JLB: "We Will Never let Portnoy come back in our band" (Brazil Interview)

[Dublagent66]

Chris Cornell too

and Russell Allen

Yeah, most likely Russell Allen.  I heard him say on That Metal Show that RA has the best voice he's ever heard.

[Jaq]

I love how every thread-every thread-started in the wake of someone from Dream Theater saying MP will never come back inevitably ends up with people asserting that he will return. Let it go, Indiana. MP's gone. I'm not sure how many times the band has to say it for people to believe it. He's not coming back for a special appearance, he's not returning to replace MM. He's gone, the party's over, get over it.

[Dublagent66]

Dude, I understand what you're saying and I totally agree but they won't let it go.  There are still people hoping that KM comes back for a special appearance.  What does that tell ya?

[IdoSC]

I love how every thread-every thread-started in the wake of someone from Dream Theater saying MP will never come back inevitably ends up with people asserting that he will return. Let it go, Indiana. MP's gone. I'm not sure how many times the band has to say it for people to believe it. He's not coming back for a special appearance, he's not returning to replace MM. He's gone, the party's over, get over it.

That's not completely accurate actually. Both sides of the party, despite all anger, claimed that it'd be sad if they never got together for a "special appearance" as you named it. He almost certainly won't return permanently though, no.

[SeRoX]

There are still people hoping that KM comes back for a special appearance.  What does that tell ya?

In my eyes, it has a strong possibility having KM as a special guest than having MP in the future. But again, my inner KM fanboy makes me hope it like that. I doubt we'll see a show with him though.

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

I just hope they play A Change of Seasons again one day. It would be a shame if they left that entirely out.

[IdoSC]

I just hope they play A Change of Seasons again one day. It would be a shame if they left that entirely out.

If they didn't drop The Root of All Evil, and they even feature this song in the upcoming DVD, they won't ditch ACOS just because its lyrics kinda relate to MP's mother (and even then, only dedicated fans who bother to read the interwebz for that kind of info would know that).

Then again, ACOS has as much of a chance as any other epic; And whether it's thanks to its release date, like The Killing Hand, or thanks to its extensive length, like ACOS, Octavarium, SDOIT, the entire ITPOE or according to later this tour even TCOT, epics will probably appear eventually but I think they'll be far and few between. Maybe in the next Evening With tour, or generally if they decide to take on these songs very sparsely like they did with Learning to Live in this current tour.

To sum it up, I wouldn't bet my money on that.

[theseoafs]

I love how every thread-every thread-started in the wake of someone from Dream Theater saying MP will never come back inevitably ends up with people asserting that he will return. Let it go, Indiana. MP's gone. I'm not sure how many times the band has to say it for people to believe it. He's not coming back for a special appearance, he's not returning to replace MM. He's gone, the party's over, get over it.

That's not completely accurate actually. Both sides of the party, despite all anger, claimed that it'd be sad if they never got together for a "special appearance" as you named it.

DT has said no such thing.

[SystematicThought]

Actually I think Petrucci has

[bosk1]

Then again, ACOS has as much of a chance as any other epic

No, not really.  The longer epics present a challenge for the band to fit into their sets simply because they are so long.  That's why they declined to play TCOT.  JP said it was too long to work into the set.  ACOS is even longer, so it is even less likely.  But a lot of the band's shorter epics could very well be played (and almost certainly will be, as they've bene played plenty in the past).  I'd say almost any of their sub-15-minute epics are realistically likely to continue seeing rotation.

I love how every thread-every thread-started in the wake of someone from Dream Theater saying MP will never come back inevitably ends up with people asserting that he will return. Let it go, Indiana. MP's gone. I'm not sure how many times the band has to say it for people to believe it. He's not coming back for a special appearance, he's not returning to replace MM. He's gone, the party's over, get over it.

That's not completely accurate actually. Both sides of the party, despite all anger, claimed that it'd be sad if they never got together for a "special appearance" as you named it.

DT has said no such thing.

Yes they did.  I think it was JP who said something along those lines very early on.

[theseoafs]

I STAND CORRECTED

Could someone dig up that interview for me?

[MoraWintersoul]

This thread needs some comic relief.



Just saying. Things can change a lot in just a few years, so debating about whether or not relationships between people we don't even know personally will hit a new low, or a new high required to reunite them for a few songs during some anniversary show is fruitless and psychosane.

[SystematicThought]

It was said in PROG Magazine back after the split. Here's an excerpt with the quote
https://www.bravewords.com/news/151252

[theseoafs]

Well, for clarification, the quotation says that JP would find it "ridiculous" -- not sad -- to think that he would never play with MP again, in or out of DT -- this is far from confirming an eventual "special appearance".

But the quotation is interesting nonetheless.  Also goes to show that, unsurprisingly, JP's words about MP have probably been the kindest among the band's members.

[Perpetual Change]

Well, for clarification, the quotation says that JP would find it "ridiculous" -- not sad -- to think that he would never play with MP again, in or out of DT -- this is far from confirming an eventual "special appearance".

Yeah, this.

It's kinda funny how anything any band member says suffers from such a heavy "whisper down the lane" effect, even online.

[bosk1]

Yes, but for purposes of this discussion, how is there any practical difference between the language of the article and what IdoSC said above?  It doesn't make any difference that I can see.

[Perpetual Change]

None, really. But John is always very careful with his words. If he said that he'd "find it ridiculous" that he would "never play with MP again", I'd imagine that's exactly what he wanted to say.

And anyway, even if MP does come back up on stage with the band again one day, that's still way different than MP rejoining DT.

[bosk1]

And anyway, even if MP does come back up on stage with the band again one day, that's still way different than MP rejoining DT.

Of course.  I think most rational people have acknowledged that.  IdoSC's point, which I seconded, is that while it is CRYSTAL CLEAR that MP rejoining DT is an extremely remote possibility to the point where nobody should even consider it at this point, that the possibility of him coming up on stage with the band is very much an open item for some point down the road.

[theseoafs]

Yes, but for purposes of this discussion, how is there any practical difference between the language of the article and what IdoSC said above?  It doesn't make any difference that I can see.

Well, IdoSC's wording made it seem that JP definitely wants MP onstage with DT sometime in the future.  That twists the meaning of the original quotation a bit.

[Super Dude]

Again I love MP, but IMO nothing James has said has ever come close to some of the things Mike has said about him.

Or about others, for that matter.

[LCArenas]

Had there always been some kind of animosity between JLB and MP? MP saying he (They?) wanted him out of the band at some point, saying he would have chosen another vocalist had DT been founded these days... I don't know, it seems to me that they didn't particularly get along, specially after the SFAM tour. Just speculation though.

[robwebster]

Had there always been some kind of animosity between JLB and MP? MP saying he (They?) wanted him out of the band at some point, saying he would have chosen another vocalist had DT been founded these days... I don't know, it seems to me that they didn't particularly get along, specially after the SFAM tour. Just speculation though.

I hate to keep coughing half-remembered puffs of Lifting Shadows at you... but yep, pretty much! During the Scenes tour was apparently the worst - wouldn't talk to each other, I think was the deal.

But again. I don't have the book handy, can't check, only read it the once. If anyone can clarify or set me right, much appreciated!

[Zydar]

I have the book at home (I recently finished my second read), I'll try to remember to look through it tonight after something about this.

[Rattlehead]

Had there always been some kind of animosity between JLB and MP? MP saying he (They?) wanted him out of the band at some point, saying he would have chosen another vocalist had DT been founded these days... I don't know, it seems to me that they didn't particularly get along, specially after the SFAM tour. Just speculation though.

I hate to keep coughing half-remembered puffs of Lifting Shadows at you... but yep, pretty much! During the Scenes tour was apparently the worst - wouldn't talk to each other, I think was the deal.

But again. I don't have the book handy, can't check, only read it the once. If anyone can clarify or set me right, much appreciated!

That's interesting... I also noticed during Home on LSFAM that Portnoy seems to be trying to push James at the beginning during the first verse, it's almost as if they're competing with each other for who can sing louder. Portnoy was also exaggerating his vocals during the beginning, which I always thought sounded kind of ridiculous and kind of ruin the beginning of the LSFAM version. On the DVD you can see James turn around and look at Portnoy at the end of the verse as if he's like "...are you really doing this right now?" Maybe this has already been pointed out on these forums, I'm relatively new here so I wouldn't know. But if not, what do you guys think? Maybe I'm overanalyzing it? 

[bobs23]

And anyway, even if MP does come back up on stage with the band again one day, that's still way different than MP rejoining DT.

Of course.  I think most rational people have acknowledged that.  IdoSC's point, which I seconded, is that while it is CRYSTAL CLEAR that MP rejoining DT is an extremely remote possibility to the point where nobody should even consider it at this point, that the possibility of him coming up on stage with the band is very much an open item for some point down the road.

I think an LTE reunion is a most likely first step.

[IdoSC]

Then again, ACOS has as much of a chance as any other epic

No, not really.  The longer epics present a challenge for the band to fit into their sets simply because they are so long.  That's why they declined to play TCOT.  JP said it was too long to work into the set.  ACOS is even longer, so it is even less likely.  But a lot of the band's shorter epics could very well be played (and almost certainly will be, as they've bene played plenty in the past).  I'd say almost any of their sub-15-minute epics are realistically likely to continue seeing rotation.

Sorry, a little misunderstanding there - when I say it has as much of a chance, I'm talking about either epics that are as long as TCOT or more, or the short epic from WDADU (The Killing Hand) because the album as whole isn't played that much. Other than that, if you refer to songs like Trial of Tears as epic, they definitely have a higher chance than ACOS or Octavarium due to length only, but that wasn't my point.

[Zydar]

Had there always been some kind of animosity between JLB and MP? MP saying he (They?) wanted him out of the band at some point, saying he would have chosen another vocalist had DT been founded these days... I don't know, it seems to me that they didn't particularly get along, specially after the SFAM tour. Just speculation though.

I hate to keep coughing half-remembered puffs of Lifting Shadows at you... but yep, pretty much! During the Scenes tour was apparently the worst - wouldn't talk to each other, I think was the deal.

But again. I don't have the book handy, can't check, only read it the once. If anyone can clarify or set me right, much appreciated!

I have the book in front of me here and on page 256 they're talking about MPs drug use during the Metropolis 2000 tour:

"I really didn't know he was doing coke, as he really concealed it well", reveals James. "I knew he was drinking like a fish and that he was toasted every single day from it, but the booze and the coke? I mean holy smoke, what a combination. I could tell something was going on because Mike was just very difficult to be around at the time and I was avoiding him at all costs".

[darkshade]

If it were all up to MP, Akerfeldt would be the singer for DT.

And he'd fire Myung and have another bassist who could hardly be heard on record, but someone who MP could socialize with.

[nikatapi]

Thanks for the post Zydar, really interesting stuff. I must read this book as soon as possible.

If i recall correctly, around the SDOIT era there were thoughts of replacing James, and someone said in one thread that actually Mike was the most vocal about it while the other guys were not so sure and discussed about giving an ultimatum to James in order to improve his shape vocally.

Is there anything in the book that shows this or am i based on rumors? I've also read somewhere that Mike has said in a conversation that he would replace James in a heartbeat and that he was actually considering Chris Cornell for the job.
I'm not sure if it was a clash of personalities or just that Mike was one of the people that dislike James' voice, especially after his vocal chords problem, but there seems to be a long line of things that contributed in them having a bad personal relationship.

[SeRoX]

Thanks for the post Zydar, really interesting stuff. I must read this book as soon as possible.

If i recall correctly, around the SDOIT era there were thoughts of replacing James, and someone said in one thread that actually Mike was the most vocal about it while the other guys were not so sure and discussed about giving an ultimatum to James in order to improve his shape vocally.

Is there anything in the book that shows this or am i based on rumors? I've also read somewhere that Mike has said in a conversation that he would replace James in a heartbeat and that he was actually considering Chris Cornell for the job.
I'm not sure if it was a clash of personalities or just that Mike was one of the people that dislike James' voice, especially after his vocal chords problem, but there seems to be a long line of things that contributed in them having a bad personal relationship.

True. Lifting Shadows will tell you that. Because of James vocal behaviour in that era not only Portnoy, DT as a band gave him a ultimatum. Pull yourself or we consider replace your place.

But let's not forget, even MP and JLB in the band for a long time they are the one who can not have a good relationship. The reason for me, their personalities are completely different. Through the time they had many disagreements and even physical fight during FII era, if i am not wrong.

[Zydar]

Thanks for the post Zydar, really interesting stuff. I must read this book as soon as possible.

If i recall correctly, around the SDOIT era there were thoughts of replacing James, and someone said in one thread that actually Mike was the most vocal about it while the other guys were not so sure and discussed about giving an ultimatum to James in order to improve his shape vocally.

Is there anything in the book that shows this or am i based on rumors?

Yeah there is a couple of pages in the Inner Turbulence chapter where this is talked about, basically a "shape up or ship out" situation for James because there were aspects of his voice and presentation that they knew were probably holding them back. Also their tastes had changed a bit in 2002, and their favourite singers now were like Thom Yorke and Bono (more than Dickinson and Tate was in 1991).

"We didn't know how he would take it, whether he would be defensive and get up and say "Fuck this, I am who I am, if you don't like it fuck you!" recalls Mike. "But he had the opposite reaction, which was the one we had kind of hoped for. He listened to us with a very open mind and ear, and stepped up to the plate. He said that he valued this band, and didn't want to lose it".

[DT2003]

Again I love MP, but IMO nothing James has said has ever come close to some of the things Mike has said about him.

Or about others, for that matter.

Well to be fair to Mike, (from what I've heard) the only one who he has publicly said anything about, is JLB.  There were times where it seemed like he was implying things about JM, but to my knowledge he never put a name to it.  And I have never heard of him saying anything at all negative about JP or JR. 

[darkshade]

Again I love MP, but IMO nothing James has said has ever come close to some of the things Mike has said about him.

Or about others, for that matter.

Well to be fair to Mike, (from what I've heard) the only one who he has publicly said anything about, is JLB.  There were times where it seemed like he was implying things about JM, but to my knowledge he never put a name to it.  And I have never heard of him saying anything at all negative about JP or JR.

JR and MP were (are) probably the closest and seemed buddy-buddy when MP was still in the band.

[nikatapi]

Thanks for your posts. Good thing that James accepted the challenged and improved a lot since then.
SeRoX, it is the first time i hear about this fight incident, but i guess being in a band for many years can have some difficult times.

It is strange to me that MP didn't get along with James so well, because James seems like a very likeable character, but of course everyday life is different than interviews, there can be differences which lead to tension.

[snapple]

If it were all up to MP, Akerfeldt would be the singer for DT.

And he'd fire Myung and have another bassist who could hardly be heard on record, but someone who MP could socialize with.