THOMAS LANG about Dream Theater Auditions

[@breables1293]

I like Thomas positive insights...the interviewer keeps trying to dig up negative gossip. Thomas is such a stand up professional

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Yeah the ExWife analogy....jesus very inappropiate. If he was interviewing Joe Pesci he would have kicked his ass.

[@maxulyses]

TOTALLY was thinking the same throughout the whole interview... "Man, this guy's is trying to do everything to say negative things"

[@progdrummer-nenad]

@@maxulyses Well he did say negative things in a polite and really nice way as he should! Don't why are you all afraid off getting out Dream Theaters management and band members behaviour. Bobby Jarzombek and Thomas Lang approved that they are gentleman's and a great drummer and all the other can play everything from dream theater in a heartbeat

[@doglovemimijumable]

Time proves, Thank God Thomas didn't get the job, Mangini turns bad in DT, meanwhile MP makes even better in his businesses, DT is just dead without MP.

[@undisputedattitude2902]

@@doglovemimijumable 🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡

[@jimallen6197]

Thomas has such a great attitude and is very professional about the whole thing... the guy doing the interview sounds more butthurt about it.

[@queensinthesky]

Made me irrationally annoyed hearing him, sounded like a prick. You'd swear he's from TMZ and not a small drum podcast.

[@dEVIiiii]

Ever since the Dream theater auditions I've followed Thomas, Virgil Donati and Marco Minnemann. At least for me it worked as positive PR even if they didnt get picked. It was great to see so many great players killing it. Obviously theres other factors than just the playing involved!

[@levig384]

Marco Minnemann did amazing with Necrophagist

[@208414]

Same. I'm one of the guitar player fans of DT and was not well versed in the who's who of drummers. I viewed it as a list of killer drummers who I should know more about. I personally thought that Marco Minnemann would have been the most interesting choice for the band, but it seems like the group was leaning towards Mike Mangini's from the get go.

[@terrytk9398]

Interviewer:stop interrupting the guest. 😀 It is disrespectful. The interviewee is an intelligent, interesting man with a lifetime of experience to share. He is trying to describe his personal feelings of a unique experience that most people will not have access too. A professional interviewer simply has to listen and raise questions when required.

[@MrWwoww123]

Totally agree. I do not care one 1% about the insights and inferences of the interviewer.

[@michaelsage74]

Terry that was a very intelligent, precise and thoughtful comment. I just think the interviewer is a twat.

[@RedmiNote-nd6hm]

Thomas as a person is pure class.

[@HarryJoiner]

I have always liked Thomas Lang, but this makes me like Thomas Lang even more. Very stoic. Great sense of humor. Highly intelligent. And obviously, a monster drummer. We all know Thomas would have made a first rate addition to Dream Theater.

[@jabezscratch]

Wonderful insight into the music industry. Thomas Lang is an amazing drummer regardless of what happened with Dream Theater -- makes no difference.

[@nista67]

Industry. Exactly. All about the money.

[@LuvWFT]

I want to live next to Thomas Lang and Gregg Bossonette or in the same neighborhood, dam!

[@maddin1268]

Thomas is one of the greatest, I love his way of drumming.

[@whateva2830]

What I don't understand is, most Interviewers ask the question, then cut in !! as If it's about them, or they want the world to know who they are ! Thomas Lang , and others are brilliant at their craft, why always look for fault in them ? Interviewers.......show RESPECT !

[@Xformat01]

This being my VERY FIRST Thomas Lang interview, I am blown away by this amazing brother!

[@sickdrummer3831]

My opinion is Thomas is just a different and better drummer.

[@BlakeKross]

Portnoy is a legend but Thomas is the Legend of all legends. Agree 100%

[@TheSadistNat1on]

True, but DT makes danker music..that's what I'm listening to. Fun to check out thomas, that's it tho. Dream theater is in my life in mmiii soul

[@cd0u50c9]

The fact that Thomas learned the Dream Theater songs to essentially perfection just out of curiosity is a testament to his skill.

[@chubz1978cd]

Bobby Jarzombek was also invited to audition but he declined.

[@maurobilotti]

And he is one of the biggest drummers I ever head. Technically is something else!

[@aronomaoileoin9603]

Interesting

[@MiUnited]

chubz1978cd wow didn’t know that

[@lauraeeee]

Dang. That would have been quite something!

[@davidsarmiento206]

I was actually happy he declined it and hope he would do more spastic ink

[@jimbodavis1944]

This was more fascinating than I expected, and that’s saying something because I didn’t know it was audio only. Good stuff! I like Thomas Lang the more I learn about him. ProgPop is top-notch.

[@hbsupermage]

the interviewer is so annoying, constantly trying to throw poison

[@xmaverickhunterkx]

Man, every time he talks I get angry

[@jerrywitaj]

That’s the music business. Full of nasty pricks.

[@CamiloMoyaBaterista]

Lucas no, dream theater is poison

[@lackieproductions]

I started following Thomas Lang after seeing that audition, I’d bet there are a decent amount of people out there who do the same. Him not getting picked has zero influence on what I think of him. He’s a total pro and a badass drummer and should be proud to even be in the running!

[@ealingschoolofdrums3692]

Well thought out responses from Thomas. And all proved to be true now that MP has returned. Glad that everyone who auditioned has retained there integrity. Onwards and Upwards guys !

[@josephhavalotti997]

This goes to show the wanna be working drummers how the music world works , there’s no other Drummer out there like Thomas ,with the style that he has and what he does it’s mine blowing!!

[@kcorpora1]

But not for Dream Theater.

[@GorcStew]

The guy interviewing him must be Jimmy Fallon's brother...he won't stfu and let him talk.

[@jordankelsomusic]

I agree with most the things that Thomas says, but I think those audition videos gave everybody in them great exposure. Before that video I had no clue who any of those drummers where. Now all of those drummers are some of my favorite drummers of all time all because I discovered them through the video. It probably sucks to be filmed and then find out you didn't get the gig, but those videos have given a fuck ton of exposure to new audiences. I would say it probably benefited everyone's careers at least a little.

[@hugorezende199]

Dream Theater producers were genious on that documentarie auditition. Serious good move. It was really for drummers in the fan base, and that was awesome to see a little like background stuff for audition. Thomas (after years of course) it is super nice to talk about it.

[@WorldSoundTraveler]

The person doing the interview is coming off like a pompous, arrogant! At 2:30 I’ve decided don’t like the person conducting this interview! My hats off to Thomas Lang for being professional.

[@awmaace3397]

To me the DT audition seems like a scripted show...

[@daveadams9687]

And that's exactly what it was.

[@the6ig6adwolf]

Mangini had the gig before the auditions were even filmed. It was simply done to create attention around the band.

[@psyduccc9596]

@@the6ig6adwolf and the worst part about it, is it made Aquiles look bad like dude, youre telling me he was the only one to make a mistake? i doubt it

[@atomicslam1589]

That's exactly what it was....at the expense of all the drummers there, aside from Mike.

[@marshaltito7369]

@@psyduccc9596 Virgil also did...

[@jonashoffmann3730]

Thomas and Marco were the ones to show me that there is a horizon beyond DT, drum-wise (I was a major Portnoy - fanboy). That was long before that "audition"... So for me, the story has come full circle.

[@josecuerpo2544]

Well, Mangini was and is the right choice. Congratulations for the Grammy award.

[@davidderoux7552]

I can't think about any other drummer who could did a better job than him on the last album. Simply amazing!

[@VictorNickel]

It's quite obvious that the DT guys paid good money to have top drummers come and audition, just to rebuke them, and give DT a false aura of unreachable quality. Pretty sure that Mangini (who is an awesome drummer) was the pick even before the auditions (Berklee teacher playing with Berklee alumni, great publicity for Berklee)

[@gregpeller1499]

@TwoCats Yelling "Yes...so true...to limit Thomas Lang lessens our enjoyment of his huge range of his sound palate and musical wizardry....he's ridiculously good."

[@BrunodeSouzaLino]

Derek Roddy confirms this. Mangini was chosen before any of the other candidates auditioned.

[@SAHBfan]

"We auditioned some of the best drummers in the World - and they couldn't do what we wanted!" - Jordon Rudess. (From memory, but I'm sure that is pretty close...)

[@BrunodeSouzaLino]

Accorind to Derek Roddy, as soon as he arrived to his audition, he heard the band members saying "Mangini is our guy" and that they just auditioned the rest to have material for the documentary.

[@BrunodeSouzaLino]

It's not a sport first of all and Thomas is better off not being part of DT anyways. Much like Virgil Donati and Marco Minnemann, their talents would be hampered by DT, which only use Mangini as a glorified drum machine.

[@rudedog1672]

Great interview a lot to learn from this - Thank you Thomas!

[@AlanKey86]

The interviewer seems to want to misunderstand Lang at around 11:00 Wants the drama. Props of Lang for not sinking to that level

[@hunterficeto717]

"You didn't feel like you were dating his ex wife" Lang - No...

[@markaldridge3321]

I believe Thomas would have made DT sound superb with his power and technical ability. Should have got the job for me.

[@johnchenky]

Thomas Lang is a living legendary drummer.

[@benblackburn2693]

Thomas Lang is a phenomenal drummer, they had such a different vision for who they were wanting but it doesn't take away from his skill and his talent you could tell by watching the documentary that Mike Mangini definitely was much more gungho to get into dream theater and wanted it more than anyone else. He was much more obsessed i feel and he definitely fits best too. You could also tell all those guys had a history with Mangini and they definitely had a bias towards him in the beginning

[@JacaboBlanco]

Him and Marco definitely fit and performed best (based off the highly edited footage they released) They both also left the audition most confident.

[@t3hgir]

2:38 "I felt sorry for him (Portnoy)" - Thomas Lang

[@Satiatingmusic]

t3hgir funny thing it turned out it should have been DT in shock. Did Portnoy ever agree to what Lang said? I never heard Portnoy say he was in shock or devastated as Lang suggested. Lang winged it and he sounds like he is making excuses. Everyone thinks they can do it until they don’t. Some one even did an AB comparison with Mancini &Portnoy. Hear what happened. Suddenly Lang is a DT expert. I thought he didn’t know them. He says at the beginning. What. World class band hires a replacement anything and say we want you to wing it. How many people drummers are covering Lang’s playing? He sounds embarrassed. One of the 7 who had the opportunity. Is how you look at it. No one but 6 others had that opportunity.

[@dieterplaetinck4431]

@@Satiatingmusic What does Ab'd mean?

[@WhyTheHorseface]

Dieter Plaetinck A/B’d means comparing between item A and item B.

[@WhyTheHorseface]

Lol but he still fucking did it! He knew DT was his friend’s baby, he knew it was just a marketing gimmick, AND HE STILL DID IT!!!!!

[@TheVermifuge]

Google Sucks, Typical masons...deceptive.

[@francisb1]

I don't think it's fair to say that they were doing it just for PR or that they already knew they would pick Mangini. Moreover I don't see how anyone could regard Thomas as "one of the guys who didn't get the gig". He did great, they said they liked him a lot, I think that was very good PR for him.

[@InversionesAlfadan]

Gracias por la traduccion muy buen entrevista

[@mronlinedrumstv]

Inversiones Alfadan gracias a ti! Comparte si te gusta. Suscríbete!

[@danielebertlee]

Thx for telling the story. Remember talking about that at the drum camp in germany and austria back then. Things become more obvious now...

[@caseymorgan2054]

Huge DT fan and loved the episodes, so this was great to hear. I feel like TL was very well-spoken here and clarified himself and handled himself very maturely in this interview...More respect for taking the honest high road...thought MM was a little salty in his reaction after, but still not bad either. Regardless, Mangini is the perfect fit for them cause the music ability was not the most important part and he was the only one that seemed to want it so badly...cheers Thomas.

[@jamesgoetz6100]

One could also add the angle that DT wanted a "yes man". And they would more likely find that in someone who wanted the gig badly. This motive is hinted at with their questions such as about "what does DT mean to you".

[@michaelglindmyer3336]

What reaction of MM are you referring to?

[@caseymorgan2054]

@@jamesgoetz6100 if YOU were in 1 of a handful of successful bands in your genre wouldn't you want to make absolutely sure you find someone that is as close to what you had before? The last thing YOU would want is to have to go through the process of finding ANOTHER drummer a few years later because the chemistry or visions were completely different. Of course they wanted someone who was going to submit at first. This can be seen in that the first album with Mangini basically Petrucci wrote the drum parts, for the most parts on midi tracks to give Mangini an idea of what they wanted. Since, Mangini earned his stripes and has been given more freedom to do as he pleases. I don't see anything wrong with them wanting to be ultra protective of their product and what THEY built over 25 years. I think even Thomas recognized this in the interview.

[@caseymorgan2054]

@@michaelglindmyer3336 I can't remember exactly but it was someone asking him about the experience and he was claiming that he didn't care and didn't even want to be a part of it. Sure, lol.

[@caseymorgan2054]

@@jamesgoetz6100 I personally thought, or gathered from the series, that the band actually (secretly) wanted to pick Minneman as far as musically, but his personality was just too quirky and not the best fit for them. As TL referred to in the interview, all from NY, around the same age, just clicked...as WELL as Mangini being a beast on drums.

[@addleanmuscle]

Fantastic interview!!! Great heads up!!!

[@handler803]

Hearing interviews from Roddy, Lang, Minnemann, and Jarzombek makes me think that DT,as talented as they are, is a toxic working environment. The fact that those drummers never really wanted the gig says something about how DT runs their business

[@iternityhuman1782]

Very very interesting interview Lang is a good guy.

[@danielbachar5864]

I’m curious what he would’ve said if they did want him to join.

[@FanPhys]

It would never have happened - they knew from the get-go that Mangini was the guy. As Thomas says here, the only reason they made it an "audition" was to generate hype and market the change of drummer in a way that wouldn't lose fans.

[@danielbachar5864]

dbltrplx , It sounds like he really didn’t want the gig from the beginning, it would’ve been an interesting conversation to hear him telling them no after going through that whole process.

[@ralphgehteha9924]

It was a terribly fake-looking audition. Especially that part when MM was filming himself getting the call that he was in DT 🙄

[@dmoney8373]

We’re all better off that Thomas didn’t get the gig. I like him out there doing his thing, not somebody else’s.

[@JirkaMichalik]

The record of A Nightmare To Remember with Thomas' drums is what I would buy right away!

[@d.r.971]

Thomas Lang is the best of the World.

[@boxerlifter1396]

NFW

[@somebloke13]

Not based on the Dream Theatre audition. If he where the best he could have breezed that audition even if he didn't want it.

[@Assimilator702]

@@somebloke13 Listen to yourself. You're denying the truth and obviously biased towards the decisions of DT. Lang is an elite level drummer and his skill level is not debatable among the best of the best drummers on an objectable level. After hearing this interview my opinion of the DT guys has plummeted even further than before. Since Portnoy was booted from his own band I listen each release once and rarely listen again. Sons of Apollo is a better live band playing DT tunes.

[@danox2676]

There is no best, only favorites..

[@Jellybeantiger]

Daniel Romero Virgil Donati “hold my barbells”

[@riffs66]

Great interview. Always interesting to hear some “insider” details. Frankly, when I saw the DT doc, it seemed totally inevitable that Mangini was predestined to be “the guy”. All these great players from far flung parts of the US (and beyond), but they WEREN’T going to grab their boy from “the neighborhood”? Berklee connection? East Coast Italian dude?? A bit silly to think they wouldn’t select him just on personality and cultural/regional factors alone. Of course Mangini delivers the goods like the badass he is, but I just remember laughing when Lang walked into the studio because it was like: Same Planet, Different Worlds. Still fun to watch. 👍🏼

[@BrunodeSouzaLino]

If you had that impression, that's exactly how the documentary, or reality show, was conducted. There must be a winner and a loser, when in fact, all of the candidates are winners.

[@Cangenie]

In fact Mangini wasn't their first choice 😂

[@Pojtek]

@@Cangenie Who Was their first choice and how do you know?

[@joshuacontant-perdue9080]

Was it Marco?

[@fVNzO]

@@joshuacontant-perdue9080 Marco never wanted to be in dream theater. He's extremely happy doing what he does now, being much more free to pursue odd music and have fun. With that being said, marco would've been a much better fit imo. DT desperately lack that fluidity and spontaneity that marco as well as portnoy posess.

[@DanielSanchez-ik3cu]

Thomas, you are a gentleman. Hope to see you in Spain next time you visit our country. Grüsse!

[@SpaceDyeDream]

I have trouble believing anyone who watched the doc thinks of Thomas as "one of the guys who didn't get the gig". I feel the documentary is rather flattering to, particularly, Thomas, Marco and Mike. All three came off as insanely talented musicians and the doc makes an obvious point that Mike's character was simply better fit to what they were looking for personally. I didn't know of Thomas Lang before the DT audition and he made a lasting impression in me as one of the most skilled drummers on Earth from that alone.

[@gurusheat3506]

Mike Mangini was always gunna be the drummer. It was clear since the beginning. He fit well, his playing is godlike, and he will do what they say without a problem.

[@ChadWellsForReal]

Why is the dude doing the interviewing sound like he's interrogating Lang? Interviewer is disrespectful.

[@handler803]

It would be great if you interview Donati, Wildoer, and Priester about this as well regarding their mindset heading in to the auditions. So far, Roddy, Minnemann, ang Lang all shared the similar "we didnt genuinely 100% want the gig anyway" vibe so it would be cool if we hear from the other 3 as well

[@NicholasSadlier]

Thomas would have added a whole new dimension to the band and they should have embraced that

[@LordBaktor]

When I heard that Portnoy wasn't in DT anymore the first thing I said to the friend who told me was something like "They're probably gonna get Mike Mangini to be their new drummer". When the audition videos dropped and they announced Mangini I got to message him and say "called it". I felt really insightful there ^_^

[@danlc95]

Same. I wanted Mangini to play with them when I heard the Mullmuzzler stuff in 2002.

[@joshuaschmidinger3993]

This was great to hear and all of you there are incredible drummers and I personally loved watching the try out and your takes on the songs 😊👍👏❤🔥 thanks for this other angle and info. Also wanted to say to thomas, bro you are a legend and I don't know about anybody else but I didn't think any less of you or your incredible talent cuz you didn't get the gig...to me you are iron man and this is coming from a guy who loves dream theater and mike portnoy and have been a fan since images and words.

[@integraleric]

Even if he had been chosen, would Thomas Lang have been willing to commit to putting Dream Theater as his primary career priority for the next 10, 15, 20 years? It seems obvious from this interview that he wasn't as committed to a long-term career change as Mangini was. One of the impressions I got from the auditions was that Mangini clearly expressed his desire to be an integral part of Dream Theater for the long haul more than any other the drummer auditioning for the part. Heck, he was gushing like a teenager when he was finally accepted into the band. You can't buy that kind of child-like enthusiasm and loyalty. It seems to me that Dream Theater would have wanted not only a great drummer, but someone dedicated for the long term, someone who would put the band first for many years to come and not eventually lose their enthusiasm (as did Portnoy, admittedly) down the road. It's obvious they picked the right guy. Ten years later, Dream Theater is still Mangini's number one career priority and he's still going strong.

[@crusher0427]

Finally, someone who actually gets the decision correct. Mike Mangini was the perfect choice for the band, not only musically, but also because he wanted the gig. So many DT fans think everyone wants to be in the group, but people have different tastes in music and might not be into the music. It worked out for DT and Thomas.

[@paradigmshiftz7]

Imagine Thomas ended up in Avenged Sevenfold... The Stage would've been even more fn insane

[@robd3529]

I don’t think the DT auditions hurt Thomas’s standing within the drumming community even though he mentioned being known as one of the drummers who didn’t win the audition, if anything it probably gave Thomas more notoriety to a broader audience who otherwise probably didn’t know who he was or haven’t really seen much of his playing

[@pedrorodriguez319]

Honesty always wins

[@cameronlozada8098]

Thomas Lang is a drumming god. Without question.

[@superchiller123chill]

Been a fan of Lang's from 2006 from the drummer world days

[@Nedwin]

one of the most maturest world drummers. But hey man, he said that Greg Bissonet is his neighbour. What could be better that? Cool Mr. Lang!

[@costamesa22]

Thomas Lang. An incredible drummer and class act. Great 👍 interview.

[@hugolafhugolaf]

Wasn’t MM LaBrie’s solo project’s drummer? If so, he was already chosen for that reason too...

[@yasserwallaby5835]

Yes he was. So did wildoer, the last guy in the audition.

[@marcusbrown87]

Thomas was my pick. Absolute machine!

[@tonyjackson4099]

Minnemann asked them NOT to put his video segments in the final cut for the documentary. They said not to worry they wouldn't and then did anyway.

[@ninkichan7209]

Among the people who Auditioned, Thomas Lang was my favorite. I imagined if he was chosen, Dream Theater would've sounded a lot better, no disrespect to MM.

[@andresparradrumaths3651]

Totally agree with you!!.For me TL was the man!!

[@FanaticDrummer]

I think Peter Wildoer style wise would have fit the best after MM. Peter worked with Labrie prior and already knows the palette of DT and Labrie. He’s also metal orientated which is how DT was and is now. Super musical drummer. Lang is more calculated and rhythmic, I just dont see his style adapting to a massive stage with a massive set up like he said himself. Actually, Todd Sucherman would have been a great sit in for Portnoy lol Similar chops, drum kit, and solid rock drummer.

[@scottlowell493]

@@FanaticDrummer ", I just dont see his style adapting to a massive stage with a massive set up " You should watch more of his videos where he plays massive kits with multiple pedals.

[@lotushypegaming5247]

lol, this guy cant read odd signature

[@FanaticDrummer]

Scott Lowell His pedals have nothing to do with DT’s sound or stage presence lol Its not that type of music. Langs pedals are suitable for rhythm section supported music and pop that repeats syncopated patters, not progressive metal. Lang would need twice as many cymbals and drums to compliment the runs and fills DT is known for. 4 drums would get old SUPER fast sonically in their music. Pedals wouldnt do anything and they dont add to the kit size visually because its on the floor.

[@misterfunnybones]

I honestly have respect for anyone in professional music; while a few get lucky, most have to be very skilled, talented, & have the ability to work with many different styles & personalities. I went to a TL clinic in 2004 - amazing & educational.

[@leobell3502]

THOMAS LANG is a stand up guy. Pure class and a true gentleman. He's also one of my favorite Drummers of all time. Uncle Le😎

[@joseimanlalupu7944]

Lo seguire diciendo el mejor canal d bateristas

[@MrDash03]

DT sounded like control freaks in the auditions and didn’t pick Virgil or Thomas because they played the songs their way which actually made them sound even better. Thomas and Virgil really knocked them out of the park but DT wanted someone who played the songs exactly the way they wanted.

[@sephrothguy]

Thanks for this!

[@ndpc5920]

I want to see the entire audition of thomas

[@abohsukampret]

Thomas would've been my second pick after Minnemann. Beast of a drummer he is.

[@the6ig6adwolf]

Where is this neighborhood were all these amazing drummers live? Any basement suites for rent I wonder...

[@topkho]

Thomas is very smart, mature and professional. Kudos

[@benjammin105123]

The fans want someone who plays it just like Portnoy did so that had to be someone who is ok doing it that way. I get why doing that wouldnt be very inspiring for someone on Lang's level.

[@WhyTheHorseface]

“On Lang’s level”? Come on. When hired for a band with a technically precise style and recordings some consider legendary, you play the records the way they were recorded. When they write new material he would have been able to contribute creatively. But sometimes you have to just chart out the record and memorize it. After you do that and nail it and get the gig, maybe you can improve/change the part, but first you have to get it like the record.

[@joselorenzopaez]

i liked his performance a lot more than any other man on that audition and think that DTs music could have been a lot better with him, but as he says, musical side is just one on many aspects taken to acount.

[@christianfrancisco3086]

the one who's interviewing thomas wants blood but thomas is a profesional

[@janivelic2316]

Thank you for this interview. The Terminator can kill it on four-piece kit ❤

[@bitflux2]

i get thomas point, but it is a wonderful piece of content that these auditions were shared with the world, the fans and the public win

[@starchild692]

This audition felt so odd to me in the way they treated these big drummers like amateurs, testing their drumming abilities and shit like that , Seriously who the fuck you are to question the timing of Lang or an odd time signature freak like Donati, who would school their entire band on that matter. You don't do that pretentious BS with drummers who set the bar to an unprecedented height.

[@Egalitarianism-qx8mf]

I understand what Thomas is saying, but think about what it did for Aquiles Priester!!! They showed him making a mistake like he was this crap drummer! That would be the worst kind of publicity you could have. Then at the end of his audition when the Dream Theater guys are commenting on his audition, they make it sound like he's crap!! It's like WTF, Aquiles Priester is not a crap drummer, he fuckin awesome!!! His double bass and fills are off the show!! In my opinion, if anyone is feeling gyped it would be Aquiles!!! But, I agree in general with the majority of what Thomas is saying!!

[@SAHBfan]

Agreed. Derek Roddy didn't come out of it looking very good, either. They forgot to record his drums properly (his kit was only recorded with the ambient mics so sounded a bit crap) and showed the bit were he struggled with a weird time signature. They then cut to Jordon Rudess saying "We auditioned some of the best drummers in the World, and they couldn't do what we wanted!" Which came across a bit as 'aren't we good'. Apparently Marco Minneman declined to be featured in the film they made afterwards - but they included him anyway. I've seen an interview where he was unhappy about that.

[@CodyCarpSwag]

Aquiles just isnt as technically advanced. Some are good but cant improvise, or can improvise but cant sight read odd times, Mangini was the best in all areas

[@carmelotorres5912]

It Will be great to know Aquiles' comments about DT's audition...

[@SAHBfan]

@@CodyCarpSwag - I think several of the drummers could have done the gig, but there is more than just being a technical fit. They need to have the right personality and enthusiasm and have to want to be in the band. Mangini was clearly the guy they wanted and he is a fantastic drummer and musician in every regard, but I'm not sure that means he is the 'best'. Not sure there really is a best when you get to that level...

[@prod_adrian]

@@CodyCarpSwag You are probably right, but soundwise Aquiles great punch, clean strokes! He has the best drum sound out of the other guys, in my opinion and im a huge TL fan!

[@Rok_Piletic]

They should pay all of them - as all have the technical/musical ability to play - and made it public that other things were considered to choose the member ... for musicians, ti was great to know new interpretations and possibilities and new musician/drummers names ... as it did not sound like a competition which marketing-media is promoting it (same goes with Death drummers or Nightwish singers - were all suitable to their need of development and expression of that time)

[@resuscitationpicture]

I know Thomas since the 90's. He's so authentic and pure and funny. He is a showman for sure, but I think he is not an actor, he's just himself. As I saw/listened the audition I knew: his outfit, haircut and tongue out when concentrating and over all: promoting his own ideas... So as Dream Theater pretend to be at the edge (yes, they are great musicians) it rather seems like a business model. Well, why not, they also have to pay their bills.

[@TheVermifuge]

Peter Wildoer was already a part of James LaBrie's solo project as well.

[@GuillermoSmyser]

It was pretty clear to me from the beginning who was the best fit and who most wanted it. But I knew what Mangini was like with Vai so I could tell he was the best fit. So not just the audition video but in general. I LOVE Thomas and would be super interested to hear new DT stuff with Thomas's style but it just wouldn't be right for the long term.

[@dodmusic9255]

Did Thomas pay for the airfare and hotels during the audition? We had a similar experience flying to the US for this huge 90s band that held a vocalist audition and we had to spend around $6000 off our pocket thinking that there was a fair shake, and we were asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement just before our plane ride.

[@kellycrum6460]

100 percent class in every way. Love Thomas Lang

[@DukeDamnChin]

that's funny I remember watching that "audition" back a number of years ago and thinking to myself "yeah, they already picked Mangini way before this" and that the whole thing was publicity off the backs of the other drummers. Imagine having the balls to pull the old "for the exposure!" routine to Lang, Roddy, Donati, Minnemann, Priester and Wildoer and not pay them for something they were releasing for $$$

[@zcookie9272]

I knew of all of the drummer's before hand. Have both of Thomas's instruction videos. Knew of mangini from when he became the fastest drummer on the planet

[@munton5150]

What is up with the interviewer? Stop trying to make it negative!

[@orproject87]

Commercial point of view was whole audition about… like Thomas said. They can’t lose those drummer fans…

[@TheNormanduartetolle]

When Thomas said Mars Volta, I was like "Hell yeahhh!"

[@SoloNecr0zis]

Same here man !Love Volta to death

[@thegreatcornholio80]

Theodore is great and so is Pridgen.

[@TheNormanduartetolle]

@@SoloNecr0zis a reunion would be great!

[@TheNormanduartetolle]

@@thegreatcornholio80 they both should be the drummer at the same time. Take it to the next level.

[@thegreatcornholio80]

@@TheNormanduartetolle I've seen them live back in 2005. Jon Theodore absolutely killed it. Would like to meet Jeremy Ward before he passed though.

[@haystixxbeats9225]

I saw the audition as a young boy and watching this now, it is cool

[@petershute3580]

Thomas is 100% correct,make it your own ,put your stamp on it,would have added another dimension to DT playing it like Portnoy would be same old same old DT . Thomas and Virgil,Derrick,Aquillies,Marco would have brought another sound and style to Dream Theatre lifted them up a notch. As good as Mike Mangini is I felt he was just a cockatoo he did it for whatever reason I guess money lift his profile endorsements ect ,not even in the same ballpark as the others professionally by standing on their terms .

[@handler803]

The ones that GENUINELY wanted it aside from the obvious Mangini, is probably Peter Wildoer and Aquiles Priester.

[@noahbirdrevolution]

Interesting. Great interview! Gracias! Def like Metallica audition. That's funny.

[@gerdokurt]

I think the truth is, like so often, in the middle. It wasnt fake like "Mangini already had it in the bag before it started". But yeah, they most likely had a closer selection of 2 3 guys who actually had a chance to get the job - and the other guys never had a real chance for various reasons. I mean check the 7 guys they invited. 1 from south america, 1 from scandinavia, 2 from central europe, 1 aussie and 2 us americans. It was designed to get attention and involve people everywhere and it worked perfectly. And I think it was a win win situation for everyone involved in this.

[@stevenrobertson3010]

I think DT should've went with Ventor from Kreator. Just my personal opinion though