Hi everyone, hope i'm not clogging up your site with useless threads here.
Just want to express my joy and sheer excitement that you guys have accepted Mike Mangini into your family.
I have been a huge fan since he joined Extreme in '94, it was a slightly different scenario back then, Extreme fans were basically given a tiny article in a magazine reading that Paul had left the band and thier friend Mike Mangini has taken his place that's all we knew.
With Extreme he brought in a whole new dimension, He was pretty adament that he wanted to stay true to the songs as they were not broke and didn't need fixing, however still managed to give them his own flare, keeping to the original feel yet throwing in accents to the vocal lines, or whilst Nuno played a 5/4 groove over a 4/4 beat Mike would stick to the 4/4 on the record yet simultaneously discretely play the 5/4 groove on the hats, After seeing him tour with the guys & seeing his first clinic in Boston 1996 Playing crazy time signatures but making them sound and feel so natural, he expressed that he thought it was such a shame that it's hard for people to take in because the human brain is trained to count in 4/4 by songs we here everyday and it was almost like a goal to him to make a difference, i felt that Extreme were lucky to have such an amazing drummer and was excited of things to come.
A few years after Extreme split Mike and Nuno Bettencourt started a new project called Mourning Widows, however they played a kind of rehearsal gig 2 weeks into forming in London but Mike decided it wasn't for him which i thought was really sad.
However it wasn't until he joined Steve Vai where i just felt and noticed his true potential, his energy and skill was unreal, i remember him saying he got the gig because Steve had bet him that he wouldn't be able to play a certain Vai song so he went home learned it recorded it and sent it straight back to him. I saw him with Vai 5 times on the UK tour i wen't purely to see Mike and it's something i will never forget.
Mike performed with musicians that were what he was al about, the connection he made with Steve and the band was mind blowing and it was then that i realised that he truly would have gone to waste with Nuno and Extreme even though he's my favourite drummer and they are my favourite band.
I will be honest with you, i did not know much DT material, i learned about them on the Vai tour and discovered Mike Portnoy through Mike M, hope you don't think i'm bragging or anything like that but as it's related i will mention that after the Vai tour Mikes Drum tech went on the DT tour and when i met up with him after DT's show in Wolverhampton UK, we all went for a curry at a resturant by the venue as DT were celbrating with a German fan who had won a competition and i tell you they were really showing him a great time. I felt very not worthy to be there and in a way i kind of wasn't.
So anyways my point being when i found out about this, you do not know how excited i was, as what i do know of DT this is what Mike is, it's what he's about and the fact he is now getting to do it with astounding musicians each on par with there levels of skill and musical ability, well DT have gained a new fan. I can only apologise for my lack of knowledge and ignorance towards thier music in the past, but this tour and Album i have a feeling are going to be the biggest part of my life this year and for years to come, i am truly thrilled.
The websites and fan pages have been an absolute pleasure to read and the huge turnaround from not wanting to replace Portnoy, to the 'reality' backlash to the documentery suspense and now the terrific and warm welcome you guys have given to Mike has been an absolute joy and what is exciting for me is that i don't even think we have seen the best of Mike's capabilities yet and this band are gonna bring it out in him and let it shine. I got my ticket for July and cannot wait!
There was no doubt in my mind that Mike is the right person and could not think of a better band for him to be a part of. His passion and attitude is truly 100% genuine for this, so i'm hoping you guys can bear with me as i discover the Dream Theater world.
p.s.I can not get enough of The Dance of Eternity any pointers to similar stuff would be very much appreciated.
Cheers
Tobler
Topic: So are 'New Drummer' Fans welcome?? long post sorry (Read 5501 times)