Mike Portnoy Leaves Dream Theater

[Swivle]

Link

What do you think? One of my favourite bands, I'm just glad I got to see them last summer. Bummer, but might be a good refresher for Dream Theater. They have been around for 25 years, so a mix up might be healthy.

Wednesday September 8th 2010

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,

MP

[Onslaught_fei]

loldrama

[killer_roach]

Well, they have had personnel changes in that span of time, having had two lead singers and three keyboard players...

But, to some extent, it didn't surprise me. From what Portnoy was saying for a while, it seemed like it was getting to a point where it was either going to be him or LaBrie leaving... and they decided to part ways with the wrong one.

Then again, this does portend well for the long-rumored Wilson/Akerfeldt/Portnoy collaboration, not to mention maybe seeing a new Transatlantic album sooner rather than later...

[Fizzeler]

Well, they have had personnel changes in that span of time, having had two lead singers and three keyboard players...

But, to some extent, it didn't surprise me. From what Portnoy was saying for a while, it seemed like it was getting to a point where it was either going to be him or LaBrie leaving... and they decided to part ways with the wrong one.

Then again, this does portend well for the long-rumored Wilson/Akerfeldt/Portnoy collaboration, not to mention maybe seeing a new Transatlantic album sooner rather than later...

Agreed

Awesome or some more LTE material or maybe he will replace Zonder as Fates Warning's new drummer...

that's sad, Portnoy is an awesome drummer.

hey DT, how about giving Mark Zonder a call?

Won't happen Zonder quit FW to focus on his own band

[Grimman_Dark]

Then again, this does portend well for the long-rumored Wilson/Akerfeldt/Portnoy collaboration

or not

[killer_roach]

or not

Note that they leave the door open for work in the future.

Then again, a Wilson/Akerfeldt collaboration by itself probably isn't much different than either one of them on their own. Both seem to crib from each other a lot.

It doesn't seem like Portnoy is looking to be A7X's full-time drummer, though... he's followed up by saying no matter what that he was going to be taking some sort of a break in 2011.

[Wiiman95]

Mix of emotions right now...
I'm Sad, Pissed, Confused, Angry.

Geez, I hope DT doesn't call it quits because of this...

[clashcityrocker10]

onoes

[a21schizoidman]

whoopdee do, DT hasn't been truly worthwhile since the 90s

[Dragonheart1991]

whoopdee do, DT hasn't been truly worthwhile since the 90s

Lies