Mike Portnoy chat

Mike, could you please begin by briefly telling us a bit about your style of drumming?

Mike Portnoy: It’s a combination of progressive rock and hard rock/heavy metal. It has a strong emphasis on double-bass drumming and odd time signatures.

Zoso asks: in what drumming technique and stuff do you need to Improve?

Mike Portnoy: Well, I’ve never properly studied rudiments so I probably more underdeveloped in that area than others. Also, I have never had much experience playing jazz music.

What questions are you just sick of hearing in interviews?

Mike Portnoy: (laughing) ...whatever those last two questions were. =)

Zoso asks: Is there going to be a OSI tour?

Mike Portnoy: As of now, no, as I am busy working with Dream Theater again. So as of now, OSI is only a one-off project at the moment. We’ll see if anything else develops in the future.

kidgloves2 asks: About the new record. Are you writing as you go or demoing the music before?

Mike Portnoy: We wrote all of the music in advance.

kidgloves2 asks: Can you tell us about your kit on the new Dream Theater record?

Mike Portnoy: It is the Siamese Monster.

When you are not drumming, what types of things occupy your time?

Mike Portnoy: My wife and kids mainly and when I am not with them, I am usually catching up on movies and TV shows. I also spend a tremendous amount of time on the internet.

Y2Journey asks: Mike, how are things going with the new album and what can fans expect?

Mike Portnoy: It’s going great! You can expect another classic Dream Theater album.

fender asks: Who was your biggest influence?

Mike Portnoy: My biggest musician = Frank Zappa; for a band, my biggest influence is The Beatles; for a drummers: Neil Peart, John Bonham, and Keith Moon

promark51 asks: Any new music for the summer tour?

Mike Portnoy: Sir, I have not decided yet. I’m very tempted to put some new music in the set list, but I am fairly hesitant to do so because of all the speculation and analyzation that will inevitably happen all over the internet. Therefore, it is still undecided.

concrete curb asks: Mike, will you or sabian plan on expanding the MP series of cymbals?

Mike Portnoy: As of now there are no plans but it surely would be interesting in the future.

There are many bands out there today filled with much talent and creativity that are not very well known. What bands or artists have you come across that we should all know about?

Mike Portnoy: Hmmmm..that is a good question! Well, most of the bands that are commercially unknown, the majority of progressive music fans probably do know. Bands like Spock’s Beard, Porcupine Tree, The Flower Kings, Opeth... Mr. Bungle...these are some of the bands that I love that are not commercial mainstream names, but most people who are Dream Theater fans are already aware of them. You can always check out The Hero of the Day section at http://www.mikeportnoy.com

ABCmikeportnoyrules asks: Will the queensryche /Dream theater Tour travel outside the USA?

Mike Portnoy: Only to Canada. There are no plans at this moment to take the package overseas. We have to get back into the studio to finish our album, and then we will do a full world tour. We will do the full world tour after the album comes out.

promark51 asks: Hows the beatle tribute shaping up?

Mike Portnoy: Well, I am very excited about it and really looking forward to next month.

promark51 asks: Are there any suprises at the show, ike callobarations with Queensryche or Fates?

Mike Portnoy: It’s too soon to tell, but it surely would be a lot of fun. Geoff Tate and I have talked about the possibility of it.

kidgloves2 asks: where do you picture your career 20 years from now?

Mike Portnoy: Hopefully a little slower and more relaxed than it is now as I have not had a break in about 10 years!

DaveR asks: Mike what sticks are you using? What makes a good stick?

Mike Portnoy: Promark’s 420’s, my autograph sticks, of course.

musrich33 asks: is it difficult being the spokesman of the band or is it fun?

Mike Portnoy: Well, it is difficult because it puts a lot of pressure and burden on me but I am just naturally the most outgoing of the bunch. To be honest, I have been trying to do fewer and fewer interviews while on tour because the redundancy can become very frustrating.

How or when did you first “discover” drums?

Mike Portnoy: From listening to Beatles records when I was a little boy and from watching Beatles movies - I was instantly drawn to Ringo’s personality. Soon after, Keith Moon’s playing and personality had the same effect.

musrich asks: why is it so hard to book tours for a prog band?

Mike Portnoy: It does not seem to be too hard for us since we normally spend about 12 months on the road! we do our best.

BCmikeportnoyrules asks: Do you know when the John Petrucci is coming out ... and do you hear all the album ??

Mike Portnoy: I’ve heard as much of it as is finished, but he has not been working on it in quite some time, so it is not finished yet. Of course, I know the music because I played on almost all of the songs on the G3 tour.

Dft asks: Do you think your work with Kev and Jim in OSI has influenced your playing or writing on the new album at all?

Mike Portnoy: No, because they are completely different bands with completely different ways of writing so, no...one has nothing to do with the other.

promark51 asks: Mike, are there more drum clinics coming?

Mike Portnoy: Yes, I have four in May, two in June. Of course, there is always more in the future to come as I am always asked to do them.

musrich33 asks: what is your favorite piece of hard ware or drum on your kit?

Mike Portnoy: Hmmm... The memory lock on my third 18” crash cymbal stands. That thing rules!

Cassie5563 asks: This regards your cinematic interests: any plans to grow MP4 Productions into the next Miramax?

Mike Portnoy: (laughing!) That would be nice someday except that I would have to name it Mellomax.

Unfortunately we are almost out of time. Do you have any final comments or insights for our audience before we wrap up?

Mike Portnoy: Thanks very much to Pro-Mark for sponsoring this chat and for making the best sticks out there. Thank you to all of our fans for always being so devoted and loyal. Looking forward to seeing you with Yellow Matter Custard in May and with Dream Theater in June and July.