# Mike Portnoy leaves Dream Theater **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 9, 2010, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-portnoy-leaves-dream-theater/553203 "2010-09-09T17:42:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2010, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-portnoy-leaves-dream-theater/553203/1 "2010-09-09T17:42:45Z")
[Here](http://www.mikeportnoy.com/forum/m2586351.aspx) and [here](http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/news/Dream-Theater-Comment-on-Mike-Portnoys-Departure-22064.aspx). I’m now thoroughly depressed. ☹ I really don’t understand this. Portnoy _ **is** _ Dream Theater. He is the driving force behind the band. This would be like Angus Young leaving AC/DC… not that AC/DC has anywhere near the talent, but insomuch as the idea of the band without Portnoy is inconceivable. This does not bode well for the band, I think. Roger Waters left Pink Floyd, and while they put out a pair of pretty good albums following his departure, they certainly didn’t stand up to Floyd-with-Waters. Neal Morse left Spock’s Beard, and while they have made four decent albums since, they don’t compare to the “old” Beard. OTOH, when Martin Orford announced he was leaving IQ a few years ago, I thought for sure that the band may as well just pack it in. I was pleasantly surprised when _Frequency_ turned out to be just as good as their previous albums, and even better than the one before it, _Dark Matter_. So I suppose anything is possible… but I’m not holding my breath. ---
**Author:** ![dmatsch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3be4f8/32.png) [@dmatsch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dmatsch)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2010, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-portnoy-leaves-dream-theater/553203/2 "2010-09-09T18:10:00Z")
Portnoy has such a distinctive voice that where ever he ends up will be Dream Theater II. Such is the fate of many a front man (person). Portnoy, by the way, is NOT Dream Theater. The amazing guitar talents of Petrucci is. Wanna fight? ---
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2010, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-portnoy-leaves-dream-theater/553203/3 "2010-09-09T19:03:50Z")
> [@dmatsch](#): > > Portnoy has such a distinctive voice that where ever he ends up will be Dream Theater II. > > Such is the fate of many a front man (person). Um, Mike Portnoy is the drummer, not the vocalist. If you’re thinking of James LaBrie - pssshhh, _that_ guy could leave the band and I wouldn’t bat an eye. He doesn’t _do_ anything, besides lend his voice. > [@dmatsch](#): > > Portnoy, by the way, is NOT Dream Theater. The amazing guitar talents of Petrucci is. Wanna fight? You’re right, my emotional distress got the better of me. From a songwriting standpoint, Petrucci and Portnoy are the backbone of the band (though if anyone could be called the band’s “leader,” it’s Portnoy). DT carrying on without Portnoy would be like Daryl Hall replacing John Oates with someone else and releasing albums as “Hall and Oates”… I have no doubt that Portnoy will be fine. He’s already proven that he is quite capable of collaborating with other artists. The same can’t be said of Petrucci, though - he hasn’t really done anything outside of DT. ---
**Author:** ![fuzzypickles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9d8465/32.png) [@fuzzypickles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fuzzypickles)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-portnoy-leaves-dream-theater/553203/4 "2010-09-10T13:00:35Z")
This really sucks. I was so looking forward to hearing them perform the Alcoholics Anonymous Suite on the next tour…ain’t gonna happen now. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![smoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@smoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smoke)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-portnoy-leaves-dream-theater/553203/5 "2010-09-10T15:54:50Z")
I do wish them the best of luck, but I really think it was a poor decision to continue without him. Especially since it sounds like he was just asking for a hiatus at first. It sounds like even though everyone is putting their best face on it, that there’s definitely some hurt feelings. ---
**Author:** ![sleestak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sleestak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleestak)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-portnoy-leaves-dream-theater/553203/6 "2010-09-10T18:06:18Z")
I am pretty bummed about this. Without knowing the details my first assumption is that is has something to do with Mike and control. From what I have read he can be something of a control freak. Not that is necessarily a bad thing, it depends on the bands dynamic. But people change, and maybe the control thing got old. It is also possible that the hiatus Mike wanted was longer than the rest of the band would accept (Hey, I want to record and tour with Avenged Sevenfold, that’ll be a year. Oh and I want to do the same with Transatlantic…) I think DT will come out of this fine. The solo stuff they have done has been at the same level as DT, though with usually much shorter songs 🙂 It will be hard for them to find a drummer on the same level as Mike. As a total wish on my part, Mark Zonder, the ex-drummer of Fates Warning, would be an amazing fit. Though Zonder has a new band called Slavior (I used to know Greg Analla, Slaviors vocalist. That boy can sing) so he might not be into it. Slee ---
**Author:** ![Blaster\_Master](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cab0a1/32.png) [@Blaster\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blaster_Master)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-portnoy-leaves-dream-theater/553203/7 "2010-09-10T18:12:23Z")
This is a sad day, but I think Dream Theater will pull through fine. They’ll have a hard time finding a new drummer with that level of talent, but I also imagine there will be no shortage of options. Time will tell. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-portnoy-leaves-dream-theater/553203/8 "2010-09-10T18:15:28Z")
What was Portnoys complaint? ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-portnoy-leaves-dream-theater/553203/9 "2010-09-10T18:17:40Z")
Damn you, gonzomax, I was going to ask that! ---
**Author:** ![Hockey\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-portnoy-leaves-dream-theater/553203/10 "2010-09-10T18:20:46Z")
I am saddened by this news. I haven’t been able to catch a live performance yet, and I guess now I probably won’t. ---
**Author:** ![HookerChemical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/278dde/32.png) [@HookerChemical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HookerChemical)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-portnoy-leaves-dream-theater/553203/11 "2010-09-10T18:31:32Z")
[quote=“GESancMan, post:3, topic:553203”] > [@dmatsch](#): > > I have no doubt that Portnoy will be fine. He’s already proven that he is quite capable of collaborating with other artists. The same can’t be said of Petrucci, though - he hasn’t really done anything outside of DT. Buh? He’s done Liquid Tension Experiment and the G3 Tour. Granted, both included Portnoy, but both show Petrucci can play and write outside of Dream Theater. He’s also done duet material/touring with Rudess and a solo album. It’s not as strong as Portnoy’s body of work outside Dream Theater, but it’s hardly nothing. I suspect Dream Theater will emerge a different band, just as they have with each different keyboardist. I have liked each of them for their own strengths. The most recent incarnation with so much interplay between Rudess and Petrucci has been my favorite, but I look forward to both a new Dream Theater and Portnoy’s future. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2010, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-portnoy-leaves-dream-theater/553203/12 "2010-09-10T19:31:28Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > What was Portnoys complaint? : old-school rimshot :