"When I saw the October 2009 issue of UK's Rhythm Magazine with the '50 Greatest Drummers of All Time' reader's poll on the cover, I must admit I was curious to open it up and see if I had made the Top 50...
Well, after quickly scanning through the 40's, 30's and 20's and not seeing my name, I was beginning to sadden that perhaps I didn't make the cut.... : (
But then I read on and was surprised to eventually find myself all the way at the top of the list at #5!
Thank you to all the drummers that voted me into such a prestigious poll....
I am truly flattered and honored to be held in such high regard with some of my greatest drumming heroes!
Mike's Drum-cam footage from Dream Theater's Black Clouds & Silver Linings recording sessions.
Audio Options include Full Band & Isolated Drums.
Also features rare audio & video outtakes.
AC3 Dolby Digital (2 channel stereo) Audio.
Hey all,
Last minute news flash!
I'll be on Eddie Trunk's Friday Night Rocks show tonite from 11pm to Midnight EST.
(Only the first hour of the show)
MP
Mike Portnoy will be on a special 1 hour episode of "THAT METAL SHOW" this weekend, filmed last month at the
Download Festival in England. It premieres this Friday night 7/17 at 10pm EST on VH1 Classic and will be in constant
repeat after that, so set your DVR!
"Legendary Dream Theater drummer MIKE PORTNOY will be appearing at two Daddy's Junky Music locations in August,
but you must REGISTER online to attend! Registration is free,
PLUS, by registering, you automatically are entered for a chance to win a pair of tickets to see DREAM THEATER live!"
August 2nd - 2:30pm Daddy's Junky Music - Boston REGISTER online to attend!
165 Mass Ave.
Boston, MA 02115
617-247-0909
August 4th - 2:30pm Daddy's Junky Music - Albany REGISTER online to attend!
1170 Central Ave.
Village Sq. Shopping Center
Colonie, NY 12205
518-452-9431
August 11th - 2:30pm Gagne & Frere
393 Raoul-Jobin St
Quebec QC G1K 1M9
418.525.8601
August 19th - 2:30pm Mother's Music Edmonton
10251 109 ST.
Edmonton AB T5J 1N2
780.425.1400
Mike Portnoy will be the Guest DJ at rockradio.co.uk, Scotland's Classic Rock Station, on Saturday June 27th.
From 4pm GMT there will be a 2 hour Dream Theater special, kicking off with an interview recorded with DJ Paul
Anthony about the new album, followed by Mike's guest-presented show and track selection.
You can tune in online at rockradio.co.uk. Click the "listen now" links for any of the stations.
Listeners in West Scotland and Manchester can also tune in to their radios (96.3FM and 106.1 FM respectively).
"Mark Strigl from Talking Metal is offering a free MP3 download of a cover of Motorhead's "Overkill" on his blog - markstrigl.net. Mark Strigl and John Ostronomy recorded the track with Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth (Overkill, The Cursed), Frank Bello (Anthrax) and Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater). This one off band, dubbed Turtlehead by Portnoy, recorded 3 takes of the song live at the Gibson NY showroom in Febuary 2008. A cutdown version of this jam appeared on the Talking Metal on Fuse TV show. This free MP3 download is the full track of take 3 - 100% live!
Fuse will air a block of Talking Metal TV episodes tomorrow, 4/17, starting at 8p EST / 5pm PST - check your local listenings. Ozzy Osbourne, Kerry King, Slash, Lamb Of God, Killswitch Engage, Vinnie Paul and the Turtlehead jam are scheduled to be a part of this block."
"Originally, my intention was to record several shows and combine them to make one compilation CD/DVD release....but in reviewing the tapes, it became very obvious that the NYC and LA footage each offered very different perspectives of the shows we did...each with their own distinct personalities and both having their own charms (and flaws....)
The NYC show was very much a loud, sweaty, small club show (with alot of energy from the crowd) and the LA show was very much a more polished, breathing, theater experience (which offered a more relaxed "presentation").
So in the end, I decided to simply offer both shows in their entirety...
It's not often people will get to experience LTE Live, so why not offer you guys the chance to see and hear us in both settings....?
And even though the setlists are the same, you can hear some very subtle (and also some very obvious) differences from one performance to the next...
MP"
The LTE Box Set is the ultimate souvenir of Liquid Tension Experiment's 10th Anniversary Reunion Tour.
Included in this deluxe package is both the NYC and LA shows in their entirety (on both CD and DVD), as well as the Liquid Trio Experiment 2 CD and two items that are exclusive to this set and will not be available separately: Live In LA on Blu Ray disc and a bonus CD of all of the improv jams from the other LTE 2008 shows.
THIS DELUXE BOX SET IS LIMITED EDITION AND ONLY AVAILABLE ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE BASIS!!!
THERE WILL ONLY BE ONE PRESSING DONE AND ONCE THEY ARE GONE, THEY ARE GONE FOREVER!!!
DON'T REGRET MISSING OUT ON THIS GREAT COLLECTOR'S ITEM!
Box Set Includes:
LTE Live In NYC (2 CD)
LTE Live In NYC (1 DVD)
LTE Live In LA (2 CD)
LTE Live In LA (1 DVD)
LTE Live In LA (1 Blu-ray) Available only in the boxset
LTE Bonus Disc (1 CD) Available only in the boxset
Liquid Trio Experiment - When the Water Breaks: Live In Chicago (1 CD)
24 Page Booklet
LIVE IN NYC
Acid Rain (9:25)
Kindred Spirits (8:00)
Biaxident (7:39)
Freedom of Speech (9:00)
Improv Jam #1 (8:10)
Another Dimension (10:51)
State of Grace (6:20)
Universal Mind (9:36) --
When the Water Breaks (16:49)
Improv Jam #2 (11:31)
Rhapsody in Blue (13:49)
Osmosis (3:43)
Paradigm Shift (9:31)
LIVE IN LA
Acid Rain (10:43)
Kindred Spirits (7:53)
Biaxident (7:34)
Freedom of Speech (8:54)
Improv Jam #1 (8:21)
Another Dimension (10:31)
State of Grace (6:00)
Universal Mind part 1 (3:36)
Keyboard Solo (5:19)
Universal Mind part 2 (3:46) --
When the Water Breaks (17:52)
Improv Jam #2 (13:03)
Rhapsody in Blue (13:34)
Osmosis (5:52)
Paradigm Shift (9:17)
LIQUID TRIO EXPERIMENT 2: WHEN THE KEYBOARD BREAKS - LIVE IN CHICAGO
"Hey Gang,
Myself and my bro Chris Jericho will be hanging with our good buddy Eddie Trunk for his entire "Friday Night Rocks" show this coming Friday night (Feb 27th)
Make sure to tune in for our annual (or semi-annual) Metal Summit!
We always have a great time hangin and talking metal when the 3 of us are together....
"Part four of the Sabian LIVE Backstage Interviews features Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater and Styx drummer Todd Sucherman. Mike talks about the different bands and drummers that impact his playing, Dream Theater and how it all began as well as different gear that he uses for his shows. Toward the end we are graced with Todd who talks about his new instructional DVD, his favorite Styx songs, wand what it takes to be a professional drummer."
Is this too obvious a pick? perhaps.....but it's absolutely deserving. No other album has kicked my ass this year as much as this one has... This is the new Metallica album I've been waiting almost 20 years for!
That they made an album this strong and inspired 25 years after their debut is absolutely incredible and completely unprecedented (I challenge you to name 3 other bands that you can say that about......I cant!)
PROTEST THE HERO - FORTRESS
This album is totally insane....awesome playing, crazy arrangements, breakneck tempo and time changes...this is what Mr. Bungle would've sounded like if they grew up on equal portions of Dream Theater and Dillinger Escape Plan!
THE MARS VOLTA - THE BEDLAM IN GOLIATH
After being disappointed with their last one, this latest one is back on track with some very cool, more cohesive (by their standards) writing. And new drummer Thomas Pridgen is worth the price of admission alone for all you drummers out there...
BEARDFISH - SLEEPING IN TRAFFIC PART 2
These Swedish retro-proggers were on my 2007 top 10 list with their "Traffic Part 1" and they have done it again with the equally as great Part 2. If you dig early 70's prog stuff like Zappa, Genesis and Yes, you'll dig these guys....(if you're a close minded Blabbermouth-posting idiot, don't bother.....not that you would've anyways!)
SLIPKNOT - ALL HOPE IS GONE
For any doubters, look beyond the masks....these guys have made an absolutely amazing metal album with some great playing and a bit of Corey Taylor's more melodic side making its way into the sound without losing any of their edge and power.
OPETH - WATERSHED
My Progressive Nation tourmates never disappoint...I think every album they've released in this millennium had made my year-end list! They're one of my all-time favorite metal bands.... 'nuff said!
BLOODBATH - UNBLESSING THE PURITY / THE FATHOMLESS MASTERY
For the Opeth fans that dont like their melodic and progressive side (shame on you!) there are these two absolutely brutal side project releases with Mikael Akerfeldt's trademark death growls and Martin Axenrot's intense double bass drumming and blast beats that are tighter than a nun's vag.....
TRIVIUM - SHOGUN
My favorite release so far from these guys who have really fallen into their own. It's refreshing to see a young band who obviously take their playing and writing as serious as they do and keep the shredding alive in metal.
(And yes, this is the 3rd Roadrunner release in my top 10...and it is not due to any kind of shameless self-plugging or ass-kissing...they just happen to have the best metal roster around and are the best label on Earth...which is why we made them DT's home!)
STEVEN WILSON - INSURGENTES
The newest addition to my ipod in the past few weeks is this latest masterpiece from Porcupine Tree's leader and sonic genius. Some serious ear candy here....
CYNIC - TRACED IN AIR
The pioneers of Progressive Death Fusion are back with a sophmore release that took 15 years to come to fruition!
"We were honored to give Mike Portnoy the cover of our third issue! SickDrummer has been around for three years, but the magazine is only 6 months old. In this short time we have had some pretty amazing response and want to thank Mike for being a part of it all... Much respect, Ian
Anyone who wants to read the interview can go to our website sickdrummermagazine.com and subscribe for free. Once you login, just click Issue 3 from the user menu...
Mike Portnoy's Drum Cam footage from Dream Theater's historic 20th Anniversary "Score" concert recorded live at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 1st 2006.
Audio Options include: Full Band, Isolated Drums and an Audio Commentary with Mike.
This DVD is region free but is only available in NTSC format.
Mike Portnoy will be the special guest on the Dec 6th episode of VH1 Classic's "That Metal Show"
"That Metal Show" is a brand new half hour talk show airing every Saturday night at 11pm ET/PC on VH1 Classic devoted to all things Metal.
(check local listings for VH1 Classic details)
For more info on the show, including the complete schedule for Season 1 and a Sneak Preview trailer, check out:
"This was a side-bar I was asked to write for the June '08 issue of Metal Edge magazine.
Being the issue has now come and gone, I figured I'd reprint it here for you all to enjoy in case you missed it!
MP"
At approx 4pm today (Fri), BB Kings will be releasing some limited additional tix for the sold out LTE shows on Monday night....
Get em before they're gone!!!
MP
Just wanted to spread the word that the "something very cool and special in
store for fans of DT and Opeth" that I mentioned in my last PN08 Blog post is
sadly now NOT going to happen.....
The idea turned out to be a little too logistically difficult to pull off so
it needed to be blown off...
Oh well....sorry about the tease!!!
MP
Footnote to my footnote!!
Just so not to leave this up for eternal speculation....
We were asked by Roadrunner to do a special unique one-off performance for a few limited fans on one of our days off (in between Albany and Boston to be precise) with a few DT members and a few Opeth members combined to do like a little intimate, unplugged-type performance.
Myself and Mikael had already decided the 6 piece band line-up (3 guys from each band) and picked the songs to play, but in the end it was just too difficult to pull off (logistically, not musically of course)
Now of course, you all want to know the line-up and songs picked....but man, I have to leave SOMETHING to the imagination don't I?????
Yes indeed it would've been VERY cool...but in the end was just too hard to put together because of gear, rehearsals, crew guys, rerouting the tour buses and hotels, etc, etc.
The good news is, Mikael and myself are STILL planning on someday collaborating (along with Steven Wilson)....so it's not like my footnote implied that THAT was no longer happening....
"In one week, Dream Theater will launch the maiden voyage of their Progressive Nation festival in Los Angeles. The tour, organized by drummer Mike Portnoy, features the prog-metal veterans along with opening bands Opeth, 3 and Between the Buried and Me.
Progressive Nation marks the first large-scale national tour to focus exclusively on an eclectic range of progressive bands, from straight ahead rock to psychedelic doom and death metal. In a year when Gigantour has removed the focus a bit from the technical proficiency of its acts, Portnoy's traveling progfest could become the go-to destination for fans of complex metal and superlative musicianship.
We recently talked to Portnoy about the birth of Progressive Nation, his background in prog metal, the genre's history, Dream Theater's recently released compilation Greatest Hit (...and 21 Other Pretty Cool Songs) and how the band almost broke up after their only top 10 radio hit "Pull Me Under." Portnoy was also candid about being a control freak and how alcohol and drug abuse almost ruined his life."
Nearly 500 independent music stores, including all of the CIMS, Music Monitor Network and AIMS coalition stores plus Newbury Comics and many others across the country (even the world) are participating in tomorrow's (April 19th) Record Store Day Promotion.
Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater)
Growing up a rock and metal fan on Long Island in the 70's and 80's was very different than it is today. There were no chain stores like Virgin and Tower and of course no internet mail order services like Amazon. The only way to pick up albums were to shop at your local "mom and pop" record stores....
In the late 70s, it was always easy to find the latest releases from my favorite bands....Led Zeppelin, The Who, Kiss, Pink Floyd, Queen, etc were all readily available at any record store. But in the early 80's, as I discovered more "underground" metal bands like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Motorhead, Accept,
Mercyful Fate, Loudness and Raven (from reading my imported copies of Kerrang), there was no place in small town Long Beach, Long Island to find the latest records from these bands I was reading about. Then I discovered Slipped Disc Records in Valley Stream, Long Island. They not only carried the albums from these bands,
but also the 12" singles with bonus tracks, the t-shirts, the imported live videos and anything else that existed! When the American thrash scene was beginning to erupt around 1983, I could always count on Slipped Disc to carry anything I was looking for from bands like Metallica, Anthrax, Slayer, Exodus, Testament,
Flotsam & Jetsam, Death Angel and Nuclear Assault.
Taking the train there every Saturday was the highlight of my week! And on the day I received my drivers license, the very first place I drove to was Slipped Disc to pick up Metallica's Ride The Lightning album which was released that VERY day! (The imported version of course!) Now in 2008, the world is a very different place...
the aforementioned chains and online stores have made it very difficult for the mom and pop stores to compete. In fact, my beloved Slipped Disc just announced it will be closing its doors for good. So let's hear it for people like Mike from Slipped Disc and all of the independent store owners that have helped shape the metal
scene for the past 25 years. Without them, a lot of us may not have existed....(Or at least have been as metal as we are!)
In anticipation of the Progressive Nation 2008 tour, Roadrunner Records brought together the leaders of the two acts topping the bill:
Dream Theater's Mike Portnoy & Opeth's Mikael Akerfeldt sat for a series of interviews to be posted over the next 4 weeks leading
up to the PN08 kickoff in Los Angeles on May 2nd.
These 2 self-proclaimed music fanatics talked about everything from their appreciation of each other's bands to Abba to the upcoming
Progressive Nation tour....
