Dream Theater’s Mike Portnoy: Progressively Busy

To say that progressive rock drummer Mike Portnoy has been busy in 1999 is quite an understatement. Mike directed and edited the most recent Dream Theater video and recorded Liquid Tension Experiment 2 and Encores, Legends & Paradox: A Tribute To Emerson, Lake & Palmer (both on Magna Carta). Portnoy then jumped headfirst into the new Dream Theater sessions, which he is also co-producing. That album will feature Mike’s LTE bandmate Jordan Rudess as the new keyboardist, replacing Derek Sherinian.

“The new Dream Theater release is a concept album, which is something that we’ve always wanted to do,” says Portnoy. “I see it very much as a cross between Pink Floyd’s The Wall, Queensryche’s Operation: Mindcrime, and Marillion’s Misplaced Childhood, which are three of my all-time favorite albums.”

According to Mike, the album contains one giant seventy-five-minute piece. “It’s broken down into several pieces, including two instrumentals,” he explains. “After the amazing experiences we had spontaneously writing the Liquid Tension albums in the studio, we decided to do the new DT album the same way. This was the first time a Dream Theater album has been written in the studio.”

Portnoy says he used the same Starclassic drumkit throughout the whole recording. “We intend on performing the new material in its entirety when we begin touring,” he states. “So I wanted to keep a consistency in the sound of the drumkit. And we are also no longer doing any Liquid Tension recordings now that Jordan has joined Dream Theater. But we may perform some LTE material live if the situation presents itself.”

Portnoy’s schedule has included a string of drum clinics as well as a trip to the Sabian cymbal factory in Canada, where he designed his own signature line of splashes and cymbal stacks called “MAX,” named for his son. Portnoy comments, “I’ve developed three splashes [7”, 9”, 11”] and three sets of cymbal stacks [8” on 8”, 10” on 10”, and 12” on 14”]. I’ve already incorporated those into my kit and have been using them on all the new projects.”

As if all that weren’t enough, Mike has also gathered some of the top progressive artists in the world for yet another side project, SMPT. Included are members of Spock’s Beard, Marillion, and The Flower Kings. “This project is totally retro-progressive,” says Mike. “It’s allowed me to be the ‘groove man,’ totally getting into a Ringo and John Bonham head space. The vibe while making this record was so intense and so musical that I felt like we were making Close To The Edge or Magical Mystery Tour.”

Finally, Mike is finishing up a new instructional video, which is scheduled for release shortly. According to the drummer, “On it I’m analyzing and playing along with tracks from the LTE2 and new DT releases.

“This year has been unbelievable for me,” Mike concludes. “I’ve created three masterpieces. The new DT album is the absolute pinnacle of our career. The SMPT project is one of the most amazing and musical experiences that I’ve ever been involved with. And the third masterpiece is the birth of my son.”

—Mike Haid