The Mike Portnoy Appreciation/Discussion Thread (merged)

[ProfessorPeart]

Part of me wishes, on his behalf, that A7X would have changed their plans and decided to extend his contract and keep him on.  His style fit well with them, and he seemed to really have fun playing that music and playing to those huge crowds.  But on the other hand, I see the real potential for that to have gone south after a couple of album and tour cycles just because he NEEDS to be involved in other things as well.

Not a big fan of A7X but I did hear the album where MP played and then also heard the one with the new drummer and I must say, the newer one felt a bit lacking in the drumming department. Nightmare felt more energetic.

Are you talking about Hail to the King or The Stage? Because the drumming on The Stage is awesome. I feel bad for the drummer on HTTK because the band basically told him to keep it simple on drums ala the Black Album and all's anyone talks about now is how boring his drumming is.

It was HTTK. Should I check out The Stage then?

Absolutely! Brooks Wackerman is their drummer now and he is insane. MP even commented on Brooks' performance on that record.

And yes, the drumming on Hail To The King is sleep inducing.

[Lowdz]

The Stage is a great album.

[ytserush]

Starting a band now or 10 years ago is totally different than starting a band 20, 30 or 40 years ago. The context is totally different.   You could be in 10 bands now and not generate as much exposure or revenue as you could in a single band 25 years ago.

[Adami]

Starting a band now or 10 years ago is totally different than starting a band 20, 30 or 40 years ago. The context is totally different.   You could be in 10 bands now and not generate as much exposure or revenue as you could in a single band 25 years ago.

Very true.

I think it depends what mike wants most.

If his main goal is to play music he really enjoys with people he enjoys, I'd imagine this the best he's going to do.

If his main goal was to get the biggest audience, then his best bet would be to try to join a huge act like he did for A7X or something if that kind of opportunity ever came up.

[goo-goo]

If his main goal was to get the biggest audience, then his best bet would be to try to join a huge act like he did for A7X or something if that kind of opportunity ever came up.

The only band that I can *maybe* see this happen would be Iron Maiden. And that's a big *maybe*. Other than that, I don't see any major acts in need of a drummer that would get MP on board. Personally, I would love to see him in Alter Bridge or Iron Maiden.

[ytserush]

Starting a band now or 10 years ago is totally different than starting a band 20, 30 or 40 years ago. The context is totally different.   You could be in 10 bands now and not generate as much exposure or revenue as you could in a single band 25 years ago.

Very true.

I think it depends what mike wants most.

If his main goal is to play music he really enjoys with people he enjoys, I'd imagine this the best he's going to do.

If his main goal was to get the biggest audience, then his best bet would be to try to join a huge act like he did for A7X or something if that kind of opportunity ever came up.

Those seem to be the choices.  Both would seem ideal to him I would guess.

[bosk1]

Yeah, he had a good run at the "big stage" for awhile there touring with A7X and then Twisted Sister.  Not sure whether he has put himself out there as a potential touring drummer for other big acts or if he wants to do that, but from an outsider's perspective, it seems like something like that would be awesome for him.

[MoraWintersoul]

But he wants to have that diversity of people he is working with and diversity of styles (even if we might subjectively feel that there isn't much meaningful diversity to us between FC, NMB, and TA). 

This is something that's always puzzled me about established musicians. We as adventurous listeners like to hear things that have never been put together before, even if it's just a tiny change from the established canon of the genre (say, prog metal bands that don't copy DT too much), or just taking influence from a band that's less popular, etc. Some tastes are more eclectic than others, but most people want to hear something that's both good and new. But if you talk to musicians who have been established for a while, they're all full of dreams about how, if they have time, they're gonna start their pure punk side band and pure hard rock side band and pure heavy metal side band, and have this diversity and segmentation. I don't know why that is! I'm not a huge fan of that approach. Fortunately, there's loads of bands who work on creating something fresh and challenging every year, I don't need to wait for MP to do that, and he gets to have his fun. I hope he has a great time and I hope that the number of people on his shows allows him to continue having fun without losing money or interest.

[MinistroRaven]

Mike Portnoy Third Degree Drum Cam:

https://shop.mikeportnoy.com/collections/digital-downloads/products/mike-portnoy-third-degree-drum-cam-video-digital-download

[Madman Shepherd]

Why didn't he call it Third Drumgree? He really missed the boat on that one. 

[ytserush]

Mike Portnoy Third Degree Drum Cam:

https://shop.mikeportnoy.com/collections/digital-downloads/products/mike-portnoy-third-degree-drum-cam-video-digital-download

I'd have bought the DVD. Oh well.

I'd almost pay him the $15 to have him record it on on DVDR

[Ben_Jamin]

Why didn't he call it Third Drumgree? He really missed the boat on that one. 

I thought we would've called it Drum Degree.

[MinistroRaven]

Mike Portnoy Third Degree Drum Cam:

https://shop.mikeportnoy.com/collections/digital-downloads/products/mike-portnoy-third-degree-drum-cam-video-digital-download

I'd have bought the DVD. Oh well.

I'd almost pay him the $15 to have him record it on on DVDR

Now available in DVD

MP3D is NOW AVAILABLE on DVD for all of you physical product collectors!!
This is the Drum & Vox Cam for the entire Flying Colors Third Degree album (as well as the Bonus Track Waiting For The Sun)   
There are LIMITED AMOUNTS that were produced for you collectors and once they're gone we will NOT be re-ordering!
https://shop.mikeportnoy.com/collections/dvds/products/copy-of-mike-portnoy-third-degree-drum-cam-video-digital-download

And for those of you that are all new-school and techie, you can grab the Digital Download:
https://shop.mikeportnoy.com/collections/digital-downloads?sort_by=created-descending

And while you're already there shopping, check out some of the other newly added items! (Including Used and autographed sticks from the final performance of TGA at MF19, Used and autographed sticks from the NMB TGA and TA BAF recording sessions and much more!)
https://shop.mikeportnoy.com/collections/all-products?sort_by=created-descending

[devieira73]

MP as a guest in a new Noturnall song (brazilian band with Mike Orlando that MP will tour with next month):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zx9X4MQjfQ&t=313s

[ytserush]

Mike Portnoy Third Degree Drum Cam:

https://shop.mikeportnoy.com/collections/digital-downloads/products/mike-portnoy-third-degree-drum-cam-video-digital-download

I'd have bought the DVD. Oh well.

I'd almost pay him the $15 to have him record it on on DVDR

Now available in DVD

MP3D is NOW AVAILABLE on DVD for all of you physical product collectors!!
This is the Drum & Vox Cam for the entire Flying Colors Third Degree album (as well as the Bonus Track Waiting For The Sun)   
There are LIMITED AMOUNTS that were produced for you collectors and once they're gone we will NOT be re-ordering!
https://shop.mikeportnoy.com/collections/dvds/products/copy-of-mike-portnoy-third-degree-drum-cam-video-digital-download

And for those of you that are all new-school and techie, you can grab the Digital Download:
https://shop.mikeportnoy.com/collections/digital-downloads?sort_by=created-descending

And while you're already there shopping, check out some of the other newly added items! (Including Used and autographed sticks from the final performance of TGA at MF19, Used and autographed sticks from the NMB TGA and TA BAF recording sessions and much more!)
https://shop.mikeportnoy.com/collections/all-products?sort_by=created-descending

Thanks

Saw it at the show so I bought it.


Totally amazing show too.  They were having a blast.  Best show yet of the three I've seen. Need a 3rd live album. Even a live Official Bootleg would be great.
This show needs to be documented to mark the growth of this band.

[MinistroRaven]

It seems Metalhead knows something Mike Portnoy doesn't ummm

[cramx3]

 

wow that is pretty bad mess up, but kind of funny

also agreed that it is not news to celebrate your daughters bday

[gzarruk]

"Marlene... is there something you need to tell me?"

[Stadler]

Damn, that's harsh.

[The Walrus]

no wonder the kids get along like family

[Stadler]

Damn, that's harsh. 

[MinistroRaven]

"Marlene... is there something you need to tell me?"

[MoraWintersoul]

 
Doesn't one of Petrucci's daughters have a podcast with MP's daughter? I can see how when you google one of them, pictures of the other might pop up because of that. But they don't look all that similar so there's no excuse!

[cramx3]

Well JP posted a selfie with him and his daughter, that was the news.  There wasn't any need to google anything, that was the picture to use. The one JP shared on social media.  It's like that news outlet wanted to make "news" so wrote the headline but didn't want to use the same image that it was stealing the headline from (likely blabbermouth who used the correct image).  It's stupid lazy "journalism"

[MoraWintersoul]

It's like that news outlet wanted to make "news" so wrote the headline but didn't want to use the same image that it was stealing the headline from (likely blabbermouth who used the correct image).  It's stupid lazy "journalism"

Yes, or-
THEY DID THIS ON PURPOSE

[TAC]

JP is one winery dog.

[Lonk]

Didn't see this posted anywhere

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4E-q1Pt1GnM

[ytserush]

Didn't see this posted anywhere

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4E-q1Pt1GnM

Going to have a blast when I crack open that DVD.  Making time for that tomorrow.

[gzarruk]

Mike's playing a few DT songs live with Noturnall on their current Brazilian tour: https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/noturnall/2019/aruc-brasilia-brazil-239d101b.html

[ReaperKK]

Dumb question because I can't remember but didn't MP say he was done playing DT music? Or was it he was done touring DT music as MP Shattered Fortress

[DTA]

Dumb question because I can't remember but didn't MP say he was done playing DT music? Or was it he was done touring DT music as MP Shattered Fortress

Probably the latter. I can't imagine SoA not having an FII song in their setlist even with two albums of material as the DT songs are probably the moment of the set most people look forward to. I'm guessing parts of ACoS and Burning My Soul will make an appearance next time around.

[SystematicThought]

I thought Derek and MP said the next tour will have no covers. I don't see that actually happening though since this is a do or die tour, at least through America.

[gzarruk]

Dumb question because I can't remember but didn't MP say he was done playing DT music? Or was it he was done touring DT music as MP Shattered Fortress

It doesn't matter what he said, but what he remembers he said (or how he changes the version every time he says it, just like he miraculously changed the story of DS' firing from Dt to shift the blame to the other members)

Just for fun, here's a list of all DT songs Mike has performed live so far with different bands since leaving DT in 2010:

Take the Time (Noturnall)
Under a Glass Moon (Noturnall)
The Mirror (Haken, MP Shattered Fortress)
A Change of Seasons: I. The Crimson Sunrise (Metal Masters, PSMS)
Burning my Soul (PSMS)
Hell's Kitchen (PSMS, Sons of Apollo)
Lines in the Sand (PSMS, Sons of Apollo)
Just Let me Breathe (Sons of Apollo)
Anna Lee (PSMS)
Overture 1928 (MP Shattered Fortress)
Strange Deja Vu (MP Shattered Fortress)
Home (MP Shattered Fortress)
The Dance of Eternity (MP Shattered Fortress)
Finally Free (MP Shattered Fortress)
The Glass Prison (MP Shattered Fortress)
As I Am (Noturnall)
This Dying Soul (MP Shattered Fortress)
The Root of All Evil (MP Shattered Fortress)
Repentance (Flying Colors, MP Shattered Fortress)
The Shattered Fortress (MP Shattered Fortress)

[Stadler]

There's no need for controversy.  I don't know about anyone else, but I took what he said as "full set dedicated to DT material", but even if I'm wrong and he said "any" DT, so what?  You're really going to crucify a guy for having a change of heart?  In the grand scheme of things does it really matter? If an opportunity comes his way, I don't think it's fair or reasonable to expect him to say "Well, I'd love to, but I made a comment to Blabbermouth seven years ago, so..." 

[Adami]

I remember when MP made that declarative statement. It definitely sounded like he was done playing DT music.

That said......why are we upset? Isn't this one of the few vows we hope people break?

If John Petrucci said "DT will never play anything from SFAM again" and then later on played Home, would we be pissed?