Absolutely heartbreaking when Jimmy passed. Jimmy and Mike were good friends and Jimmy was a huge fan and Mike was a great influence. Mike was so very kind and humble to help the guys (A7X) out.
Mike is a liar - he said leaving dream theater had nothing to do with A7x . He was 43 got paid a shit ton of money to record nightmare - he wanted in - then when A7x said no mike you’re too old - he begged dream theater to come back? Why leave!? He wanted a 5 year break soooo bad but a month later he begged the band to come back? Like come on
He didnt want to leave DT he wanted to have a break..... the other members didnt want that. Mike Portnoy was just being a great guy by helping out Avenged..... nothing wrong with that. In my opinion DT are stupid for not taking him back as he is one of the best drummers in the world.
Who could possibly replace Portnoy?! With the body of work that Dream Theater has now, and the complexity and duration of each song, it would be incredibly difficult for his replacement to learn all the parts well enough to perform in such a short time.
I think it was pretty douchy of everyone else in Dream Theater to not want to take a small break for Portnoy to recharge or whatever. They say he was like family to them but if a family member says "hey guys, we have a problem, let's just take a break from each other," the rest of the family shouldn't say "nope, deal with it on your own, we're going on with or without you." In a 20+ year career, a few years to recharge isn't going to be anything.
@selesher I agree it was a little douchbaggy but it was extremley disrespectful of DT to just turn him down like that. Seriously he was filling in for Jimmy, if they wanted a heads up, screw them it just shows they're loyalty to Mike. No one can give a heads up on things like that you cna't go around sayin 'Hey Jimmy's gonna die in a couplle weeks when that happens can you fill in for him?' the only way they could have done that was if they killed him and no one would do that cause if you hate
@selesher portnoy has been in DT for 25 years. he wanted a break for a little bit since hes been doing it for 25 years straight. he takes a break and then wants to go back and gets rejected by his best friends... thats douchebaggy of DT to do that to him!!!
@MetalandrockfoREVer1 With a band like DT, you cant just take a break.. As sad as it might be to say none of their music gets air time so their only source of income is merchandise and touring. All of the members are married with children, and im sure they have bills and mortgages to pay. And another thing, DT isn't stupid for refuseing his offer to return, as amazing as MP is and as big of a fan of his i am, DT is protecting themselves. They are a sophisticated group that doesnt seek drama.....
@dpgiaca97 Lol Maiden NEEDS a break. They're not anywhere NEAR as good as they used to be. And I agree when he tried to go back to DT it was a hardcore douche move. There's no denying that.
@FernandoG1006 Yes but surely they would have told the lawyer their views before the lawyer made a big mistake......... personally I wish Mike could stay with Avenged but I know he can't
@dysakewlcat Gee... well... it isn´t his decision to make. A family is also a democracy, and if 4 want to continue and 1 doesn´t, that one guy doesn´t get to decide... Simple as that. Portnoy thought he could play them and get his will through based on his popularity..... and when he wanted to come back - his thick skull didn´t understand they had already tried out a new one, rehearsed and SIGNED the contract. This is reality, portnoy was not living in reality....
Mike Portnoy had a single moments though that he should take a break, and leave Dream Theater. He almost immediately regretted his decisions. It makes me extremely sad, but I still love Mike Portnoy, and I still love Dream Theater. At first I wished they had chosen Marco Minnemann, but now Marco has a band called the Aristocrats (Marco, Guthrie Govan, and Bryan Beller) which i am very happy about.
@JakeTheDrummer18 Because the guy who posted that is just an idiot trying to stir up crap. Mike Portnoy is an amazing drummer. End of story. Mike Mangini is an amazing drummer as well. I can understand both sides of the DT issue - it is too bad it turned out the way it did for MP, but the reality is - the band was probably afraid he might leave again if they took him back, and they simply want somebody who is going to remain with them.
@selesher I see it as him thinking "why end such a good thing?" He wants to be in the band, and he probably thought the little stint with A7X would fix things up with time passed.
Hes a damn artist, the whole point of being an artist is to keep trying new things and evolving. If the rest of DT (or there lawyers) can't support the fact that Mike is itching to do new projects and sounds, then fuck em'. You can hate all you want, but only real artists will know what Im saying.
@fatmannaruto thats cos he blew them off to get in A7X and then when they kicked him out he couldnt get back in the band just cos he's a great drummer? He betrayed them
He quit DT thinking AX7 would be forced to take him on permanently and they weren't ready. they also weren't used to feuding with other bands so when MP left DT and some DT members and fans started talking shit about AX7 it ended up becoming a sore point. They probably would have kept him longer if not for the DT drama.
@dysakewlcat Yeah, had it been a year or so that he asked for I would've held it against the rest of the guys. It wasn't though. He wanted a 5 year break, which was unacceptable to the rest of the band. They didn't WANT him to leave, which is what they said when he told them he wanted to go on tour with AX7. Had they been able to decide themselves they would of course have kept going with the same members. When Portnoy wanted to get back Mangini had already been welcomed into the DT family.
@selesher Portnoy did NOT leave DT, he was releived of his duties when he wanted a duly break! That he wants to make amends is only natural since HE STARTED DT in the first place.... The only douche bag in this story is NO 1 EGOMANIAC John Petrucci... hes the epiphany of the narcissistic "look at " me type of guitarist. Don´t get mer wrong, he is my no 1 guitarist, he just don´t like him as a person...
@nengstro Portnoy DID leave DT coz they did not want a break. They tried to reason with him for him to stay, but he was so sure in the beginning of what he wanted, and it was either a break or he leaves. He alone did not start DT. It was the three of them in berkley JM,JP,MP. I'm not gonna argue with you on who you think is a douchbag, but get your facts straight.
@dysakewlcat Read the whole interview with Portnoy and Ruddess, and read the 15 page interview with Mike Mangini in the mag Drumhead - that will get your facts straight. When Portnoy wanted back Mangini had already been chosen and he had quit his job... The announcement was in April, but of course he had joined a lot earlier. In December Portnoy was still in A7X touring, and it wasnt until after, when his services was no longer needed, he turned back to DT. As I said, get your facts straight...
He required a break for ALL member of DT, based on masses of friction lately, with one member not even being ever in the same room as the others during the tour... That sounds like a band that need a break from eachother... When Mike brought this up as a problem and wanted THE BAND to take a break, not just him, it was a no or the door. And we all know who decided that, don´t we? Of course the other strong force and co-leader. Mr Ego-Petrucci! He is, by the way, my favorite guitar player....
@nengstro I think you assume you know what Portnoy was thinking and trying to achieve when you obviously have no idea. Also, you're just straight up wrong. Portnoy tried to make amends with the rest of Dream Theater in December of 2010. They didn't announce the new drummer until April, so I'm confused how he didn't understand something that he couldn't have known about? My main point is that people shouldn't give Portnoy shit. He did what he felt was right.
I come out on Mike's side in this one. They could have at least talked with him about it. Hell, maybe they could've done a two drummer thing like Genesis. Instead they get their Lawyer to inform him he has no chance? That is cheap. Very cheap. Also, DT couldn't afford to take a break? You know how much they'd have in the bank from past record sales/touring? Mike's getting along fine and so would the others. They threw away everything he put into the band. He worked has arse off.
Absolutely heartbreaking when Jimmy passed. Jimmy and Mike were good friends and Jimmy was a huge fan and Mike was a great influence. Mike was so very kind and humble to help the guys (A7X) out.
Mike is a liar - he said leaving dream theater had nothing to do with A7x . He was 43 got paid a shit ton of money to record nightmare - he wanted in - then when A7x said no mike you’re too old - he begged dream theater to come back? Why leave!? He wanted a 5 year break soooo bad but a month later he begged the band to come back? Like come on
He didnt want to leave DT he wanted to have a break..... the other members didnt want that.
Mike Portnoy was just being a great guy by helping out Avenged..... nothing wrong with that.
In my opinion DT are stupid for not taking him back as he is one of the best drummers in the world.
Who could possibly replace Portnoy?! With the body of work that Dream Theater has now, and the complexity and duration of each song, it would be incredibly difficult for his replacement to learn all the parts well enough to perform in such a short time.
I think it was pretty douchy of everyone else in Dream Theater to not want to take a small break for Portnoy to recharge or whatever. They say he was like family to them but if a family member says "hey guys, we have a problem, let's just take a break from each other," the rest of the family shouldn't say "nope, deal with it on your own, we're going on with or without you." In a 20+ year career, a few years to recharge isn't going to be anything.
@selesher I agree it was a little douchbaggy but it was extremley disrespectful of DT to just turn him down like that. Seriously he was filling in for Jimmy, if they wanted a heads up, screw them it just shows they're loyalty to Mike. No one can give a heads up on things like that you cna't go around sayin 'Hey Jimmy's gonna die in a couplle weeks when that happens can you fill in for him?' the only way they could have done that was if they killed him and no one would do that cause if you hate
i really like A7x, but seriously, they don't even compare with Dream Theater.
@selesher portnoy has been in DT for 25 years. he wanted a break for a little bit since hes been doing it for 25 years straight. he takes a break and then wants to go back and gets rejected by his best friends... thats douchebaggy of DT to do that to him!!!
@MetalandrockfoREVer1 With a band like DT, you cant just take a break.. As sad as it might be to say none of their music gets air time so their only source of income is merchandise and touring. All of the members are married with children, and im sure they have bills and mortgages to pay. And another thing, DT isn't stupid for refuseing his offer to return, as amazing as MP is and as big of a fan of his i am, DT is protecting themselves. They are a sophisticated group that doesnt seek drama.....
@dpgiaca97 Lol Maiden NEEDS a break. They're not anywhere NEAR as good as they used to be. And I agree when he tried to go back to DT it was a hardcore douche move. There's no denying that.
@FernandoG1006
Yes but surely they would have told the lawyer their views before the lawyer made a big mistake......... personally I wish Mike could stay with Avenged but I know he can't
@dysakewlcat Gee... well... it isn´t his decision to make. A family is also a democracy, and if 4 want to continue and 1 doesn´t, that one guy doesn´t get to decide... Simple as that. Portnoy thought he could play them and get his will through based on his popularity..... and when he wanted to come back - his thick skull didn´t understand they had already tried out a new one, rehearsed and SIGNED the contract. This is reality, portnoy was not living in reality....
Mike Portnoy had a single moments though that he should take a break, and leave Dream Theater. He almost immediately regretted his decisions. It makes me extremely sad, but I still love Mike Portnoy, and I still love Dream Theater. At first I wished they had chosen Marco Minnemann, but now Marco has a band called the Aristocrats (Marco, Guthrie Govan, and Bryan Beller) which i am very happy about.
ah, it would be nice if mike portnoy forms a new progressive and agressive band.
basically avenged said that portnoy overshadows a7x.. i love them dude but god that was dumb thing to say
dream theater is just mad mike left
@JakeTheDrummer18
Because the guy who posted that is just an idiot trying to stir up crap. Mike Portnoy is an amazing drummer. End of story. Mike Mangini is an amazing drummer as well. I can understand both sides of the DT issue - it is too bad it turned out the way it did for MP, but the reality is - the band was probably afraid he might leave again if they took him back, and they simply want somebody who is going to remain with them.
poor guy but honestly i would be pissed too if my drummer left the band
james lomenzo and mike portnoy should start a band
So new drummer? =D
@selesher I see it as him thinking "why end such a good thing?" He wants to be in the band, and he probably thought the little stint with A7X would fix things up with time passed.
And in case you forgot, there would be no Dream Theater if there wasn't a Mike Portnoy
Hes a damn artist, the whole point of being an artist is to keep trying new things and evolving. If the rest of DT (or there lawyers) can't support the fact that Mike is itching to do new projects and sounds, then fuck em'. You can hate all you want, but only real artists will know what Im saying.
@fatmannaruto thats cos he blew them off to get in A7X and then when they kicked him out he couldnt get back in the band just cos he's a great drummer? He betrayed them
He quit DT thinking AX7 would be forced to take him on permanently and they weren't ready. they also weren't used to feuding with other bands so when MP left DT and some DT members and fans started talking shit about AX7 it ended up becoming a sore point. They probably would have kept him longer if not for the DT drama.
sorry but this aint true folks ... you gotta paste a source link ...otherwise it is BS
@dpgiaca97 Just don't care about his choice if you don't like it!
@dysakewlcat Yeah, had it been a year or so that he asked for I would've held it against the rest of the guys. It wasn't though. He wanted a 5 year break, which was unacceptable to the rest of the band. They didn't WANT him to leave, which is what they said when he told them he wanted to go on tour with AX7. Had they been able to decide themselves they would of course have kept going with the same members. When Portnoy wanted to get back Mangini had already been welcomed into the DT family.
@selesher Portnoy did NOT leave DT, he was releived of his duties when he wanted a duly break! That he wants to make amends is only natural since HE STARTED DT in the first place.... The only douche bag in this story is NO 1 EGOMANIAC John Petrucci... hes the epiphany of the narcissistic "look at " me type of guitarist. Don´t get mer wrong, he is my no 1 guitarist, he just don´t like him as a person...
@selesher Couldn't agree more with you man, your right
@nengstro Portnoy DID leave DT coz they did not want a break. They tried to reason with him for him to stay, but he was so sure in the beginning of what he wanted, and it was either a break or he leaves. He alone did not start DT. It was the three of them in berkley JM,JP,MP. I'm not gonna argue with you on who you think is a douchbag, but get your facts straight.
Mp forever
@locosychocrazy1 He did leave, there was a public split between him and the band.
@dysakewlcat Read the whole interview with Portnoy and Ruddess, and read the 15 page interview with Mike Mangini in the mag Drumhead - that will get your facts straight. When Portnoy wanted back Mangini had already been chosen and he had quit his job... The announcement was in April, but of course he had joined a lot earlier. In December Portnoy was still in A7X touring, and it wasnt until after, when his services was no longer needed, he turned back to DT. As I said, get your facts straight...
choose COBUS!!!! permanently!
Avenged Sevenfold letting Portnoy leaves is like Bulls letting Michael Jordan leaves on his prime time.
Can'T come back in what he created! :(
@dpgiaca97 And I'm pretty sure the guys in Maiden don't have like 5 other bands like Mike does.
dream theater sucks. they shouldnt have standards
@selesher
MP just wants to take a break! But DT dont want to take a break
so Mike Portnoy said C ya!
He required a break for ALL member of DT, based on masses of friction lately, with one member not even being ever in the same room as the others during the tour... That sounds like a band that need a break from eachother... When Mike brought this up as a problem and wanted THE BAND to take a break, not just him, it was a no or the door. And we all know who decided that, don´t we? Of course the other strong force and co-leader. Mr Ego-Petrucci! He is, by the way, my favorite guitar player....
@rockingowl55 a7x said that he would be out by 2011 man
Man, does he have to make a big mistake on leaving just to find out the DT is the best? no offense to A7x they're still great.
nah chill with that son
@nengstro I think you assume you know what Portnoy was thinking and trying to achieve when you obviously have no idea. Also, you're just straight up wrong. Portnoy tried to make amends with the rest of Dream Theater in December of 2010. They didn't announce the new drummer until April, so I'm confused how he didn't understand something that he couldn't have known about? My main point is that people shouldn't give Portnoy shit. He did what he felt was right.
they shuld get joey jordison haha i think hed be good for the band
@fatmannaruto i know :(
youre thinking if bvb bro.
@fireman4453 you didnt really make a point so chill with that son
@demonsdime324
....That make good music.
enough talking....welcome to DT, Mike Mingini! DT never sounded so good! =]
@fireman4453 only a gay 12 year old girl would say that
pwndnoy lolz
@fireman4453 tween isnt a word kid
I come out on Mike's side in this one. They could have at least talked with him about it. Hell, maybe they could've done a two drummer thing like Genesis. Instead they get their Lawyer to inform him he has no chance?
That is cheap. Very cheap. Also, DT couldn't afford to take a break? You know how much they'd have in the bank from past record sales/touring? Mike's getting along fine and so would the others. They threw away everything he put into the band. He worked has arse off.
@fireman4453 Dream Theater 12 year old fan girl
@fireman4453 your whatever i want you to be kid
John Petrucci is a buisness-man.
Mike Portnoy is an Artist.
Portnoy made his bed and now he has to lie in it.
Mp forever