This is kinda hypocritical of him, too. "I want to come on this show and make sure my words aren't taken out of context and over analyzed, Eddie."
*reads Blabbermouth excerpt and over analyzes out of context quotes*
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH I'M GOING TO DELETE JLB TOUR DATES THAT SOMEONE ELSE POSTED BECAUSE *I* DON'T WANT TO PROMOTE HIM EVEN THOUGH I COULD HAVE KEPT MY MOUTH SHUT AND NO ONE WOULD HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT IT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER."
LOL
My theory is this is Mike's game. As Kev said awhile ago, Mike's no idiot. You don't survive in the music biz and win the kinds of battles Mike's won over the record companies by being an idiot, either.
Really, Mike's playing a game here. He wanted to leave DT, so he did but he wanted to do it in a way that would make him look good-- like it wasn't his idea. His first big mistake was thinking that DT fans would support him over the other guys. When he realized he was wrong about that, he pretty much shut down all discussion of it and told the fans that it was "NEVER HIS IDEA" and that he "NEVER WANTED TO LEAVE" to save face... essentially putting all the blame for his own choices on the other guys.
Now, frustrated since he can't stomach the fact that DT fans are going to be, well, just as negative as fans of any other metal band (you wanted DT to have balls, right MP
), he's trying to save face YET AGAIN by fabricating a conflict in which he looks like the good guy. "The guys fired me and now they're saying they're happy about it!
"
He's drawing lines in the sand. Mike, being the bully that he is, chooses the only member who is perhaps criticized almost as often as him: James LaBrie. Sure, John and Jordan and Myung have ALL said they're excited about Mike being gone.
But fans have beat up on James in the past, maybe they'll beat up on him again. Meanwhile, Myung's too quiet and popular to be angry at, John's reputation with fans is pretty much impenetrable, and while Jordan has received a ton of criticism no-one with an ounce of sanity would ever believe that he's an asshole. So beat up James! Next to you, he's the weakest in the eyes of the fans! Right MP??? Big, tough-guy Captain James LaBrie going after Mike, who's sad and just wants to move on with his life.
WRONG.
The truth is fans LIKE James LaBrie. Hell, we LOVE him. He's the voice of the band we all love. His new solo album is fantastic. He's got a great personality. His performances lately have been god-tier. Everyone wants him to contribute more, and write his own melodies again. Anyone who's stuck with Dream Theater up to this point knows that James LaBrie is the
least of the band's perceived 'problems.'
Mike's already learned the hard way that fans will choose the 4 guys in DT over him if he makes things ugly. Now he's going to learn that the fans will choose any member over him 1 on 1. Better not go down that road, Mike...
Honest--to see my place
Open--to other ways
Willingness--to understand
Justice--but do not judge
Courtesy--for others' flaws
Kindness--it's not that hard
Self-restraint--of toungue and pen
Inventory--my daily friend
Analysis--let down your guard