Mike Portnoy's "Prog Metal" supergroup: Sons of Apollo

[Sycsa]

I think keyboard players get a bad rap.  Guitarists keep the same sound, more or less, with minor modifications.  People don't have a problem with it because, I'm assuming, guitars are just supposed to sound that way. 

Keyboardist are expected to change because they can load 5 billion different patches.  I too think keyboardists should switch it up but if they have a great go to sound like Derek does, then I think its great, especially if it's a signature of theirs.

I've always felt this way.

Every guitar player can be identified by their unique tone but when a keyboard player has their own somehow it's not cool and I don't understand that.

I'm on the fence with this.

On one hand, yeah, it's weird that we don't demand versatility in sound from guitarists, bassists, drummers, but we do when it comes to keyboardists.

On the other hand, just listen to old-school Deep Purple. Jon Lord had such wide variety of sounds, and he was basically "just" using a Hammond organ. Case in point: "In Rock". There are no two songs on this album in which the organ sounds even remotely similar (compare the delicate softness of Speed King or Child in Time with the raw, heavy sound he had on Black Night or Hard Lovin' Man). He achieved all that variety by messing around with the drawbar/percussion settings and switching between Leslie and Marshall speakers. That's it.     

These days, with the overabundance of technology and equipment, it's not unreasonable to expect more variety. 

[bosk1]

Okay, but...Derek does employ a lot of variety in his playing.  Even without going outside of what we have heard and looking at his discography as a whole, in this particular song, there are a ton of keyboard sounds.  But the only one people are mentioning is his lead sound he uses during the solo.

[Lowdz]

Okay, but...Derek does employ a lot of variety in his playing.  Even without going outside of what we have heard and looking at his discography as a whole, in this particular song, there are a ton of keyboard sounds.  But the only one people are mentioning is his lead sound he uses during the solo.

And we don't have a go at guitarists for having a signature sound. In fact it's pretty much a great thing. Remember when you could tell the player by his tone? Yeah, I miss that.

[Madman Shepherd]

Okay, but...Derek does employ a lot of variety in his playing.  Even without going outside of what we have heard and looking at his discography as a whole, in this particular song, there are a ton of keyboard sounds.  But the only one people are mentioning is his lead sound he uses during the solo.

But he more or less uses the same variety of sounds a guitar player would be putting a few effects on his sound here or there.  Meaning a guitar player will play clean, or with distortion, or with a wah, or with a flanger effect.  Sherinian probably uses more than the average guitar player but less than that cyborg Jordan Rudess.  I've already said that Jordan might use TOO many sounds so I don't say that to criticize Sherinian. 

I did notice in the new Songs of Apollo song, it sounded like he was using something similar to Jordan's "roaring lion" sound which he uses a lot of times to double the guitar when a distinct keyboard sound isn't appropriate for that particular section.  I don't know if Derek ever used a patch similar to that while he was in the band. 

[bosk1]

I hear a lot of more "traditional" ambient keyboard sounds going on in the background.

[JayOctavarium]

Zakk Wylde is playing with Ozzy again. If he is involved with the next Ozzy record, will people throw a fit because he still sounds like Zakk?

No.

So I don't see the issue in Derek's lead sound sounding like it always does. *shrug*

[Madman Shepherd]

Zakk Wylde is playing with Ozzy again. If he is involved with the next Ozzy record, will people throw a fit because he still sounds like Zakk?

No.

So I don't see the issue in Derek's lead sound sounding like it always does. *shrug*

Actually yeah because Zakk has the most terrible guitar tone in metal.  I mean, I won't really complain because thats why I haven't listened to anything the two of them have done since the late 90s. 

[JayOctavarium]

But are people complaining that Derek's lead tone is "terrible"? Or that it is the same tone he's used since the 90s?

[jakepriest]

Actually yeah because Zakk has the most terrible guitar tone in metal.  I mean, I won't really complain because thats why I haven't listened to anything the two of them have done since the late 90s.

I'll still take Zakk's terrible tone over Petrucci's on the latest two records. What happened John? 

[TheLordOfTheStrings]

...Why "beat" DT?? You were kicked out, I get the bitterness...

Mike Portnoy was not in any way "kicked out" of Dream Theater. He left on his own accord and then publicly cried about it for seven years. That is what happened.

[SwedishGoose]

...Why "beat" DT?? You were kicked out, I get the bitterness...

Mike Portnoy was not in any way "kicked out" of Dream Theater. He left on his own accord and then publicly cried about it for seven years. That is what happened.

True, but in fairness Derek Sherinian was kicked out from DT largely becuse of Mike Portnoy's wishes

[Fritzinger]

Zakk Wylde is playing with Ozzy again. If he is involved with the next Ozzy record, will people throw a fit because he still sounds like Zakk?

No.

So I don't see the issue in Derek's lead sound sounding like it always does. *shrug*

Actually yeah because Zakk has the most terrible guitar tone in metal.  I mean, I won't really complain because thats why I haven't listened to anything the two of them have done since the late 90s.

I think Uli Jon Roth has a terrible guitar sound... Without knowing Zakk very well, I can't imagine him having a worse git sound than UJR

[ariich]

Y'all are so sensitive, I swear. This stuff is fun! It's rock and roll, nothing wrong with a little edge and competitive fire. Why NOT be extremely confident?

Seriously, this.

Don't get me wrong, there is horrible, abusive stuff on Twitter and other places that is wrong and should never be written off as just online banter. But this? This is genuinely harmless and people are being ridiculous.

[TheLordOfTheStrings]

...Why "beat" DT?? You were kicked out, I get the bitterness...

Mike Portnoy was not in any way "kicked out" of Dream Theater. He left on his own accord and then publicly cried about it for seven years. That is what happened.

True, but in fairness Derek Sherinian was kicked out from DT largely becuse of Mike Portnoy's wishes

Oh, my bad. Obviously bill1971 was talking about Derek, not MP. Thanks for pointing that out. 

[Setlist Scotty]

Just saw this link and thought it would be worth posting. It's a clip interviewing all 5 guys, how they came together and worked out the style of the band. Looking forward to hearing the album!

https://www.guitarworld.com/artist-news/mike-portnoy-bumblefoot-billy-sheehan-discuss-sons-apollo-exclusive-interview/31623#.WZxB7itNcdc.facebook

[devieira73]

Already very happy for the guys! I'm wishing commercial sucess to allow them to make this band a real priority

[ErHaO]

There is also music on the background we haven't heard yet, looking forward to this one!

[Elite]

I don't know whether this was known before, but the album is available for pre-order on iTunes and thus you can see all the track lengths:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/psychotic-symphony/id1267878801

[rumborak]

https://youtu.be/I4B9hQX9lEY

"Introduction video Pt I"

Them chatting about how they got together etc.

[utopiarun]

MP around an hour ago on his forum:

DTF?? That's still a "thing"
Hahahaha worse trolls than Blabbermouth over there...   
 
Life is so much better without reading their negativity every day...
And the music world is soooooo much bigger than the silly little bubble they all seem to live in...
Their loss!   


I guess he can't help himself
 

[cramx3]

 

how is a discussion forum with people around the world a bubble?

[ReaperKK]

MP is always good to bring on the lolz

I like to believe he secretly reads these threads

[cramx3]

MP is always good to bring on the lolz

I like to believe he secretly reads these threads

I very much believe he does

[SoundscapeMN]

https://youtu.be/I4B9hQX9lEY

"Introduction video Pt I"

Them chatting about how they got together etc.

"Writing in the Studio"

[gzarruk]

MP around an hour ago on his forum:

DTF?? That's still a "thing"
Hahahaha worse trolls than Blabbermouth over there...   
 
Life is so much better without reading their negativity every day...
And the music world is soooooo much bigger than the silly little bubble they all seem to live in...
Their loss!   


I guess he can't help himself
 

 


Now I'm waiting for some of Mike's blind followers to comment on this and try to explain to us how he's not saying anything wrong and that we're overreacting on everything he says

[Adami]

I totally 100% agree with MP on this one.

The Donald Trump Forum is horrible and filled with trolls.

[MinistroRaven]

I totally 100% agree with MP on this one.

The Donald Trump Forum is horrible and filled with trolls.

 

[SystematicThought]

Actually it's kinda funny. Most of the comments are defending DTF and pointing out that most of us are optimistic and excited about MP projects, just get tired of the SoA vs DT and other drama. So that kinda backfired on him

[Nick]

MP around an hour ago on his forum:

DTF?? That's still a "thing"
Hahahaha worse trolls than Blabbermouth over there...   
 
Life is so much better without reading their negativity every day...
And the music world is soooooo much bigger than the silly little bubble they all seem to live in...
Their loss!   

I guess he can't help himself

FFS. I just don't know what to say anymore.

I give Mike a lot of credit on a lot of things and try not to harp on the negative aspects, but shit like this just makes it difficult.

Edit: Not to mention than this forum that's "still a thing?" is more active in most if not all common metrics than his forum currently is.

[cramx3]

I totally 100% agree with MP on this one.

The Donald Trump Forum is horrible and filled with trolls.

  or maybe he meant Down To Fuck?  Like the Jersey Shore apparently has a reunion show now, he may have not realized that's still a thing anymore like most others.

[bill1971]

Actually it's kinda funny. Most of the comments are defending DTF and pointing out that most of us are optimistic and excited about MP projects, just get tired of the SoA vs DT and other drama. So that kinda backfired on him

Yes, that is what I have been focusing on there.

[Madman Shepherd]

MP around an hour ago on his forum:

DTF?? That's still a "thing"
Hahahaha worse trolls than Blabbermouth over there...   
 
Life is so much better without reading their negativity every day...
And the music world is soooooo much bigger than the silly little bubble they all seem to live in...
Their loss!   


I guess he can't help himself
 

 


Now I'm waiting for some of Mike's blind followers to comment on this and try to explain to us how he's not saying anything wrong and that we're overreacting on everything he says

I'm waiting for some of his blind followers to tell him he's being too sensitive. 

Afterall, it's rock n' roll!

[TAC]

Wow, that's a shame. I tried to sign onto MP's forum, but it's been so long, it doesn't seem like my password works.

I just can't think of a more insulting thing. And shameful. Did I say that?

[Madman Shepherd]

All kidding aside, I think this is why we will never see Mike Portnoy back in Dream Theater.  He says he is friends with three of the members but I can't see that as anything more than them trying to keep the peace.  While Petrucci doesn't keep up with the online musings of people like us, I doubt he is totally oblivious to Mike's outbursts like this one.  I doubt it's worth the temporary bump in ticket sales to deal with this not to mention the inner workings of the band. 

Oh and I'm sure Portnoy doesn't read DTF like Trump doesn't watch MSNBC.   

[gzarruk]

All kidding aside, I think this is why we will never see Mike Portnoy back in Dream Theater.

Amen to that.