The Mike Portnoy Appreciation/Discussion Thread (merged)

[pg1067]

Another shot of MP with 3/4 of YYNOT (not sure who the guy on the far right is).

[gzarruk]

- Hey Mike, can I take a pic with you? I'm a big fan.
- Sure!
- I'll post these on DTF.
- Get out.

[Zydar]

"Is that still a thing?".

[pg1067]

FWIW, I wasn't at this show, and no one in the pictures is me.

MP is in LA working on Winery Dogs stuff, and he took in this show.  This is the MP discussion thread, right?

[nobloodyname]

- Hey Mike, can I take a pic with you? I'm a big fan.
- Sure!
- I'll post these on DTF.
- Get out.

I lament the absence of a proper eye-rolling emoji on DTF.

[bosk1]

FWIW, I wasn't at this show, and no one in the pictures is me.

MP is in LA working on Winery Dogs stuff, and he took in this show.  This is the MP discussion thread, right?

  I don't understand what you are pushing back on or why.

[Madman Shepherd]

What the hell is YYNOT and is that seriously Charlie Dominici?

[HOF]

What the hell is YYNOT and is that seriously Charlie Dominici?

They started out as a Rush cover band, I believe, but they also have original material. I heard one of their albums, and it's very Rush-esque with the occasional direct reference here and there, but it was pretty cool.

[TAC]

Oh ok. So instead of YYZ they are YY.....NOT!

[RodrigoAltaf]

What the hell is YYNOT and is that seriously Charlie Dominici?

That's not Charlie Dominici.

[The Letter M]

Oh ok. So instead of YYZ they are YY.....NOT!

Probably more like "Why? Why Not!".

-Marc.

[Madman Shepherd]

Ah thanks guys.

[MinistroRaven]

From MP FB page:

Hot off the presses!!! I’ve partnered with Ambigram artist Mark Palmer on exclusive new MP design merchandise
This design is ONLY available in Red Chapter Clothing’s Pop-Up Collab store located at:
https://www.mikeportnoyxredchapter.com
**Available for a limited time in limited quantities, so go grab your t-shirts and hoodies now!!!**

[hefdaddy42]

From MP FB page:

Hot off the presses!!! I’ve partnered with Ambigram artist Mark Palmer on exclusive new MP design merchandise
This design is ONLY available in Red Chapter Clothing’s Pop-Up Collab store located at:
https://www.mikeportnoyxredchapter.com
**Available for a limited time in limited quantities, so go grab your t-shirts and hoodies now!!!**

Not sure I love the design, but kudos for having manly sizes available.

[Dublagent66]

- Hey Mike, can I take a pic with you? I'm a big fan.
- Sure!
- I'll post these on DTF.
- Get out.

   more like GTFO. 

[HOF]

New cover featuring MP for an upcoming tribute to Leslie West. No idea who that is, but it's a Mountain song, so I'm guessing he was in Mountain. Mostly I'm sharing because I am surprised that Dee Snider can kind of sing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=IwAR3ySMnO8LWvmAjtQLgcU3ioamOgz6HHPcspD_7wOvJkIBPVhzvwiSXcYM4&v=P7OCDWxCLOs&feature=youtu.be

[hefdaddy42]

Leslie West WAS Mountain.

[HOF]

Leslie West WAS Mountain.

Not very familiar Mountain (I vaguely remember hearing about West's passing in December now), but the song was pretty cool.

[King Postwhore]

I saw them open for Triumph in the 80's and watched Leslie get into a fight onstage with their drummer.  Worst band I ever saw live.

[El Barto]

I saw them open for Triumph in the 80's and watched Leslie get into a fight onstage with their drummer.  Worst band I ever saw live.

Wow. Seeing bandmembers fight onstage earns enough bonus points to put them at least in the 30th percentile, I should think. "Well, musically they weren't as good as Jackyll, but man, seeing 'em fight was awesome!  "

[hefdaddy42]

I saw them open for Triumph in the 80's and watched Leslie get into a fight onstage with their drummer.  Worst band I ever saw live.

That's a sweet story.

Did the fight make them the worst?  Or did you already think they were the worst?

[ProfessorPeart]

New cover featuring MP for an upcoming tribute to Leslie West. No idea who that is, but it's a Mountain song, so I'm guessing he was in Mountain. Mostly I'm sharing because I am surprised that Dee Snider can kind of sing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=IwAR3ySMnO8LWvmAjtQLgcU3ioamOgz6HHPcspD_7wOvJkIBPVhzvwiSXcYM4&v=P7OCDWxCLOs&feature=youtu.be

MP revealed on Twitter that the drum tracks were from the first Winery Dogs session. It was one of the covers they did that Richie never bothered to finish so he offered the drum track to Dee and Eddie.

[TAC]

Michael Schenker consistently cites the Theme For An Imaginary Western solo as a huge influence and has always declared his love for Leslie West.


Fitting that MP, Dee, and Eddie Ojeda covered this as Leslie was a NYC guy. And no one should be surprised that Dee can sing. He is tremendous.

[HOF]

Michael Schenker consistently cites the Theme For An Imaginary Western solo as a huge influence and has always declared his love for Leslie West.


Fitting that MP, Dee, and Eddie Ojeda covered this as Leslie was a NYC guy. And no one should be surprised that Dee can sing. He is tremendous.

I think the only time I’ve heard Dee sing is on We’re Not Gonna Take It, and I just figured at his age he’d sound as broken down as everyone else from that era.

[The Letter M]

Michael Schenker consistently cites the Theme For An Imaginary Western solo as a huge influence and has always declared his love for Leslie West.


Fitting that MP, Dee, and Eddie Ojeda covered this as Leslie was a NYC guy. And no one should be surprised that Dee can sing. He is tremendous.

I think the only time I’ve heard Dee sing is on We’re Not Gonna Take It, and I just figured at his age he’d sound as broken down as everyone else from that era.

Dee was on the last Ayreon album, Transitus, and his song was actually one of the better ones on the album.

-Marc.

[Stadler]

Two thoughts:

Nantucket Sleighride is a legendary track.  I like Leslie West just for that alone.

Say what you want about Dee Snider; he's a dick, he dresses funny, he swears too much, his songs are cheap AC/DC rehashes...(by the way, I think NONE of those things; big Twisted Sister fan) but that man is a trained singer and CAN sing, and his voice hasn't lost a whole lot now that he's, what, 65.  There are a TON of guys that at their prime wish they sung like Dee Snider TODAY.

[gzarruk]

Just for fun, I wanted to make a list of all the DT tracks MP has played live since 2011 (his post-DT era) and the bands they were played with. I'm listing the songs in release order:

1. Take the Time (Noturnall)
2. Under a Glass Moon (Noturnall)
3. The Mirror (Haken, MP's Shattered Fortress)
4. A Change of Seasons I. The Crimson Sunrise (Metal Masters, PSMS)
5. Burning My Soul (PSMS)
6. Hell's Kitchen (PSMS, Sons of Apollo)
7. Lines in the Sand (PSMS, Sons of Apollo)
8. Just Let Me Breathe (Sons of Apollo)
9. Anna Lee (PSMS)
10. Overture 1928 (MP's Shattered Fortress)
11. Strange Deja Vu (MP's Shattered Fortress)
12. Home (MP's Shattered Fortress)
13. The Dance of Eternity (MP's Shattered Fortress)
14. Finally Free (MP's Shattered Fortress)
15. The Glass Prison (MP's Shattered Fortress)
16. As I Am (Noturnall)
17. This Dying Soul (MP's Shattered Fortress)
18. The Root of All Evil (MP's Shattered Fortress)
19. Repentance (flying Colors, MP's Shattered Fortress)
20. The Shattered Fortress (MP's Shattered Fortress)

Interestingly, he's played at least one song from each studio album he did with DT except WDADU. Also, he played Instrumedley once with Jordan, Eric Gillette and Conner Green, but that one also has LTE sections, so it isn't fully DT.

EDIT: He also did The Mirror with Haken.

[The Letter M]

Just for fun, I wanted to make a list of all the DT tracks MP has played live since 2011 (his post-DT era) and the bands they were played with. I'm listing the songs in release order:

1. Take the Time (Noturnall)
2. Under a Glass Moon (Noturnall)
3. The Mirror (MP's Shattered Fortress)
4. A Change of Seasons I. The Crimson Sunrise (Metal Masters, PSMS)
5. Burning My Soul (PSMS)
6. Hell's Kitchen (PSMS, Sons of Apollo)
7. Lines in the Sand (PSMS, Sons of Apollo)
8. Just Let Me Breathe (Sons of Apollo)
9. Anna Lee (PSMS)
10. Overture 1928 (MP's Shattered Fortress)
11. Strange Deja Vu (MP's Shattered Fortress)
12. Home (MP's Shattered Fortress)
13. The Dance of Eternity (MP's Shattered Fortress)
14. Finally Free (MP's Shattered Fortress)
15. The Glass Prison (MP's Shattered Fortress)
16. As I Am (Noturnall)
17. This Dying Soul (MP's Shattered Fortress)
18. The Root of All Evil (MP's Shattered Fortress)
19. Repentance (flying Colors, MP's Shattered Fortress)
20. The Shattered Fortress (MP's Shattered Fortress)

Interestingly, he's played at least one song from each studio album he did with DT except WDADU. Also, he played Instrumedley once with Jordan, Eric Gillette and Conner Green, but that one also has LTE sections, so it isn't fully DT.

Well Shattered Fortress took care of 6 of those 9 albums with at least one song each already. I had no idea he played TTT and UAGM (then again I have no idea who Noturnall is/was). I knew about all the PSMS/SOA played covers, though. Thanks for putting this list together! It's definitely more than one might think with all of them listed together like that.

Of all the songs with lyrics by MP, the only ones he hasn't played since leaving DT include "Constant Motion", "Honor Thy Father", "Never Enough", "New Millennium", "Raise The Knife", and "The Best Of Times", the latter two of which I doubt he'll ever play. At this point in his career, though, I wonder how many more times he'll ever play a DT song on stage. With SOA, the next time they tour, it'll probably be for a third studio album and they won't need to do any covers with the amount of material they'll have by then. With Flying Colors, they haven't done any covers (AFAIK) since their first tour. Unless Mike has another Birthday Bash or some sort of anniversary celebration where he's not playing in one of his usual bands, I don't see him play any of these songs again.

-Marc.

[Setlist Scotty]

9. Anna Lee (PSMS)

Don't you mean Been Here Before?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiZLZpqFNFU

AFAIK, they never did AL with PSMS. I remember DS even made comments about how he hated AL, so I can't imagine that would've made the setlist for PSMS.

[gzarruk]

Well Shattered Fortress took care of 6 of those 9 albums with at least one song each already. I had no idea he played TTT and UAGM (then again I have no idea who Noturnall is/was). I knew about all the PSMS/SOA played covers, though. Thanks for putting this list together! It's definitely more than one might think with all of them listed together like that.

Of all the songs with lyrics by MP, the only ones he hasn't played since leaving DT include "Constant Motion", "Honor Thy Father", "Never Enough", "New Millennium", "Raise The Knife", and "The Best Of Times", the latter two of which I doubt he'll ever play. At this point in his career, though, I wonder how many more times he'll ever play a DT song on stage. With SOA, the next time they tour, it'll probably be for a third studio album and they won't need to do any covers with the amount of material they'll have by then. With Flying Colors, they haven't done any covers (AFAIK) since their first tour. Unless Mike has another Birthday Bash or some sort of anniversary celebration where he's not playing in one of his usual bands, I don't see him play any of these songs again.

-Marc.

Noturnall is a brazillian prog/power metal band which formed from previous members of Angra and Shaman. They invited JLB for a tour in which they played some DT songs, as well as some from his solo albums. A couple years after that, they invited MP to do the same thing and played some DT+ AMOB songs (since Mike Orlando is also part of Noturnall).

And as for other DT songs he might play in the future, I'm quite positive he'll do ACOS in full with SOA at some point.

[gzarruk]

9. Anna Lee (PSMS)

Don't you mean Been Here Before?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiZLZpqFNFU

AFAIK, they never did AL with PSMS. I remember DS even made comments about how he hated AL, so I can't imagine that would've made the setlist for PSMS.

Nope, I meant Anna Lee. They did it with Ted Leonard on vocals  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxtjIWxUB_4 (same show as the infamous version of BMS with Devin Townsend )

[The Letter M]

9. Anna Lee (PSMS)

Don't you mean Been Here Before?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiZLZpqFNFU

AFAIK, they never did AL with PSMS. I remember DS even made comments about how he hated AL, so I can't imagine that would've made the setlist for PSMS.

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/portnoy-sheehan-macalpine-sherinian/2014/norwegian-pearl-miami-fl-7bc55a90.html

Thank goodness setlist.fm can let you search by song title and see which artists have played that song.

9. Anna Lee (PSMS)

Don't you mean Been Here Before?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiZLZpqFNFU

AFAIK, they never did AL with PSMS. I remember DS even made comments about how he hated AL, so I can't imagine that would've made the setlist for PSMS.

Nope, I meant Anna Lee. They did it with Ted Leonard on vocals  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxtjIWxUB_4 (same show as the infamous version of BMS with Devin Townsend )

Aaaaaand as I was typing my above reply, gzarruk beat me to it with a youtube link. Ah well...

-Marc.

[HOF]

9. Anna Lee (PSMS)

Don't you mean Been Here Before?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiZLZpqFNFU

AFAIK, they never did AL with PSMS. I remember DS even made comments about how he hated AL, so I can't imagine that would've made the setlist for PSMS.

Nope, I meant Anna Lee. They did it with Ted Leonard on vocals  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxtjIWxUB_4 (same show as the infamous version of BMS with Devin Townsend )

Ted is such a pro. Knocked that one out.

[Kram]

9. Anna Lee (PSMS)

Don't you mean Been Here Before?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiZLZpqFNFU

AFAIK, they never did AL with PSMS. I remember DS even made comments about how he hated AL, so I can't imagine that would've made the setlist for PSMS.

Nope, I meant Anna Lee. They did it with Ted Leonard on vocals  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxtjIWxUB_4 (same show as the infamous version of BMS with Devin Townsend )

Ted is such a pro. Knocked that one out.

Perfect song for Ted.  He sounded great.

[Setlist Scotty]

9. Anna Lee (PSMS)

Don't you mean Been Here Before?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiZLZpqFNFU

AFAIK, they never did AL with PSMS. I remember DS even made comments about how he hated AL, so I can't imagine that would've made the setlist for PSMS.

Nope, I meant Anna Lee. They did it with Ted Leonard on vocals  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxtjIWxUB_4 (same show as the infamous version of BMS with Devin Townsend )

Ha! Nice call. I don't think I ever checked out that full show after seeing Devin's performance of BMS with them. Honestly, I'm surprised that MP convinced DS to play it given the amount of disdain DS has for that song.