Sons of Apollo (feat. Portnoy & Sherinian)

[MoraWintersoul]

He actually came across very pleasant in the interview.

He always came across that in every interview I've read, and some forum encounters here have been positive. Personally I think he's an alright guy who loves shooting shit online a little bit too much! Everything he wrote on this topic was like... beyond juvenile and stupid, and it was the worst promo possible for the album. But it is what it is.

[RodrigoAltaf]

I'm 17 minutes into the interview, is pretty good so far but I had to stop because of a comment he made;

"If you are reading it, you are not feeling it" talking in regards to reading or memorizing music to play on stage. Find it funny based on recent comments made here about his stage presence 

He addressed the stage presence thing later in the interview.

BTW I found the message when @Rodrigo step forward to do the interview with Derek 2 years ago.

Almost exactly two years ago it all started!!!! I'll save this image, man. And I found the recording of the first interview with Derek. Such a difference from the interviews I do today in terms of professionalism and flow...

[MinistroRaven]

I'm 17 minutes into the interview, is pretty good so far but I had to stop because of a comment he made;

"If you are reading it, you are not feeling it" talking in regards to reading or memorizing music to play on stage. Find it funny based on recent comments made here about his stage presence 

He addressed the stage presence thing later in the interview.

BTW I found the message when @Rodrigo step forward to do the interview with Derek 2 years ago.

Almost exactly two years ago it all started!!!! I'll save this image, man. And I found the recording of the first interview with Derek. Such a difference from the interviews I do today in terms of professionalism and flow...

Repetition it's the key! And you have done it great!

[ytserush]

He even addressed his perceived lack of engagement when he plays live, which I decided to ask him about after seeing some comments here on this topic.

I've commented on that a couple times because man....when I saw them here in St. Louis he looked like he wanted to be anywhere but on stage performing. Very curious to see how he explains that.

Yeah, it was the same out here.  I found his demeanor to be odd, honestly.  We got to the venue early to have plenty of time to grab a leisurely dinner and to see if we could maybe catch any of the band members hanging out in back.  Derek was eating at a restaurant directly across the street out on the open patio, which was literally about 50 feet from the front door of the venue.  But despite being right out in the open, he looked like he did not want to be noticed.  He was eating alone, keeping his head down, and when I looked his way a couple of times, he quickly ducked his head.  A little while later, when he was walking across the street to the venue, a fan approached him, and he looked SO offput by having to talk to the guy.  In fairness, I didn't hear anything that was being said.  But his body language conveyed that he would rather be anywhere else.  Then later when they were onstage, he looked bored and disengaged.  The only times he appeared to show any emotion were the couple of exchanges with his tech during the performance where he appeared to be very frustrated and/or angry about something.  I found him to be pretty offputting.

Haven't seen or talked to him in 20 plus years, but when he was at Birch Hill the several times I met him when he took a break from Dream Theater's soundcheck he was happy, friendly, and accommodating.  Something must have happened to him to change that. He certainly didn't appear that way on the Sons Of Apollo DVD either.

[ytserush]

Haven't listened, but based on the conversation I was also getting a Neil Peart vibe. Little to no emotion on stage and shuns public interaction with fans. Neil comes off amazing in interviews but has always made it clear that he has no tolerance for a stranger encroaching on his personal space.

He wasn't always like that.  Could you picture Neil posing for pictures, signing autographs and making small talk after a break from soundcheck? Derek did that with Dream Theater in 1995-96. I wonder what changed him? Years on the road?

[ytserush]

I got through 75% of the interview so far and you know my opinion on Derek has changed a bit. He actually came across very pleasant in the interview.

He's a nice guy (or was) which is why his behavior in this band has been very confusing (to me anyway.)

[MinistroRaven]

The debut from Sons Of Apollo - Psychotic Symphony came out 2 years ago today.  The band have just completed work on the follow up!
What’s your favorite on this album?

Mine? Ehhh, when the music stops!!!

Seriously I couldn’t get into them. I just hope the new album it’s something that I can enjoy

[Ben_Jamin]

Labyrinth is pretty much the only song I enjoy.

[Max Kuehnau]

I find it hard to enjoy what they do, but to each their own.

[RodrigoAltaf]

Alive is probably my favorite, but I like the whole album.

[cramx3]

God of the Sun maybe, but I really don't listen to the album at all.  I still need to get the blu-ray though

[Adami]

Alive is probably my favorite, but I like the whole album.

Yea. Alive is good.  Especially when Portnoy is all like “I’m coming home”.

[gzarruk]

I think Bumblefoot described the album quite well with "good playing, bad songs"

[cramx3]

hmmmm I never got a notification, but youtube recommended my Sons of Apollo video from last year, I clicked play, it worked, I checked, and it seems my videos are back on youtube after they were taken down.  Weird.  But I am happy since I really liked the video, great video and audio quality, plus Jeff's dance moves

Sons of Apollo Live @ Playstation Theater NYC

[RodrigoAltaf]

 I met this dude just before his concert here in Toronto last night...did a great interview with him, and I'm working on the concert review. Both will be published soon. He's the nicest guy ever, and the MVP of Sons of Apollo.

[Architeuthis]

Wow that's awesome!  He seems like he would be a really cool dude,  that double neck guitar looks amazing.   
Look forward to reading the interview.

[RodrigoAltaf]

Wow that's awesome!  He seems like he would be a really cool dude,  that double neck guitar looks amazing.   
Look forward to reading the interview.

 He was the coolest guy ever...after soundcheck and the interview he just stood there taking pictures and talking to everybody. And he played with the opening acts too!!! The first one was a Rush cover band, and we were privileged to see Bumblefoot playing The Spirit of Radio, Red Barchetta and YYZ with them. The interview was kinda short because he was sick, but it was really comprehensive. We spoke about the tour, his clinics, the new Sons of Apollo, a possible solo album, the tour with Asia and his new line of hot sauces.

[Max Kuehnau]

you had me at "hot sauce"

[RodrigoAltaf]

you had me at "hot sauce"

One of the flavours is called Bumblefucked, so you kinda know what to expect.

[Architeuthis]

Wow that's awesome!  He seems like he would be a really cool dude,  that double neck guitar looks amazing.   
Look forward to reading the interview.

  And he played with the opening acts too!!! The first one was a Rush cover band, and we were privileged to see Bumblefoot playing The Spirit of Radio, Red Barchetta and YYZ with them.

      Oh heck yeah!!!

[Fritzinger]

From insideout's Facebook page:

Sons Of Apollo--featuring Mike Portnoy, Derek Sherinian, Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal, Billy Sheehan, and Jeff Scott Soto --are ready to ring in the new decade with a sonic boom with their second studio album, appropriately titled, ‘MMXX’ (pronounced: 20/20).
Produced by The Del Fuvio Brothers (Portnoy and Sherinian), ‘MMXX’ will be released on the 17th January 2020 via InsideOutMusic/Sony as a standard CD package, Limited Edition 2 CD package (which includes instrumental mixes and a cappella excerpts), 2 LP + CD package, and on all digital formats. Pre-orders for all formats will be available starting November 15th, which will include an instant download of the album’s first single, “Goodbye Divinity,” on iTunes and Amazon.
Here’s the track listing for MMXX:
1. Goodbye Divinity (7:16)
2. Wither To Black (4:48)
3. Asphyxiation (5:09)
4. Desolate July (6:11)
5. King Of Delusion (8:49)
6. Fall To Ascend (5:07)
7. Resurrection Day (5:51)
8. New World Today (16:38)
In touring news, the band’s headlining “MMXX World Tour” will launch January 24th in Pomona, CA, USA and will take them around the world throughout the new year. They have also just announced European tour dates for March 2020, and you can find those below:
Europe 2020
Mon 3/2 Drammen, Norway Union Scene
Tue 3/3 Gothenburg, Sweden Traedgarn
Thu 3/5 Kyiv, Ukraine N.A.U Theatre
Sat 3/7 Moscow, Russia RED
Sun 3/8 St Petersburg, Russia Aurora
Tue 3/10 Pratteln, Switzerland Z7
Wed 3/11 Milan, Italy Live Club
Fri 3/13 Bilbao, Spain Santana 27
Sat 3/14 Barcelona, Spain Razzmatazz 2
Sun 3/15 Madrid, Spain La Riviera
Thu 3/19 London, U.K. Islington Assembly Hall
Fri 3/20 Eindhoven, Netherlands Prognosis Festival
Sun 3/22 Show Brno, Czech Republic Sono
Tue 3/24 Kosice, Slovakia Colosseum
Wed 3/25 Budapest, Hungary Barba Negra
North America 2020
Fri 1/24 Pomona, CA The Glass House
Sat 1/25 Los Angeles, CA The Roxy
Sun 1/26 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore
Tue 1/28 Salt Lake City, UT The State Room
Wed 1/29 Denver, CO The Oriental Theater
Fri 1/31 St. Charles, IL Arcada Theater
Sat 2/1 Battle Creek, MI The Music Factory
Sun 2/2 Toronto, ONT. Mod Club
Mon 2/3 Montreal QUE. Corona Theater
Wed 2/5 Boston, MA Paradise Rock Club
Thu 2/6 New York, NY Gramercy Theater
Fri 2/7 Jim Thorpe, PA Penn’s Peak
Sat 2/8 Englewood, NJ Bergen PAC

This album title could not have been less interesting. Let's hope the "sonic boom" is more interesting.
Produced by The Del Fuvio Brothers. You are two grown up men in their 50s and you call yourself The Del Fuvio Brothers. Sure.

Sorry I am hating before anything is released  I just can't deal with the way those guys love themselves 

[MirrorMask]

Nice cover, meh title, interesting song titles. Any possibility it's a concept album? titles might suggest a kind of story.

I dread already the 16 minutes song, I hope it's not verse - chorus  - verse - chorus - 8 minutes of wanking - chorus 

[Evermind]

Man, what a meh title. I'll probably check out the album if there will be no trashtalk during the promo cycle. I skipped the first but seeing how they're touring Moscow again, II may go if the album is good and the stars align, mainly to just see Bumblefoot and JSS.

[Train of Naught]

What the hell is "The Del Fuvio Brothers"? They're doing so many side projects I lost track, never heard of that one.

agreed with the bad album title. Eh, last album had some good moments so may just check this out

[Zydar]

The Del Fuvio Brothers dates back from the Falling Into Infinity sessions. MP and Derek (and JP?) called themselves that when they did the backing vocals.

[Grappler]

I love the first record and am excited to hear the second.  Bring it on.   

[MoraWintersoul]

Don't like the title of the album, the rest looks fine, might catch them on tour if I move close to the Drammen stop by then.

[MinistroRaven]

From the band's facebook page:

The album title was inspired by a simple chronological fact. “This will be released in mid-January 2020,” says Portnoy. “That means it will be one of the first releases in what is a new decade.

Ummm, if I am not mistaken this decade started on January 1st, 2011 and will end on December 31st, 2020. Correct? So the new decade will start on January 1st, 2021 not 2020 as MP said.

[MirrorMask]

You're right. Now someone tell Mike 

[emtee]

I'll buy it but if I don't connect with it, this
will be my last MP purchase.

[Mladen]

From the band's facebook page:

The album title was inspired by a simple chronological fact. “This will be released in mid-January 2020,” says Portnoy. “That means it will be one of the first releases in what is a new decade.

Ummm, if I am not mistaken this decade started on January 1st, 2011 and will end on December 31st, 2020. Correct? So the new decade will start on January 1st, 2021 not 2020 as MP said.

Oh God... 

[gzarruk]

What a waste of album title   and I still think they take themelves waaaaaaay too seriously, just look at how they talk about themselves and the band. The song titles are interesting, tho.

I'm intrigued to see if this album is better than the first one, and, while I'm not a fan of this band, I'm looking forward to this one.

I dread already the 16 minutes song, I hope it's not verse - chorus  - verse - chorus - 8 minutes of wanking - chorus 

You just described many of the songs on the first album perfectly

From the band's facebook page:

The album title was inspired by a simple chronological fact. “This will be released in mid-January 2020,” says Portnoy. “That means it will be one of the first releases in what is a new decade.

Ummm, if I am not mistaken this decade started on January 1st, 2011 and will end on December 31st, 2020. Correct? So the new decade will start on January 1st, 2021 not 2020 as MP said.

Oh God... 

Being the OCD kind of guy that Mike is, he's gonna be really mad once he finds out

[The Letter M]

I think he means it'll be one of the first releases of the decade known as the 20's.

2020 (MMXX) will be a leap year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar, the 2020th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 20th year of the 3rd millennium, the 20th year of the 21st century, and the 1st year of the 2020s decade.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020

But yes, we've all seen that Seinfeld episode about Newman's millennium party...

-Marc.

[RuRoRul]

From the band's facebook page:

The album title was inspired by a simple chronological fact. “This will be released in mid-January 2020,” says Portnoy. “That means it will be one of the first releases in what is a new decade.

Ummm, if I am not mistaken this decade started on January 1st, 2011 and will end on December 31st, 2020. Correct? So the new decade will start on January 1st, 2021 not 2020 as MP said.

A decade is just a period of 10 years. You can pick a decade with any start or end date. A new decade started right this second.

Since we call the first year of the current calendar year 1 A.C., then yes technically the decade that started at the beginning of year 1 only ended at the end of year 10. And the decade immediately following that started year 11 and ended year 20, so we could follow that through 21-30, 31-40... 2001-2010, 2011-2020. But there's no reason we're constrained to do that. When people refer to a decade, 90% of the time they refer to the decade that shares a common digit in the 10s (e.g. the '80s). 2000-2009 is a decade just as much as 2001-2010 is a decade, and it happens to be one that's much more easy to refer to as a group and so that's what people do.  The '80s, '90s, 2000s, 2010s and 2020s are a much more relevant and useful way to arbitrarily mark the start and end of decades than going back to a quirk of the calendar and following it through 2000 years to mark your decades in ways that are more awkward to describe and don't match what most people are using.

To be honest I sort of lost track of MP's activities and I wasn't sure how quickly there would be a follow up Sons of Apollo album. I never got into the first album much (and the drama around the project made it a bit of a chore to follow) but I liked it some and it at least had potential, so will be cautiously hopeful for this.

[Samsara]

Looking forward to the new record, 20/20. (The roman numerals are a little pretentious - lol.) Nice to see a big epic in there, a couple of longer tracks, and some standard five minute cuts.

I avoided buying the live album on principle. While I loved the show, I really took issue with JSS changing the words to Just Let Me Breathe and taking a shot at Chris Cornel. It just felt...wrong. So I spoke up with my wallet. Not like they care.  But I'm excited the check out where they've gone for album number two. Hoping they were able to capture a bit of the excitement and energy from the live show and bring it to this album.