The Mike Portnoy Appreciation/Discussion Thread (merged)

[Jamesman42]

Awesome, those two are good friends so this should be really good for him to relax and get some perspective!

And we'll be getting some good music out of it. 

That! Although... I don't know, Testimony 2, sounds like his lifestory after Testimony 1. Which is basically everything in the name of God. I think the music will be like only the happy 'christian' parts of Testimony 1.

I don't know about that.

I'm not keen on everything that has happened in Neal's life (although his dad passed away around the time Lifeline was released or recorded, IIRC), but many Christians who feel that "happiness" tend to have it wear off and then the "trials" come into their lives. Perhaps Neal has some major trials he will write about and how God helped him to overcome them and to continue on, or something in that vain. That would be my guess.

[Nihil-Morari]

Interesting, let me just say that I hope it's not a double album of Neal's Worship songs, but with MP on drums.

[Scrub206]

I dont care what comes out of this, I know its going to be 

I've been obsessed with Neal's "?" album lately and its just phenomenal .    (no pun intended (its 6am gimme a break))

[The Letter M]

I dont care what comes out of this, I know its going to be 

I've been obsessed with Neal's "?" album lately and its just phenomenal .    (no pun intended (its 6am gimme a break))

You (and everyone else here who likes that album) should join in the Neal Morse Survivor! I'm running the ? album survivor currently!

-Marc.

[Tick]

Do you think Mikes excessive internet postings over the past few months will effect his professional future?
Do you think he is now less desirable for other top musicians to want to join forces with him? Do you think A7X moving forward without him and DT choosing to let Mike go will give others pause when deciding to join a band with Mike?
He does come off as the center of whatever universe he is involved with and that drama may be a turn off to musicians who don't want to be part of a circus atmosphere. Just some food for thought.

[lordxizor]

I think (hope) that he's learned something from this and will grow as a person and musician. He's still got lots of friends in the music business, so I have no doubt he'll be able to get gigs here and there. I think his recent actions will hurt the potential of others wanting to be in a full time band with him for a while until he can demonstrate he's matured a bit. But I've gotten the sense that a full time gig is not really what he wants right now. If he can do what he said he wanted to do, take some time of and do a few side projects, he'll be just fine. If he won't let the DT thing drop, I think more people will sour on him as A7X seemed to.

[Chino]

It's still hard to say. We will see how things shake up after DT make an announcement / releases the record. Regardless what happens, Mike is still one of the best drummers on the planet and I think there are still many musicians that would be honored to have him at the kit.

[cthrubuoy]

I'd have him in my band.

[Perpetual Change]

With all due respect, the way I feel when people start up new topics that don't need to be started is like this: there's already a thread about something here, yet instead of reading it, taking in everyone's opinions, and posting their own  as part of the discussion people think that what they have to say is so important that they can just bypass the discussion and start a new one centered around their personal angle. That may or may not be what you're doing, but that's why I, uh, "get so fired up" about stuff like this.

[KevShmev]

I see both sides of the argument.  On the one hand, you don't want 716 topics on essential the same topic, but on the other hand, new viewpoints can easily get lost or overlooked in threads that are really long already.

Anyway, to answer the original questions, my guess is that Portnoy has enough friends in the industry to where he won't have much trouble finding work on a frequent basis, if that is what he desires.  I don't see him committing to a new full-time band for a while, however.

[Tick]

Agreed on your first paragraph Kev.

Anyway, on my topic. I think the way Mikes makes his world so public could wind up a deterrent for him. Also his reputation for being a control freak could turn off those who want there band to be all equal parts, and balanced.

[TheOutlawXanadu]

The way everyone is talking about Portnoy now makes him seem like the Terrell Owens of the music world.

[bodiesinflight]

I heard Mike Portnoy is the new drummer in Paramore

[Dr. DTVT]

The way everyone is talking about Portnoy now makes him seem like the Terrell Owens of the music world.

I hope he doesn't take that route.  I don't want MP to become an ass-clown surrounded by underachievers.

[EPICVIEW]

I dont think Mikes personality and use of the internet will hurt him joining or forming a band. He is a nice guy, and other musicians know that, and many of them have far worse vices.

[j]

I think Portnoy's friends in the industry were probably well aware of these certain aspects of his personality long before all of this shit went down.

-J

[ClairvoyantCat]

Dave Mustaine can still find very talented members for his band, and he has a far worse reputation.

I think Mike should find a budding, talented progressive rock band who would die for a chance to play with him instead of trying to hop into a really popular one. 

[ariich]

I've merged the new thread in and deleted the majority of the discussion about the relative merits of new threads vs existing ones. I left in PC's and Kev's posts about it because they both make very good points. On this occasion, I think this thread is small enough that it is better to keep MP discussion in here for now, rather than having loads of small bitty threads that don't end up going anywhere.

Regarding tick's question, it's hard to tell, but I don't think it'll affect his opportunities that much. His very public posting turned off A7X because it was the opposite of their style, but I think many musicians won't mind it at all. J put it perfectly:

I think Portnoy's friends in the industry were probably well aware of these certain aspects of his personality long before all of this shit went down.

-J

[Lowdz]

just been listening to the Glass Prison and really concentrated on the drumming. I found it to be awesome. I love MP's drumming and am rather worried about the effect a new drummer will have as most of those touted for the job do not sound as musical as MP. They sound too drummer.
I loved MP the face of my favourite band and I only started to lose some respect for him when he banned me from his forum.
I still wish none of this had happened.
It has and  it's time to move on.

Great drumming on Glass Prison though.

[Tick]

See how one post changes a discussion and thus kills a topic.

[OsMosis2259]

https://www.mikeportnoy.com/forum/tm.aspx?high=&m=2624279&mpage=1#2624279

MP's Best of 2010 Year-End Wrap Up

Top 10 CDs of 2010
(in no particular order):

1. Alpha Rev - New Morning
2. The Pineapple Thief - Someone Here Is Missing
3. Karnivool - Sound Awake
4. Periphery
5. Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders - Red Light Fever
6. Shining - Blackjazz
7. Pain Of Salvation - Road Salt One
8. Slash
9. Deftones - Diamond Eyes
10. Spock's Beard - X

And of course:
--- Transatlantic - Whirld Tour 2010
--- Avenged Sevenfold - Nightmare

--------------------------------------------------------

Top 10 Films of 2010
(in no particular order):

1. Black Swan
2. The Social Network
3. Enter The Void
4. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
5. I'm Still Here
6. Get Him To The Greek
7. Paranormal Activity 2
8.
9.
10.

(As always, I have a few spots still available for the late year releases that I haven't gotten to see yet)

----------------------------------------------------------

Top 10 TV Shows of 2010
(in no particular order):

1. Lost (RIP)
2. Sons Of Anarchy
3. Breaking Bad
4. Eastbound And Down
5. Mad Men
6. Dexter
7. The Walking Dead
8. Rescue Me
9. Louie
10. Its Always Sunny In Philadelphia

Happy New Year everyone and looking forward to a fresh, exciting and positive 2011....

MP

[juice]

I'm surprised he didn't include Inception anywhere on his list.

[SPNKr]

and looking forward to a fresh, exciting and positive 2011....

Now that's more like it.

[ariich]

and looking forward to a fresh, exciting and positive 2011....

Now that's more like it.

[Mladen]

Nice to see Spock's beard in his top 10. 

[ddtonfire]

I'm surprised he didn't include Inception anywhere on his list.

He actually said he wasn't that impressed with it:

I know I'm a total minority here, but "Inception" just didnt do it for me...I LOVE deep and complex films, but it just didnt click for me..

https://twitter.com/MikePortnoy/status/19801407959

[The Letter M]

Latest MP Tweet:

Today is 2 years since I lost my father, idol & best friend...RIP Popz...give a listen to "The Best Of Times" (MP version) in his honor..

-Marc.

[skydivingninja]

I was originally going to comment on that status: "My favorite off BC&SL, I'll be sure to do it!  No offense, but I'll listen to the JLB version."  Then I just decided not to before I started the next round of Blabbermouth MP drama.

[Zydar]

I'll listen to it, but it will be the JLB version thanks.

[Ben_Jamin]

I would if I had it. But the album version should do..

[SPNKr]

What's with the overuse of the ellipsis?

[sonatafanica]

9. Louie

What! Louie is one of the greatest, most artful and stunning series that I've ever seen!


He'll hear from me about this.

[j]

I don't always share Portnoy's musical tastes, but that's not a bad top 10 albums of the year from him (although a couple I haven't heard).

-J

[LCArenas]

Latest MP Tweet:

Today is 2 years since I lost my father, idol & best friend...RIP Popz...give a listen to "The Best Of Times" (MP version) in his honor..

-Marc.

Why not the album version? I know it's more personal to him when he sang it to his father, but why specifically say the MP version and not just "The Best of Times"?

OK, maybe I'm reading too much into it.

[Perpetual Change]

Yeah, there's all kinds of implications there.