The Mike Mangini Thread (Thanks & Farewell)

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

I think (and hope) the main reason was history and personal relationships. They might have felt the magic of the past during Terminal Velocity and LTE-3. Additionally they knew what Portnoy brings to the table in terms of fan engagement, songwriting and other stuff. The financial element might have added a little but would have been the most difficult to predict. Even they can be surprised about the sales for this tour but the real question is if it continues over the next few years. The response to the new album could be decisive if the rise of ticketsales is longterm or just a high number of fans that want to see the MP-return tour.

I don't think the reaction to MPs return was difficult to predict. The biggest feedback fans can give you is to stop coming to your shows. They were not in the dark about what fans were saying about the Astonishing and then later their recent shows. Again I don't think it's one thing but rather I agree with what Dedalus posted: it was somewhere in between those 2 very important issues.

I think people obviously like the romantic version way more and it's way sexier for marketing but I just think it's a bit naïve to think that when it's your business and your legacy as the family's bread winner, reversal of commercial decline is just 'nice to have but whatever' factor.

[Stadler]

Yup. This is how these guys make their living. I can't imagine they're all like 'oh hey the ship is taking on water but whatever, I just want to play with Mike again and that's all that matters! I don't care what the fan reaction is I don't care what the turnout becomes or how much longer we can go on booking the same size venues, I just need Mike back ASAP!'

Mr business John Petrucci is the money guy when it comes to beard oil and whisky but when it comes to you know the 800 pound gorilla in the zoo he just becomes a big romantic sentimental teddy bear and major enterprise level issues become chump change 

As always, though, taking it to the extreme almost never results in the right answer.  Money is a weird thing; you can call Petrooch the "money" guy, but look at all the cash they left on the table with the Lost Not Forgotten thing.  It all cuts both ways.

[hefdaddy42]

How many of you think Portnoy rejoining the band was strictly a financial decision? Especially after how unsuccessful the Dreamsonic tour was.

Very few, I imagine. 

[Max Kuehnau]

As always, though, taking it to the extreme almost never results in the right answer.  Money is a weird thing; you can call Petrooch the "money" guy, but look at all the cash they left on the table with the Lost Not Forgotten thing.  It all cuts both ways.

which btw, I'd be open to more archival releases

[hefdaddy42]

As always, though, taking it to the extreme almost never results in the right answer.  Money is a weird thing; you can call Petrooch the "money" guy, but look at all the cash they left on the table with the Lost Not Forgotten thing.  It all cuts both ways.

I don't think they've left any money on the table with that.  If anything, they've lost money, would be my guess.

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

As always, though, taking it to the extreme almost never results in the right answer.  Money is a weird thing; you can call Petrooch the "money" guy, but look at all the cash they left on the table with the Lost Not Forgotten thing.  It all cuts both ways.

Sure - taking it to the extreme is never good. LNF is something I can't even gauge in terms of profitability but I would imagine he thought it would yield a return. He could have just been wrong on that one.

At the end of the day I agree it's not purely business but rather the catalyst of both these factors working together synergistically. All I was saying is that I can't envision them all being totally sanguine about the DT ship taking on more and more water.

[Stadler]

I don't think they've left any money on the table with that.  If anything, they've lost money, would be my guess.

Well, yeah, because they did it half assed.  It was segments of live stuff that was arguably already available in a large way.  I had to buy two different CDs to get 90% of one show and I'm still waiting for the encore, which is arguably the one song I really wanted to hear.  I can imagine how many people stayed away from THAT! . Contrast that with the outrageous prices that the original Ytsejam releases were (and maybe still are) getting on eBay.

[Max Kuehnau]

Poly rhythm special on View. I have to listen to outcry again, I remember him talking about that having a lot of dense material.

it's not just the polys that make it as hard as it is, there are many other aspects that are brilliant about the drum part

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

it's not just the polys that make it as hard as it is, there are many other aspects that are brilliant about the drum part

The thing that also gets me which I think is under appreciated is how seamless the transitions between sections are. It's like it's totally effortless to go from one complicated section to another.

[Max Kuehnau]

oh of course, that was a major aspect of MM era DT that made it as great as it was

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

Watched this awesome version of Vai's There's a Fire in the House earlier. The Octopus always brings great energy, though not surprising as I don't think anyone gets into Steve's band without having showmanship as a trait.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ona1TNLx5HM

[Max Kuehnau]

I've never seen this before (although I'm well familiar with the studio version), great (and Fire Garden is a brilliant album)

[Stewie Griffin]

Watched this awesome version of Vai's There's a Fire in the House earlier. The Octopus always brings great energy, though not surprising as I don't think anyone gets into Steve's band without having showmanship as a trait.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ona1TNLx5HM

Good to see a fellow Vai fan here.

[TheHoveringSojourn808]

Good to see a fellow Vai fan here.

There are dozens of us!

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

I'm not a drummer but figured I'd share this. Just came across this very old video of Mike talking about his technique. It's great to hear how passionate he is about teaching as well!

https://youtu.be/m5GnjppD76A?si=irbpEZi1v1--vFGS

[Tyrannosaurus Chicken]

I'm not a drummer but figured I'd share this. Just came across this very old video of Mike talking about his technique. It's great to hear how passionate he is about teaching as well!

https://youtu.be/m5GnjppD76A?si=irbpEZi1v1--vFGS

This was really, really cool. Thanks for sharing!

[Max Kuehnau]

yeah it's great. Must have been taken around the time when James made Elements Of Persuasion or thereabouts I'd guess

[hunnus2000]

I don't know if this is accurate but I thought I read where MM growing weary of all the touring. Am I wrong about that?

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

I don't know if this is accurate but I thought I read where MM growing weary of all the touring. Am I wrong about that?

If it's not something we can point to he said in an interview then I'd say there's no basis to it.

[Schurftkut]

he did say that being a drummer in a touring band at his age is getting hard, but that's pretty much the same thing MP has been saying so...

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

he did say that being a drummer in a touring band at his age is getting hard, but that's pretty much the same thing MP has been saying so...

Yep. I would imagine that is certainly the case! Drums are such a physical instrument and these guys are nearly 60.

[Max Kuehnau]

Jordan and James (and MM) are all over 60, James and MM are 61 and Jordan just turned 68 this week. The Johns and MP are close to hitting 60 though

[Schurftkut]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=to7DP_bEKgg

The Enemy Inside cover by El Estepario Siberiano!

really cool to hear him do all the hits and more with way less drums

[hefdaddy42]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=to7DP_bEKgg

The Enemy Inside cover by El Estepario Siberiano!

really cool to hear him do all the hits and more with way less drums

He's a freak.

[Tyrannosaurus Chicken]

He's a freak.

Holy shit just watched this. Dude is playing it on a way smaller kit, adding his own embellishments, and crushing it? Mind blown.

[Adami]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=to7DP_bEKgg

The Enemy Inside cover by El Estepario Siberiano!

really cool to hear him do all the hits and more with way less drums

Good god!

1) I don't like this song and I listened to the whole damn thing.
2) Nice to hear a song like this with good sounding drums
3) Was he just bored with how the song is written? He went nuts!

[TheCountOfNYC]

Good god! Was he just bored with how the song is written? He went nuts!

That's El Estepario Siberiano for you. His hand speed and limb independence are incredible. He first gained notoriety online during the pandemic for posting one-handed drum covers.

[Stadler]

AI.

Haha, kidding.  It was better when he had the cigarette in his mouth, but that was pretty impressive. Not MY thing particularly, but it was impressive.

What's his name mean?  The Siberian Steppe?  The Siberian flat unforested grassland?

I know a big criticism of Mangini was his drums always sounded bad; I'm starting to think that's a meme at this point. I didn't hear anything "bad" about that sound, but from the comments:

- "After I saw a video by him I was looking through all this vids for a snare that didn't sound like muffled butthole."
- "His snare is so choked it has a safe word!"
- "His snare is so choked, Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey found it in a field and are trying to figure some shit out"

[hefdaddy42]

First of all, stop reading YouTube comments.

[Stadler]

First of all, stop reading YouTube comments.

I have spent far too much time today contemplating what "muffled butthole" might sound like.

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

Happy hump day everyone! Here is a cool lesson from the Professor explaining some things from View the song. Enjoy!

https://youtu.be/8lCQDqnWy2U?si=jKZmfr-o7BEERuvE

[Tyrannosaurus Chicken]

Happy hump day everyone! Here is a cool lesson from the Professor explaining some things from View the song. Enjoy!

https://youtu.be/8lCQDqnWy2U?si=jKZmfr-o7BEERuvE

Great. Thanks for sharing.

[Max Kuehnau]

yeah that's one of my (many) favourite sections of View

[hunnus2000]

Has anyone seen this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1k-AFNx9ng

[Max Kuehnau]

yes, interesting as ever