The Mike Portnoy Appreciation/Discussion Thread (merged)

[gzarruk]

New Year’s Liquid Experiment

Actually, Mike uploaded a story from the jam and it sounded very LTE-ish to me

[Cocopjojo]

The story he uploaded sounds super cool. What a great night for Eric. It was cool seeing Jordan watching him for cues.

This reminded me that LTE still has a fourth album due per their contract. Maybe it will happen this year.

[KevShmev]

Tim, he is an amazing guitarist.

He is very good, yes, and I am glad he is in NMB, but, and this is a small but , I wish he would develop more of his own style.  He sounds very much like a Petrucci clone without much of his own stamp on his playing.  Let's say for the sake of argument that this trio make an album.  I suspect most who are not familiar with Eric prior to it will come away thinking, "Why didn't they just get Petrucci since he sounds just like him anyway (except not as good)?" 

[ReaperKK]

I agree with you Kev, he sounds very much like Petrucci. I do really like Eric's youtube channel where he does his multi instrumentalist covers. Check them out if you've never seen them before.

[KevShmev]

I agree with you Kev, he sounds very much like Petrucci. I do really like Eric's youtube channel where he does his multi instrumentalist covers. Check them out if you've never seen them before.

I've seen a few.  Mostly enjoyable, although I think he should have steered clear of Bohemian Rhapsody. 

[devieira73]

Just a comment, although I do think Eric's soloing style is very close to JP's, if you listen to his 2 solo albums (Afterthought and The Great Unknown) as a composer, his style seems a lot closer to Planet X and Spock's Beard.

[KevShmev]

Just a comment, although I do think Eric's soloing style is very close to JP's, if you listen to his 2 solo albums (Afterthought and The Great Unknown) as a composer, his style seems a lot closer to Planet X and Spock's Beard.

I have The Great Unknown, and there are a couple songs I like quite a bit, but the rest wasn't notable enough for me to keep in the rotation, so I am a bit fuzzy on those other songs.  Feels like Eric is definitely at his best when collaborating with others, which is not a bad thing at all, as collaboration is a hallmark of music. 

[axeman90210]

I know MP was joking about the album, but I want it.

[devieira73]

Just a comment, although I do think Eric's soloing style is very close to JP's, if you listen to his 2 solo albums (Afterthought and The Great Unknown) as a composer, his style seems a lot closer to Planet X and Spock's Beard.

I have The Great Unknown, and there are a couple songs I like quite a bit, but the rest wasn't notable enough for me to keep in the rotation, so I am a bit fuzzy on those other songs.  Feels like Eric is definitely at his best when collaborating with others, which is not a bad thing at all, as collaboration is a hallmark of music. 

That's also how I feel about The Great Unknown and it's better than Afterthought.

[SoundscapeMN]

I'd go for hearing Eric Gillette play some music in a different style like Funk or Bluegrass.

[frogprog]

He's very talented. I'm sure he could play in a lot of different styles. Very talented singer as well (not to mention playing drums better than I ever will

[gzarruk]

He's very talented. I'm sure he could play in a lot of different styles. Very talented singer as well (not to mention playing drums better than I ever will

And let's not forget that when he joined NMB he was the special 6th man playing guitar, keys and backing vocals (like Daniel or Ted with Transatlantic).

[The Letter M]

He's very talented. I'm sure he could play in a lot of different styles. Very talented singer as well (not to mention playing drums better than I ever will

And let's not forget that when he joined NMB he was the special 6th man playing guitar, keys and backing vocals (like Daniel or Ted with Transatlantic).

Was the band known as the NMB when he, Bill, and Adson joined? I thought the name Neal Morse Band wasn't used until *after* the Momentum Tour/the release of The Grand Experiment? Either way, Eric was definitely a good choice to add to the band. A shame Adson couldn't stick around though.

Also, Jordan shared more video of his jam session with Mike and Eric: https://fb.watch/hNZn5i0tF7/

-Marc.

[Kram]

New Year’s Liquid Experiment

Actually, Mike uploaded a story from the jam and it sounded very LTE-ish to me

Where can I find Mike's story?

I'm a big Eric Gillette fan, love his playing and his singing.  Even though yes, his solo style is close to JP - he's still produced some of my favorite solos of the last few years (The Glory of the Lord from Sola Gratia and all his solos on Beyond the Years), great stuff!

[frogprog]

Watched Jordan's video and enjoyed it. Thats exactly  what my band mates and I do. Get together and jam for the fun if it. Its very therapeutic! Looked like Eric was playing Marlene's rig from recent JP tour and ...oh look, a korg Kronos for Mr. Rudess!

[emtee]

Surprised to see QR on Mike's list. My AOY.

I thought he would have Megadeth on his list too but it must not have connected with him.

[ZirconBlue]

I just find it strange that a guy named Gillette has a beard.

He's Frank Beard's nemesis.

[nick_z]

I just find it strange that a guy named Gillette has a beard.

I feel like this didn't get the spotlight it deserved 

Surprised to see QR on Mike's list. My AOY.

I thought he would have Megadeth on his list too but it must not have connected with him.

Yeah, I thought I remember him saying he enjoyed Dystopia when it came out ...in my book, The Sick, ... is even better. Although I might be completely wrong about what I remember, so it is what it is 

[MinistroRaven]

Looks like some of the Metal news sites have picked up the info, so I guess the cats outta the bag…not only will myself and Steve Vai induct Twisted Sister into the Metal Hall Of Fame on Jan 26th at the Canyon Club in CA, but we will also be performing a few songs live for the 1st time since 2016 at the ceremony as well! Can’t wait to get up there and throw down with my Sistas once again!🤘 #SMFForever

[DTwwbwMP]

MP just stated in a recent interview that he was scheduled to play a "one-off" performance with a HUGE band, but the festival was cancelled??? Any guesses as to what the festival was and who the band was? It wasn't Foo's. Just wondering if anyone could figure this out.

[HOF]

No idea who that band might have been, but you’d think at his age Mike would learn to roll with the Blabbermouth nonsense and not get so worked up when they run click bait headlines about things he says. These last two interviews he’s made comments about it.

[DTwwbwMP]

No idea who that band might have been, but you’d think at his age Mike would learn to roll with the Blabbermouth nonsense and not get so worked up when they run click bait headlines about things he says. These last two interviews he’s made comments about it.

agreed

[deggs37]

No idea who that band might have been, but you’d think at his age Mike would learn to roll with the Blabbermouth nonsense and not get so worked up when they run click bait headlines about things he says. These last two interviews he’s made comments about it.

Meh. I think it's more like Mike is a near 40 year professional and understands the rule that 'no publicity is bad publicity' and fans the flames to keep his brand relevant. Even if he is getting worked up over it.

Thankfully, he is proficient enough to never have to go full Ted Nugent.

[nobloodyname]

Hmm. I'm not sure I totally agree with that. He literally refused to answer a couple of questions in a video just published because the answers could have been blown up. Disclosure: I haven't watched the interview in question yet.

[KevShmev]

No idea who that band might have been, but you’d think at his age Mike would learn to roll with the Blabbermouth nonsense and not get so worked up when they run click bait headlines about things he says. These last two interviews he’s made comments about it.

Meh. I think it's more like Mike is a near 40 year professional and understands the rule that 'no publicity is bad publicity' and fans the flames to keep his brand relevant. Even if he is getting worked up over it.

Thankfully, he is proficient enough to never have to go full Ted Nugent.

Agreed.  He is obviously someone who gets offended easily and has a hard time letting anything go, so reacting to any and everything is part of his brand, because it's a part of who he is, but I am sure he gets that his name in the headlines, even on Blabbermouth, is good for his overall brand.  It's the old adage of "I would rather someone yell at me than ignore me." 

[HOF]

No idea who that band might have been, but you’d think at his age Mike would learn to roll with the Blabbermouth nonsense and not get so worked up when they run click bait headlines about things he says. These last two interviews he’s made comments about it.

Meh. I think it's more like Mike is a near 40 year professional and understands the rule that 'no publicity is bad publicity' and fans the flames to keep his brand relevant. Even if he is getting worked up over it.

Thankfully, he is proficient enough to never have to go full Ted Nugent.

Agreed.  He is obviously someone who gets offended easily and has a hard time letting anything go, so reacting to any and everything is part of his brand, because it's a part of who he is, but I am sure he gets that his name in the headlines, even on Blabbermouth, is good for his overall brand.  It's the old adage of "I would rather someone yell at me than ignore me."

The bigger issue is he claims it’s why he stopped giving interviews altogether, and then he says this most recent one was a bit awkward in places because he’s still gun shy about Blabbermouth. Seems to me it’s his fans who pay for it when he gets upset about it by him not doing interviews at all or him not being as forthcoming as he could be in interviews. I dunno, it all just feels so 20 years ago.

[Madman Shepherd]

MP just stated in a recent interview that he was scheduled to play a "one-off" performance with a HUGE band, but the festival was cancelled??? Any guesses as to what the festival was and who the band was? It wasn't Foo's. Just wondering if anyone could figure this out.

Nickelback.

I'm serious.

[ReaperKK]

Is nickelback's drummer not available?

[ReaperKK]

Hrmm I just saw his insta, maybe he was going to fill in on a foo fighters gig?

[MirrorMask]

For those who have Facebook, he started to post pictures of him with famous musicians or people he met along the road, based on the day of the year (for example on Dave Grohl's birthday he posted pictures with him) with some cool stories of how he came to meet this or that musician. The man met a lot of people in the music industry and he has some interesting anedctoes to say about it!

[PixelDream]

I just really like how much of a fanboy MP is of music and film. And now the celeb musician photos and anecdotes are really cool as well.

I always check out MP wrapped at the end of the year because the man has a similar taste in movies and I always discover stuff by his recommendations. I also follow his profile on letterboxd where he logs and rates all the stuff he watches.

[Madman Shepherd]

Is nickelback's drummer not available?

He wasn't for this one festival appearance but it got canceled anyway.

[HOF]

I just really like how much of a fanboy MP is of music and film. And now the celeb musician photos and anecdotes are really cool as well.

I always check out MP wrapped at the end of the year because the man has a similar taste in movies and I always discover stuff by his recommendations. I also follow his profile on letterboxd where he logs and rates all the stuff he watches.

This was basically how I got into so much of the music I listened to about 20 years ago. Tons of it was just bands MP recommended or cited as influences or just talked about positively. Few if any people have had as big of an influence on me in terms of the music I listen to (even though there’s a ton of stuff Mike likes that I have little interest in, his tastes are broad enough that he still has influenced me a ton).

[Trav86]

Is nickelback's drummer not available?

He wasn't for this one festival appearance but it got canceled anyway.

I could see them asking Portnoy. Or their drummer(Daniel Adair??)asking him.

[SoundscapeMN]

"Mike Portnoy Breaks Down His Favorite Teenage Albums"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zH7gmLJxws