Mike Portnoy chat

<Portnoy> OK...we’re rockin...HOWDY FOLKS! How do you want to do this?

<mabrown> wey’s got all the questions

<Portnoy> I’m ready to rock

<Portnoy> BTW - before I start...I’m sorry the Sabian chat didn’t happen. Technical difficulties out of our hands. I figured being I had the time blocked out in my schedule, I’d come in here to settle any disappointed fans... The Sabian chat will be rescheduled

<AleksiG> What does it feel like to be the best drummer in the world, according to the modern drummer? :)

<Portnoy> I appreciate all of the acclaim and attention and compliments, but I truly DO NOT consider myself “one of the best drummers in the world” (I’m quoting you!) Anyways, the MD poll wins are truly an honor and dream come true for me, but the day I “believe” them, will be the day I stop growing as a musician

<AfortuneInLies> What is your favorite part of 6doit(the song)?

<Portnoy> I’m a sucker for balls and chunk, so probably WIMH & TTTSTA - you guys OK with the abbreviations? : ) But I LOOOOVE the grand finale as well

<Aredore> Have you seen Episode II yet? If so, what did you think?

<Portnoy> Yes I saw Ep2 a few nights ago - I have mixed feelings. There were aspects I loved (the dark themes starting to get worked into the story) but parts I wasn’t crazy about (some of the acting and I think it was OVER digital). I am going to say something which I’m sure will be controversial and nobody will agree with but..... I think Ep1 was a better movie OVERALL......FLAMES argharghargh.....A second viewing will give me a better perspective

<chrisallen> Mike, will the entire Master of Puppets encore be released on video or DVD, being that it was already professionally video taped?

<Portnoy> I have MoP from both Barcelona and Chicago on multitracked audio recordings and multocamera video from Chicago. The Beacon in NYC wouldn’t let us record... But anyways...I hope we can some day release this as it was alot of fun and pretty historic for DT fans. There are a few legal obstacles - one being Metallica’s approval and the other being our label’s approval (which also happens to be Metallica’s label as well). But it is probably doable sometime down the road...I’ll keep looking into it...

<chrisallen> Mike, I just wanna thank you and DT for your music. Take Away My Pain really helped me deal with my dad’s sudden passing 2 weeks ago.

<Portnoy> Sorry to hear of your loss Chris

<DT_Erotomaniac> Any chance of bringing PoS to the states ;)?

<Portnoy> I would love to bring PoS to the States but it is unlikely for several reasons: 1. We probably aren’t doing another US leg past this summer’s, 2. PoS doesn’t have label support here in the US like they do in Europe in order to help them out financially but I really love those guys, so hopefully they’ll make it here on their own...

<mandaX> Is there any plans to release the Making of Images & Words or any other Making of videos to general release as opposed to some people having 20th generation VHS copies

<Portnoy> Well as I always say (and the MoP question falls into this Answer as well....), I’m hoping one day to get this “official bootleg” thing off the ground someday... The first obstacle was “getting permission” from Elektra to do such a project as we are contractually bound to them.. It seems as if our management has gotten some of “the powers that be” to agree to the whole concept (they’ve been helping with Phish’s releases...), so now the next obstacle is getting me to find the available time to begin the project. In answer to your initial Q....I would love to include “making of” videos - both video and CD - Live stuff, demos, outtakes, etc. I have soooo much. It’s just a matter of time to begin “another project” !!!! : )

<mandaX> well I know i’ll be praying to get my cable modem hooked up soon then ;)

<Portnoy> No...I am talking about releases.... Not online bootlegs, but these would have to be through DT....(not myself like the previous clinic DVD)

<Jon> Didja catch the last episode of x-files? if so, thoughts? if not, i’m very disappointed and will hunt you down! ;)

<Portnoy> I lost track of the X-Files about 3 seasons ago, but I did tape the last 2 episodes to watch out of curiousity, but haven’t had the chance yet....

<Chroma> What are DTs and your plans after this years world tour ends in September?

<Portnoy> Actually the world tour isn’t slated to finish until November.... At that point we will take off for the holidaze and then begin the whole process again when 2003 begins...

<Chroma> new album?

<Portnoy> yes of course a new album!

<Murph> I know you probably wont be able say which album but, when do you think Dream Theater will debut the next cover show?

<Portnoy> I have the next 4 albums to cover already picked out....but do you think I would ruin that surprise???? I can say that we have retired MoP. So the next 2 night stand will be a new classic album

<Brooks> You said recently you were getting into Opeth... live performances aside..., they absoultey rule. Care to make any comments on what you think about them? And if you dont have thier record Morningrise, buy it tomorrow!

<Portnoy> I really only know the last CD at this point but I really love that album so I am looking foward to hearing more. They are playing on a bill with us in Greece over the summer, so I’ll see them live then...

<Johnny_M> Mike, I have a question concerning double bass. I have a prob slowing it down, it always jumps up to too fast a tempo. I noticed on LDT you move you feet very little. Can you enlighten me please?

<Portnoy> hmmm...drums??? a DRUM QUESTION?????? : ) just kidding!

<Johnny_M> I know you get these all the time...sorry. :-p

<Portnoy> I’m just messing with ya! I always say this and I know it’s a cliche but.....you have to learn to walk before you can run. If you are having trouble playing the patterns slow, then concentrate on that when you practice, work with a metronome and have it play the 8th notes or even 16ths.As far as my foot placement.... To be honest, I never think about it. In fact when I popped in the LDT DVD and was able to watch my camera angle on my feet, I found it facinating how they instinctively knew where to go...because I honestly don’t really think about it.

<Progmushroom> Hello from Belgium! What will be the setlist of the Europeans summer festivals shows ? (6DoIT or not 6 DoIT ?? ;-))

<Portnoy> It is very unlikely we will play the entire 6DOIT at a festival due to the limited stage time. Are you referring specifically to the Belgium festival?

<Progmushroom> yes.....

<Portnoy> That will be a heavy setlist due to the nature of the festival - Slayer, Machine Haed, Halford, etc Who else is on that bill? We will get KILLED if we bust out Overture and Goodnight Kiss at that show!!!!

<Progmushroom> How many songs ?? How long ?

<Portnoy> I think we play between 60 and 75 minutes at most festivals. There are only 5 or so festivals on this summer Euro run... All the rest are “Evening withs”

<Oblivion_Ocean> Which songs have suprised you in the live setting, by either coming off much better..or a little worse, then you imagined in front of a crowd?

<Portnoy> Out of the new songs, I think The Glass Prison and Great Debate go over best live. Misunderstood and Blind Faith are sometimes a little weird. And 6DOIT is pretty awesome when in the right environmment - sometimes we cannot always guage correctly so what do we know

<ORIONnot241> Some of us really liked what Kevin Shirley did with parts of FII, I know this question mau be a little hard to answer, since you never know where your carrer will be, but do you ever see Dream Theater working with another outside producer?

<Portnoy> To be honest, I cannot picture ever working with an outside producer again. To me, there’s no point in making music (or films or art or books, etc.) if you cannot truly express YOUR voice. I think we’ll always enlist the help of an engineer and mixer for sonic purposes...but creatively and artistically, nobody know what’s better for this band than we do...

<ORIONnot241> i would have thought that the lable would make you guys or something....

<Portnoy> If we were a 5 minute commercial band, then maybe the outside opinion would make a difference, but that’s not our interest or direction...

<Luchok> I asked you a while ago about future side projects and you said that you wanted the next one to be heavy... just fantasising, who would you like to work with?

<Portnoy> Well I had said that I would LOVE to do a very heavy project next - something with NO keyboards....just for a change. But it looks like there will be another sideproject before that one... I wasn’t going to do anymore sideprojects for a while... but a friend has asked me to be involved in something with him....and because I’ve been wanting to work with him for a long time, I couldn’t say no....SO.....here’s the inside scoop....

<Luchok> drumroll.....

<Portnoy> My good friend Jim Matheos wanted to put something together - so starting next week, I will enter the studio to begin work on a project involving myself, Jim Matheos, Daniel Gildenlow, Sean Malone and Kevin Moore!

<Weymolith> KEVMO!

<Portnoy> Details coming soon..... Should be very cool.....

<IronCobra13> There has been alot of questions in the forum concerning you views on trading and selling of Boots. Could you please clairify you stand.

<Portnoy> I am totally pro-boot - live and rare stuff that is... Selling boots of “official” releases is low though..B I am totally cool with the boot scene as I am an avid collector myself...

<NevermoreOwns> Last time Dream Theater was inToronto, Chris Jerhico came up on stage, i remember him hitting on of your cymbals with his hands, and you looked pretty pissed.. where you?

<Portnoy> What are you kidding? He’d kick my ass!!! I love Chris...He’s the coolest! Of course I wasn’t pissed - I just had my “wrestler face” on...

<TDunbar> What are your plans for the Awake kit now that it hasn’t sold

<Portnoy> It will remain in my basement much to Marlene’s disappointment!!! For spacial reasons, not financial mind you! While we’re on the subject.... Alot of people have critisized me for selling it... or questioned my motives....The reason’s are pretty simple really.....I have all of these kits piling up in my basement, and I haven’t endorsed Mapex in 7 years, so my wife kept trying to convince me to get rid of that particular kit....so I finally agreed... That’s really it... I’m (NOT) trying to rip anybody offf... Anyways, it will remain in my basement until the day we decide to try again...

<pinchejoto> Not so much as a drummer but as a musician, which album and song (including all side projects) do you feel has been your finest so far?

<Portnoy> Hmmmm....I’m very proud of SFAM on all levels... And also the TransAtlantic - BAF CD I think is a great achivement creatively

<pinchejoto> that’s interesting, i thought you’d say the new one

<Portnoy> Well, saying your latest CD is always the cheap answer...I honestly need to be about 1 year removed from one of CD’s before I can have any sort of objective opinion on it...

<franknobl> Can you shed some light on the supposed feud between dream theater and symphony x if such a feud exists

<Portnoy> No feud whatsoever that I’m aware of. I’ve never even met the guys. I think I once commented on one song sounding like The Mirror, so maybe people built up an imaginary fued from that comment? I don’t know if the’ve said anything about us...... anyways....

<franknobl> well with that said, any chance of a symphony x/dt tour in the future?

<Portnoy> Not likely as we are in “An Evening With” mode these days...

<Cracken> Can you tell us more about the new project, like how will the music be oriented?

<Portnoy> I really cannot comment on the new project anymore than I already have. It is all just coming together and details will come as they come together. But I am looking foward to it as it is a great assembly of talent

<Nunobaker> Since we all know you have a kick ass dvd collection what was the last one you purchased?

<Portnoy> 2 awesome ones came out this week: Memento Special Edition and Vanilla Sky. Can’t wait to dig into both of them... I also just picked up the X-Files 5th season. I pretty much stay on top of all new releases and blow lots of money every Tuesday. BTW - I heard the Memento DVD *DOES* have a chronological version as an easter egg....

<Unknown> Why didn’t you play during the G3 jams? Or did you on some shows?

<Portnoy> I did get to play on the last 3 US show and it was AWESOME, but on that tour, I had to swallow the harsh reality that I was only a “D” in the world of “G”’s. And the jam was really JP’s spotlight so I was cool with that...disappointed yes....but I understood it was a “G” thang...

<JBeefC> Did you see Ocean’s Eleven or Freddy Got Fingered? If so, did you dig it?

<Portnoy> Yes saw em both - I LOOOVE Tom Green, but I hate to say that Freddy was Soooo bad! Although it’s the kind of movie, I think I’ll like better through the years when I can just watch the silly stuff in spurts on video - Dumb and Dumber, Mallrats and even Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back have had that effect on me better on video. as far as Oceans, I LOVE Soderbergh! He’s one of my favorites out there out the moment. Even though I prefer his “personal” films (SL&V;, The Limey, Traffic) to his Hollywood ones (Oceans & Erin)....I still thoroughly enjoyed it

<mikesignedmyKCposter> Will you be taking tour pics for the next Dream Theater DVD?

<Portnoy> I haven’t been taking audience shots this year... Is that what you mean?

<mikesignedmyKCposter> yeah. will you on the next tour?

<Portnoy> Been there, done that....I don;t ever want to be sooo predicatable or repetitious - I’m in the middle of this tour

<mikesignedmyKCposter> remember my poster ?

<Portnoy> I’ve signed a few posters this year man! : )

<YtseFrank> Have you had contact by canadian promoters, because we, canadian fans are waiting for Dream Theater since 1998?

<Portnoy> Believe me, we have been waiting to play Canada just as long....we are as anxious as you guys. It looks “likely” (still not confirmed) that there will be a Quebec date on the summer tour (Montreal and/or Quebec City). Cross your fingers....I am!

<Tears> What album so far would you like to be remembered for? and Why?

<Portnoy> I guess it was kinda answered earlier when I mentioned SFAM and BAF.... But I love *every* album I’ve done so far in my career. I’m very proud of the quality of work represented so far in my whole catalog

<Tears> but which really shows you the best

<Portnoy> Well like I said, I guess SFAM. It was very artistically satisfying on many levels for me

<KristoferX>: Ever proposed to Y2J for Dream Theater to do his ring entrance music? Imagine him coming out to the mirror or glass prision or something :)

<Portnoy> Yes we’ve talked with Chris about that. I think he would love to do that but I think there are more “politics” involved which make it not such a cut and dry decision. Hell, even whether or not he wins is decided for him!!!

<explosivo24>: What’s with all of the Tenacious D references in recent work? The Beatles medley you played with Transatlantic and the beginning of Misunderstood come to mind.

<Portnoy> Yes I am a MAJOR fan of the D as well (for many years) but I’m not sure what references you are talking about with TA and Misunderstood.

<explosivo24> The Transatlantic Beatles medley was almost exactly like TD’s Beatle medley. :) And the beginning of Misunderstood sound like Wonderboy.

<Portnoy> oh....Misunderstood and Wonderboy is a coincidence that I never even thought of - I always thought it reminded me of “Ten Years Gone” by Led Zeppelin. As far as the Beatles cover with TA, our version ran over 30 minutes while intercutting almost all of side 2 of Abbey Road with Suite Charlotte Pike. The D’s version was only the Golden Slumbers section and was only about 5 minutes...(and DT covered that part back in 1988). Long live the D

<KuzinRob> I know you are very fond of Rush’s early work, but I have never heard your opinion of thier 80’s work and beyond (like Signals and afterwards). What do you think of that material?

<Portnoy> Well my love for old Rush is pretty well documented. For me, the obsession went up to Signals (coincidentally all of the Terry Brown albums). Since Signals, I’m not really *that* big of a fan. I did really like Counterparts. That’s probably my favorite post-Signals album of theirs. I still respect, admire and am interested in what they do...but for me, it’s not the same as it was back in “the old days.” I’m dying to hear them do a song longer than 7 or 8 minutes and with a less traditional arrangement

<Weymolith> And that was the last question barring mine... (foregoing 15 different Leafs losing 2-0 in the 3rd period? questions)

<Weymolith> And you already answered it earlier..

<Portnoy> Was that it?

<Weymolith> That actually was it

<Portnoy> Well jeez....

<mandaX> run while you can we’ll hold them off ;)

<Portnoy> OK! My last words..... Thank you all for stopping by on such short notice... Thanks Weymolith (and all the others helping out) for moderating and thanks to Mike Brown as always for maintaining such a great site. Sorry I haven’t been interacting on the Forum. The Chicago incident has scared me away a bit!! So I really am scared to say “the wrong thing.” But I still do read it..... So keep coming!!!!! And keep posting - Big Brother is still watching! : ) Looking foward to the next few DT legs. The US Summer run will be alot of fun (and give us a little break from the 3 hour marathons!) More details will be coming soon for this newest sideproject I start next week... I’ve probably said too much already!! But I’m as excited as I knew you all would be....so keep cool on it until more info on it becomes available...and finally..... C-y’all again when Sabian re-schedules their chat.... We can cover some more ground then.... I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!! (that was my Ozzy impression!) C-YA!