The Mike Portnoy Appreciation/Discussion Thread (merged)

[bosk1]

I don't know why, but I've got it in my head that he could also be referring to Billy Sheehan.

Which political way do scientologists typically sway? 

I would guess that (1) it depends on the issue, but (2) given the high profile types that gravitate toward it, I would guess the more liberal direction.

[KevShmev]

I don't know why, but I've got it in my head that he could also be referring to Billy Sheehan.

Which political way do scientologists typically sway? 

Whichever way Tom Cruise directs them.

[Kotowboy]

I really wish Tom Cruise was not such a real life weirdo as he seems like a really nice guy - he's never had a #MeToo kind of scandal ** - his films are generally on the Good to Great side.







** That I know of / recall.

[MoraWintersoul]

Can we leave the judgment out of it, though?

We're just talking! I just find this amusing as a thought exercise. No one is out trying to figure out who these people are so they could be "cancelled", if we know about it it's public knowledge anyway. I don't think JP is less cool for being vastly more conservative than me, he is who he is and it's not like there's a lack of musicians who are "on my side" in my library anyway.

[HOF]

So here’s some actual new music MP has contributed to. Not sure if a Facebook link will work, but explanation here:

https://m.facebook.com/?_rdr#!/story.php?story_fbid=4267507119933564&id=116713035013014

New song here (haven’t even listened to this yet).

https://m.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&fbclid=IwAR1hdNGurNn1HvBSXqz6KMTn4WVNwbq85a1OIcvCvtS_Dn2FWB7QRh6uyT8&feature=youtu.be&v=86xpCck2lnU

[Mladen]

Can we leave the judgment out of it, though?

We're just talking! I just find this amusing as a thought exercise. No one is out trying to figure out who these people are so they could be "cancelled", if we know about it it's public knowledge anyway. I don't think JP is less cool for being vastly more conservative than me, he is who he is and it's not like there's a lack of musicians who are "on my side" in my library anyway.

I am also somewhat fascinated by political views of musicians, so if this continues to be a discussion without judgement, I'd like to follow it and read through the posts.

I remember this was the video in which Petrucci commented on Trump after the 2016 election:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVyDJ-LMHeI 7:08

EDIT: I've just now realized that this might be off topic, so if anyone feels like deleting the post or moving it to a different thread, no hard feelings.

[Lupton]

People are always going to be interested in the personal beliefs of those who create art.  As it stands, artists and their views on life are inherently entrenched. Maybe not so much in prog rock, where things generally skew towards the apolitical side of things. But any sort of lyrical statement of any kind is a social statement and carries an inherent bias. If this weren't true no one would ever have any need to express themselves lyrically and there'd be NO stories to tell. This is an unavoidable fact of life. If you want to avoid any sort of reading into the human condition, then you should only make instrumental music.

[HOF]

So here’s some actual new music MP has contributed to. Not sure if a Facebook link will work, but explanation here:

https://m.facebook.com/?_rdr#!/story.php?story_fbid=4267507119933564&id=116713035013014

New song here (haven’t even listened to this yet).

https://m.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&fbclid=IwAR1hdNGurNn1HvBSXqz6KMTn4WVNwbq85a1OIcvCvtS_Dn2FWB7QRh6uyT8&feature=youtu.be&v=86xpCck2lnU

Just watched this. That was a nice little tune and a lot of fun to watch.

[Stadler]

Look, I get the fact that music (and all art) is inherently self-expression, and that includes political topics.  This isn't about that.  I'm a HUGE REM fan, and I can remember seeing them in Connecticut five days or so after Bush was reelected and Michael Stipe had a black band of makeup over his eyes (normally it was blue or green if memory serves) and at one point he said something to the effect that "this was the darkest day of his life" (and got booed, by the way).   I LOVE Neal Young, Bruce Springsteen, and John Mellencamp, and they've never been shy about their leanings.  I don't pick my artists based on whether I agree with their politics; in fact, I don't PICK my artists, they pick me (if their music moves me, yay! If it doesn't, let's move on). 

I was commenting more on the reaction to the specific position, specifically words like "horrified", and emojis that are not exactly in keeping with "no judgment".   And of course, I'm not a mod, so it's certainly not a directive.   

[MinistroRaven]

Voices Of Apollo (Jeff Scott Soto, Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal & Mike Portnoy) - Nowhere Man

This is always a fun 3 Part harmony song that MP, JSS & Bumblefoot would often sing together on tour.
Being we can't sing together on tour at the moment, we decided to do a fun video collaboration so we can still sing together even while in Quarantine!

Enjoy!

https://www.facebook.com/SonsOfApollo1/videos/vb.149119852288489/357008058600897/?type=2&theater

[Indiscipline]

Very classy of Ron Thal to play left-handed bass.

[Peter Mc]

Look, I get the fact that music (and all art) is inherently self-expression, and that includes political topics.  This isn't about that.  I'm a HUGE REM fan, and I can remember seeing them in Connecticut five days or so after Bush was reelected and Michael Stipe had a black band of makeup over his eyes (normally it was blue or green if memory serves) and at one point he said something to the effect that "this was the darkest day of his life" (and got booed, by the way).   I LOVE Neal Young, Bruce Springsteen, and John Mellencamp, and they've never been shy about their leanings.  I don't pick my artists based on whether I agree with their politics; in fact, I don't PICK my artists, they pick me (if their music moves me, yay! If it doesn't, let's move on). 

I was commenting more on the reaction to the specific position, specifically words like "horrified", and emojis that are not exactly in keeping with "no judgment".   And of course, I'm not a mod, so it's certainly not a directive.

Horrified was a little bit of hyperbole on my part but I will say that I do judge anyone who would support that man and it was disappointing to see a hero of mine in his camp.  That being said, I don’t make a decision on what music I like based on who people vote for so that alone will not affect me being a fan. 

[Setlist Scotty]

Very classy of Ron Thal to play left-handed bass.

Actually, that's the mirror image - if you look at the headstock, you can see the Vigier logo is flopped. Still a cool little detail that they included. 

[Indiscipline]

 

 

[KevShmev]

That’s a weird cover in that they sounded good when doing the harmonies, but every time one sang a lead alone, it didn’t sound good. And the lead singer was the worst of the three.

In all fairness, though, most bands wouldn’t come close to matching the majestic lead vocals of McCartney or Lennon.

[Setlist Scotty]

https://youtu.be/Y8tdES8Txc8?t=86

Confirmation from the man himself that he and JMX spent New Year's Eve together.

[The Letter M]

https://youtu.be/Y8tdES8Txc8?t=86

Confirmation from the man himself that he and JMX spent New Year's Eve together.

I wonder how many more Cameo videos this Vince guy is going to get from DT members?! 

-Marc.

[RodrigoAltaf]

https://youtu.be/Y8tdES8Txc8?t=86

Confirmation from the man himself that he and JMX spent New Year's Eve together.

I wonder how many more Cameo videos this Vince guy is going to get from DT members?! 

-Marc.

Yeah, I think he's done five or six at this point...

[Kotowboy]

Man I am really getting tired of every single person on YouTube using the phrase " in these crazy times "... 

[Kyo]

Man I am really getting tired of every single person on YouTube using the phrase " in these crazy times "... 

In these crazy times we need a lot of tolerance for that! 

[nobloodyname]

https://youtu.be/Y8tdES8Txc8?t=86

Confirmation from the man himself that he and JMX spent New Year's Eve together.

I wonder how many more Cameo videos this Vince guy is going to get from DT members?! 

-Marc.

Most, if not all, of these videos have been prompted by one person.

Still, some nice information coming out.

[Stadler]

https://youtu.be/Y8tdES8Txc8?t=86

Confirmation from the man himself that he and JMX spent New Year's Eve together.

I wonder how many more Cameo videos this Vince guy is going to get from DT members?! 

-Marc.

Most, if not all, of these videos have been prompted by one person.

Still, some nice information coming out.

What do you mean here?  Are you referring to Vince himself, or someone else? 

In these crazy times, you have to be extra clear. 

   

[RodrigoAltaf]

https://youtu.be/Y8tdES8Txc8?t=86

Confirmation from the man himself that he and JMX spent New Year's Eve together.

I wonder how many more Cameo videos this Vince guy is going to get from DT members?! 

-Marc.

Most, if not all, of these videos have been prompted by one person.

Still, some nice information coming out.

What do you mean here?  Are you referring to Vince himself, or someone else? 

In these crazy times, you have to be extra clear. 

 

I checked Vince's YouTube channel, and he has many other videos - Jeff Scott Soto, Bumblefoot, Jordan Rudess...in these crazy AND UNPRECEDENTED times, this is a life-changing piece of information.

[Stadler]

He's not an executive at Cameo, is he? 

I'd actually like to do that, but I'd feel sort of... stupid.  I have had reasonably informative conversations with artists before - I stood on a sidewalk and had a conversation with Gary Barden for about 10 minutes and it was fascinating - and I can't help that it was part and parcel because there were no phones/videos/pictures (I have a pic with Gary, but at first I demurred and he, well, not "insisted", but encouraged it).  Same with Billy Squier.  Although James, Jordan and Mike all seemed sincere, the fact is, they ALL know that these videos will be on a website in MINUTES, so you're getting "filter".  I don't even have an answering machine message anymore, and even if I did, the associate at Capital One looking for my payment this month isn't going to know who the f- that is... so....   

[Stadler]

Hey, sidebar, does Mike have a tongue piercing that we know of?

[Lupton]

"Well the times they are a changin'. The answer (my friend) lies blowin' within from your end."  -probably Dylan or someone

[Setlist Scotty]

Although James, Jordan and Mike all seemed sincere, the fact is, they ALL know that these videos will be on a website in MINUTES, so you're getting "filter".

Unless you're someone the band members know personally, you can be sure at this point in time that any conversation you have is going to be filtered, because it will end up getting posted somewhere online, especially if they leak some particularly juicy detail. So what you experienced with Gary Barden, being a complete stranger, is probably a thing of the past with most if not all musicians with some level of stature, in these crazy and unprecedented times.   
 
 

Hey, sidebar, does Mike have a tongue piercing that we know of?

Not that I'm aware of, but it's always possible. Still, I dunno if he'd bother to go that far with piercings.

[MinistroRaven]

This is EXTREMELY HILARIOUS (at least to me)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvHomA2Wl04

 

[The Letter M]

This is EXTREMELY HILARIOUS (at least to me)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvHomA2Wl04

 

Let's hear Mike cover "Dig It" on his next tour, the FULL version of the song!

-Marc.

[ytserush]

So here’s some actual new music MP has contributed to. Not sure if a Facebook link will work, but explanation here:

https://m.facebook.com/?_rdr#!/story.php?story_fbid=4267507119933564&id=116713035013014

New song here (haven’t even listened to this yet).

https://m.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&fbclid=IwAR1hdNGurNn1HvBSXqz6KMTn4WVNwbq85a1OIcvCvtS_Dn2FWB7QRh6uyT8&feature=youtu.be&v=86xpCck2lnU

Fun watch and nicely done.

[ytserush]

He's not an executive at Cameo, is he? 

I'd actually like to do that, but I'd feel sort of... stupid.  I have had reasonably informative conversations with artists before - I stood on a sidewalk and had a conversation with Gary Barden for about 10 minutes and it was fascinating - and I can't help that it was part and parcel because there were no phones/videos/pictures (I have a pic with Gary, but at first I demurred and he, well, not "insisted", but encouraged it).  Same with Billy Squier.  Although James, Jordan and Mike all seemed sincere, the fact is, they ALL know that these videos will be on a website in MINUTES, so you're getting "filter".  I don't even have an answering machine message anymore, and even if I did, the associate at Capital One looking for my payment this month isn't going to know who the f- that is... so....

May have said this before, but I wouldn't pay to do something like this. It's much more fun for me to do it after a show if I feel like hanging around.

I've been watching Fish on Friday every week and that's free but there are thousands of people; many with questions and it's not certain that Fish will even see any given question let alone answer it, but I have a lot of fun watching anyway and if I really did want to ask hm something I suppose I could email it, but I'm just content to hear the man speak.  Wouldn't surprise me if Mike thought about doing this in the future since he's given up doing interviews. Again, I wouldn't pay for something like that, but it would be cool to tune in and hear him talk about music or films or whatever.

[ytserush]

This is EXTREMELY HILARIOUS (at least to me)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvHomA2Wl04

 

I've done this the first time I saw Wallace and Grommit's The Wrong Trousers and Hot Fuzz. (But those were  genuinely funny and not absurd like in this case.) but I've totally been there before on the floor like that and unable to breath and tearing up because it's just so funny.

[Ben_Jamin]

This is EXTREMELY HILARIOUS (at least to me)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvHomA2Wl04

 

 

Thats the funniest thing to have been unearthed onto the world.

Somebody please put it over this:

https://youtu.be/ML11w9yYwpA

[Mladen]

He literally ROFL'd. 

[Stadler]

I've been watching the "documentaries" included on the various Neal Morse CD's lately - T2:Live, Momentum, The Grand Experiment - and I've come away with a new appreciation for both Mike and Neal.   I think some of the criticisms about Mike (he doesn't care about drumming, he doesn't practice, he doesn't do anything new) are unfair.  I get that we're watching (largely) what Neal and Randy want us to see, but Mike seemed really engaged, really involved, and really interested in making his imprint on the music.  And while I don't know the first thing about drumming, I think some of the stuff he puts in there is really special.

I've certainly come away with a new appreciation for him (though, ironically, it's soured me even further on some of the other stuff he works on: SoA, and the "metal stuff").