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Joined: July 02 2008
Location: Manchester, UK
Status: Offline
Points: 3126
Posted: September 10 2010 at 08:02
This really is awful news. To be honest this was a real bolt out of the blue for me. I can't believe it, they seemed so strong as a unit, their recent albums have been fantastic and all five members were just perfect for DT. I really didn't see it coming and I am gutted.
When I saw DT at Manchester Apollo last year on the PN09 tour they were absolutely amazing, that was one of the best gigs I've ever seen (and concert-wise I'm a bit of a veteran ) and Portnoy was a huge, huge part of that.
Surely they could have worked something out. Let's face it, you think of DT, you think of Portnoy. He will be missed a hell of a lot and I really hope he rejoins the fold as I just think that DT without the main man will not be the same.
I'd like to echo Jeff's comments earlier - that's just how I feel too.
Joined: December 25 2009
Status: Offline
Points: 133
Posted: September 10 2010 at 09:25
J-Man wrote:
As I said before, get a grip.
Some of us have lived through Gabriel leaving Genesis and Anderson/Wakeman leaving Yes. Now that's serious stuff.
I honestly can't see how this is in any way less of a shock than Gabriel leaving Genesis or Anderson/Wakeman leaving Yes. DT are the biggest prog act of the last 20 years, you might like them or not but this is a fact.
Some other guys should understand music didn't end with the seventies.
Joined: July 04 2009
Location: Guatemala
Status: Offline
Points: 6802
Posted: September 10 2010 at 10:28
Equality 7-2521 wrote:
Jesus Christ that guy is so full of himself. That statement was painful to read.
Yeah... I have read it several times now and each time I convince myself more and more that his is acting so inmature. I liked more the statement of the band, short, clear and rational. I think DT did the best decision.
How in hell John Petrucci and Jordan Rudess could say "yeah, let's put DT in the freezer just for Mike feel he is a rockstar in a metalband". It's really stupid to think that Transatlantic could be more important than DT. That is urespectful to his ex-bandmates.
Well, I'm almost sure he will be back in a couple of years... but, who knows...
Change the program inside... Stay in silence is a crime.
Joined: December 23 2009
Location: Emerald City
Status: Offline
Points: 18059
Posted: September 10 2010 at 10:35
I first read the MP letter as "I need a break from DT, I need a hiatus to recharge my batteries and come back fresh and ready to create some great stuff with DT..." He mentioned writing/recording/touring schedule for 20 yrs straight......."so I need a long break..."
But...I think even if the rest of the band said "ok lets take the next 18 months off..." MP would have still been making music, recording, touring with the side groups...right?
So where does the "recharge the batteries" come into play?? I think the conversations within the group probably circled around that...
MP: guys I need a break...!
JL: ok Mike but are you gonna take a break from Hail!, Trans, LTE, A7X??
MP: umm no...I still want to work on those projects.
JP: so why do you need a break from DT then? we want to record a new album and go on a monster tour in late 2011??
JL: yea, we can still do some of our side projects, but DT is our main gig Mike...for all of us.
MP: yea but I need a long hiatus from DT work....its not fun anymore, at least not right now.
JL/JM/JP/JR: so you are saying you do not like working with us anymore?? Sounds like Avenged Sevenfold was your 'hooker' one night stand and you want our permission to continue cheating and have your cake and eat it too....is that it Mike??
MP: ....maybe...but after a long break we can get back together and make great stuff again.
JL: Really?? Umm, Mike I don't think we want to take a break, we have some good ideas brewing and want to get into the recording studio in January......We just finished touring with Iron Maiden, those guys are having a ball, the fans LOVE THEM!! They are riding a huge wave right now and we all think we can do the same thing in 2011. The holidays are upon us and we can spend the next 2-3 months at home with our familes....then hit the grindstone come January.
MP: I kinda told Transatlantic boys I'd hang out with them come January to work on new material, then in March do a small tour with them, in late April rehearse with AV7X for an early summer tour.....so I can see us getting back together around July...Is that ok guys?
JL: Mike....I think we will plan to work on recording new material in January and by June have enough material to go on tour for 3 months...then by end 2011 go on a monster tour of the world into early 2012....if you want to go on your "long break" that's fine, at this point the rest of us will assume you will not be available in January for Dream Theater.......Just let the record company know your final decision by next week.
Joined: November 08 2008
Location: Sweden
Status: Offline
Points: 5195
Posted: September 10 2010 at 11:06
They've been on a prolific schedule for 25 years ... and I remember that many people, including myself, have been complaining about a lack of inspiration/creativity for the last 3-4 DT albums. In this situation, what makes more sense?
A) press on and keep releasing albums B) Take a longer break, let the members branch out in different directions, and then get together again
I think it makes perfect sense for MP to insist on a longer break.
Joined: September 15 2007
Location: Vitória, Brasil
Status: Offline
Points: 7971
Posted: September 10 2010 at 11:58
Catcher10 wrote:
I first read the MP letter as "I need a break from DT, I need a hiatus to recharge my batteries and come back fresh and ready to create some great stuff with DT..." He mentioned writing/recording/touring schedule for 20 yrs straight......."so I need a long break..."
But...I think even if the rest of the band said "ok lets take the next 18 months off..." MP would have still been making music, recording, touring with the side groups...right?
So where does the "recharge the batteries" come into play?? I think the conversations within the group probably circled around that...
MP: guys I need a break...!
JL: ok Mike but are you gonna take a break from Hail!, Trans, LTE, A7X??
MP: umm no...I still want to work on those projects.
JP: so why do you need a break from DT then? we want to record a new album and go on a monster tour in late 2011??
JL: yea, we can still do some of our side projects, but DT is our main gig Mike...for all of us.
MP: yea but I need a long hiatus from DT work....its not fun anymore, at least not right now.
JL/JM/JP/JR: so you are saying you do not like working with us anymore?? Sounds like Avenged Sevenfold was your 'hooker' one night stand and you want our permission to continue cheating and have your cake and eat it too....is that it Mike??
MP: ....maybe...but after a long break we can get back together and make great stuff again.
JL: Really?? Umm, Mike I don't think we want to take a break, we have some good ideas brewing and want to get into the recording studio in January......We just finished touring with Iron Maiden, those guys are having a ball, the fans LOVE THEM!! They are riding a huge wave right now and we all think we can do the same thing in 2011. The holidays are upon us and we can spend the next 2-3 months at home with our familes....then hit the grindstone come January.
MP: I kinda told Transatlantic boys I'd hang out with them come January to work on new material, then in March do a small tour with them, in late April rehearse with AV7X for an early summer tour.....so I can see us getting back together around July...Is that ok guys?
JL: Mike....I think we will plan to work on recording new material in January and by June have enough material to go on tour for 3 months...then by end 2011 go on a monster tour of the world into early 2012....if you want to go on your "long break" that's fine, at this point the rest of us will assume you will not be available in January for Dream Theater.......Just let the record company know your final decision by next week.
Joined: August 11 2005
Location: Philly
Status: Offline
Points: 15784
Posted: September 10 2010 at 13:12
Camel666 wrote:
J-Man wrote:
As I said before, get a grip.
Some of us have lived through Gabriel leaving Genesis and Anderson/Wakeman leaving Yes. Now that's serious stuff.
I honestly can't see how this is in any way less of a shock than Gabriel leaving Genesis or Anderson/Wakeman leaving Yes. DT are the biggest prog act of the last 20 years, you might like them or not but this is a fact.
Some other guys should understand music didn't end with the seventies.
The fact that Gabriel left Genesis in the band's prime rather than at its nadir? That's a good place to start for a difference.
"One had to be a Newton to notice that the moon is falling, when everyone sees that it doesn't fall. "
Joined: September 15 2007
Location: Vitória, Brasil
Status: Offline
Points: 7971
Posted: September 10 2010 at 13:49
Equality 7-2521 wrote:
Camel666 wrote:
J-Man wrote:
As I said before, get a grip.
Some of us have lived through Gabriel leaving Genesis and Anderson/Wakeman leaving Yes. Now that's serious stuff.
I honestly can't see how this is in any way less of a shock than Gabriel leaving Genesis or Anderson/Wakeman leaving Yes. DT are the biggest prog act of the last 20 years, you might like them or not but this is a fact.
Some other guys should understand music didn't end with the seventies.
The fact that Gabriel left Genesis in the band's prime rather than at its nadir? That's a good place to start for a difference.
IMO, Genesis's prime was well before Gabriel's departure. Froxtrot and Selling England have musical ideas that are obviously recicled from Nursery Crime and Tresspass. And people still workship them as THE groundbreaking prog albums. The Lamb once was my favorite album by them, but now i consider it just plainly boring.
I see this from two distinct ways: either Mike is doing more mainstream oriented stuff this days, which leads to him liking A7X more than Dream Theater, which doesn't sweet the band very well; or he is still in the prog scene and probably will be tired of A7X very soon, and will be back to Dream Theater.
As a huge Die Hard fan of Dream Theater who just listened to Scenes From A Memory for the first time 2 days ago, I'm a bit confused and sad . I also remember the first time I listened to Dream Theater 1 year ago, I was completely blown away by the pure greatness of Count of Tuscany, and I just can't find the reason why anyone would leave the band after such Masterpiece
Joined: August 07 2008
Location: Philadelphia,PA
Status: Offline
Points: 7826
Posted: September 10 2010 at 14:23
Camel666 wrote:
J-Man wrote:
As I said before, get a grip.
Some of us have lived through Gabriel leaving Genesis and Anderson/Wakeman leaving Yes. Now that's serious stuff.
I honestly can't see how this is in any way less of a shock than Gabriel leaving Genesis or Anderson/Wakeman leaving Yes. DT are the biggest prog act of the last 20 years, you might like them or not but this is a fact.
Some other guys should understand music didn't end with the seventies.
Just figured I'd let you know that you poorly quoted that post... I wasn't the one who said that.
Joined: July 04 2009
Location: Guatemala
Status: Offline
Points: 6802
Posted: September 10 2010 at 14:30
J-Man wrote:
Camel666 wrote:
J-Man wrote:
As I said before, get a grip.
Some of us have lived through Gabriel leaving Genesis and Anderson/Wakeman leaving Yes. Now that's serious stuff.
I honestly can't see how this is in any way less of a shock than Gabriel leaving Genesis or Anderson/Wakeman leaving Yes. DT are the biggest prog act of the last 20 years, you might like them or not but this is a fact.
Some other guys should understand music didn't end with the seventies.
Just figured I'd let you know that you poorly quoted that post... I wasn't the one who said that.
Well, remember that their last album is the most succesful album in the last 20 years for any prog act, and even for themselves. They debuted in place 6 in top ten of Billboard. Some could consider that their pick...
Change the program inside... Stay in silence is a crime.
I first read the MP letter as "I need a break from DT, I need a hiatus to recharge my batteries and come back fresh and ready to create some great stuff with DT..." He mentioned writing/recording/touring schedule for 20 yrs straight......."so I need a long break..."
But...I think even if the rest of the band said "ok lets take the next 18 months off..." MP would have still been making music, recording, touring with the side groups...right?
So where does the "recharge the batteries" come into play?? I think the conversations within the group probably circled around that...
After two decades with no real break there's definitely a need for a hiatus to get the creative juices flowing again. Plenty of long time fans feel like the band has simply been going through the motions for quite some time now. Working with people creatively is like being married to them, after a while (a lot less than 25 years in most cases) you know all their ticks and tricks and eventually you're bound to hit a wall. Working with new musicians is refreshing because you can draw new inspirations and see things from a different perspective than you normally would. Sure, the rest of the band is looking out for themselves, but they're certainly not looking out for what's best for the band from an artistic standpoint.
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Mike Portnoy leaves Dream Theater
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) and Portnoy was a huge, huge part of that. 
J-Man wrote:
