Mike Portnoy says "Hearing the new Dream Theater is painful"

I love Porntoy, but he made his bed. It's no one's fault but his he quit the band.

And if he recalls, right after he quit, he said in an interview with Eddie Trunk that he was looking forward to seeing a Dream Theater concert, because he had never had the chance to be in the audience before. In a more recent interview, he discussed how happy he was doing all these different projects.
 
Well, let's see: he wanted to take a break, or hiatus but the others wanted to make another record right away. Just because someone wants to take a break doesn't mean they want to leave for good. But just because MP wanted to take a break doesn't mean that everyone else should have to either. So a game of chicken ensues and we've seen the fallout from that.

If I were MP, I'd keep my mouth shut about how painful it is. They called his bluff. What're ya gonna do? Move on.
 
He didn't want to leave permanently, he just needed a break. I don't see a problem in that. He was getting burnt out, because he lead the band. When Neil Peart needed a break after the trauma in his life the other two guys said OK, we will put RUSH on hold for a bit until you are ready to come back. They went on to other things and gave Neil time. Seems like the mature approach to me.
 
There are some really stupid comments posted on that site but man, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't laughing out loud at some of them (especially the unintentionally funny stuff).
 
He didn't want to leave permanently, he just needed a break. I don't see a problem in that. He was getting burnt out, because he lead the band. When Neil Peart needed a break after the trauma in his life the other two guys said OK, we will put RUSH on hold for a bit until you are ready to come back. They went on to other things and gave Neil time. Seems like the mature approach to me.

I believe the Rush hiatus was a completely different deal. Everyone could understand that one. Dream Theater was not dealing with a death in the family, or two deaths in the family (three if you include Neil in that equation, right?).
 
I believe the Rush hiatus was a completely different deal. Everyone could understand that one. Dream Theater was not dealing with a death in the family, or two deaths in the family (three if you include Neil in that equation, right?).
Every situation is different, but the fact was that Mike was burnt out from carrying that band around for the last 20+ years and needed a break. We don't know how frazzled he was. He also wanted to spend some time with his son. Sounds good to me.
 
I like Portnoy, but I'm probably not the only person who's begun to think less of him after this whole situation. It's over, Mike! They dropped you for another Mike. Quit whining about it and move on!
 
Every situation is different, but the fact was that Mike was burnt out from carrying that band around for the last 20+ years and needed a break. We don't know how frazzled he was. He also wanted to spend some time with his son. Sounds good to me.

Being burned-out and losing your family are completely different things that require different understandings and reactions. Were Geddy and Alex supposed to ask Neil to suck it up and keep writing and touring?? Maybe not the best analogy.
I like Mike, but I think I'm going to need to ignore his press statements from now on. He's really burning me out on him.
 
Every situation is different, but the fact was that Mike was burnt out from carrying that band around for the last 20+ years and needed a break. We don't know how frazzled he was. He also wanted to spend some time with his son. Sounds good to me.

OK. Just don't confuse being merely frazzled to the emotional trauma dealing with losing your entire family. Portnoy's a big boy and he can make decisions for himself. It's just better if he reserved any kind of judgment and left it all behind. He can't go anywhere but forward at this point.
 
I believe the Rush hiatus was a completely different deal. Everyone could understand that one. Dream Theater was not dealing with a death in the family, or two deaths in the family (three if you include Neil in that equation, right?).

Exactly. Apples and Oranges.

Every situation is different, but the fact was that Mike was burnt out from carrying that band around for the last 20+ years and needed a break. We don't know how frazzled he was. He also wanted to spend some time with his son. Sounds good to me.

He may have, but he hasn't. Since leaving DT, he finished out the AX7 tour, did some drum clinics, he's recorded like 4 albums, and has a tour lined up with one of his many new bands.

From following his FB, he's barely been home since leaving DT. He's been far busier and spent more time away from home than the band has.

I think the above article is slightly being taken out of context. When I saw him January, he never looked happier. Every video interview I've seen from him in the last few months, he's seemed much happier than he has in a while. Where as before he quit, he was seeming pretty darn miserable both in interviews and in person.
 
Mike answered himself on the article:

"But they've chosen to move on and I just have to kind of sit on the sidelines and watch and listen."

Mike...you have to turn the page and move on as well!
 
Being burned-out and losing your family are completely different things that require different understandings and reactions. Were Geddy and Alex supposed to ask Neil to suck it up and keep writing and touring?? Maybe not the best analogy.
I like Mike, but I think I'm going to need to ignore his press statements from now on. He's really burning me out on him.
This is a tough crowd. There is a saying that most of you know. Don't judge a man until you have walked in his shoes. We want our favorite celebs to open up and be honest, and then we trash them when they do. Good thing they don't get to see our lives.
 
OK. Just don't confuse being merely frazzled to the emotional trauma dealing with losing your entire family. Portnoy's a big boy and he can make decisions for himself. It's just better if he reserved any kind of judgment and left it all behind. He can't go anywhere but forward at this point.
I was never confused. I think the mob jumped to conclusions as usual.
 
Exactly. Apples and Oranges.



He may have, but he hasn't. Since leaving DT, he finished out the AX7 tour, did some drum clinics, he's recorded like 4 albums, and has a tour lined up with one of his many new bands.

From following his FB, he's barely been home since leaving DT. He's been far busier and spent more time away from home than the band has.

I think the above article is slightly being taken out of context. When I saw him January, he never looked happier. Every video interview I've seen from him in the last few months, he's seemed much happier than he has in a while. Where as before he quit, he was seeming pretty darn miserable both in interviews and in person.
Why do I bother. These sites are all the same. Disagree and jump all over the guy. Mob mentality is alive and well. Need to quit wasting my time. Not learning anything on these sites anyways. This would work a lot better if we were all in the same room together.
 
We want our favorite celebs to open up and be honest, and then we trash them when they do. Good thing they don't get to see our lives

But aren't we entitled to it? After all, we paid our hard earned to elevate them to these dizzying heights....surely that entitles us to more than tickets for the show?

It went something like that didn't it?

I think the mob jumped to conclusions as usual.

Mob mentality is alive and well. Need to quit wasting my time. Not learning anything on these sites anyways

Do you ever tire of playing the downtrodden?
 
Mike made his decision and so did DT...end of story.

That's a short, to the point post on this subject but that's just where i'm at with Mike and DT. Mike will work as a full time drummer for another band again in the future but as for now it is what is.

In his defense though i can understand hearing the new album of a band i played with for 20+ yrs and feeling somewhat sad that i wasn't on it....but i would move on. Mike will to.
 
Why do I bother. These sites are all the same. Disagree and jump all over the guy. Mob mentality is alive and well. Need to quit wasting my time. Not learning anything on these sites anyways. This would work a lot better if we were all in the same room together.

We're having a discussion. What's wrong with that?

There is no mob here. If you think there is, that's on you.

Everything I've said above is 100% consistent with prior posts I've made. As for how busy he's been, read his facebook and see for yourself
http://www.facebook.com/mikeportnoyofficial

Further, I clearly said "I think the above article is slightly being taken out of context. " and "he never looked happier."

How is that jumping on the guy?? I'm defending his comment with those statements.

Sheeshh....
 
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Sorry Sticks. I wasn't trying to be a tough crowd on ya'. I'm just saying that dealing with actual death is alot different than dealing with wanting to do something else.

I seem to recall this same kind of situation with that drummer from Pearl Jam, Dave Abruzzeze (correct spelling?). The band moved on and he did some things afterwards, then he just disappeared. I think the band disappeared as well (I've never followed them at all). Only time will tell how Mr. Portnoy fairs on his own. But even the Beatles were bigger together than they were apart. Good luck to him! I wish I had that kind of career ;)
 
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