New Mike Mangini interview

[erik16]

https://www.moderndrummer.com/modern-drummer-blogs/Mike%20Mangini%20of%20Dream%20Theater/

Speaks mainly of his drum set. A bit on DT as well.

[Zydar]

"The new CD is scheduled for release in the fall."

[lordxizor]

The announcement that Modern Drummer Hall of Famer Mike Portnoy had left his longstanding position as the reigning king of prog-metal drumming with Dream Theater in order to join Avenged Sevenfold sent shockwaves through the drumming community.

Is this misconception going to live on forever?

[Fnejk]

The announcement that Modern Drummer Hall of Famer Mike Portnoy had left his longstanding position as the reigning king of prog-metal drumming with Dream Theater in order to join Avenged Sevenfold sent shockwaves through the drumming community.

Is this misconception going to live on forever?

Probably, especially since explaining that as the cause is easier than trying to explain the whole hiatus thing. Or it just "sounds better" to the authors of articles and such, and I guess some people have not heard the real reason.

[Mebert78]

I didn't know he had such a serious knee injury.  I really didn't know that much about him.  I hope he's since fixed his technique to avoid re-injury and can handle a grueling tour.

[robwebster]

The announcement that Modern Drummer Hall of Famer Mike Portnoy had left his longstanding position as the reigning king of prog-metal drumming with Dream Theater in order to join Avenged Sevenfold sent shockwaves through the drumming community.

Is this misconception going to live on forever?

Probably, especially since explaining that as the cause is easier than trying to explain the whole hiatus thing. Or it just "sounds better" to the authors of articles and such, and I guess some people have not heard the real reason.

And, in fairness, as shorthand goes it's not an unfair one.

He did leave DT because he was enjoying the other projects more, and while he wanted to do both, it was one or the other, and he eventually opted for not-Dream Theater over Dream Theater. Which was his own prerogrative. And at that moment in time, not-Dream Theater was Avenged Sevenfold.

He was never their permanent drummer, and he didn't leave just so he could stick with Avenged Sevenfold, but that's infringing on excessive detail. It's not an unfair handwave. ("Other projects" would perhaps be slightly more representative, however.)

[7StringedBeast]

We have to wait till the fall for the new album.  Do not like.

[darkshade]

And I know he (MP) wanted to come back

[bosk1]

Added to the "what we know" thread.

[chrisbDTM]

ah its gonna be a long wait for fall

[matamor1]

Long wait indeed. Well I've been lurking around here long enough, and frankly Mangini joining DT is a pretty big even to just let it slide and keep lurking here without saying anything so here it goes: Welcome Mike!

[xeper]

Thanks for posting, great interview. I think this is so rad:

The toms are set up in an apex shape so that I can perform patterns as a classically trained musician. When guitarist John Petrucci plays a minor scale from high to low, descending one note at a time, I can also descend one note at a time on my toms, in the exact sequence.

[Mebert78]

ah its gonna be a long wait for fall

Better than waiting 4-5 years like MP had initially proposed!  I'll sign up for a fall release. 

[Aniland]

In 2009, I was literally lying on the floor of my garage, completely physically and emotionally drained, unsure where my career was going.

^This makes me even happier about Mangini getting the job.

[Super Dude]

Y'know if you think about it, most DT albums are released around nine months after the official announcement that the band has entered the studio (Sept-June), and the delay from MP leaving was about three months, so it's not like the wait is that much longer and in a way it's still being released as per the usual schedule.

[jamhet]

I wish Mang all the health in the world. Playing drums with injuries is no fun, and I've been doing this for a couple of years now...

This is awesome:

My cymbal setup is designed to complement the specific dynamic frequency in the same way. I'll use a smaller cymbal for high notes in the music and larger cymbals to accentuate the lower notes.

[TAC]

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

[tri.ad]

MM's story of his position he was in two years ago and him being in DT now makes me think that maybe things do even out in the long run. I'm even more delighted about him getting the job he was apparently aching for than I was before.

[Durg]

Such a complicated set up. This next CD is going to be EPIC.

[rumborak]

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

[abydos]

Fall... so depressing.

[Big Crouton]

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

I don't think there's any reason to believe that the members of a band necessarily agree with the content of the lyrics of the band.  I'd be surprised to hear that sequence from Gary or Nuno, but not from Mike Pat or Paul.

Also, from what I remember about the interview (I read it a couple hours ago) he gave a pretty generic answer for what 'God' is in that sequence, which could have been spoken by pretty much anyone regardless of a believe in God.

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

Funny how before the MP thing happened everyone was like "I so hope they take their time to record and release their next album...maybe 1 year?" And now everyone's like "WANT NEW DT NOW!"


It's nice.  

[abydos]

Well people wanted them to take their time to do the writing/recording but since the album is nearly done and probably will be in two months it is annoying to have to wait another three for no good reason.

[gmillerdrake]

The announcement that Modern Drummer Hall of Famer Mike Portnoy had left his longstanding position as the reigning king of prog-metal drumming with Dream Theater in order to join Avenged Sevenfold sent shockwaves through the drumming community.

Is this misconception going to live on forever?

I know that MP has stated that he didn't leave DT for A7X and that he honestly wanted a hiatus and needed a 'break' from the DT life and relationships....but I have a feeling he thought in the back of his mind that if/when he left DT....A7X was going to ask him to join full time..if not full time then at least to finish out the rest of thier tour for 'Nightmare'.
Back around the end of 10' beginning of 11' he posted some pretty (at the time) cryptic 'tweets' saying to the effect of 'you can't trust anyone but your family' and 'I'm so sad' and so on. That was well after he had left DT and merely a few days later it was revealed he indeed was ending as A7X's drummer at the end of the year and they were bringing in some other dude. I think he believed (or desperately wanted) A7X to ask him to take over since DT was no longer in the picture and when they didn't he felt 'betrayed' or whatever leading to those 'tweets'. Yes it's pure speculation on my part but I think it's a warranted speculation.
  I just think that he may have not left DT fully for A7X reasons...but being that he was on tour with them at the time and clearly having a fantastic..rejuvinating time in his life...I think that 'they' weighed more on his decision than he gives credit or will admit to. Especially after he had been dismissed by them he approached DT to try and get back into the band with (what I consider) a half hearted excuse of 'it's for the fans'.
   I personally love MP...he was the only reason I began listening to DT back in 93' but I think the entire 'saga' has turned out for the best for everyone involved. MP's 'free agency' is and will continue to allow him to drum at his choice with the finest musicians and DT has what seems to be a rejuvination of thier own and has landed a drummer who will undoubtedly compliment them well and bridge any percieved gap by MP's departure.

[Obfuscation]

Every day and each new thing that I read about Mangini makes me want to listen to the new album more and more. My patience is running thin right now.

[reneranucci]

Funny how before the MP thing happened everyone was like "I so hope they take their time to record and release their next album...maybe 1 year?" And now everyone's like "WANT NEW DT NOW!"


It's nice.  

Not only that, but many people here who criticize Dt's recent output were suggesting "the band should just take a long break and focus in other projects, that would help DT's material a lot", but when MP suggested exactly that, everybody was saying "he's so selfish" etc.

[IdoSC]

The announcement that Modern Drummer Hall of Famer Mike Portnoy had left his longstanding position as the reigning king of prog-metal drumming with Dream Theater in order to join Avenged Sevenfold sent shockwaves through the drumming community.

Is this misconception going to live on forever?

The spirit of this misconception carries on.

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

Funny how before the MP thing happened everyone was like "I so hope they take their time to record and release their next album...maybe 1 year?" And now everyone's like "WANT NEW DT NOW!"


It's nice.  

Not only that, but many people here who criticize Dt's recent output were suggesting "the band should just take a long break and focus in other projects, that would help DT's material a lot", but when MP suggested exactly that, everybody was saying "he's so selfish" etc.

That said, in my years of posting in these forums I don't think I've seen such a high anticipation towards the new record with Mangini. It felt like something big had to happen in Dream Theater so that excitement could sparkle, and it happened.

[drumguy32]

Here's another new interview (at least new to me) - I haven't seen it posted here yet: Drum! magazine:

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


My first post too - great forum!!

Nick

[IdoSC]

Great interview. I'm glad he feels like a complete part of the band and that he's completely confident despite Portnoy's second thoughts back in December or so. Hopefully he'll get to know the fans support him as a complete part of the band too in tour

All the best.

[robwebster]

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 that 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.

To an extent, I find that kind of comforting. I quite like the idea that he went "just do what you do - I'm sure it'll be brilliant, and then I can lay down some killer drums."

I'd love to hear him get more involved in the future, but I like that there was no element of "right, nose out, this is our business." He just wants to sit back and let them do what they do best. That's ace.

Incidentally, the next paragraph - where he talks about Track 6 (which sounds absolutely killer, by the way) is the first time it's really sank in that he's going to be playing on this album. The idea that we're going to hear Mike Mangini as a full-fledged member of Dream Theater. And the level of communication between him and Petrucci sounds wonderful. Exciting times.

Mangini "gets it." The perfect candidate.

[bosk1]

The announcement that Modern Drummer Hall of Famer Mike Portnoy had left his longstanding position as the reigning king of prog-metal drumming with Dream Theater in order to join Avenged Sevenfold sent shockwaves through the drumming community.

Is this misconception going to live on forever?

MP/A7X stuff

That could very well be true, but as you said, we simlpy don't know.  However, I think it is a strong possibility that at the very least, he thought they would extend the agreement they had with him and allow him to finish out the entire tour, even if he didn't expect to become a full, permanent member.  My own subjective opinion about when he tweeted that message was that he expected to stay on and do the whole tour instead of just the initial leg they initially promised him, and that he felt betrayed when they didn't extend it.  But, like you, I'm just speculating and going from my gut.

Here's another new interview (at least new to me) - I haven't seen it posted here yet: Drum! magazine:

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


My first post too - great forum!!

Nick

Welcome and thank you.

[IdoSC]

Incidentally, the next paragraph - where he talks about Track 6 (which sounds absolutely killer, by the way) is the first time it's really sank in that he's going to be playing on this album. The idea that we're going to hear Mike Mangini as a full-fledged member of Dream Theater. And the level of communication between him and Petrucci sounds wonderful. Exciting times.

Also, was it confirmed before that there are (at least) six tracks?

Anyways, it's the first time I hear that at least. I hope it's not *just* six tracks though, the more the merrier

[robwebster]

Incidentally, the next paragraph - where he talks about Track 6 (which sounds absolutely killer, by the way) is the first time it's really sank in that he's going to be playing on this album. The idea that we're going to hear Mike Mangini as a full-fledged member of Dream Theater. And the level of communication between him and Petrucci sounds wonderful. Exciting times.

Also, was it confirmed before that there are (at least) six tracks?

Anyways, it's the first time I hear that at least. I hope it's not *just* six tracks though, the more the merrier

Nope! First confirmation.

Although, now that I've said this I'm very possibly going to end up eating my words, but I can't picture them releasing two BCSLs in a row.