I was happy to see these tweets from JR & MP

[Setlist Scotty]

Is Mike's hair turning fully white?

He's had that patch at the front as far back as Black Clouds.

I thought he'd had it even longer than that, but he's definitely had it since DT days.

It's been at least since the writing of SC, since you can see it in MP's pics from the songwriting (in the SC tourbook).

....Granted, I still have not heard any LTE with the exception of Acid Rain from LSFNY

I heartily suggest you rectify this. IMO the best LTE stuff easily matches the best DT. When the water breaks is better than any DT instrumental. Yea......I went there.

A few of the LTE instrumentals top most Dream Theater instrumentals.  When the Water Breaks is one of them.  Biaxident, Acid Rain, and Universal Mind are up there too.  So many great fucking songs.

Totally agree. If nothing else, I'd recommend picking up either the Live in NY or Live in LA CDs (or DVDs) which feature all the written songs from both LTE albums (the others were improvised jams) and also includes a killer version of Rhapsody in Blue.

Dream on, I'm afraid!!!.... There's a LOT of difference between MP being happy to be photographed and in contact with Jordan than there is him being happy to be anywhere near JP these days!!!...

I feel like thats kind of speculative, unless you know something that most here don't...

And the rest of what has been posted about Mike's relationships with various members isn't?

Not completely. It's been fairly well established that the real friction has been between MP and JL/JM, according to what MP has said in past interviews and even what has been said by the other guys. The exact details of how well they're getting along might be speculative, but generally speaking, it's safe to say the relationship MP still has with JR and JP is at least decent, if not good, and with JL and JM it's poor. I too am failing to see where this whole idea of how JP and MP don't get has come up. There may have been some squabbles over determining what MP should receive as compensation when leaving the band, but that's to be expected since MP had to worry about his financial future without the steady pay of DT, and with JP being the one most interested in the business (money) end of the band, that he wants the DT corporation to pay MP the least amount they can.

Something I posted in September from Guitar World:

He was quite vague about it, but in the new issue of Guitar World with JP on the cover he mentions in The Interview Inside that the legal dust, so to say, has only recently settled.  Something about organizational legal issues that take a long time to sort out after a long-time band member splits.  The usual stuff like royalties, no doubt, but it seems naive not to suppose there were other details--lesser at least--that had to be settled.  If the rights to the name was part of it, who knows.

I'd be surprised if JP and MP are on friendly terms yet, and if they're talking, it's very much a new thing (meaning in the last few months).

Not necessarily. Just because it's taken a long time to finalize all the legal issues doesn't mean that their personal relationship has been completely restricted too. I'm sure a lot of that has been the lawyers sorting it all out. I'm not saying that JP's having MP over for a BBQ, but to suggest that they haven't been on speaking terms is a little extreme, IMO.

[rumborak]

We know so little about interpersonal communication before and after the split (did JM talk to MP for example?), it's hard to make any statement on those things. They're probably on "practical non-speaking terms", i.e. since they no longer share the same workplace, they might not even have much reason to talk to begin with.

[fibreoptix]

Not completely. It's been fairly well established that the real friction has been between MP and JL/JM, according to what MP has said in past interviews and even what has been said by the other guys.

This has been bothering me for a while. People keep saying that you can reasonably assume the friction was between MP and JL/JM based on things both parties have said. Now I'm sure that's probably true but I have seen absolutely no evidence of JL or JM saying anything derogatory about Mike or even alluding to friction between them. The only scrap I can think of is JL saying something about Mike encroaching on his turf as frontman but I find it difficult to believe that'd be the only issue.

Can anyone help me out by pointing me to what has been said?

[Sacul]

This has been bothering me for a while. People keep saying that you can reasonably assume the friction was between MP and JL/JM based on things both parties have said. Now I'm sure that's probably true but I have seen absolutely no evidence of JL or JM saying anything derogatory about Mike or even alluding to friction between them. The only scrap I can think of is JL saying something about Mike encroaching on his turf as frontman but I find it difficult to believe that'd be the only issue.

Can anyone help me out by pointing me to what has been said?

Well, during 2007, MP said that, if he had to rebuild the band on that moment, he wouldn't choose JLB again. Also, James said a few months ago that DT wouldn't admit him back.

[gmillerdrake]

This has been bothering me for a while. People keep saying that you can reasonably assume the friction was between MP and JL/JM based on things both parties have said. Now I'm sure that's probably true but I have seen absolutely no evidence of JL or JM saying anything derogatory about Mike or even alluding to friction between them. The only scrap I can think of is JL saying something about Mike encroaching on his turf as frontman but I find it difficult to believe that'd be the only issue.

Can anyone help me out by pointing me to what has been said?

Well, during 2007, MP said that, if he had to rebuild the band on that moment, he wouldn't choose JLB again. Also, James said a few months ago that DT wouldn't admit him back.

And I can't remember exact quotes but JLB voiced stern re-buttles against many of MP's stinging comments immediately after he dumped DT.

I don't think JMX has ever said anything about a rift with MP. Anytime I've speculated and suggested such a rift it was merely based off how I'd personally feel if I were treated the way he was by MP. I always thought MP was tough on JMX in interviews, documentaries.....those 'behind the scene' vids they shot for a few years. For All I know JMX and MP barbecue together to this day.

[Prog Snob]

....Granted, I still have not heard any LTE with the exception of Acid Rain from LSFNY

I heartily suggest you rectify this. IMO the best LTE stuff easily matches the best DT. When the water breaks is better than any DT instrumental. Yea......I went there.

A few of the LTE instrumentals top most Dream Theater instrumentals.  When the Water Breaks is one of them.  Biaxident, Acid Rain, and Universal Mind are up there too.  So many great fucking songs.

Totally agree. If nothing else, I'd recommend picking up either the Live in NY or Live in LA CDs (or DVDs) which feature all the written songs from both LTE albums (the others were improvised jams) and also includes a killer version of Rhapsody in Blue.

I love those DVDs.  They are something which got much play when it first came out.  I might have to revisit it.  Rhapsody In Blue was a pleasant surprise. 

[KevShmev]

All of this talk about BBQ is making me hungry.

[YtseJamittaja]

For this MP/JP relationship question, there was an interview in Finnish magazine Soundi Where JP said:
"I have talked to Mike recently. We're not best friends but at least we can talk to each other again."

So if this tells something...