Mike Portnoy leaves Dream Theater

[Nick]

A few things to remember-
1. There will be no bashing of Mike Portnoy
2. There will be no bashing of Dream Theater
3. There will be no bashing of certain other forums

===============================

I am about to write something I never imagined I'd ever write:

After 25 years, I have decided to leave Dream Theater....the band I founded, led and truly loved for a quarter of a century.

To many people this will come as a complete shock, and will also likely be misunderstood by some, but please believe me that it is not a hasty decision...it is something I have struggled with for the last year or so....

After having had such amazing experiences playing with Hail, Transatlantic and Avenged Sevenfold this past year, I have sadly come to the conclusion that I have recently had more fun and better personal relations with these other projects than I have for a while now in Dream Theater...

Please don't misinterpret me, I love the DT guys dearly and have a long history, friendship and bond that runs incredibly deep with them...it's just that I think we are in serious need of a little break...

Dream Theater was always my baby...and I nurtured that baby every single day and waking moment of my life since 1985...24/7, 365...never taking time off from DT's never-ending responsibilites (even when the band was "off" between cycles)...working overtime and way beyond the call of duty that most sane people ever would do for a band...

But I've come to the conclusion that the DT machine was starting to burn me out...and I really needed a break from the band in order to save my relationship with the other members and keep my DT spirit hungry and inspired.

We have been on an endless write/record/tour cycle for almost 20 years now (of which I have overseen EVERY aspect without a break) and while a few months apart from each other here & there over the years has been much needed and helpful, I honestly hoped the band could simply agree with me to taking a bit of a "hiatus" to recharge our batteries and "save me from ourselves"...

Sadly, in discussing this with the guys, they determined they do not share my feelings and have decided to continue without me rather than take a breather...I even offered to do some occasional work throughout 2011 against my initial wishes, but it was not to be...

While it truly hurts for me to even think of a Dream Theater without Mike Portnoy (hell, my father named the band!!), I do not want to stand in their way...so I have decided to sacrifice myself and simply leave the band so as to not hold them back against their wishes....

Strangely enough, I just read an interview that I recently did that asked me about the future of DT and I talked about "always following your heart and being true to yourself"...sadly I must say that at this particular moment, my heart is not with Dream Theater...and I would simply be "going through the motions", and would honestly NOT be true to myself if I stayed for the sake of obligation without taking the break I felt I needed.

I wish the guys the best and hope the music and legacy we created together is enjoyed by fans for decades to come...I am proud of every album we made, every song we wrote and every show we played....

I'm sorry to all the disappointed DT fans around the world...I really tried to salvage the situation and make it work...I honestly just wanted a break (not a split)...but happiness cannot be forced, it needs to come from within....

You DT fans are the greatest fans in the world and as you all know, I have always busted my ass for you guys and I hope that you will stay with me on my future musical journey, wherever it may lead me....(and as you all know my work ethic, there will surely be no shortage of future MP projects!)

Sadly...
Your fearless ex-leader and drummer,
MP




--------------------------------------------
From James' website

DREAM THEATER
Press Release
To all of our loyal fans and friends: It is with
profound sadness -- regret -- we announce that Mike
Portnoy, our lifelong drummer and friend, has
decided to leave Dream Theater. Mike's stature in
the band has meant the world to all of us
professionally, musically, and personally over the
years. There is no dispute: Mike has been a major
force within this band.

While it is true that Mike is choosing to pursue other
ventures and challenges, we can assure you
that Dream Theater will continue to move forward
with the same intensity -- and in the same musical
tradition -- that you have all helped make so
successful, and which is truly gratifying to us.
Fans and friends: File this episode under "Black
Clouds and Silver Linings."As planned, we begin
recording our newest album in January 2011, and
we'll follow that with a full-on world tour. "The Spirit
Carries On."

All of us in Dream Theater wholeheartedly wish Mike
the best on his musical journey. We have had a long
and meaningful career together. It is our true hope
that he finds all he is looking for, and that he
achieves the happiness he deserves. He will be
missed.

[PlaysLikeMyung]

WHAT


THE



FUCK?!

[SystematicThought]

Best be a joke.....

[chknptpie]

WWWWWWWWWWHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Why did it have to be when I was just getting to know this band in the last year? WHY!?!

[Perpetual Change]

Dammit. I think many of us saw this coming, but it still feels completely unexpected.

[jezstyle]

WUT.

;_;

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

MAN, NO!

I'm feeling awful.....NO, DARN!

[Nick]

I want this to be a joke, but I can't see him joking about this... crazy fucking news.

[blackngold29]

I'm completely stunned, but I have to give it a few days to make sure this isn't a joke cause he lost a bet and I begin a mental breakdown.

[TimmyHiggy]

Terrible news! The Portnoy output in Hail/A7X has been nothing on the DT output, and the Transatlantic releases have been great in a more jammy kinda way than live DT. I hope that he realises that in quitting DT he is probably causing the greatest prog metal band around to break up!
I really can't express how bad an idea this is. I hope he is very happy working with other peoples side projects/inferior bands

[bmc]

OH MY FUCKING GOD. kill me now.

[LTE]

So fucking unexpected. I had just read in a recent interview Mike saying he would never leave DT "it's my baby", etc.
His reasons though... He wanted a break from DT, but still continued to play in so many other sideprojects and A7X???!?!?

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

Holy crap, I feel like breaking up with my lifetime girlfriend or something to that extent....

[faemir]

Are you fucking shitting me?

[DarkEternalNight]

If this is true, I'm going to cry my eyes out. I will leave out the hate until this is 100% confirmed.

[chrisbDTM]

HOLY SHIT


he'll be back. i know it. he will realize what he left down the road

[Dr. DTVT]

 

[Arcaeus]

I wouldn't be surprised if it ended up being a joke, but I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't either.

I feel bad for you guys if it's the latter.

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

So fucking unexpected. I had just read in a recent interview Mike saying he would never leave DT "it's my baby", etc.
His reasons though... He wanted a break from DT, but still continued to play in so many other sideprojects and A7X???!?!?

Yeah...I kinda get the reasons thing...but hey!? No one forced him to be so restless in terms of DT...We all appreciated what he did for us, DT fans, but we even wished he could take a break...and his break is spent touring with other projects...? Hey, not cool...and I'm not bashing MP at all, I love him and I consider him a great drummer, but I sincerely can't digest these news right now...

[blackngold29]

The part that confuses me is that the band would go on without him... who the hell is going to play drums? Kevin Moore?

[toro]

WHAT THE FUCKING SHIT?

[chknptpie]

If this is true, I'm going to cry my eyes out. I will leave out the hate until this is 100% confirmed.

MP Posted it on FB and Twitter.

[SystematicThought]

I don't know though, would MP abandon DT. I think it might be a joke to get the fans crazy, but if it is a joke, it's not that funny

[MykeHavoc]

This really does not compute. Where is the origin of this?

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

Why am I getting this unsteady feeling MP's becoming A7X's permanent drummer?

[chknptpie]

HE PROMISED ARIZONA A HEADLINER! Jerk! lol

[TimmyHiggy]

I really believed that if JR/JlB left DT then they could carry on, but after so many years with 3 members constant then surely this is it for the band?

[antigoon]

I really never thought I'd see the day... I can't believe how much this is affecting me, I barely even listen to them anymore!

WHY AM I SO SAD

[Jarlaxle]

WTF?   this is terrible news

[Ultimetalhead]

This is EXACTLY what I was freaking out about when he started playing/recording with A7X.

This is a terrible day for the music industry.

[Zeltar]

Holy fucking shit. I'm paralyzed in shock. Wow.

[lateralus88]

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[Perpetual Change]

Okay guys.

One thing to keep in consideration-

It appears, by Mike's post, that this statement means Dream Theater will continue to put things out (as Mike left because HE wanted to take a break).

So, we're still bound to get plenty of Dream Theater.

That, and, we're bound to get more Transatlantic (hopefully).

BUT this also means the end of the hardest working force in the band... the guy that brought us the custom setlists, official bootlegs, and probably all the other things that we'll never notice.... (along with RORO vocals).

So, trying to be optimistic here.... More DT output... More TA output... and no more RORO... There we go.

[Jarlaxle]

I just don't understand....

[LTE]

Why am I getting this unsteady feeling MP's becoming A7X's permanent drummer?

It's like this horrible sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.