Portnoy Opens up about His return to Dream Theater.

This interview took place on Nov 23, 2023.
The question was: Was there any negotiation in your return? How did that conversation go?
To watch the full interview: • Mike Portnoy Q&A, day ...

[@imBestefar]

It was inevitable, and I am grateful as he is for his return. I am equally grateful Mangini held up the band all these years. ❤

[@iau]

I don't think it was 'inevitable'. Anyone would have been ridiculed to death for suggesting it even a couple of months ago. It really shocked everyone, just by the point I think people truly began accepting Mangini. I'm excited, as is everyone else, but I still have so many questions.

[@imBestefar]

@@iau and yet ….my opinions valid like yours…here we are. Let’s be welcoming and kind about it. I’m simply grateful for them both.

[@Beefnhammer]

@@iau I agree, it was not inevitable by any stretch of the imagination. When I first heard the news I was like "ain't no way...this has to be fake". I'm thrilled it happened though. I think the albums they made with him in the band were better overall than the albums they made without him.

[@SafirLamkhantar]

My biggest desire is that Portnoy's return leads DT to quit playing over a click track and abandon faking backing vocals

[@bigpapij0sh]

But dream theater usually likes getting closer to the album version when live. Atleast with the metronome, I guess un some cases depends on backing vocals

[@greenbackz]

Doubt they'll do that. Most of the visuals and lights are set with the click track. That would be sick though

[@KakoSales85]

The game has changed I the last decade. Gigs are now an event, it's audiovisual. Clicks aren't going away too soon...

[@alexandreavelar9696]

I think sticking with the click is going to make they sound even better with MP, becaus IMHO he kinda messed some parts (specially tricky ones on guitar) when he rushed the tempo. I look forward to it!

[@Iamtheface100]

I’ve never understood what the problem is with using a click track. If you’re watching a punk band or Slayer or something then I could see the point but DT’s music is as precise and technical as you can possibly get. It doesn’t detract from the performance at all.

[@nicolasrodrigues7391]

Mangini doesn’t sell like Portnoy, that’s fact! And the fact that JP and MP we’re together on JP’s solo album and LT3 got their return, all this was just a bridge for the comeback (my opinion)

[@darksideofpsy]

not everything in this world is about money dude

[@nicolasrodrigues7391]

@@darksideofpsy but selling records it is dude! And Im not talking about money but selling record

[@gabrielnardin2764]

The only thing I expect out of this is bringing the old drum sound back. Mangini was a great player but didnt have the weight in the band to have a say in the mixing, and Petrucci preferences for drum sounds have been bad. This is unlikely to happen with Portnoy back

[@FreimannMusic]

I couldn’t find the whole interview. Could you please share the source?

[@tinieblasabismos9859]

strenght and dignity baby _🥊💯%_

[@GuidoPerdomo]

their rituals and secrets remain a mistery

[@user-ov2mx9rf9c]

​@@GuidoPerdomobeneath the ever watching eye

[@GuidoPerdomo]

@@user-ov2mx9rf9c the angels of the temple fly

[@TheDarkEternalKnight07]

​​@@user-ov2mx9rf9cthe angels of the temple fly

[@branlopgar]

​@@user-ov2mx9rf9cthe angels of the temple fly

[@bruce2228]

The time is here. History is being made and full circle 😊. 🎶🕸️🕷️✝️🛐👊🤠👍🇺🇸💯%

[@theroulettechannel]

Misha, we are awaiting you!!!

[@greenbackz]

Hopefully their new album will be better then black clouds. I can honestly say aside from the astonishing I might like all mangini albums more than black clouds.. Even astonishing is good but not sure I'd rate it higher than bcsl

[@mutlubasdas]

Sound is much better this way.

[@aldoelektrika]

LaBrie's live vocals are the issue. I will not see DT live again until they get a new singer.

[@gretchengoestonebraska]

Man publicly announces that he will not do anything.

[@Beefnhammer]

It's sad but I agree. I'm rooting for the guy because I like him and his vocals in the past have been stellar, but he's not the singer he once was. I'm still hoping, given the context of this reunion, that he'll finally pull out all the stops and sound as good as he possibly can at his age in this next tour. He doesn't need to sound flawless, and a loss in vocal range is to be expected, but he can still do a lot better than he has been.

[@DTArchive]

Exactly. Portnoy should not have come back unless there is a plan for LaBrie to step aside real soon. Most of us would agree that Portnoy is more valuable to the band than Mangini, but what's the point if everything's going to get squashed by the vocals? It's like you have a car with a broken engine and the tires got replaced instead.

[@gi3873]

O melhor do mundo ❤

[@moonrider99]

Can someone tell Labrie he is ruining everything live?

[@inuxsztajaagaan6684]

Sebagai FAKTA, LAGU-LAGU YANG FAMILIAR DIKALANGAN FANS DREAM THEATER ADALAH LAGU-LAGU YANG DIBUAT BERSAMA PORTNOY, BUKAN BERSAMA MANGINI. Karena lagu-lagu Dream Theater bersama Portnoy akan langsung terekam di otak dari segi Instrumen dan lirik. Example my favourite Songs: The Answer Lies Within, Octavarium, The Best of Time, The Count of Tuscany and many many other Songs with Portnoy. Tanpa Portnoy, rasanya seperti drink plain milk. Please translate to English, I am sorry...... 😌

[@marcusviniof]

Concordo.

[@lasBF]

tergantung selera... bagi penikmat musik akan suka portnoy, tetapi bagi pemusik khususnya drummer akan paham bahwa mangini d level lebih tinggi jauh dengan portnoy

[@inuxsztajaagaan6684]

@@lasBF Udah jelas berarti lingkupnya mengecil kan? Faktanya penikmat musik dibandingkan dengan pemain musik itu, Kuantitas dan Jangkauannya lebih luas dari berbagai kalangan. Sedangkan untuk pemain musik, itu hanya sekedar teknis. Tidak bisa dibantah memang Mangini itu Jauh diatas Portnoy dalam hal teknik dan sebagainya, tapi tetap saja, bagi yang mendengar lagu-lagu DT bersama Mangini, tidak akan ada yang membekas di ingatan selain teknik bermain drumnya. Itu kira-kira menurut Saya berdasarkan apa yang saya rasakan

[@christianstorm8854]

This is a Good Thing.

[@bruce2228]

GLAD to see you brother. Need a technician 😊? 🕸️🕷️✝️🛐👊🤠👍🇺🇸💯%

[@rubenfe91]

Yep, he comes back as the toxic girlfriend who gave us great years, got tired, left, and you let her come back because, well, she moves well in bed after all

[@alessandrogambino420]

I don't understand these people. Mike must have left because something was off in DT, has that changed? NO. Why is he back then? Btw what they did to Mangini is cowardly. They exploited him and now they throw him to the curb. I like Portnoy, but I don't like how some people carry themselves "professionaly" and that goes for anyone involved in the leaving process and in the coming back process too.

[@marcus.thoren]

You're obviously missing out on two things here: 1. Portnoy left because the band didn't want to go on a small hiatus while Portnoy would wrap up all the side projects he got going. 2. Mangini is a session musician; he never entered DT thinking he's a permanent member. It was mutual and Mangini was okay with it.

[@EetFuk8]

​@@marcus.thorenNo you're wrong, Dt didn't hire mangini as a session drummer, rather they hired him as a long term permanent member. John petrucci himself stated this in an interview during the years mangini first came. However, I'm so glad that they kicked him out, he's ruined dt for 13 years.

[@nicolasrodrigues7391]

@@EetFuk8 I don’t think he ruined DT BUT MM doesn’t sound like MP and it’s clear along the albums. For example, for me, the only album that sucks is the crapstonishing

[@huntercovarrubias6312]

⁠@@EetFuk8I feel like you're confusing mangini with someone who had any reigns of creative control or directional influence of the band. He did what he was told and his contributions weren't much more than fills and some grooves, so what you considered "ruined" is more attributed to JP

[@DT2BLZ]

Exploited Mangini? Was he not getting paid? Was he working off hours free? Was he given no credit in the lyrics he wrote? Was he no exposed to a huge new fanbase and his fame increased? Wtf are you talking about?

[@mikemischievous2091]

So Petrucci wanted Mangini out of the band... What the hell was he thinking? Now it is going to be the same same all over again. The new record may be good..but boy are they going to suck live... Drumming tempo all over the place (or feeeeeel as all Portnoy fanboys calls it ) and don't forget the vocals...It is still the same singer you know. Can't wait to hear "the glass prison" all sped up with "dying cat" vocals from Mr LaBrie.

[@TheDarkEternalKnight07]

Portnoy is not only a drummer. He is a composer and basically a front man during live shows. I'm not a Portnoy fanboy, I really like Mangini and was sad to see him being kicked out. But Portnoy was, and still is the heart if the band

[@TheDarkEternalKnight07]

Also, I'm not happy with LaBrie performances as well. But I think with MP coming back, he may try to do something to improve his vocals live

[@UnderStanding_with_Javid]

Bro, don't like it, don't listen to it.

[@tuhwhat1663]

you strike me as an individual who is quite fond of finding things to complain about

[@Beefnhammer]

The "feel" that the Portnoy fanboys are referring to is the push and pull that happens when human musicians determine the tempo of a performance rather than a click track. It's far more compelling and engaging to listen to. I'll admit that Portnoy would sometimes get a bit carried away with speeding up the tempo, but I'll take that over a sterile performance dictated by the click.