Drummer Mike Portnoy Leaves Dream Theater
Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy has left the band, announcing his departure from the group with the following statement:
“I am about to write something I never imagined I’d ever write.
After 25 years, I have decided to leave Dream Theater… the band I founded, led and truly loved for a quarter of a century.
To many people this will come as a complete shock, and will also likely be misunderstood by some, but please believe me that it is not a hasty decision…it is something I have struggled with for the last year or so….
After having had such amazing experiences playing with Hail!, Transatlantic and Avenged Sevenfold this past year, I have sadly come to the conclusion that I have recently had more fun and better personal relations with these other projects than I have for a while now in Dream Theater.
Please don’t misinterpret me, I love the Dream Theater guys dearly and have a long history, friendship and bond that runs incredibly deep with them… it’s just that I think we are in serious need of a little break.
Dream Theater was always my baby…and I nurtured that baby every single day and waking moment of my life since 1985… 24/7, 365… never taking time off from Dream Theater‘s never-ending responsibilites (even when the band was ‘off’ between cycles)… working overtime and way beyond the call of duty that most sane people ever would do for a band.
But I’ve come to the conclusion that the Dream Theater machine was starting to burn me out…and I really needed a break from the band in order to save my relationship with the other members and keep my Dream Theater spirit hungry and inspired.
We have been on an endless write/record/tour cycle for almost 20 years now (of which I have overseen EVERY aspect without a break) and while a few months apart from each other here and there over the years has been much needed and helpful, I honestly hoped the band could simply agree with me to taking a bit of a ‘hiatus’ to recharge our batteries and ‘save me from ourselves’…
Sadly, in discussing this with the guys, they determined they do not share my feelings and have decided to continue without me rather than take a breather… I even offered to do some occasional work throughout 2011 against my initial wishes, but it was not to be…
While it truly hurts for me to even think of a Dream Theater without Mike Portnoy (hell, my father named the band!!), I do not want to stand in their way…so I have decided to sacrifice myself and simply leave the band so as to not hold them back against their wishes.
Strangely enough, I just read an interview that I recently did that asked me about the future of Dream Theater and I talked about ‘always following your heart and being true to yourself’… Sadly, I must say that at this particular moment, my heart is not with Dream Theater…and I would simply be ‘going through the motions,’ and would honestly NOT be true to myself if I stayed for the sake of obligation without taking the break I felt I needed.
I wish the guys the best and hope the music and legacy we created together is enjoyed by fans for decades to come… I am proud of every album we made, every song we wrote and every show we played….
I’m sorry to all the disappointed Dream Theater fans around the world… I really tried to salvage the situation and make it work… I honestly just wanted a break (not a split)… but happiness cannot be forced, it needs to come from within.
You Dream Theater fans are the greatest fans in the world and as you all know, I have always busted my ass for you guys and I hope that you will stay with me on my future musical journey, wherever it may lead me…. (and as you all know my work ethic, there will surely be no shortage of future Mike Portnoy projects!)
Sadly…
Your fearless ex-leader and drummer,
MP”
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COMMENTS
What. The. FUCK?
Dam that came out of nowhere? whatever he has the desire to keep going with it. its a mattter if time before he’s back in the band. I give it 5yrs. I aint losing any sleep over it.
Mid-life crisis! Whoooo! Time to bust out the Porsche, come over, gold chains and happy hour strippers! Sweeeeeeet!
OH NO! LOOK WHAT AVENGED HAS DONE! I HOPE THEY ALL DIE!
‘your fearless ex-leader and drummer’ – I just imagine him going into battle with his drumsticks then suddenly regretting his decision after copping a sword to the face.
Life goes on.
Wimp.
Mike Portnoy is a legend in my opinion. it doesnt matter where he goes or what he does
In related news: WHO CARES!
I don’t think Ive given a shit about Dream Theater in 15 years…………
Oh God, here we go again. the one guy here named after a poser brand of shirts. next thing Holister and Ambercrombie are come on here too and comment about how Porcupine Tree and Dream Theater suck but the new Danzig is awesome. Element, I’m sorry to be the one to say this to you man. but Danzig sucks a bag of dicks. ESPECIALLY that shit gay fag vagina shitstorm vid he just put out that you think is sooooo awesome.
@mouthfullofballs: 1.The new Danzig video is bad, but the song is good, (if you’re a fan.) 2. My user name is actually from an old VOD song. 3.Its just a music message board, lighten up
sure, but DT has always sucked and PT’s recent output has been far from awesome.
@element great response, and yea, DT = thumbs down
*yawn*
It probably is more fun to play with A7X, definitely hotter women and better partying. Who wants to finish a set, go backstage and watch the rest of the band rub ben-gay all over themselves? He probably hung out with the guys from A7X for a few months now and wants to play like a kid again. Good for him. I don’t care too much for DT anyway. NOTE: I didn’t say Dream Theater sucks, it’s just not my thing. Neither is A7X these days either.
whoa…that was a shocker. not a big fan of DT, but i’d be a dick if i didn’t say portnoy is a complete badass.
I interpret that as “our last two albums sucked, and I want to end with integrity”. Good for him, he’ll get a lot of work, and I guarentee the people that hire him will listen to what he has to say.
shitty commercial wannabee GnR vs pimple faced DnD nerds… I’m gonna go with the Commercial crap.
http://i17.tinypic.com/2m7b6mq.jpg
He’s gotta pay for his shitty goatee dye somehow.
whatever he does after dream theater…let’s hope it doesn’t involve him “singing.”
@frog – Anyone who’s seen the “Incident” stuff on Porcupine Tree’s last tour would disagree. Really wicked. At first, I can’t say I was that impressed with the album, but after several listens, soaking it in, and following the storyline(s), it’s really great stuff.
About Dream Theater, can’t say I care much. Good for Portnoy if he’s in high demand and can go party with the young’uns. Why not? He’ll come back in 5, refreshed, and ready to rock.
i don’t give a fuck about portnoy or dream theater, need gold cobra already!
Maybe, Mike Portnoy killed the Rev, just so he could leave DT?!
@ElementofGayness. I admire your last responce. kinda classy. I give you the horns sir. @Alilichs, gold cobra sucks sorry to disapoint you. maybe next time. Portnoy replacement? Porcupine Tree drummer, pefect fof job.
robichaud1: The Incident didn’t work as a song cycle since almost none of the songs were developed, and they also didn’t flow together very well to create an actual sense of a cycle as a opposed to random snippets. The times where they did bother to develop the songs (Time Flies, I Drive the Hearse… maybe even Blind House) were pretty damn excellent, but on the whole it sounded like an album of unfinished material to me. I gave it several listens, and it only got worse with each one. *shrug*
I think @ButtCrackGuy’s comment hit the nail right on the head. This happens a lot w/ people who’re already in bands and then go & “fill in” for other bands.
Every album DT has out out since Awake has been increasingly meh. Perhaps the infusion of some new blood will push them to make good music again. As for Portnoy, he’s go out and make him some Avenged paper.
Anyone else think this would be an intriguing time for Opeth to go looking for a new drummer?
please god no
@ Element. VOD is a sweet band, and yes DT blow ass. always have. long live danzig. misfits.
The drummer from Opeth is great, he plays with class. Though I wish he hit a little harder live
Maybe the rotten corpse of the Rev could be DT’s new drummer. It would look a lot like that Greadful video for Touch of Grey.
@Will, VOD can suck a dick, you can suck their dicks while your at it. Dont hate on DT cause you have shit taste in music…….oh and Danzig/Misfits fucking sucks almost as much as Rap.
@ ballsofmetal
full of venom are we? maybe if you get those balls out yo face you will not be so angry. prog is almost as gay as your nametag. speaking of rap, Snoop Dog says, if you got balls on your chin, you have a dick in your mouth, BITCH!
Whats my mother fuckin name!? classic song.
@rageagainst123
I’m glad someone got that one. nice one!
This band is boring as fuck and so is the drumming.
VOD is awesome. I respect Dream Theater’s talent, but don’t listen to them often. Its a matter of preference, not a pissing contest.
Avenged has gotten pretty cheesy.
MP gave the band the finger after they screwed him over with all of their own solo projects. Good for him. Will always be one of the best drummers of all time.
Old Dream Theater is good……I agree I haven’t liked them in many years! Like tons of bands they have that cult following! Mike Portnoy is is a beast though!!
Best of luck to both MP & DT!
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