Mike Portnoy left Dream Theater

[Qalbert]

wasn't really a thread to post this in, so yeah
from his FB page

I am about to write something I never imagined I'd ever write:


After 25 years, I have decided to leave Dream Theater....the band I founded, led and truly loved for a quarter of a century.

To many people this will come as a complete shock, and will also likely be misunderstood by some, but please believe me that it is not a hasty decision...it is something I have struggled with for the last year or so....

After having had such amazing experiences playing with Hail, Transatlantic and Avenged Sevenfold this past year, I have sadly come to the conclusion that I have recently had more fun and better personal relations with these other projects than I have for a while now in Dream Theater...

Please don't misinterpret me, I love the DT guys dearly and have a long history, friendship and bond that runs incredibly deep with them...it's just that I think we are in serious need of a little break...

Dream Theater was always my baby...and I nurtured that baby every single day and waking moment of my life since 1985...24/7, 365...never taking time off from DT's never-ending responsibilites (even when the band was "off" between cycles)...working overtime and way beyond the call of duty that most sane people ever would do for a band...

But I've come to the conclusion that the DT machine was starting to burn me out...and I really needed a break from the band in order to save my relationship with the other members and keep my DT spirit hungry and inspired.

We have been on an endless write/record/tour cycle for almost 20 years now (of which I have overseen EVERY aspect without a break) and while a few months apart from each other here & there over the years has been much needed and helpful, I honestly hoped the band could simply agree with me to taking a bit of a "hiatus" to recharge our batteries and "save me from ourselves"...


Sadly, in discussing this with the guys, they determined they do not share my feelings and have decided to continue without me rather than take a breather...I even offered to do some occasional work throughout 2011 against my initial wishes, but it was not to be...


While it truly hurts for me to even think of a Dream Theater without Mike Portnoy (hell, my father named the band!!), I do not want to stand in their way...so I have decided to sacrifice myself and simply leave the band so as to not hold them back against their wishes....

Strangely enough, I just read an interview that I recently did that asked me about the future of DT and I talked about "always following your heart and being true to yourself"...sadly I must say that at this particular moment, my heart is not with Dream Theater...and I would simply be "going through the motions", and would honestly NOT be true to myself if I stayed for the sake of obligation without taking the break I felt I needed.

I wish the guys the best and hope the music and legacy we created together is enjoyed by fans for decades to come...I am proud of every album we made, every song we wrote and every show we played....

I'm sorry to all the disappointed DT fans around the world...I really tried to salvage the situation and make it work...I honestly just wanted a break (not a split)...but happiness cannot be forced, it needs to come from within....

You DT fans are the greatest fans in the world and as you all know, I have always busted my ass for you guys and I hope that you will stay with me on my future musical journey, wherever it may lead me....(and as you all know my work ethic, there will surely be no shortage of future MP projects!)

Sadly...
Your fearless ex-leader and drummer,
MP

[Komm Suesser Tod]

I...

well, um...

Fuck.

[Senji]

Sounds like he should have just hired someone to deal with some of the bullshit years ago.

[Erza]

Genuinely one of the worst things that happened to me, absolute disaster, thought it was a joke when I heard it 1st, DT isn't the same without MP at all...

[Obev]

Dream Theater have been "meh" for going on a decade. Here's hoping the shakeup makes them write something that isn't a big sack of cheese.

Wish the singer had left instead though.

[Norellicus]

I...

well, um...

Fuck.

Pretty much this

[Rivero]

I bet Portnoy will team up with Avenged Sevenfold now, which is sweet for me. :D

[Qalbert]

I heard he is doing the full Nightmare tour with them, but idk if it's confirmed.

[Rivero]

I heard he is doing the full Nightmare tour with them, but idk if it's confirmed.

I hope that's true. I'm planning on catching one of their shows in England and without Portnoy it would probably suck.

[tyven]

i thought dream theater was chino moreno's side project

[Selamis]

Wow, that's shocking news, that sucks. I am hoping he stays with Avenged though, he really made Nightmare a great album and did great justice to The Rev. No doubt, since he was Rev's idol, but wow, this came outta nowhere to me.

[Korietsu]

...

[Shadowstalker]

Note 1: He's gonna relapse so bad if he continues to tour with Avenged Sevenfold and eventually join the band.

It didn't come to any surprise to me, really. I'm upset about it, obviously, (they've been my favorite band for a long time,) but he's been distracting himself with so many side projects the last few years that I'm kind of surprised he didn't leave sooner.

While I don't expect DT to be the same by any standard, I'm glad they basically told him to fuck off and enjoy his 'superstar' life. Once I saw they signed to Roadrunner it was obvious he was making 80% of the bands decisions anyway, (heavier albums, way too many backing vocals, mixing the album so it's not balanced anymore [HIIMMIKEPORTNOYIPLAYSIXTEENTHNOTESWITHMAHDOUBLEBAS SDRUMPEDALLOL etc.])

Hopefully they'll get back to actually making progressive music instead of well below their talent level metal albums.

[Belkin]

My roommate is a HUGE DT fan and frequents MP forum everyday and he absolutely shit a brick when he read this the other day. We are both fans of Avenged Sevenfold and I hope he sticks with them. He made Nightmare a badass album. The Rev would be hard to replace since he was a drummer AND songwriter but fate would have it that Portnoy is also a drummer/writer too. It's a good fit except for the fact that is about 20 years older than any of the other band members lol