Mike Mangini NEW INTERVIEW

[MinistroRaven]

https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/mike_mangini_explains_why_replacing_portnoy_is_a_no-win_situation.html

 

I love MP but I love MM too

[gzarruk]

I read it yesterday. Very interesting read

[PetFish]

MM doesn't deserve anything other than a "win" but it's true the way the fans get mad if he's a carbon copy of MP and they get mad if he changes stuff.

MM came into a near-impossible situation and has completely kicked ass and been so gracious about it.  Kudos to MM for handling it so well.  Gotta love the guy.

[Setlist Scotty]

Given the situation he's in, I think MM's doing a fine job of straddling that line between respecting the parts that MP already established and changing them up a bit to make them more his own. No doubt it's a balancing act.

I can't help but think he's in a similar situation to what DS faced after replacing KM. JR had it much easier since his style is more like KM's old style, and he replaced DS, not KM.

[erwinrafael]

The full interview is here and that's a lot of info. Love his take on the low snare sound in DT12.

https://www.musicradar.com/news/mike-mangini-i-play-like-a-bruce-lee-punch

[Dream Team]

I maintain that he sounds miserable. Shoulders aching, being criticized, engineers screwing up his sound,etc.

[KevShmev]

I maintain that he sounds miserable. Shoulders aching, being criticized, etc.

I agree.

There is no doubt that he has handled his tenure with class, and he is obviously aware that there is a portion of the fan base that will never accept him (these same people never will accept any drummer in the band not named Mike Portnoy), but he still sounds aggravated as heck about how his drums are mixed, among other things.

[Trav86]

If you have time, listen to this podcast he did just a week ago, and tell me he’s miserable.
https://soundcloud.com/everymanpodcast/episode-9-mike-mangini-part-1drummer-dream-theater

[gzarruk]

I maintain that he sounds miserable. Shoulders aching, being criticized, engineers screwing up his sound,etc.

He’s not miserable, that’s just the way he talks. Look at his facebook posts, he’s clearly having a blast, just expresses himself in a very unique way in these interviews.

[Herrick]

Mangini's only in a no-win situation with the diehard Portnoy fanboys. The rest of us (the vast majority of DT fans) either like him or love him.

[goo-goo]

I maintain that he sounds miserable. Shoulders aching, being criticized, engineers screwing up his sound,etc.

He’s not miserable, that’s just the way he talks. Look at his facebook posts, he’s clearly having a blast, just expresses himself in a very unique way in these interviews.

He is Bostonian 

I think Mike is in a good place even though he doesn't show it. I think he is more comfortable know (as he states in that interview) that he is in a no-win situation and he accepts that. I think the only thing that really bothers (bothered) him is the DT12 snare sound. The only way I can see Mangini out of the band is if gets tired of the touring life. With d/t, I think he is fully re-energized and committed to the band because now he had input in the song writing.

[erwinrafael]

The interview is apparently before the tour was underway. I think many who have watched shows on the tour have noticed how glad he is when playing.

I wonder if he would get in trouble talking about some of the "secrets" in the industry about the drums. He is correct, if you are behind the kit, the cymbals are really the loudest parts of the kit you will hear. The strong kicks we hear on the records are really a product of mixing, so these "metal drummers" that sound "powerful" with their strong and fast kicks are really as much a "creation" of production as their playing abilities.

His complaints about getting the sound of the kit, based on the interview, has been a perennial problem. I get his comments about Mulmuzzler 2 and All For You, how his snare sound sort of bleeds into the cymbals. Hopefully they will find a way to mic his drums right.

[KevShmev]

I think maybe that is where he is too nice and passive, in that regard. Maybe he needs to put his foot down and insist that his drums get mic'd and mixed like he wants them; he has been in the band long enough to where he should be able to make that call, no?

[SystematicThought]

I’ve always thought so. His sound is being misrepresented and getting him unnecessary flak. Obviously the band doesn’t read these interviews because he’s complained about his drum sound not being to his liking for three albums. If I read that, I would let him have control over that, at least more than what he has. It obviously doesn’t sit well with him

[Madman Shepherd]

I've met Mike three times. Twice during the ADTOE tour and once this last tour. Each time he was the most enthusiastic member of DT, happy to talk music, sports, etc, and basically acted like he was having the time of his life. I don't doubt that he has some complaints and frustrations but I've always pegged him as a guy that is very happy with where his life is at. I was kind of surprised at how frustrated he was with the academic life though. He seems very happy to be done with that, making a much better living, and getting to live the life he is now.

[nikatapi]

Mike is a genuinely great guy, and he has even sacrificed his own will for the greater balance of the band.
I always thought that JP was "to blame" for the drum sound of the previous records, especially DT12, and it seems that at least he has come to a point where he understands both Mike's and the fans desirable drum sound.

I believe that the production has contributed to the notion that Mike plays like a robot as some people say, and so much is lost from his playing both in dynamics and in actual hits , especially in ADTOE and DT12. I guess that is a big difference between the two Mikes, MP was so involved and knew how to get a powerful, good sound, while Mike was each time going along with the producer, which led to him not having a characteristic sound (most of the albums he's played in sound so different).

If only we could get the previous albums with a better drum sound, i'm sure so many people would revise their negative opinion about Mike's drumming.

[erwinrafael]

Here's a recent video he posted on why the Zildjians are up high:

https://youtu.be/gO7TVa50No4

He gave two reasons that were not mentioned in the Music Radar interview. One, he put it up there so that his cymbals would not be picked up by James LaBrie's microphone. Two, in a concert setting, he can see everybody with the cymbals up there.

This vid with the mixer is more interesting:

https://youtu.be/PzI_-8b6pLY

He needs it to learn songs while on tour. What songs were he learning to play when they have a fairly static setlist?

[t-bone2112]

I find it quite interesting/humorous about his comments here regarding changing some of MP's parts to make the songs his own.

I distinctly remember Jordan's comments about some of the drummers in the audition wanting to put their signature on the DT songs they played during the auditions and saying how the band needed them to sound familiar and the same, because the fans expected it.

Especially after Thomas Lang's audition, Jordan made the comment.  James mentioned how he "loved" Thomas' interpretation, but we are led to believe that the main reason they didn't consider him was due to Thomas putting his signature on the songs.  And it was a shame because I think I liked Thomas and what I felt he would bring to the band the best of all the drummers.

And now MM is doing just that.  Interesting.

[Lethean]

Well... I think it's one thing to be doing it during an audition and something else to do it after you've been with the band for years.

[PetFish]

Well... I think it's one thing to be doing it during an audition and something else to do it after you've been with the band for years.

Yep.

Nobody seems to bitch about JP when he makes little changes here and there just like nobody calls JM "unfeeling" even though he's basically a robot but somehow MM has no feeling.

MM just can't seem to win.

[Max Kuehnau]

Well... I think it's one thing to be doing it during an audition and something else to do it after you've been with the band for years.

Yep.

Nobody seems to bitch about JP when he makes little changes here and there just like nobody calls JM "unfeeling" even though he's basically a robot but somehow MM has no feeling.

MM just can't seem to win.

apparently so (which is sad btw), but I don't want him to leave. Him joining made me get into DT again after years of being bored with them

[t-bone2112]

I've tried so hard to give MM's drumming a chance and time to grow on me.  I just don't care for his style though.  Too furious, fast, too metal-ish (I guess, hard to explain what I mean by that).  Man, I've tried to get into his style, but I just can't.

And it's a shame.  The guy is one the nicest guys around it seems.  He's certainly such a talented musician.

I feel quite the opposite of Max's comment. I'm finding myself, just now with this album, not excited about anything new from the band.  And it kills me because I've loved this band for so many years, and I feel like I've lost a really close friend

[Lethean]

To each their own, but I find that opinion on both sides to be a little odd.  I get people preferring one drummer over the other.... but it's still Dream Theater.  Unless you're only listening to the drumming - if you are then I suppose it makes sense.  But listening to the songs for themselves - it's DT with MP and it's DT with MM.

[Max Kuehnau]

Apart from all that, I've listened to both parts of the interview and I found both interesting. (like any interview with him actually)

[gzarruk]

To each their own, but I find that opinion on both sides to be a little odd.  I get people preferring one drummer over the other.... but it's still Dream Theater.  Unless you're only listening to the drumming - if you are then I suppose it makes sense.  But listening to the songs for themselves - it's DT with MP and it's DT with MM.

*Claps

[Max Kuehnau]

To each their own, but I find that opinion on both sides to be a little odd.  I get people preferring one drummer over the other.... but it's still Dream Theater.  Unless you're only listening to the drumming - if you are then I suppose it makes sense.  But listening to the songs for themselves - it's DT with MP and it's DT with MM.

*Claps

[Progmetty]

I'm gonna have to go with the Bostonian suggestion, cause otherwise yes, he does sound miserable to me and has been for a long time.
He sounds oppressed and leashed, which I cannot believe he is since his band leader is basically a big teddy bear. I can't imagine JP knowing this and ignoring it.
Mangini did look happier when I saw him on the ADTOE tour than the D/T tour, both in playing at the show or just plain face-to-face brief conversations I had with him on both tours. I hope all of this are just character traits and I hope he never leaves DT, I still really like his vibe.

[TAC]

Mangini is as happy as a man can be. The tours are very draining on him physically.

[Sebastián Pratesi]

Sort of off-topic (but not really):

I'm watching this interview about videogames with Steve Wozniak (from Apple Inc.), and I was instantly reminded of Mike.

I have no idea if this has been pointed out before, but I just found it too funny: they talk with the same enthusiasm about whatever topic is brought up in the interviews. It's really nice watching videos with that sort of vibe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6gzcjyNkHs

Here's a snippet with Steve talking about Tetris while he plays on a GameBoy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8pgsfLRZzA

[Max Kuehnau]

Sort of off-topic (but not really):

I'm watching this interview about videogames with Steve Wozniak (from Apple Inc.), and I was instantly reminded of Mike.

I have no idea if this has been pointed out before, but I just found it too funny: they talk with the same enthusiasm about whatever topic is brought up in the interviews. It's really nice watching videos with that sort of vibe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6gzcjyNkHs

Here's a snippet with Steve talking about Tetris while he plays on a GameBoy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8pgsfLRZzA

great observation, as ever.

[Sebastián Pratesi]

great observation, as ever.

Aww, thanks dude! How is your drumming doing?

[Loggins]

great interview. One thing I've always like is his straightforwardness. He is a nice guy and an incredible drummer and doesn't apologize. Good for him.

[MoraWintersoul]

Huh, I posted this in a new thread because I just couldn't find it in the search.

To me this interview was a fascinating insight into how MM thinks. Not in the sense that he is happy or unhappy - he doesn't really go on that scale, or rather he could be on either point of that scale and still talk the way he does and we wouldn't know it. Mike goes from tortured to ecstatic, rather, and I think playing in a band both tortures and sparks his creative drive on very deep levels mentally.

Just look at how he talks about sound design. Putting a guitar over drums is already changing it. Recording the drums changes the sound, so you have to change it furthermore in post. To the way you heard it from a specific position, because it's different being behind the drums and in front of them listening! A kit brings a change, but you have to be able to be you on every kit. You have to be able to follow the music, but you can't have an 88-piece set. You have to adjust yourself to sound engineers and your band leader, except you want to be you, but you also want to serve the music. He is chasing an ideal sound of his instrument within a band, both live and in studio and in his head, that literally can't exist due to so many factors, and he is thrilled by the chase. This fascinates me.

He has gone through a similar journey with his relationship to fans. From being in a classroom where a small number of people judges him based on a few metrics, to the absolute chaos of hundreds of thousands of people judging you on very vague emotional grounds and sound aesthetics. I think he is starting to realize that he can only please himself (and that's if he can - go to the upper paragraph again). I feel like the only dangerous thing he is doing here is trying to explain himself, and let people know that the comments do hurt him, because people are trolls and will keep trolling him the more he protests. And trying to educate the crowd about what goes into a drum sound only goes so far, because the average reader will just say "I can't see why can't JP read that and give the drums more punch, then".

[gzarruk]

Huh, I posted this in a new thread because I just couldn't find it in the search.

To me this interview was a fascinating insight into how MM thinks. Not in the sense that he is happy or unhappy - he doesn't really go on that scale, or rather he could be on either point of that scale and still talk the way he does and we wouldn't know it. Mike goes from tortured to ecstatic, rather, and I think playing in a band both tortures and sparks his creative drive on very deep levels mentally.

Just look at how he talks about sound design. Putting a guitar over drums is already changing it. Recording the drums changes the sound, so you have to change it furthermore in post. To the way you heard it from a specific position, because it's different being behind the drums and in front of them listening! A kit brings a change, but you have to be able to be you on every kit. You have to be able to follow the music, but you can't have an 88-piece set. You have to adjust yourself to sound engineers and your band leader, except you want to be you, but you also want to serve the music. He is chasing an ideal sound of his instrument within a band, both live and in studio and in his head, that literally can't exist due to so many factors, and he is thrilled by the chase. This fascinates me.

He has gone through a similar journey with his relationship to fans. From being in a classroom where a small number of people judges him based on a few metrics, to the absolute chaos of hundreds of thousands of people judging you on very vague emotional grounds and sound aesthetics. I think he is starting to realize that he can only please himself (and that's if he can - go to the upper paragraph again). I feel like the only dangerous thing he is doing here is trying to explain himself, and let people know that the comments do hurt him, because people are trolls and will keep trolling him the more he protests. And trying to educate the crowd about what goes into a drum sound only goes so far, because the average reader will just say "I can't see why can't JP read that and give the drums more punch, then".

Great post. MM's way of thinking/expressing is unique and you totally get it.

[Dublagent66]

I definitely feel for MM.  He really is in a no win situation from a fan perspective.  I just don't get how some people's lives are so bankrupt as to complain about whether MM plays all of MP's parts exactly or not.  You would think there are other more important things to worry about.  Yes, MP is great and MM is great also.  People need to understand that they are great in their own unique ways.  Take it or leave it.

MP had trouble removing himself from public criticism.  The best thing for MM is to just let it go and continue to do what he does best.