would mean nobody standing over him giving him direction. JM seems really involved.
I think we will get a really unique album. New and fresh.

*cheers*

[bosk1]

I'm guessing we will be in for a treat. Seems like from all the comments the members (except Mangini) were
all participating in the creative process. Did I read correctly that JLB is recording vocals in Canada? Yep
I think I did, and that would mean nobody standing over him giving him direction. JM seems really involved.
I think we will get a really unique album. New and fresh.

*cheers*

No, don't worry.  He said Chris is there, so it's not like he'll be just singing in a vaccuum without any input whatsoever.  Plus, I'm sure they can do pickup parts of JP and the guys hear something that doesn't quite sound right.

[lordxizor]

I don't anticipate a radical change from the previous albums. What I'm hope for is a little more joy and life (if that makes any sense) in this album. I think more than anything the remaining guys got a kick in the pants and hopefully a renewed vigour for making great music.

[Ben_Jamin]

I'm telling you its gonna have as much energy as Awake.

It seems they're trusting JLB with vocals, since Static Impluse was his best vocal work to date. I hope he incorporates some of his lower range, it sounded great.

[JasonScandopolous]

clinks truly is not as might as we all once expected.

Have faith, He will show His wisdom when the time is right

[gm5k]

Did any of the band members from the JLB band help James produce the Static Impulse vocals?  I know Guillory is listed as a producer for the album along with JLB...

Also, watching the "making of" vids of Static Impluse, Guillory also had the role of possibly making guide vocals for James, or that's what it looks like in the vids at least.  They could just be rough/reference vox for the band to use before James recorded.  Just makes me wonder if James would get any production help from an outside producer for vocals.

Edit:  Hm realized this is more appropriate for speculation thread.  Can't figure out how to delete. My bad 

[El JoNNo]

I hope JLB does those mean growls from Static Impulse on the new DT album. JLB is better than Mikael Akerfeldt at growling!