I think this is going to be a relively long post. Bear with me if you want. If you ignore it, that's okay too.
I came back from a movie tonight at around one o'clock this morning. When I opened up my laptop and logged into MSN, I received an offline message from my guitarist saying, "MIKE PORTNOY LEFT?!?!?!?!?! MIKE PORTNOY LEFT?!?!?!?!"
"No fucking way," I thought, "not Dream Theater."
I jumped on here immediately and saw the news, I headed over to Blabbermouth and saw it. I literally started to cry. I'm still in shock and the very thought of Mike not being in Dream Theater scares the shit out of me. Mike is/was Dream Theater in my honest opinion.
As a drummer, this hits me very hard since I very much look up to Mike Portnoy because it was him who influenced me to expand my style of playing, encorporating odd-time signatures, etc. I know I'm talking about him as if he were dead but I'm sorry; I'm just as much a fan of Dream Theater and from a drummer's point of view, I learned so goddamn much from him as an individual drummer and a member of Dream Theater. And seeing him live at Massey Hall on March 25th, 2004 on the Train Of Thought world tour in Toronto is something that I will never forget.
I read this thread from beginning to end and I too believe that Mike will be back soon. I hope to God he comes back. I just don't see Mike not doing anything with the band that he pretty much carried on his back for over twenty-five years. I honestly think after some time and rest, he will come back and he will be stronger, better, and more clear-headed than ever. I never expected this to happen, to be quite honest. I just sincerely hope that he comes back and puts out a whole new slew of Dream Theater records because I personally thought that Black Clouds And Silver Linings was their best release in over a decade.
If he doesn't come back, however, I wish him nothing but the best and I hope he is happy with his choce(s).
And personally- just by short of a miracle that he is reading this page: Thank you, Mike. I have been admiring you since I was eleven years old. I have much to owe you in terms of music appreciation, drumming, and discovering your band which has taken me on such an extraordinary journey that I could never thank you enough.
Cheers, Mike.
Carpe diem. Seize the day.