James LaBrie interview with Kyo, 2011-07-11

[TheGreatPretender]

Just weighing in to say that I, personally, thought Portnoy was a class act for touring with A7X.  I'm not saying he is or is not a class act in general, but in the specific case of Avenged Sevenfold...  Seems to me he basically helped a band and a fan base deal with the Rev's death.  Maybe I just don't know all the details, so I could be wrong.  But I myself hugely respect Mike Portnoy for what he did with A7X.

Well, doesn't mean it couldn't be both.
And the thing is, I remember Mike said something to the effect of not realizing that they were only gonna keep him around for the one tour.

[Jaffa]

Oh, I know.  I understand what you mean to an extent, and it's entirely possible that MP saw the A7X situation as, like, an opportunity to play with younger guys.  In fact, I could paint him as really pathetically selfish: maybe when A7X approached him, he'd actually been wanting for years to get away from Dream Theater and play with a more mainstream band.  So when the Rev died, he saw it as his opportunity to do that, to play with a mainstream band, while still looking like a nice guy.  He knew that he'd have an excuse – "I was doing it out of respect for their deceased drummer, guys!" – so he took the opportunity. 

I just personally don't believe that was the case.  I think he honestly did choose to tour with A7X out of respect for the Rev.  Then, playing with A7X was fun enough for him that it highlighted how stale things were becoming for him with DT, making him want to take a longer break from them, and thus leading to everything else that's happened.  That's just my take on it.  He may be behaving... childishly right now, but I don't think it has to taint what he did with A7X.  If you don't agree, no hard feelings, I just personally choose to believe that what he did then was genuinely classy.

Anyway, sorry for the derailment here.

[TheGreatPretender]

Yeah, I guess it's possible that he started it with no ulterior motives whatsoever, but it clearly seemed like his quitting DT, (not necessarily BECAUSE of A7X), but it seemed like he half-assumed that A7X would be his new "steady" band. Either way, it can easily be considered a midlife crisis, as people say.

[farsight]

I'm sorry, but the image of MP reading the comment "JAMES CAN SUCK IT" on his facebook, laughing out and clicking the like button on it is just so hilarious and depressing to me at same time. 

Didn't MP say that he's gonna stay off the internet for a while? Maybe he should stay off of it for much longer for his sake.

[TheGreatPretender]

I'm sorry, but the image of MP reading the comment "JAMES CAN SUCK IT" on his facebook, laughing out and clicking the like button on it is just so hilarious and depressing to me at same time. 

Didn't MP say that he's gonna stay off the internet for a while? Maybe he should stay off of it for much longer for his sake.

Yeah, that "while" lasted like, 2 weeks at most, hahah.

[Bertielee]

For the people being offended at MP's "likes" : easy : just do like me and NEVER go on his FB page. I don't like the guy, I won't follow him.

B.Lee

[TheGreatPretender]

For the people being offended at MP's "likes" : easy : just do like me and NEVER go on his FB page. I don't like the guy, I won't follow him.

B.Lee

Yeah, after all that stuff, I actually "Unliked" his FaceBook page. But still, it's not his Facebook page that spreads the 'news' it's the people in the forums who say, "Hey, guys, look at what this guy said that MP Liked!"

[tjanuranus]

I don't like the guy, I won't follow him.

B.Lee

https://youtu.be/YU8EXW-sjf8

[SystematicThought]

I don't know why I commented on that facebook thing but I did. In the off chance that he actually reads it, I found it kind of catchy and witty, to a degree

[tjanuranus]

I don't know why I commented on that facebook thing but I did. In the off chance that he actually reads it, I found it kind of catchy and witty, to a degree

can you link to it?

[SystematicThought]

"Never in my time as a DT fan would I imagine I would lose respect for one of my favorite musicians out there right now. And that person would be you Mike. You hide behind these comments and claim that you aren't the one saying them. At least James had the balls to say what he did (even if he meant no harm by it.) Looks like people have taken you much too seriously with that catch phrase of yours "Eat my ass and balls" because you sir, seems to have no balls. Hiding behind all these Facebook likes and comments."

That's what I said and at least one person liked it.  It sounded good at the time and just was meant to point out how hiding behind the facebook comments is a waste and doesn't do much good. I'm just confused as to how he can claim he didn't say it

[TheGreatPretender]

Wow, way to lay it on him, hahah.

[SystematicThought]

Wow, way to lay it on him, hahah.

I know. That will really show him.

[tjanuranus]

"Never in my time as a DT fan would I imagine I would lose respect for one of my favorite musicians out there right now. And that person would be you Mike. You hide behind these comments and claim that you aren't the one saying them. At least James had the balls to say what he did (even if he meant no harm by it.) Looks like people have taken you much too seriously with that catch phrase of yours "Eat my ass and balls" because you sir, seems to have no balls. Hiding behind all these Facebook likes and comments."

That's what I said and at least one person liked it.   It sounded good at the time and just was meant to point out how hiding behind the facebook comments is a waste and doesn't do much good. I'm just confused as to how he can claim he didn't say it

Nice one. I got banned from his facebook page. Epic bashing of A7x commenced and I was banned. Well worth it.

BTW i think my home theater system is better than his. You don't see my showing it to everyone. Although he's got me on the house and the car so....... 

[TheGreatPretender]

BTW i think my home theater system is better than his. You don't see my showing it to everyone. Although he's got me on the house and the car so....... 

Well, he WAS in a band that were like, the poster boys for Prog Metal. That would bring some cashola in hahah. Still, so much for being humble.

[Chrissalix]

From what LaBrie said in the interview, I think we can be grateful that this has all panned out in the way it did. By the sounds of it, DT was a ticking timebomb. Members not talking to one another in the writing sessions (Portnoy interview in Classic Rock Prog) and silent discontent between members (LaBrie and Portnoy and Portnoy and Myung) would eventually have driven the band apart. The band said in "The Spirit Carries On" that they were shocked but with the benefit of hindsight something like this had been comingm the band probably knew it deep down and it's probably turned out for the better. DT have Genie now who is fantastic and will propel the band to a new level both live and on record. They have a new album under wraps and their best single since the turn of the millenium. Portnoy can focus his boundless energy elsewhere into things he isn't bored with. In my opinion, if DT XI had been released with the same JR era lineup, DT would have been over within 2 years. Even with the new album, it's do or decline.

It's funny (yet worrying) that I see a lot of myself in Portnoy's actions. I have OCD and recognise that when i'm in a band situation I feel the need to have control over stuff and obsess about it, much the same as Portnoy in that I control all the online medias connected to it. It's the same with the impulsive lashing out. The normal person would take a step back before rushing in with something polemic but MP just can't do that. His controlling yet impulsive nature is a part of his personality which he just can't help and will never really be able to help. The man is a class drummer but as a man, he is no class act but it's nothing he can help. LaBrie's interview confirmed what a lot of us suspected and have noticed, especially with the benefit of hindsight. I will watch and follow his projects from afar but with no great commitment.

[metropofreak]

For God knows how long MP has been my most admired musician of all time. And now, after all these comments and likes on facebook or wherever they have been, I rank him pretty far down the bottom of my list. I find this incredulously sad.

Bring on MM, because IMO, he seems far more deserving of success and positivity than MP right now.

[hefdaddy42]

I haven't seen anything too over the line on any of this yet, so good job guys.

But I must say from a modding perspective that I really wish that MP would shut the hell up.

[ariich]

But I must say from a modding perspective that I really wish that MP would shut the hell up.

This.

[Jamesman42]

But I must say from a modding perspective that I really wish that MP would shut the hell up.

This.

Hey, we're keeping your modding muscles strong.

[Dreamer81]

"Never in my time as a DT fan would I imagine I would lose respect for one of my favorite musicians out there right now. And that person would be you Mike. You hide behind these comments and claim that you aren't the one saying them. At least James had the balls to say what he did (even if he meant no harm by it.) Looks like people have taken you much too seriously with that catch phrase of yours "Eat my ass and balls" because you sir, seems to have no balls. Hiding behind all these Facebook likes and comments."

That's what I said and at least one person liked it.  It sounded good at the time and just was meant to point out how hiding behind the facebook comments is a waste and doesn't do much good. I'm just confused as to how he can claim he didn't say it

one of them is me

[Perpetual Change]

Hef, ariich, etc;

If either of you guys get tired of checking the forum, PM me your login information. I'll mod for you guys for a little bit and take some of that weight off your shoulders so you guys can go relax.

-PC

[Miyazaki74]

Well like  I said earlier, I don't care what MP says about DT or what DT says about him. What I didn't like was MP agreeing with comments that were disrespectful to James and then when he gets criticized for it he hides behind those comments by saying he never said them and he was just agreeing with them. Now that is pathetic.

[BlackInk]

It's funny (yet worrying) that I see a lot of myself in Portnoy's actions. I have OCD and recognise that when i'm in a band situation I feel the need to have control over stuff and obsess about it, much the same as Portnoy in that I control all the online medias connected to it. It's the same with the impulsive lashing out. The normal person would take a step back before rushing in with something polemic but MP just can't do that. His controlling yet impulsive nature is a part of his personality which he just can't help and will never really be able to help. The man is a class drummer but as a man, he is no class act but it's nothing he can help. LaBrie's interview confirmed what a lot of us suspected and have noticed, especially with the benefit of hindsight. I will watch and follow his projects from afar but with no great commitment.

I can see myself in what he does too. I don't have OCD but I have Aspergers which I have noticed causes behaviour like this. But I have learned to pretty much control this now and I know now what you can and can not say or do to/about people. And the funny thing is that I am 16, Portnoy is what? 42?

[TheGreatPretender]

I can see myself in what he does too. I don't have OCD but I have Aspergers which I have noticed causes behaviour like this. But I have learned to pretty much control this now and I know now what you can and can not say or do to/about people. And the funny thing is that I am 16, Portnoy is what? 42?

"Two score and a year" in 2009 would make him 43 this year, so yeah, you'd think he'd have it under control by now.
And the thing is, people say, "Well, he also has alcoholism." Yes, he does. And he conquered THAT. So why can't he control his overzealous reactions to comments by random people who say, "DT sucks without MP! LaBrie sucks!"

[Bertielee]

Well like  I said earlier, I don't care what MP says about DT or what DT says about him. What I didn't like was MP agreeing with comments that were disrespectful to James and then when he gets criticized for it he hides behind those comments by saying he never said them and he was just agreeing with them. Now that is pathetic.

You said it : pathetic and hypocritical I should say. "You can't blame me for it, I didn't say it, someone did it for me. So, I'm not reponsible". He should go into politics IMO!

B.Lee

[dbrooks22]

What passive aggressive actions has MP showed toward MM?  I must have missed that.

Well, I hate to weaken my own argument, but it's worth pointing out that:

- It's never been officially confirmed he was talking about JM.  But, I mean, come on, who the hell else was it?
- It's not necessarily an insult, but here's the thing.  If MP just wanted to talk about something that was dissatisfactory, he would have said "I don't think it was healthy for the band for Myung to be so isolated from everyone else."  He was holding a lot back there.
- I hate to just say "JM didn't want to be around MP."  JM doesn't seem like the most outgoing guy in general.  I'd be 100% willing to believe that their relationship kinda like fueled his isolation, but like unless JM and MP were on really bad terms with each other (which I'm not sure you can imply), I don't JM wouldn't talk to JP, JLB, and JR unless he's just kind of a private guy in general.  Like, I'd bet that now even though they talk more than before, JM probably still keeps to himself a lot.

The thing is, if MP was saying how he felt it wasn't good that one of the members was never around everyone else, then it's safe to assume that it used to be different before. So regardless how private JM is and how much he keeps to himself, he obviously used to hang out with the band, whereas now, something changed. Which as I understand was exactly what MP was upset about.

And although it hasn't been officially confirmed, it seems like the band's relationship has been somewhat strengthened after MP left.

Anyway, that's tangents upon tangents. My point is, MP's passive aggressive actions seem to be mostly directed at LaBrie, and Mangini. In other words, the guy who picked up the duty of Mike's instrument, and the guy whose job Mike was trying to... I don't want to say usurp, but he was definitely undermining LaBrie's role in the band more and more, for reasons we now know.

[JediKnight1969]

MP is insecure.  He tweets pictures of his big house and cars and fancy pool and theater.  He shows off all his magazine covers and tweets whenever he wins an award.  "Look at me!  Look what i have and what i've done!"  He needs people's approval.

Look - i love Portnoy.  I'm not angry at him in any way.  That's just the way he is, for better or worse.  On the positive side, that insecurity pushed him to constantly improve his drumming to the pinnacle of excellence.  And the need for attention also brings out his accessibility.  He's always appreciative of attention and fanfare.  Not too many other rock musicians are as open and accessible to their fans.

Well said!

[BlackInk]

I'm just surprised that his fans care this much. I mean sure you can take sides, we are doing it here but it feels like the DT siders are much more mature and respectful. I might be wrong though, but that's the feeling I get.

[KevShmev]

Heh, so true about the tweets and posts about awards and whatnot.  Some random website that no one has ever heard is running a Best Drummer of All-Time Poll?  Oh wait, look at that: there is a sticky at Mike Portnoy's forum asking all of his fans to go vote for him!

[Perpetual Change]

Yeah, I'm  not sure about MP.com since I haven't checked there, but the Mike Portnoy fans on Facebook have taken insulting James to a new level.

[BlackInk]

Yeah, I'm  not sure about MP.com since I haven't checked there, but the Mike Portnoy fans on Facebook have taken insulting James to a new level.

I haven't either. I'm getting all my MP fan impression from the facebook ones unfortunately.

[IdoSC]

What passive aggressive actions has MP showed toward MM?  I must have missed that.

I'm curious too.

[Mbarak]

What passive aggressive actions has MP showed toward MM?  I must have missed that.

I'm curious too.

Apparently he "liked" some comments that were saying negative things about MM's playing with DT.

[Madman Shepherd]

Heh, so true about the tweets and posts about awards and whatnot.  Some random website that no one has ever heard is running a Best Drummer of All-Time Poll?  Oh wait, look at that: there is a sticky at Mike Portnoy's forum asking all of his fans to go vote for him!

He also used to claim he was hopeful other drummers would get the award because he was embarrassed for winning it too many times.  Looks like that period of modesty is over and he found a new inspiration...stick it to that evil DT band!  

Isn't it funny that he is "liking" all these comments which are essentially saying that his band for 25 years wasn't *that* good.  I mean, they talk shit about James saying that he was a horrible frontman so MP is basically agreeing rendering his work as sorta worthless.  Well, this is where the passive aggressive part of him comes in.  All the stuff he controlled was great and everything he couldn't control like that horrible frontman or that elusive bassist was the only bad part about the band.  

Anyway, I always thought I could separate myself from the members of bands.  I still love Ozzy's earlier music even though I have no respect for him.  I like some black metal bands that have warped views of the world, but MP has brought me to a point where even if Adrenaline Mob is good, I doubt I will support them in any way.  I just can't support a guy like that that thrives off of how many awards he gets and how many facebook fans he has.  I'm also going to make a conscious effort to vote for MM in the next drummer poll.  

Edit: I committed a pet peeve of mine, using the wrong form of "too"