DREAM THEATER ANNOUNCE THE RETURN OF DRUMMER MIKE PORTNOY

[crystalstars17]

Aside from the press release, cobbled together pic and a few comments on social media, has there been ANY other publicity for this? It feels really downplayed, honestly. This is BIG news for the prog / metal community and yet... still no interviews, no band picture / video of them together. Perhaps this will all come in time.

Agreeing, I would love to see more from the band about the direction they're going with this. They seem decidedly silent.

[wolfking]

May I say the Wolfking Reality Checks are a thing of beauty?

They're even better when I remember to read them in an Aussie accent

The accent only makes them more convincing too.

Do you remember Alf from Home & Away? Kinda like that

Bloody famin' galah he was!!

I wonder if he's still on it actually lol.  Fucking trash TV show now.

[wolfking]

Aside from the press release, cobbled together pic and a few comments on social media, has there been ANY other publicity for this? It feels really downplayed, honestly. This is BIG news for the prog / metal community and yet... still no interviews, no band picture / video of them together. Perhaps this will all come in time.

Agreeing, I would love to see more from the band about the direction they're going with this. They seem decidedly silent.

They are remaining quiet on purpose to watch all of us turn on each other on DTF fighting about the speculation on why they have been so quiet.

[crystalstars17]

Aside from the press release, cobbled together pic and a few comments on social media, has there been ANY other publicity for this? It feels really downplayed, honestly. This is BIG news for the prog / metal community and yet... still no interviews, no band picture / video of them together. Perhaps this will all come in time.

Agreeing, I would love to see more from the band about the direction they're going with this. They seem decidedly silent.

They are remaining quiet on purpose to watch all of us turn on each other on DTF fighting about the speculation on why they have been so quiet.

Oh I am sure that if they're reading, here or anywhere else, that they have bigger concerns about what may be ripping the fandom apart right now.

[wolfking]

  Touche!  Best they don't come in here then!

[crystalstars17]

Touche!  Best they don't come in here then!

Lol yes, best they do not.

[gzarruk]

The biggest reason why they had to photoshop the full band pic and why they haven't done anything together since the announcement is that MP had the rest of the year already booked with TWD + a few other select dates with other people. I'd be very very surprised if most of their conversations and agreements for the change WEREN'T done on phone calls/facetime/zoom/whatever.

I'm sure we'll get lots of full band activities next year, but for now the only thing that I expect seeing is JP and MP + families hanging out during the holidays (maybe JM too).

[bosk1]

Nah. Sounds more like a rock and roll band is about to break (back) out to me

You mean the same rock and roll band who gave us On The Backs of Angels, The Enemy Inside, Our New World, Fall Into the Light, and Answering the Call?

Someone had better notify JP that he was not in a rock band when he won his Grammy.

Opinions and all that, but 3 of the songs you cited are not exactly the greatest examples (at least to me) for you to make your point.   

What's funny is I seriously for the life of me can't figure out which three you're talking about. Those are some of the best tracks, if not THE best track, on their respective albums.

OtBoA and TEI are OK but sorta meh - I think the fact that neither has been featured in the setlist since 2014 says something (although I know the same is true of everything from the s/t where everything was just played on a single tour). And ONW? Can't stand that song. Since Crystalstars was trying to argue her point, she would've been better off picking some other tracks. The obvious choice from ADToE would've been BAI or perhaps BitS, from the s/t probably IT although I think TBP is also a standout on that album. And if something from a divisive album like TA had to be included, MoB would have been the best bet in general. Even with FItL - it's a song I personally love, but either AWE or PBD would've been better tracks to reference there, too considering the general taste of this forum. 

Nothing wrong with her choices.  She's entitled to like what she likes.  And aside from person tastes, those songs are generally liked and have gotten good crowd response.  But more importantly, that isn't even her point, and the songs she picked should be adequate to have illustrated her point.  Scotty, you post honestly just comes across as elitist gatekeeping, which is kind of surprising coming from you. 

[hefdaddy42]

I would imagine the reason you haven't seen any more publicity or comment or anything from the band is due to MP's busy remaining touring schedule.  He hasn't been able to physically regroup with the rest of the band yet.

[MirrorMask]

The biggest reason why they had to photoshop the full band pic and why they haven't done anything together since the announcement is that MP had the rest of the year already booked with TWD + a few other select dates with other people. I'd be very very surprised if most of their conversations and agreements for the change WEREN'T done on phone calls/facetime/zoom/whatever.

So if they already knew Mike's schedule, and work on the next album was scheduled to being "anytime now", it must have been a relatively quick decision.

No way they would publicly committ to studio time for the follow up to View if they already knew months in advance they wanted to record that album with MP instead.

[Stadler]

The biggest reason why they had to photoshop the full band pic and why they haven't done anything together since the announcement is that MP had the rest of the year already booked with TWD + a few other select dates with other people. I'd be very very surprised if most of their conversations and agreements for the change WEREN'T done on phone calls/facetime/zoom/whatever.

I'm sure we'll get lots of full band activities next year, but for now the only thing that I expect seeing is JP and MP + families hanging out during the holidays (maybe JM too).

Man.  You LOVE the assumption, don't you?   

[MinistroRaven]

[hefdaddy42]

#OGDT

[MinistroRaven]

#OGDT

Oesophago-gastric-duodenal transit ?

[hefdaddy42]

#OGDT

Oesophago-gastric-duodenal transit ?

Close enough.

[Setlist Scotty]

Nah. Sounds more like a rock and roll band is about to break (back) out to me

You mean the same rock and roll band who gave us On The Backs of Angels, The Enemy Inside, Our New World, Fall Into the Light, and Answering the Call?

Someone had better notify JP that he was not in a rock band when he won his Grammy.

Opinions and all that, but 3 of the songs you cited are not exactly the greatest examples (at least to me) for you to make your point.   

What's funny is I seriously for the life of me can't figure out which three you're talking about. Those are some of the best tracks, if not THE best track, on their respective albums.

OtBoA and TEI are OK but sorta meh - I think the fact that neither has been featured in the setlist since 2014 says something (although I know the same is true of everything from the s/t where everything was just played on a single tour). And ONW? Can't stand that song. Since Crystalstars was trying to argue her point, she would've been better off picking some other tracks. The obvious choice from ADToE would've been BAI or perhaps BitS, from the s/t probably IT although I think TBP is also a standout on that album. And if something from a divisive album like TA had to be included, MoB would have been the best bet in general. Even with FItL - it's a song I personally love, but either AWE or PBD would've been better tracks to reference there, too considering the general taste of this forum. 

Nothing wrong with her choices.  She's entitled to like what she likes.  And aside from person tastes, those songs are generally liked and have gotten good crowd response.  But more importantly, that isn't even her point, and the songs she picked should be adequate to have illustrated her point.  Scotty, you post honestly just comes across as elitist gatekeeping, which is kind of surprising coming from you.

In hindsight, you're right. I didn't use the discretion I should have, especially because I didn't take into consideration that her perspective is somewhat similar to what we went through in 2010 as I think she posted elsewhere. It just bothered me that someone was in essence discounting the point being made that things were the not same, especially live, with MM as they were with MP, from someone who hadn't been there during MP's first stint with the band. I think that's what cause me to miss the real point she was making with the examples she gave (plus the Grammy comment didn't help). Regardless, that doesn't excuse my post, and for that I apologize to crystalstars.

[Jamesman42]

#OGDT

Oesophago-gastric-duodenal transit ?

Bless you, and welcome to the forum!

[gzarruk]

The biggest reason why they had to photoshop the full band pic and why they haven't done anything together since the announcement is that MP had the rest of the year already booked with TWD + a few other select dates with other people. I'd be very very surprised if most of their conversations and agreements for the change WEREN'T done on phone calls/facetime/zoom/whatever.

I'm sure we'll get lots of full band activities next year, but for now the only thing that I expect seeing is JP and MP + families hanging out during the holidays (maybe JM too).

Man.  You LOVE the assumption, don't you?   

Lol, I mean, they clearly didn't have a proper photoshoot or they would've used that instead of the basic photoshop they posted (maybe it's possible they did have one but all their photos got deleted accidentally ). But, seriously, Mike P has been touring with TWD for a while lately so he couldn't  possibly be there with them. I don't see how that's speculation or assumption on my part, they used a photoshopped image and MP was out touring, those are facts, not my opinion.

And I get it, lawyer stuff and all that, but day to day life has a lot more nuance and is completely different from a court environment. Just my two cents.

[bosk1]

Yeah, I don't really see much in the way of assumption in there either. 

[The Letter M]

Not sure if it was posted here or not, but Mike shared some pics earlier on FB and it looks like he stopped by the Drumeo HQ for some performances and what not. I'm guessing they'll talk a LOT about his return to DT, so I expect some interesting interview questions and answers whenever that video comes out!

-Marc.

[evilasiojr]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SmUgj8KZMw&ab_channel=Ibagenscast

Felipe Andreoli, Brazilian monster bass player who played some shows with MP and Sons of Apollo last year, was asked about his opinion both as a fan and coworker on Mike's return to DT, and he said that since then (we're talking about a year ago more or less) Mike was already "talking about and articulating with the other guys" his return to the band and that it seemed it would happen soon, cause sounded like something he really wanted. But that he, Felipe, was surprised of how fast it actually came to be.

It is all right at the beginning of the interview and it is in Brazilian Portuguese.

[TAC]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SmUgj8KZMw&ab_channel=Ibagenscast

Felipe Andreoli, Brazilian monster bass player who played some shows with MP and Sons of Apollo last year, was asked about his opinion both as a fan and coworker on Mike's return to DT, and he said that since then (we're talking about a year ago more or less) Mike was already "talking about and articulating with the other guys" his return to the band and that it seemed it would happen soon, cause sounded like something he really wanted. But that he, Felipe, was surprised of how fast it actually came to be.

It is all right at the beginning of the interview and it is in Brazilian Portuguese.

Yup. Mike had been playing the long game for a few years.

[KevShmev]

Honestly, when I first heard about him and James making amends at that show a while back, my initial thought was that it was more of a strategic move on Mike's part than anything else.  That domino had to fall to get back into DT and he had to be the one to make the first move.

[TAC]

Honestly, when I first heard about him and James making amends at that show a while back, my initial thought was that it was more of a strategic move on Mike's part than anything else.  That domino had to fall to get back into DT and he had to be the one to make the first move.

And wasn't it sprung on James that night, so there was no way for him to hide from it. I'm sure JP knew he'd be there.

[KevShmev]

Honestly, when I first heard about him and James making amends at that show a while back, my initial thought was that it was more of a strategic move on Mike's part than anything else.  That domino had to fall to get back into DT and he had to be the one to make the first move.

And wasn't it sprung on James that night, so there was no way for him to hide from it. I'm sure JP knew he'd be there.

I think I remember it said that James was called that day and told Mike wanted to meet up, and James took a walk to think it over.  He was basically put in a situation where he had to say yes or else he looks like the bad guy who won't bury the hatchet, when amends had been made with all the others already.

[TheCountOfNYC]

Honestly, when I first heard about him and James making amends at that show a while back, my initial thought was that it was more of a strategic move on Mike's part than anything else.  That domino had to fall to get back into DT and he had to be the one to make the first move.

And wasn't it sprung on James that night, so there was no way for him to hide from it. I'm sure JP knew he'd be there.

I think I remember it said that James was called that day and told Mike wanted to meet up, and James took a walk to think it over.  He was basically put in a situation where he had to say yes or else he looks like the bad guy who won't bury the hatchet, when amends had been made with all the others already.

Man the band needs to post some sort of update. I'm afraid this thread is starting to derail and head in a negative direction.

[TAC]

Honestly, when I first heard about him and James making amends at that show a while back, my initial thought was that it was more of a strategic move on Mike's part than anything else.  That domino had to fall to get back into DT and he had to be the one to make the first move.

And wasn't it sprung on James that night, so there was no way for him to hide from it. I'm sure JP knew he'd be there.

I think I remember it said that James was called that day and told Mike wanted to meet up, and James took a walk to think it over.  He was basically put in a situation where he had to say yes or else he looks like the bad guy who won't bury the hatchet, when amends had been made with all the others already.

Man the band needs to post some sort of update. I'm afraid this thread is starting to derail and head in a negative direction.

Really? I don't get that impression.

[KevShmev]

Some people have a wild imagination.

[Dedalus]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SmUgj8KZMw&ab_channel=Ibagenscast

Felipe Andreoli, Brazilian monster bass player who played some shows with MP and Sons of Apollo last year, was asked about his opinion both as a fan and coworker on Mike's return to DT, and he said that since then (we're talking about a year ago more or less) Mike was already "talking about and articulating with the other guys" his return to the band and that it seemed it would happen soon, cause sounded like something he really wanted. But that he, Felipe, was surprised of how fast it actually came to be.

It is all right at the beginning of the interview and it is in Brazilian Portuguese.

Yup. Mike had been playing the long game for a few years.

Step by step as New Kids on the Block would say. 

[nobloodyname]

Not sure if it was posted here or not, but Mike shared some pics earlier on FB and it looks like he stopped by the Drumeo HQ for some performances and what not. I'm guessing they'll talk a LOT about his return to DT, so I expect some interesting interview questions and answers whenever that video comes out!

-Marc.

Drumeo post some great stuff so I'll be keeping an eye out in the hope we get some sort of video collaboration. Be amazing if he did one of those first time listening things although hard to imagine Mike not having heard whatever they came up with!

Kinda sorta almost related side note: just got myself a keyboard. No, I can't play it. Got it just to use as a midi device for plugging into my DAW. Anyway, have been watching some Pianote videos and they're really good. It's part of the same group of companies as Drumeo. Lisa Witt is the instructor and I find her style and enthusiasm quite engaging.

[MoraWintersoul]

Honestly, when I first heard about him and James making amends at that show a while back, my initial thought was that it was more of a strategic move on Mike's part than anything else.  That domino had to fall to get back into DT and he had to be the one to make the first move.

And wasn't it sprung on James that night, so there was no way for him to hide from it. I'm sure JP knew he'd be there.

I think I remember it said that James was called that day and told Mike wanted to meet up, and James took a walk to think it over.  He was basically put in a situation where he had to say yes or else he looks like the bad guy who won't bury the hatchet, when amends had been made with all the others already.

I don't really think so. There was also the option for James to say "sure I'll say hi to be polite but not more", but they basically resumed their friendship and that must have been on James' initiative.

[wolfking]

Honestly, when I first heard about him and James making amends at that show a while back, my initial thought was that it was more of a strategic move on Mike's part than anything else.  That domino had to fall to get back into DT and he had to be the one to make the first move.

And wasn't it sprung on James that night, so there was no way for him to hide from it. I'm sure JP knew he'd be there.

I think I remember it said that James was called that day and told Mike wanted to meet up, and James took a walk to think it over.  He was basically put in a situation where he had to say yes or else he looks like the bad guy who won't bury the hatchet, when amends had been made with all the others already.

Man the band needs to post some sort of update. I'm afraid this thread is starting to derail and head in a negative direction.

Besides the unfortunate outcome for MM, there's nothing negative about this whole situation.  I think all the wild speculation just adds to the excitement of the news. 

What sort of update are people expecting from them currently?

[Indiscipline]

It's been 20 days since The Announcement, and - although we're basically in the dark about the whole deal - the deflagration's dust is settling, Emotions loosen their grip on the rudder they've borrowed from Reason, balls got a bit colder; it seems to me the perfect time to ask myself what MP's return really means to me, hoping to obtain a sincere and sensible answer.

The answer was, predictably enough, "a whole lot of things", each and every one of them thoroughly discussed in this thread, therefore my query became finding out which aspect of Portnoy's return meant the most to me. Running down the list, one particular aspect sprang to mind, one missing / not much discussed / I didn't catch in the fandom discourse, but one dearest to my heart.

The Return tells the world "we are finally at peace with each other", no more trouble brewing Beneath the Surface. Call me a sappy romantic, but I tend to consider people I admire and love since I began shaving as kind of mates; they gave me incredible times and emotions, have been part of my life longer than any human being, and I care for mates.

When the break-up occurred, what really crippled my feelings was realising a couple of brothers I loved from afar had come to a bitter end. We're not talking about your basic bandmates relationship here, we're talking "the solo I composed to honour my brother's father passing is more heartfelt than the solo I composed for mine" stuff.

I may be a sappy romantic, but no rotating setlist, cover album, surprise show, live antic, fan service, bootleg renaissance gets remotely close to the joy I'm feeling knowing people I deeply care for are back happy together - no matter if only for hypothetical mere financial reasons - and that's what I really want to celebrate.


A spirit is needed when you want it to carry on. 

[Podaar]

Good lord, Alex. That was so sticky sweet that my dental bridge (upper right) fell right out. Now I've got to go back to the dentist again.

As for the contents of your post.

[TAC]

Dammit Alessandro. Today was the day that I was meaning to write my thoughts down after a few weeks have passed.

To what you wrote, I hear what you're saying, but I've been getting the warmies as he's been reconciling with each member, culminating with James, over the last few years. I mean, who didn't get all sappy when the pic of Mike and Mike was posted? I sure as hell did.

So I was already there. Honestly, I didn't need MP to return to the band for me to feel happy about them feeling happy.