As part of his ongoing effort to become the biggest drama queen in the history of progressive rock, Mike Portnoy (ex-Dream Theater) has shut down his long-running and highly active discussion forum due to “bickering and negativity” about his latest musical project. From Blabbermouth.net:
You know, maybe I’m off base here, but it seems to me that when you host an online discussion forum, you need to be thick-skinned. That goes double when you’re a semi-famous rock star who likes to dabble in musical genres that won’t always please his hardcore fans. “Bickering and negativity?” That’s like opening a chain restaurant and complaining about customers who spill drinks on the floor.
Even worse, his forum was one of the few places left on the internet to discuss progressive and heavy metal music in general. Discussion forums are a dying breed, many are being shut down merely due to lack of interest, and many popular bands just aren’t that proactive about maintaining that level of connection with their fans. Ironically, Mike Portnoy’s forum was one of the best places to get news and updates about Dream Theater, even though he’d quit that band seven years ago.
I can only imagine how he would’ve reacted had he recently upgraded his website to be more mobile-friendly…
I don’t really want to shit on him too hard - I don’t really know that much about him. I never cared for Dream Theater. In fact, I really only heard of Portnoy whey I tripped across The Winery Dogs, a “super group” featuring him, Billy Sheehan and Richie Kotzen, both ex of Mr. Big.
I watched a show they recorded in Japan and he so desperately wants to be the front man that it’s pathetic. It’s one thing to be connected with the audience, but he’s constantly standing up behind the kit and leading the crowd to clap or shut up or whatever the show called for – even though the real front man is already doing all that. It just struck me as overly hammy. Great drummer though.
And The Winery Dogs broke up anyway, so fuck Mike Portnoy.
Was he charging people to use his web forum? Because it seems more like he’s invited people over to an open party and finally got fed up with all the goddamn spilled drinks so party over.
However, when I did the same – long ago, in college – I understand that all the butthurt drunks I tossed out groused about how unfair I was for not allowing them to spill beer and margaritas all over my carpet, so the reaction of the forum users doesn’t really surprise me.
I thought they separated to do other things and will be back together.
I think Portnoy is great. I am a Dream Theater fan and I also think that Flying Colors is (are?) the best band to come around in a long time. Portnoy obviousiy likes to do a lot of different projects all the time. If he doesn’t feel like having people bitch at him on a message board so be it. God knows I’m only in it for the money.