Eh, I get what you guys are saying, if MP was to rejoin the group I think the guys would lay out for him how it's different now in terms of responsibilities and roles. But to be honest, I'd guess that after a certain amount of time, everyone would kinda just fall right back into the roles they had been playing for the last 10 years or so of MP's tenure with the band. It's human nature.
I hope that never happens. MP is who he is, I don't think he could change even if he wanted to. He always said himself he's a control freak. Then there's the friction between him and JLB and JM. I remember after MP left in 2010, in an interview he compared being in DT to a marriage and said he has fallen out of love with a couple of the wives. It was totally clear he meant JLB and JM, he didn't want to be in a band with them any more. As far as I know both haven't spoken a word to MP since then. I love MP in Flying Colors and the Neal Morse Band, but I fear if he'd return to DT the chemistry in the band would be completely destroyed.
You're right about them not talking at all. I even have a screen shot from an MP tweet from when he was asked if he still got in touch with the DT members after the split. His exact words were: "Jordan frequently, JP ocasionally".
Also, it's no secret that the relationship between MP and JLB was bad already before the split, and after it just ended completely.
I'll adopt MP's philosophy of 'never say never' but I think it would be less than 1% chance given all that has happened.
More likely scenario to me is that JR lets JP know he is done. MM decides it's time to go to. JP ends up pulling the plug on DT but
he and MP put something new together with a new vocalist, new bass and keys. JR is getting up there and it's got to be getting
tough to be in a constantly touring metal band. I have felt for some time that he is nearing the finish line with DT.
But even this scenario is very unlikely.
I think this is taking it too far. I'm almost sure that, if MP rejoined the band, James would leave and would probably focus on his solo band, but even if Myung's relationship with MP isn't too good, actually, I think they would be able to work again, unlike James and Mike.
The Jordan case is different. I agree with you on the fact that he's not going to be forever with the band, but I don't see him leaving soon either, he seems to be really enjoying his role in the band, specially with an album like TA. The deciding factor would be his age (he just turned 60) and his will to explore other projects. Let's keep in mind he's been the one from all the current DT members to have more external projects and guest appearances with other artists. Also, his albums with Levin Minnemann Rudess have been some of the most keyboard crazyness-heavy albums he's ever done since his solo music. He's even said that, even though he loves being in DT, he really enjoys being able to express some of his ideas outside the DT style and without the big walls of heavy guitar.
I can see him focusing more on that on the next years, but I would give him, at least, one more album and tour with DT, which would end with him being 63 or 64. I assume he would like to explore other projects before turning 70.
If that ends up happening with:
- MM leaving
- MP rejoing
- JLB leaving because of MP
- New (heavier?) singer
- JR leaving a few years after that
- New keyboardist in with not big contribution to the songwriting
I think the band would be considered as one of those "revolving door bands" where it just can't keep clasting members. Also, without JR, the main writing would be 80% JP, 5% JM and 15% MP with his usual changes and production directions. Don't really know how that would end up, but not that interesting, imo.
Again, this is just crazy speculation, but, If any of the things we've been talking actually happens, we have to project which effects would those changes affect the band in the long term