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Original news
In the "didn't see this one coming" department, Mike Portnoy has just announced he is quitting Dream Theater. Portnoy issued the following statement on his Facebook fan page he administers himself:
"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 DT 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 DT'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 DT 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 DT 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 & 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 DT 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 DT 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 DT 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 MP projects!)
Sadly... Your fearless ex-leader and drummer, Mike Portnoy"
UPDATE
The rest of the band has made the following announcement:
"To all of our loyal fans and friends: It is with profound sadness - regret - we announce that Mike Portnoy, our lifelong drummer and friend, has decided to leave Dream Theater. Mike's stature in the band has meant the world to all of us professionally, musically, and personally over the years. There is no dispute: Mike has been a major force within this band.
While it is true that Mike is choosing to pursue other ventures and challenges, we can assure you that Dream Theater will continue to move forward with the same intensity - and in the same musical tradition - that you have all helped make so successful, and which is truly gratifying to us.
Fans and friends: File this episode under Black Clouds and Silver Linings. As planned, we begin recording our newest album in January 2011, and we'll follow that with a full-on world tour. "The Spirit Carries On."
All of us in Dream Theater wholeheartedly wish Mike the best on his musical journey. We have had a long and meaningful career together. It is our true hope that he finds all he is looking for, and that he achieves the happiness he deserves. He will be missed."
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 AyΣm - 10.09.2010 at 12:41
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| I am upset... Really... I thought I could see DT at least once in my life, but I couldn't expect that Portnoy would leave the band... Now DT has lost all interest I had in them when they were with Portnoy... |
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Written by Korgull on 10.09.2010 at 07:44
Now hopefully they'll break up and people will finally be quiet about this crappy band.
lol   |
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| :O im really :O cant comment |
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| Shocking news indeed; but if he doesn't feel anything/much anymore working in DT, there's indeed no point in working with them; I would worry if i read Petrucci is leaving and DT would look for a replacement, then I would say it would be over. Actually, whoever will be the replacement, I am looking forward to their next album, I'm curious what will come out. |
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| You seem unaware of how much material was composed by Portnoy. |
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Written by Daniell on 10.09.2010 at 16:41
You seem unaware of how much material was composed by Portnoy.
Surely it's a great loss, I'm not saying the opposite; but to me I dunno why, Petrucci has always been the essential ingridient in DT. maybe i am wrong. |
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| Wow.... Just seeing the headline made my jaw drop. I'm in shock. |
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| Craaaazy. Definitely didn't see that coming. |
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| He feel's so young now he's hanging around with a bunch of emo guys..oh well. |
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| Whatever the reason was, this sucks! hard!:mad7: |
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| I think Mark Zonder would be an obvious choice for a replacement |
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| Now I realize that Portnoy was the main engine of the band: I'll follow him in his project, but DT won't be the same, and I think I'll judge DT differently, now. I hope I'm wrong. |
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I'll tell you guys what...I've been a hardcore DIEHARD DT fan for over 15 years. I know more about the band than I probably should. I can tell you this, his decision just doesn't add up, I love Portnoy, I balled like a baby when I heard the news, but it just doesn't make sense. I've always kept current with Portnoy and the band and their status and feelings on current topics upcoming albums etc. Mike Portnoy never expresed or even hinted at being disatisfied with DT or wanting to take a break. In fact he was excited to get back into the studio for their upcoming album in '11 and he said so in numerous interviews. If what he says is true, and he's been struggling with this for a year, he wouldn't be dropping such enthusiastic bombs on us about the next album. I'll tell you what I think happened, and it sounds too simple to be true but I'm almost certain it's the case...
yes he's toured with other bands / projects, but NOTHING compared to A7X. Whether you like A7X or not (I happen to be an A7X fan as well) the fact is that they are an incredibly popular band playing to 10k plus a night. Their kind of fame hasn't been seen since the Black Album era for Metallica, in fact many critics and magazines agree they are the top band of the last decade in hard rock / metal (some saying they are 2nd to Metallica) I degress, and i'm not trying to start a pissing match about whether A7x is a good band or not, whether you like them or not the fact remains they write some amazing shit and they are EXTREMELY popular.
Mike has never in his life toured with a group this successful, and I know more than anything his decision to leave DT has been extremely and most heavily influenced by this. One thing about Dream Theater that has made them so pure and incredible is the fact they haven't been corrupted or distracted by mainstream success. Now that Mike has tasted that sugar it's on his brain and he's not thinking clearly. His mood / excitement of starting the new albums as he's explained over the last umpteen interviews suggests this is true as his current mood / choice is in direct conflict to this.
I love Mike Portnoy to death, but I'm very sad to see him make this choice. John Petrucci his lifelong friend who knows him better than all of us agrees and has openly said he thinks Mike is making a very wrong choice. He obviously won't go into the politics about it because he is mature and wants to retain good relations with his friend, but the fact remains... Portnoy has been infected with the mainstream bug, it's sad but true...
Look what happened to Metallica after the success of Black, it changed them (Musical quality aside cause that's a debate that can't be won) as people. It took almost 15 years for them to get back to the maturity they have now.
I think Mike will realize the mistake he's made, who knows if he'll realize this right away or if it will take some time but the fact remains he will one day realize this and it'll kill him inside. Any DT fan knows what I'm talking about. Dream Theater is more than a band, and this move just doesn't make sense. However on a positive note, one thing that is highly overrated is Portnoy's position in the band in relation to the music. People misunderstand his position and worry about the future of DT. Let one thing be clear, Mike had an equal hand in writing the material for the band with everyone else. Granted some members participated more than others depending on the songs / album.
The musical integrity of the band is not at all in jeapordy with Portnoy's departure. Portnoy was more logistics and politics. i.e. website / forums / booking shows / set lists / prog nation etc. All of this can be passed on to the other members of the band and they'll worry abotu that when the time comes. In the meantime Petrucci has stated they are looking for a permanent drummer as a replacement who will have equal share in the writing process for the band. Their method has always been write / record / tour. Granted with Portnoy leaving the music is sure to sound different at least on a few tracks but certainly not for the worse, DT will be just as strong and who knows...even stronger maybe? With a new member only time can tell.
So stop worrying...say a prayer for Mike and let's hope he doesn't live to regret the choice he's made for the rest of his life. |
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Written by tulkas on 09.09.2010 at 04:04
Don't really know why, but I'm not surprised. Somehow I feel they're starting to take the same route Metallica took, not retiring when they should and just keep going only puttting out crappy stuff...
Saying Dream Theater has put out "crappy stuff" is just ignorance on a staggering level. There's no words to replay to that. comparing load / reload to any of the last 4 DT albums is comical my friend. You're talking about educated musicians far beyond the performing / writing level of Metallica combined with the fact they aren't corrupted my mainstream success. Please... lol |
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Written by Thrash666 on 09.09.2010 at 04:52
Wow..... Didnt see this coming at all. Big shock. I mean without Portnoy, theres no DT, and thats that. Glad i finally got to see them live when they opened for Iron Maiden before he left. Its gonna be interesting of who replaces him. Whoever it is, they are gonna have some big shoes to fill. In my opinion, i see DT going under in a few years, or calling Portnoy begging him to come back and rejoin the band. And i really hope he doesnt join Sevenfold permently because that would just fuckin suck and probably piss off a lot of DT fans haha. Well good luck Portnoy. Keep it Metal.
He was a big part of DT but I'm surprised how easily people dismiss the very important roles of all the other band members. Do people forget they have like the most amazing keyboardist / bassist / guitarist like ever? And they all write almost the same amount of material...they pretty much write together for everything by jamming and sharing ideas... it's like this big band wagon everyone keeps saying "DT is finished without Portnoy..." I just ask...why? They can't do their own setlists? They can't book their own shows? What am I missing here? Of course Portnoy was very very involved with the band, but I fail to see how they are doomed... |
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Written by Sephiros7 on 14.09.2010 at 23:16
Written by tulkas on 09.09.2010 at 04:04
Don't really know why, but I'm not surprised. Somehow I feel they're starting to take the same route Metallica took, not retiring when they should and just keep going only puttting out crappy stuff...
Saying Dream Theater has put out "crappy stuff" is just ignorance on a staggering level. There's no words to replay to that. comparing load / reload to any of the last 4 DT albums is comical my friend. You're talking about educated musicians far beyond the performing / writing level of Metallica combined with the fact they aren't corrupted my mainstream success. Please... lol
Hmm, didn't know giving out personal opinions on how someone likes/dislikes something was ignorance. First time I've heard that.
Anyway, I just read the update saying they'll start recording next year. Any hints on who could be the new drummer? |
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Sad to see how commercial and mainstream success can corrupt people and make them throw their integrity through the window.
Commercialism has always been the greatest enemy of metal and what will eventually kill it one day. |
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Being a long time fan of DT of as many years as Sephiros7, I would have to say I almost completly agree with his thoughts. Im just excited to hear their new material. Maybe we will get something amazing seeing as how much emotion and thought will go into this next album from members. Mike was a spectacular drummer, and imo one of the best out there. All I worry about is that they can get a long term replacement drummer that can at least match Mike's experience,skill and versatility on the throne. Any ideas on this  |
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I agree Aeitherius, new album is going to kick ass. Last time they faced a massive hardship they produced Scenes from a Memory. =D
I just got back from the A7X show and I gotta tell ya it was an amazing show! Lots of good opening bands including metalcore Eyes set to kill, alt metal band Hail to the Villain, and the absolutely amazing Halestorm. My girlfriend got a picture with the lead singer to halestorm as well as an autographed CD. Stonesour rocked as well. After A7X's set was over and we were waiting for disturbed to come out I went to go take a piss after everyone was done to avoid the lines and guess who I see in the VIP bar right in front of my eyes havin' a drink? MP himself...
For anyone that's met a celeb, much less the greatest drummer of all time, it can be a little shocking. I just shouted out to him how I was a huge fan, favorite band, sad from the news etc. He basically told me not to worry, that he promises DT will continue without him and the next album will be fantastic even without him. He didn't really want to talk about his leaving and the convo was really brief cause he had to get backstage but it was awesome and felt very refreshing and reassuring about DT's future. I couldn't believe he was right there right as I happened to go for the restrooms, KICKED myself for leaving my camera with my gf at our seats. I got some pics of the show up on my FB though. |
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Forgot to mention A7X was f*ing amazing too. Portnoy was TEARING it up on drums. Although I love A7X I will say their drums are obviously simpler than that of DT's songs so it looked like so easy for Portnoy to play. I've seen him many times in concert and at almost all times at least one of his sticks was twirling lol. Could have easily def lepperd styled the whole set (is that mean? lol) Half the show I was just watching him lol. I got some sweet boot leg. Gonna try and upload my stuff to a media share site and post the link up here. Youtube has some bootleg from other fans at the show, just search uproar irvine, they have a sweet bootleg of burried alive in good quality.
Verizon had these huge screens at the show where you can text a special # and have it displayed on the widescreens. I got 2 texts through, first said "Portnoy come back to DT after you're done with A7X!!!" and the second after a7x was done and we were waiting for disturbed "Ok Portnoy show's over now back to Dream Theater!!!" lol I got a lot of cheers from the audience surprisingly. didn't think many of that type of crowd knew who he was.
Bootleg links to come... |
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Written by JohnDoe on 10.09.2010 at 17:00
Written by Daniell on 10.09.2010 at 16:41
You seem unaware of how much material was composed by Portnoy.
Surely it's a great loss, I'm not saying the opposite; but to me I dunno why, Petrucci has always been the essential ingridient in DT. maybe i am wrong.
It's hard to quote 1 member as being the essential element but I think the bandwagon of "DT without Portnoy isn't possible" is a little overplayed. He was the cornerstone to the band but not "the" band. They all wrote material just about as much as one another. Petrucci is EXTREMELY important in the writing process as are the other members. Losing Portnoy sucks, but it is nowhere near the end of DT. That's just underground rumor without any basis. |
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Written by Sephiros7 on 21.09.2010 at 17:44
Written by JohnDoe on 10.09.2010 at 17:00
Written by Daniell on 10.09.2010 at 16:41
You seem unaware of how much material was composed by Portnoy.
Surely it's a great loss, I'm not saying the opposite; but to me I dunno why, Petrucci has always been the essential ingridient in DT. maybe i am wrong.
It's hard to quote 1 member as being the essential element but I think the bandwagon of "DT without Portnoy isn't possible" is a little overplayed. He was the cornerstone to the band but not "the" band. They all wrote material just about as much as one another. Petrucci is EXTREMELY important in the writing process as are the other members. Losing Portnoy sucks, but it is nowhere near the end of DT. That's just underground rumor without any basis.
I agree, I'm actually looking forward to their next release, anxious and curious (although the Rudess era is my least favourite of theirs, but still I want a new DT album). |
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Written by JohnDoe on 21.09.2010 at 20:11
Written by Sephiros7 on 21.09.2010 at 17:44
Written by JohnDoe on 10.09.2010 at 17:00
Written by Daniell on 10.09.2010 at 16:41
You seem unaware of how much material was composed by Portnoy.
Surely it's a great loss, I'm not saying the opposite; but to me I dunno why, Petrucci has always been the essential ingridient in DT. maybe i am wrong.
It's hard to quote 1 member as being the essential element but I think the bandwagon of "DT without Portnoy isn't possible" is a little overplayed. He was the cornerstone to the band but not "the" band. They all wrote material just about as much as one another. Petrucci is EXTREMELY important in the writing process as are the other members. Losing Portnoy sucks, but it is nowhere near the end of DT. That's just underground rumor without any basis.
I agree, I'm actually looking forward to their next release, anxious and curious (although the Rudess era is my least favourite of theirs, but still I want a new DT album).
You and I both. Although the Rudess era happens to be my favorite stuff =D Endless Sacrifice! |
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^ Endless Sacrifice is one of my favourite songs as well.  |
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| Every time I listen to a Dream Theater album, old or new, my brain keeps repeating this one thing over and over "HOW THE HELL DO YOU LEAVE A BAND LIKE THIS?!?!!?!?!??!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!" lol... |
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Sephiros7, I, too, initially wondered if there was a connection with the A7x issue, especially given how Mike did seem to have become really interested in American mainstream metal in the last years, but Mike has explicitly stated that his departure doesn't have anything to do with A7x so I must give him the benefit of the doubt instead of assuming he is flat out lying to all his fans.
As far as I have understood, his decision was a consequence of the band rejecting his suggestion (sensible sounding, to my mind, and probably workable since he knows everything about the band organisation so if it was unrealistic he'd hardly have made the proposal) to take a creative break from the touring-recording-touring cycle, and to dedicate themselves to their side projects for a while.
I have to say that their 2000s material (apart from the epics) just doesn't rock my boat as much as the classics from the nineties, but it's hardly bad; for example, Systematic Chaos has grown on me a lot lately. BC&SL even feels like a throwback to their classic sound to some extent and I happen to enjoy it very much.
Hard to say what's going to happen regarding their music. From a purely technical point of view, it's hardly impossible to replace Mike, there's a couple of real freaks around. His personality, however, is a far greater loss for the band. For quite some people, he seems to be the real frontman, especially considering what he did for the band regarding fan contact and organisation. I wonder if the other members are really ready to take all that over.
Well, at least there's no mudslinging involved. I wish both sides all the best.
By the way, I'm not a fan of A7x (simply not interested in them, metalcore, or alternative rock/metal in general, although I'm not saying it's all bad), nor his vocals, but still feel it uncalled for to trash either ...
By the way, does anyone else find it interesting that Mike leaves after his AA suite is finally finished? Apparently, he indeed felt that creatively, he had exhausted himself, and nothing more to say in the framework of DT.
(Also, are they going to perform the parts of the suite, or even the suite in its entirely as once planned, even without him in the band?) |
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| Relax, at least they still have John Petrucci and James LaBrie |
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| Wow, that is shocking indeed. I bet Dream Theater fans are in a delirium of panic. Fly with your own wings Dr. Portnoy. You're one of the best drummers in the world, you don't need a theater of dream to unleash your fierceness. You could work your magic in a dusty corner, and they would still love you! Good luck! |
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| Well, I just hope they won't turn soft, as in "Falling into Infinity"-soft... I guess Mike was the driving force behind their more agressive stuff... |
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