Sabian Zone, Thursday, May 27th, 1999

This is an edited version (questions and answers only) for easier reading.

Mike Portnoy: Hey Gang, welcome

Walpurgis: MIke: when is the next Dream Theater album being released?

Mike Portnoy: It should be out by October

Tim Wilson: Its 2am in England, and Im fulfilling one of my life ambitions to stay up and talk to you.

Mike Portnoy: Hi Tim - do you have a question so you can go to sleep

Tim Wilson: Any chance of doing clinics in England soon?

Mike Portnoy: Yes, I think September for clinics in England.

Tim Wilson: Excellent, I just jumped into the air...Mr. God Portnoy is coming to England!

Tommy: Did you ever do a show in Halifax, Nova Scotia before?

Mike Portnoy: Never been to Halifax

robbybear: hi mike, are lyrics written yet for new dt disc?

Mike Portnoy: Robbybear - lyrics are being written right now during this little break from the studio

Ruphius: hi Mike, do you think about make another video about Drums ?

Mike Portnoy: Ruphius - I am doing another drum video next month for release in the fall with the new DT album

Tommy: Could you try to come down for a clinic at Musicstop in the near futur?

Mike Portnoy: Call Music Stop for a clinic near you

cris: Are there any plans to play here in Brazil again?

Mike Portnoy: Yes, we hope to hit Brazil on every tour

Gongboy: Mike----better-- Bonzo or Moon????

Mike Portnoy: Bonzo or Moon - they are both absolute favorites of mine

Mike Portnoy: I have always wondered who could drink more

Zyn: Mike how did your clinic in Edmonton go?

Mike Portnoy: My clinic in Edmonton is next Tuesday

Silvio_Manfredo: How do you feel the way that DT and LTE new albuns are expected in every part of the world? And are you coming to Manaus to do a workshop?

Mike Portnoy: Check the SABIAN clinic event calendar for details

Mike Portnoy: Where is Manaus?

Silvio_Manfredo: Brazil

prong: mike, how is Max doing? hope everything is going well with him

Mike Portnoy: Max is great - I miss him and wish I was home

Victor: mike you growing out your hair again?

Mike Portnoy: Actually I just shaved my hair off again

Zyn: I heard you gotta new Tattoo, whats it of?

Mike Portnoy: I just got a tattoo of Maxs footprint right next to Melodys on my back

Silvio_Manfredo: The music Chewbacca (LTE new album) was finished by Petrucci? Was it a idea from him?

Mike Portnoy: It was an improv with me , Jordan and Tony

Silvio_Manfredo: So the idea came from you?

Mike Portnoy: Silvio - we got the name Chewbacca from some of the sounds Tony was making during the jam

Gongboy: Mike-- any liking for Planet drum? that stuffs trippy as balls!!! Its excellent

Mike Portnoy: I never listen to Planet Drum

MR.BIG: mike, any plans to came to Mexico, me cae amigo

mexico: come on mike answer to mexico, do you hate us?

Mike Portnoy: Mexico - we would love to tour there - our booking agent has never found a promoter that wants to bring us

StewartCopeland: Mike, have you ever attended a Chili Peppers concert?

Mike Portnoy: Yes, I love the Chili Peppers and Chad is great

DT4L: Hey Mike, do you plan on visiting the Boston area any time soon?

Mike Portnoy: I was in Boston Thursday - where were you?

DT4L: Oh crap, I musta missed that one

pamski: could you come to my birthday party???lol!!!!

Mike Portnoy: Pamski - how about a clinic

pamski: okay at my house?!

Yantzee: Do you ever check out the Dream Theater websites??

Mike Portnoy: Constantly check out the DT websites - stuff on the web

varese: What classical composers have influenced you?

Mike Portnoy: Classical composers - Jordan Rudess

Ruphius: Mikie, what Dream Theater album do you like most?

Mike Portnoy: I like the one coming out in the fall - the new one

psych: what were you playing at the first 7 months of your drumming life?

Mike Portnoy: Beatles songs on my Mickey Mouse kit – Psych

mexico: mike, does rudess is better than sherinian?

Mike Portnoy: Rudess is better than everybody! No joke.

psych: mike>> for your unplugged rotterdam show on 5 yrs vdo...where were cover my eyes and speak to me from?

Mike Portnoy: Cover my eyes and Speak to Me were from Rotterdam.

psych: and you do a mean ass back up vocals by the way!! YEAH!

Mike Portnoy: Thanks Psych

psych: yeah rotterdam but are they originals and where can i find them on which album?

Mike Portnoy: Yes, they are leftovers from Infinity but those are the only versions available at the moment.

Yantzee: Mike...Would you mind if I brought a video camera to your clinic in Toronto?...

Mike Portnoy: Video cameras are fine at my clinics. Just get me a copy.

Mike Portnoy: Zyn - I have been fortunate to play with all of my favorite bass players - Billy Sheehan, Tony Levin, Sean Malone, Andy West, Pete Trewaves, and John Myung

StewartCopeland: Mike, do you ever find your music to be pretentious?

Mike Portnoy: Absolutely, that is the point of DT - Stewart.

Mark Fox: Mike what do you think of Terry Bozzio as a drumer???

Mike Portnoy: Terry is one of my biggest influences.

Walpurgis: mike: you have such an amazing feel for all those odd time signatures! has this always come naturally or did you start out counting out each bar?

Mike Portnoy: Yes, I actually prefer when they are not in a bar.

Mike Portnoy: Anthem - we actually never have time to hang out outside of the band anymore. We all have families.

lacaid: Mike: Is it true that you guys may be playing a few gigs in the Northeast this summer?

Mike Portnoy: We most likely will not be playing any shows until the new DT album comes out in the fall. October?

Steve Perez: Hey mike screw the questions for now I just gotta say “YOU ARE BAD ASSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!

Mike Portnoy: Steve - thank you.

Zyn: Mike, do you have a big DT bootleg collection?

Mike Portnoy: I have the biggest DT collection in the world.

Fect: Mike, if a young drummer like me would ask you what to practise to become a better drummer, what would you answer???

Mike Portnoy: The new drum video out in the fall with the DT album

Skull: Did you watch Star Wars????????

Mike Portnoy: I havent seen Star Wars yet because Ive been so busy doing SABIAN clinics.

StewartCopeland: Mike, what would be your dream gig?

Mike Portnoy: Dream gig would have been to play with Zappa

prong: directed to anyone that would know: are there any plans for a new drum video and is there a chance it would be released on DVD?

Mike Portnoy: Prong - I am a huge DVD fan but I doubt that they would release it in that format.

Daniel : Mike, do you have any plans of playing in Brazil soon?

Mike Portnoy: Daniel - yes we love Brazil for the last time we hope to hit it on every tour.

Mark Fox: Mike what do you think of Tommy Lee??

Mike Portnoy: After I saw his video with Pamela he was my new hero

pamski: hey Howard Stern always plays Mirror at the beginning of each show---what up?

Mike Portnoy: Howard Stern is one of my many Gods.

cris: As you are a big fan of Simpsons what do you think about the Futurama cartoon?

Mike Portnoy: TV shows - Twin Peaks, Simpsons, X-Files, Twilight Zone, Seinfeld,

prong: mike if you have time could you go to the yetsejam channel later? maybe less lag

Mike Portnoy: Sorry Prong Im going back to my hotel and I dont have my laptop

Walpurgis: mike: what heads do you use?

Mike Portnoy: Remo Heads.

DT4L: Say Mike, do you like Metallica

Mike Portnoy: I used to love Metallica before Bob Rock ruined them

2112: how do you tune and muffle your bass drums?

Mike Portnoy: A pillow in the bass drum

DEATH: i have a question about your ride why a 22” hh rock ride

Mike Portnoy: Death - Ive tried them all and thats the one that I like the best

Martin R: Mike! Where had you studied drum?

Mike Portnoy: Berklee College of Music, in Boston

PAMSKI: What are the chances of being in on a studio rehersal?

Mike Portnoy: 0% unless you deliver pizza.

Tommy: in your opinion what is your favorite DT album?

Mike Portnoy: the new one is my favorite.

Yantzee: Who is writing the majority of lyrics for the new album? The music is done already, right?

Mike Portnoy: Yantzee - me, John P, and James will be doing most of the lyrics.

Ruphius: how about Mike Portnoy Signature Series Cymbals ?

Mike Portnoy: Ruphius - SABIAN will have a Mike Portnoy line in January 2000

Mike Portnoy: Splashes and Stacks.

mexico: OK, do you like tacos or not?

Mike Portnoy: Yes, I love tacos.

Mechanix: Mike: is it true that you are doing a Clinic in montreal June4th?

Mike Portnoy: Mechanix - no the Montreal clinic is off.

sK@RRe: Why are Sabian better than Zildjan?

Mike Portnoy: Because they have great chats like this!

Joe: Hey mike, what do you think about a Tama Rockstar??, are they any good???

Mike Portnoy: Yes, I use Rockstars at some of my clinics.

Mike Portnoy: Ruiz - both me and John P sing backups

DavidLR: Mike when is out the next cd???

Mike Portnoy: New DT in October.

Joe: Mike, what do you think about John Bonham, is he a big influence??

Mike Portnoy: Bonham (John) was one of my all time favorites

Mike Portnoy: By the way, LTE2 comes out in a few weeks - on June 15.

Rik_Emmett: was Triumph and influence at all for you Mike?

Mike Portnoy: Mainly for James being a Canada – Rik

Gongboy: MIKE___ I wanna know what your favorite song ever is!!!!

Mike Portnoy: Gongboy - read Metal Edge in a few months - I gave them a huge list of my favorite songs too extensive to list here.

AWAKEN!!: Mike have you ever heard of Gamma Ray from Germany??

Mike Portnoy: Yes, Gamma Ray - Kai Hansen used to be in Helloween, right?

DT4L: Mike have you ever heard of Fates Warning?!?!?!?!

Mike Portnoy: Yes, where have you been - Fates Warning toured with us the whole Awake tour and are some of my best friends.

Ruiz: I think that Neil Peart was very rude about the tribute album.

Mike Portnoy: Ruiz - yes I agree

DT: Metropolis 2 will be in the new album??????

Mike Portnoy: I will not give any more details for the album except for that it is the most progressive one we have ever written but you will have to wait to October for any more details.

flamparadiddle: Going back a few years...Have you ever herard the group Watchtower ...wild drummer there

Mike Portnoy: Watchtower - great band and also friends of mine.

fect: mike;truly???do you like Angra???

Mike Portnoy: We played with Angra on our last tour.

Mechanix: Mike: why is the Montreal clinic off?

Mike Portnoy: Montreal clinic is off because I did one last fall.

mike”drumgod” portnoy: Mike who do you think are the most impressive drummers at the time?

Mike Portnoy: My favorite drummers - Bonham, Moon, Starr, Peart, Bruford, Bozzio, Phillips, Coluita, etc., etc

David: Goodnight from Mike Portnoy And Sabian.