Happy New Year From JP and MP

[TAC]

If posting a picture of two friends and former band mates on social media only feeds the speculation and the trolls, we have bigger problems.

We have bigger problems.

[JediKnight1969]

 "If we would have met Mike [Mangini] twenty years ago, we would have been playing with this guy." (JP)

https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/mike-portnoy-and-john-petrucci-reunited/

MP has no chance to return.

[Anxiety35]

"If we would have met Mike [Mangini] twenty years ago, we would have been playing with this guy." (JP)

https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/mike-portnoy-and-john-petrucci-reunited/

MP has no chance to return.

JP said that in an older interview on The Classic Metal Show. Not saying his mindset is different now, but I don't like when sites grab older quotes and punch them into current stories.

I wouldn't say that MP has no chance to return, but I will say that the chance is extremely small.

Know what would be cool? Sons of Apollo opening for Dream Theater. Then have MP and Derek do a FII track like "Lines in the Sand" or "Just Let Me Breathe" with DT during DT's encore.

Wishful thinking, I know. 

[TAC]

Know what would be cool? Sons of Apollo opening for Dream Theater. Then have MP and Derek do a FII track like "Lines in the Sand" or "Just Let Me Breathe" with DT during DT's encore.

That would be anything but cool.

[Anxiety35]

Know what would be cool? Sons of Apollo opening for Dream Theater. Then have MP and Derek do a FII track like "Lines in the Sand" or "Just Let Me Breathe" with DT during DT's encore.

That would be anything but cool.

Why?

[Madman Shepherd]

If posting a picture of two friends and former band mates on social media only feeds the speculation and the trolls, we have bigger problems.

We have bigger problems.

Pretty much this.  I mean, it's sad it has to be this way for the same reason celebrities have to be careful about how they appear in public because a tabloid could grab an unflattering pic and then the next headline is "Madonna is dying of cancer."  Obviously DT isn't at Madonna levels but they are big enough where they have to worry about trivial things. 

[SwedishGoose]

I'm hoping that sometime down the track all members of DT, past and present, are able to put their differences aside, and that a joint tour with SOA and DT comes to fruition.

This should have been SoA's goal from the beginning (joint tour), but with Derek's bullshit, I don't see it happening.

This. It's not like the guys in DT have anything against MP or the SOA guys, but Derek taking shots at them anytime he has the chance to.

There is at least one (possibly two) members of DT who are not all that fond of Mike, it appears.

Regardless of Derek's tweets I don't think a DT/SoA tour ever would have happened.  Derek's tweets just reinforced that.

Or put another way, there is at least one member of DT who MP continues to take shots at. One who has no reason to like MP but usually takes the high road even though MP takes the low road.

I agree though that the chances of a jount tour SoA/DT were always slim...

[Adami]

Well let's look at an SoA/DT tour from their perspective for a minute, and not just a fan's wish fulfillment perspective.

What incentive does DT have to tour with them? Other than doing their friend a pity favor. SoA doesn't bring in a new audience. It limits DT's time on stage as well. DT would be carrying the entire tour.

And SoA? They have a lot of incentive, as a band. But do you REALLY think MP wants to open for his former band? I'll go ahead and say no.

[Evai]

Know what would be cool? Sons of Apollo opening for Dream Theater. Then have MP and Derek do a FII track like "Lines in the Sand" or "Just Let Me Breathe" with DT during DT's encore.

I can imagine it! DT play Nightmare To Remember as their last song, and suprise, MP comes out for the growl section and the crowd goes nuts. No hurt feelings for MM, since MP didn't even need to drum 

[mikeyd23]

Well let's look at an SoA/DT tour from their perspective for a minute, and not just a fan's wish fulfillment perspective.

What incentive does DT have to tour with them? Other than doing their friend a pity favor. SoA doesn't bring in a new audience. It limits DT's time on stage as well. DT would be carrying the entire tour.

And SoA? They have a lot of incentive, as a band. But do you REALLY think MP wants to open for his former band? I'll go ahead and say no.

This. I agree on all counts.

[ganpondorodf]

Maybe if MP had stuck with a band and built it up over the last 7 years but yeah. Not happening with things as they are

[Prog Snob]

Know what would be cool? Sons of Apollo opening for Dream Theater. Then have MP and Derek do a FII track like "Lines in the Sand" or "Just Let Me Breathe" with DT during DT's encore.

That would be anything but cool.

So...awesome?
Interesting?
exciting?
rockin'?

Anything but cool, right?

[Cool Chris]

Two of the last things I would want to see at my next DT show are Lines in the Sand and Just Let Me Breathe as the encores, with or without MP and/or DS. 2017 was the year for DT to do the nostalgia thing. 2018/2019 should be years to look forward.

[bill1971]

"If we would have met Mike [Mangini] twenty years ago, we would have been playing with this guy." (JP)

https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/mike-portnoy-and-john-petrucci-reunited/

MP has no chance to return.

JP said that in an older interview on The Classic Metal Show. Not saying his mindset is different now, but I don't like when sites grab older quotes and punch them into current stories.

I wouldn't say that MP has no chance to return, but I will say that the chance is extremely small.

Know what would be cool? Sons of Apollo opening for Dream Theater. Then have MP and Derek do a FII track like "Lines in the Sand" or "Just Let Me Breathe" with DT during DT's encore.

Wishful thinking, I know. 

I don't think JP meant instead of MP. He just meant that he gets along with him musically and personally.

If DS and MP hadn't made it a competition I think SOA would be fun opening for DT but not now. Actually I prefer NO opening band.

[DT2003]

MM is DT's drummer so of course JP would say something like that, as he should. I don't take it as a dig at Mike at all as I just don't see JP being that way.

[Anxiety35]

When I said that it was wishful thinking I was implying that it won't happen.

Both camps are moving forward.

[DT1138]

I am glad they are staying friends.  How many other bands' members can say they do this?  Has to be mid to low range I would expect.  JP and MP have too long of a history to just toss out the window, so kudos to them for sticking together, regardless of what their band/business agreements worked out to be.  I hope both of their bands are successful for a very long time.

[Herrick]

Cool picture. Thanks for posting this. Nice to know that the dudes are on good terms enough to take a picture together.

[ToT-147]

I'm hoping that sometime down the track all members of DT, past and present, are able to put their differences aside, and that a joint tour with SOA and DT comes to fruition.

This should have been SoA's goal from the beginning (joint tour), but with Derek's bullshit, I don't see it happening.

This. It's not like the guys in DT have anything against MP or the SOA guys, but Derek taking shots at them anytime he has the chance to.

I must admit I thought his tweets were funny in the beginning, but then they became a bit too much. But hey, MP has tweeted far worse things when he left DT, and he and JP made amends. Who knows, maybe they laugh about this in private...JP has played in one of Derek´s albums, so it´s not impossible.

But, obviously, that's not the same.. MP and JP have been friends for an amount of time that cannot even begin to be compared with the musical (and friendly at some extent) relation between JP and DS.. On the other side, yeah, everything is possible I guess, and they can always make amends... well, Derek and the whole DT; because I don't see them making a decision without a DT plural consentiment at this state of disconnection () in between the 5 guys.. Having said that, although it'd be indeed a very cool thing to witness or watch on our internet screens, I don't see it happening..

[KevShmev]

Just because you are still friends with someone or reconnect with them doesn't mean you want to work with them again. I tended bar for years with my younger brother many years ago, but he was pretty difficult at times and I would not want to work with him again.

[King Postwhore]

Just because you are still friends with someone or reconnect with them doesn't mean you want to work with them again. I tended bar for years with my younger brother many years ago, but he was pretty difficult at times and I would not want to work with him again.

The more you know!  I'd love to hear more sometime.

[TheRich13]

Seeing this pic gave me the warm fuzzies ! After all , they are the Lennon and McCartney of Prog !

Friend of mine predicted MM will eventually burn out from all the touring and go back to teaching,
JLB will step down no longer being able to nail the high parts , MP will have completed the SOA tour
and possibly another album and then return to DT with JSS as the new voice !

Who knows what the future holds ? I personally still love DT , MP , and seeing that picture
so I'm good !
....but still think JP should lose the beard !

[Bertielee]

Seeing this pic gave me the warm fuzzies ! After all , they are the Lennon and McCartney of Prog !

Friend of mine predicted MM will eventually burn out from all the touring and go back to teaching,
JLB will step down no longer being able to nail the high parts , MP will have completed the SOA tour
and possibly another album and then return to DT with JSS as the new voice !

Who knows what the future holds ? I personally still love DT , MP , and seeing that picture
so I'm good !
....but still think JP should lose the beard !

You're a big MP fan, aren't you? But equating MP to either Lennon or Mc Cartney is a big stretch of the imagination, with all due respect. Nothing MP has done with DT can be compared to what the aforementioned Beatles did for their band.
And your friend is a big fiction fan, because in all you wrote, there's absolutely zero chance for JSS to become the new DT singer if ever there is one. JSS wouldn't be able to sing 75% of DT catalogue, and I liked the man a lot back in the days.

B.Lee

[SwedishGoose]

Friend of mine predicted MM will eventually burn out from all the touring and go back to teaching,
JLB will step down no longer being able to nail the high parts , MP will have completed the SOA tour
and possibly another album and then return to DT with JSS as the new voice !

Oach.... the stuff nightmares are made of....

I don't like JSS singing on SoA and I would hate it in DT... love JLBs vocals and if he quits the band should either quit or find a younger singer with JLBs qualities...

I have loved the three albums with MM more than the last three with MP. I did not like MPs influnce in the later albums and I don't think it would be good for either MP or DT for him to come back.

[mikeyd23]

My opinion on this has changed over the years, but at this point, I think if James is done, DT is done. Love or hate, his voice has become synonymous with DT. I used to think JP was the only member that was irreplaceable, but now I'd say James falls in that catagory.

[nattmorker]

My opinion on this has changed over the years, but at this point, I think if James is done, DT is done. Love or hate, his voice has become synonymous with DT. I used to think JP was the only member that was irreplaceable, but now I'd say James falls in that catagory.

I think the same and I wouldn't want to hear DT without JLB. I also wouldn't want to see MP back with DT.

[MirrorMask]

My opinion on this has changed over the years, but at this point, I think if James is done, DT is done. Love or hate, his voice has become synonymous with DT. I used to think JP was the only member that was irreplaceable, but now I'd say James falls in that catagory.

Indeed. He's been on every album since the (for many forgettable) debut, at this point without him it would never sound like Dream Theater, it would sound like a cover band made of original members. We're already past the point on which a replacement singer could have carved a space for himself, this late in the game there are only two singers for DT: James LaBrie on one side, and Not-James-LaBrie on the other, and this include any singer ever.

[Madman Shepherd]

My opinion on this has changed over the years, but at this point, I think if James is done, DT is done. Love or hate, his voice has become synonymous with DT. I used to think JP was the only member that was irreplaceable, but now I'd say James falls in that catagory.

Indeed. He's been on every album since the (for many forgettable) debut, at this point without him it would never sound like Dream Theater, it would sound like a cover band made of original members. We're already past the point on which a replacement singer could have carved a space for himself, this late in the game there are only two singers for DT: James LaBrie on one side, and Not-James-LaBrie on the other, and this include any singer ever.

Agree.  If they had replaced him in 2002 then they would have had over half of their careers to go and could maybe have made it work.  I'm glad they didn't...but at this point I really don't think they have a choice which is fine for me because JLB is *the* voice. 

[gzarruk]

He could be replaced with someone with a very very similar voice, If it worked for Queensryche, why not for DT?

[Madman Shepherd]

He could be replaced with someone with a very very similar voice, If it worked for Queensryche, why not for DT?

I don't know if I'd say it "worked."  Most people seem satisfied with the new guy but it hurt their brand.  They aren't near the popularity they were with Tate. 

[KevShmev]

You're a big MP fan, aren't you? But equating MP to either Lennon or Mc Cartney is a big stretch of the imagination, with all due respect. Nothing MP has done with DT can be compared to what the aforementioned Beatles did for their band.

That is putting it nicely. Whoever started the "Petrucci and Portnoy are the Lennon and McCartney of prog" mantra (I have seen it on social media, so it's not new) probably doesn't have a strong grip on reality.

[gzarruk]

He could be replaced with someone with a very very similar voice, If it worked for Queensryche, why not for DT?

I don't know if I'd say it "worked."  Most people seem satisfied with the new guy but it hurt their brand.  They aren't near the popularity they were with Tate.

Yeah, but look how Tate is doing by himself...

I don't really want James to be replaced in DT, but I'm open to the possibility if he just can't do the material justice anymore. I'd hate to see DT calling it quits only because their vocalist can't keep up.

The way I see it, anyone in DT is replaceable except JP, and maybe Jordan, from a songwriting perspective. However, I think, for better or worse, this is the final DT lineup.

[Cool Chris]

I don't really want James to be replaced in DT, but I'm open to the possibility if he just can't do the material justice anymore. I'd hate to see DT calling it quits only because their vocalist can't keep up.

I would totally agree 15 years ago. But these guys don't have much left in terms of output or touring just by virtue of their age. There is nothing to be gained by replacing a member who can't carry their load at this point.

[Madman Shepherd]

He could be replaced with someone with a very very similar voice, If it worked for Queensryche, why not for DT?

I don't know if I'd say it "worked."  Most people seem satisfied with the new guy but it hurt their brand.  They aren't near the popularity they were with Tate.

Yeah, but look how Tate is doing by himself...

Oh I agree.  He is the clear loser in this. 

[bill1971]

I think the Lennon and McCarthy comparison was probably started by MP. I think MP is as good as the people he collaborates with, while Lennon or McCarthy elevated those around them and could create from scratch amazing and unique material.