August 31st:
A bit of Orange and Magenta positive vibes for upcoming Zoom Classes amidst Studio
reconstruction, solo album promo prep tasks, Media Team expansion... it's a lot. I'll post Zoom dates (for next week | hope) and as soon as l'm sure of construction projects dates and times to work between. I'll explain my idea for this next round of classes and other solo album related things before getting back with Dream Theater to record.
Great detective work Gabe! I sometimes wondered when MM might have been told. I know the guys on the Talking Into Infinity podcast were speculating that he might have even known when the DreamSonic tour was going on since they thought he didn't seem to be himself, but this post suggests otherwise. Of course he could have been bluffing when he posted that, kinda like how he did when responding to Rodrigo's question, even though you could tell by his reaction afterward that he knew, but I kinda doubt he would have even posted about recording with DT if he knew he was already on his way out.
But this is the problem with the assumptions and speculation. As I - I think correctly - noted a week or so ago, things don't always progress "Step A on Monday. Complete! Step B on Tuesday. Complete! Step C on Wednesday into Thursay. Complete! Step D. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Complete!"
Many of us noted a distinct "vibe" or "groove" on stage with Mike P. during the solo tour. It was palpable. They were having fun in real time, and CONNECTING. The families were there, too. We all saw it. I've seen enough shows to know when a musician is throwing shapes (i.e. mugging for the audience) and when there's a real connection. I know in Bridgeport, there seemed to be a distance with Mike M. (actually, all the band members; I noted it in my review of the show). It too was real - because I felt it in real time before any whiff of Portnoy coming back was even on the horizon - but it was easily dismissed as a night off, the sea air (Bridgeport is right on the water), tired from touring, disappointment with the crowd, pressure of a "festival" type bill, or a 101 reasons that don't matter. But maybe that's the calculus John went through. Maybe that's the seed of a larger decision. I don't know, you don't know, NO ONE knows at this point. And with that, it's impossible to know what Mike M. knew or felt or suspected or imagined. I know I'm skeptical of this being a complete blindside; it may have been, and certainly the timing could have been a surprise, but I find it difficult to accept as truth that a musician that has made his career out of feeling the vibe of the other musicians in the room is completely oblivious that there might be a vibe or a trend toward a classic lineup reinventing itself.
Again, I'm NOT speculating, I'm NOT taking anything as fact that is just supposition, I'm just pointing out that there are nuances and possibilities that we might never know that play into some of the "conclusions" (in quotes, because they are not, they are merely opinions disguising as facts) being met here. This is far from 'simple' or cut and dry; the real world is messy, and this is certainly real world.
Topic: DREAM THEATER ANNOUNCE THE RETURN OF DRUMMER MIKE PORTNOY (Read 124572 times)