For Immediate Release - Progressive Metal superstars Dream Theater have settled on a new drummer today. Max Portnoy will join the group in recording the 11th album in January. The band auditioned several thousand musicians before settling on Portnoy.
"We are pleased to welcome Max to the group, it really is the best of all worlds. We retain the Portnoy flavor with at least 5 years before Max attempts to take over the band." said singer James LaBrie.
Portnoy is 11 years old and has been playing since birth. He is looking forward to bringing his own style to his father's music.
"Filling Mike's shoes will be tough, mostly because I'm only a size 8 1/2." said Max. "Also I should be ready to run things in less than three years though I think JLB is still the right singer for Dream Theater."
The auditions occurred quickly following the elder Portnoy exiting the band earlier this year. Embracing technology, the entire band worked extremely hard to find a good fit.
"Jordan turned us on to this new thing, Youtube or I guess that's what its called." said guitarist John Petrucci. "We all met at Starbucks and poured through these videos on his iPhone and happened on Max's clips by accident. He's amazing and amazingly small. He can only spit like two feet."
The band plans a worldwide tour in 2011 once they receive signed permission forms from Max's parents to stay out overnight. While little is known about the new album, Portnoy did reveal the band was reworking one of his father's tunes.
"We are re-recording Never Enough with new lyrics, retitling it Never Enough Lucky Charms in honor of my favorite cereal, also to welcome back fans who often failed to display proper fealty to my dad." said Portnoy. "They have paid for their insolence.
The young drummer has inked an early sponsorship deal with General Mills and expects to give out tons of free cereal to grateful fans throughout the coming tour although Max's rider does include removal of all Blue Moons, a task falling on drum tech Jose Baraquio who Mike gave to Max on his last birthday.