The Mike Portnoy Appreciation/Discussion Thread (merged)

[nobloodyname]

Warms the cockles, that picture with James. Genuinely pleased for both.

[Ben_Jamin]

I personally could care less that Portnoy took a picture with James. Friendships can mend, especially when situations occur to get both parties to consider their relationships with others. So I am not concerned or up in arms about them making amends. But good for them...

I am though, more fascinated with his thoughts on the show, and whether he sang along. Like what he thought of the setlist, Mangini using the small kit, and the mix of the sound. And how it felt seeing JP, JM, JR, and JLB from the perspective of a fan.

[Architeuthis]

I am though, more fascinated with his thoughts on the show, and whether he sang along. Like what he thought of the setlist, Mangini using the small kit, and the mix of the sound. And how it felt seeing JP, JM, JR, and JLB from the perspective of a fan.

Same here, I'd also like to know what he thought about the new material, especially the epic..

[KevShmev]

I personally could care less that Portnoy took a picture with James. Friendships can mend, especially when situations occur to get both parties to consider their relationships with others. So I am not concerned or up in arms about them making amends. But good for them...

That is my take as well.

[The Letter M]

I personally could care less that Portnoy took a picture with James.

So you're saying you care? 

I am though, more fascinated with his thoughts on the show, and whether he sang along. Like what he thought of the setlist, Mangini using the small kit, and the mix of the sound. And how it felt seeing JP, JM, JR, and JLB from the perspective of a fan.

I would loved to know what Mike's thoughts were on the show, and I'm sure he knows that the whole world (or at least his fans) would love to hear what he thought of it, the performances, the set list and song choices, the actual performances, and the new material. I remember a few years ago on one of the Neal Morse/NMB/Transatlantic tour docs, he had mentioned that his phone's music player kept suggesting him to listen to the new Dream Theater album, though I can't recall when it was or which album he was referring to at the time, but I did wonder if he had actually listened to it. Has he been collecting the albums since ADTOE just to keep his DT collection complete? I have so many questions!

-Marc.

[KevShmev]

I am sure he has heard them all, but I don't see him voicing any public opinion on any of them.  If he said anything that wasn't super positive, it would inevitably be interpreted (fair or not) as being a shot at the band's music without him, even if that was not his intention.  He has nothing to gain by saying anything.

[gzarruk]

Has he been collecting the albums since ADTOE just to keep his DT collection complete? I have so many questions!

-Marc.

I'd say so.

A few years ago he made a post with screenshots of his music library talking about all the mega-epics in his collection and how funny it was that he's played in most of them. Fans went crazy when they saw Illumination Theory there as well

Took a while, but I found it:

[TheCountOfNYC]

He might have learned his lesson after his comments about ADToE.

[Cool Chris]

Not often you see a list featuring Rush, Yes, Dream Theater, Genesis, Deep Purple, and Yoko Ono.

[Kram]

I personally could care less that Portnoy took a picture with James.

So you're saying you care? 

I am though, more fascinated with his thoughts on the show, and whether he sang along. Like what he thought of the setlist, Mangini using the small kit, and the mix of the sound. And how it felt seeing JP, JM, JR, and JLB from the perspective of a fan.

Has he been collecting the albums since ADTOE just to keep his DT collection complete?

You know he has.  The dude's a serious collector border-lining on OCD.  How much he's listened to them, and what his true thoughts are, is what I'd like to know.

[ReaperKK]

I am sure he has heard them all, but I don't see him voicing any public opinion on any of them.  If he said anything that wasn't super positive, it would inevitably be interpreted (fair or not) as being a shot at the band's music without him, even if that was not his intention.  He has nothing to gain by saying anything.

Agree completely, it's not worth the headache to comment.

[HOF]

I know he listened to ADTOE because he posted somewhere about how he theorized that they had essentially followed the charts from I&W while writing the album.

[Kram]

I know he listened to ADTOE because he posted somewhere about how he theorized that they had essentially followed the charts from I&W while writing the album.

I remember that.  He said, and I'm paraphrasing - that if it was supposed to be some sort of "nugget" for that fans, I suppose it's kinda cool - but if they did it because they ran out of ideas, it's pretty lame.  I remember he also said he recognized it as soon as he heard the songs.

[Setlist Scotty]

I remember he also said he recognized it as soon as he heard the songs.

That is true - many assume that he only made the connection after Thiago started posting about it, but that wasn't the case. I know this because I spoke with MP before an AMob show on Sept 2nd and he told me about it then. Thiago didn't start posting about it until 3 days later.

[425]

Video of James's shoutout to MP has been posted on reddit. The audio quality isn't that great, but you can hear a lot of what he says.

[pg1067]

I personally could care less that Portnoy took a picture with James. Friendships can mend, especially when situations occur to get both parties to consider their relationships with others. So I am not concerned or up in arms about them making amends. But good for them...

I am though, more fascinated with his thoughts on the show, and whether he sang along. Like what he thought of the setlist, Mangini using the small kit, and the mix of the sound. And how it felt seeing JP, JM, JR, and JLB from the perspective of a fan.

I could NOT care less.  The only reason I'd care would be if I wanted MP back in the band, which I don't (nor would I be opposed to him returning).  Who's friends with whom just isn't something that concerns me.

I would, however, also be interested in MP's thoughts about the material and the shows.  However, he obviously can't say anything beyond, "I had a great time and they sounded great" without creating a total shitstorm.

[King Postwhore]

We know that answer pg.  I don't think that's what's on his mind.  It's 11 years later.  He probably enjoyed the moment.

It takes a lot to post that timechas past that I'll post I was there.  Though we know people saw him so...

[Mladen]

Video of James's shoutout to MP has been posted on reddit. The audio quality isn't that great, but you can hear a lot of what he says.

I just realised that they way James welcomed Mike must have sounded to the audience like Mike was coming to the stage. 

[MinistroRaven]

 

[HOF]

Was thinking last night that everyone in Transatlantic released an album in the last two weeks except for MP. Not sure he even has anything scheduled for release in 2022 so far? I know The Winery Dogs did some recording last year, so maybe they can finish that off and still get it out this year? Would be unusual for Mike to not have an album release in a given year.

[axeman90210]

Yeah, I expect that Winery Dogs will be out before the end of the year.

[cramx3]

2023 for The Winery Dogs which sucks because I thought they were close to being done with it

https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/the-winery-dogs-third-album-likely-wont-be-released-before-2023/

[HOF]

2023 for The Winery Dogs which sucks because I thought they were close to being done with it

https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/the-winery-dogs-third-album-likely-wont-be-released-before-2023/

Ugh, that stinks. But honestly if it isn’t done in the next couple months anyway, the six month lead time all these albums need to manufacture these days pretty much will guarantee a 2023 release anyway. 2023 will be the 10th anniversary of the debut, come to think of it.

[Kram]

 

Great to see James acknowledged this in a positive way.

[RodrigoAltaf]

Here's how to react negatively to that pic: "wait...is James pointing a gun to Mike's head?"

[HOF]

Here's how to react negatively to that pic: "wait...is James pointing a gun to Mike's head?"

Nah, just telling him to “Cut it out” Dave Coulier style.

[ReaperKK]

Here's how to react negatively to that pic: "wait...is James pointing a gun to Mike's head?"

Well if you look at James' smile, compare to other photos and calculate the angles of his lips you can clearly see he doesn't want MP to be there. Additionally if you notice he isn't showing his teeth which means that MP is going to return to DT on April 1, 2025 /s

[darkshade]

Was thinking last night that everyone in Transatlantic released an album in the last two weeks except for MP. Not sure he even has anything scheduled for release in 2022 so far? I know The Winery Dogs did some recording last year, so maybe they can finish that off and still get it out this year? Would be unusual for Mike to not have an album release in a given year.

I'm sure Neal Morse has a solo album in the works to be released (or at least recorded) by year's end.

[The Letter M]

Was thinking last night that everyone in Transatlantic released an album in the last two weeks except for MP. Not sure he even has anything scheduled for release in 2022 so far? I know The Winery Dogs did some recording last year, so maybe they can finish that off and still get it out this year? Would be unusual for Mike to not have an album release in a given year.

I'm sure Neal Morse has a solo album in the works to be released (or at least recorded) by year's end.

He's been working on a new musical over the last year or so, so that might happen this year.

-Marc.

[gzarruk]

Also, SOA are doing a small tour leg in South America later this year. They might want to start writing a new album after that.

[cramx3]

Also, SOA are doing a small tour leg in South America later this year. They might want to start writing a new album after that.

I'm surprised SOA is even a thing since no one seems to talk about it anymore

[RodrigoAltaf]

Also, SOA are doing a small tour leg in South America later this year. They might want to start writing a new album after that.

I'm surprised SOA is even a thing since no one seems to talk about it anymore

They're doing the run of South American shows that were postponed since covid hit, and after that, there are no plans. At least not yet. I get a sense that nobody in the band is that excited about the prospect of continuing, but I could be wrong.

[cramx3]

Also, SOA are doing a small tour leg in South America later this year. They might want to start writing a new album after that.

I'm surprised SOA is even a thing since no one seems to talk about it anymore

They're doing the run of South American shows that were postponed since covid hit, and after that, there are no plans. At least not yet. I get a sense that nobody in the band is that excited about the prospect of continuing, but I could be wrong.

Seems legit

[MirrorMask]

Imagine them having basically forgot all about it, with Covid and other musical priorities, then on their agendas and apps they all get the reminder (or the tour manager contacts them, "so, this time is happening, you ready to book flights yet?") and they all go "oh shit we have to do this" 

[RodrigoAltaf]

Imagine them having basically forgot all about it, with Covid and other musical priorities, then on their agendas and apps they all get the reminder (or the tour manager contacts them, "so, this time is happening, you ready to book flights yet?") and they all go "oh shit we have to do this" 

"Wait, how did that song go again???"