Mike Portnoy Q&A

1. When was your very first public playing experience?

From: Julien

I was at a friend’s Bar Mitzvah when I was 13 and the band called me up to play “Proud Mary” with them... that was my first time playing drums in public with a band. I think that was also the day I had my first beer!

2. What Is Your Favourite Song On The New Album?

From: Jimmy

It always depends on my mood... if I want to hear something heavy and slamming, then “The Dark Eternal Night”, if I’m in the mood for something moody and intense, then “Repentance”... but usually if I had to pick only one song to represent an album, I always go with the long epics... so in this case it would be the entire “In The Presence of Enemies” (1&2 together... as it was written)

3. How does it feel to be the best drummer in the world? :)

From: Nick Patterson

I wouldn’t know!!  But thanks for the compliment! Really, there’s no such thing as “bests”, there’s only “favourites”.....

4. how does being on the road affect you as a person and how do you react to the changes and sacrifices u make to go do what you love? for example like being away from your family for a long time.

From: Simon B

I actually LOVE being on the road and touring... I am totally in my element. But of course, the biggest sacrifice is indeed being away from my family. Luckily everybody in DT has wives and kids, so we are all very conscious of pacing each leg to not be too long at a time and we all are totally considerate to everybody’s personal needs and arrange to have our families join us on the road whenever possible.

5. Which legendary band would you love play for?

From: Dave S

The hypothetical dream answer is Frank Zappa... .to have played for him would have been the ultimate musical challenge and a privilege. If you’re looking for a “realistic” answer, I think it would be fun to fill-in for Lars Ulrich in Metallica or Neil Peart in Rush for a show.

6. Firstly, thanks for giving me your stick at download! I was wondering if you could give me some information on drum miking: Such as what mics you use, any specific techniques to getting that punchy kick and so on. Any recommendations?

From: Mike

I leave that in the hands of the expert: our sound man! He’s the one that’s out there listening... .I’ve never heard what Mike Portnoy or Dream Theater really sounds like live!

7. Mike, every year we notice always a constant search of DT to break the standards established in current music. Everybody knows that the progressive music goes against all the market rules, however, for the last album systematic chaos we observed a lot of influences, like a new metal that is seen as fashion or commercial music. What do you think about this?

From: Luis Augusto Ebert

Systematic Chaos is just the next logical step for us. We try to always balance our albums with some moments that are “accessible” (like Forsaken or Constant Motion) as well as songs that are daring and adventurous (like In The Presence of Enemies)

The fact is, I like all kinds of music. It doesn’t necessarily have to be against the grain or unfashionable for me to appreciate it. So if I am enjoying something that is “commercial” like Muse or Coldplay, it becomes part of the giant musical melting pot in my head – just as much as something that I’m listening to that is not “commercial” like Sleepytime Gorilla Museum or Gojira.

8. How do you feel about been 20 years with Dream Theater?

From: Ricardo Diaz

the first 22 years have been an awesome ride... .I’m looking forward to the next 22!

9. Mike... What do you think about piracy? Do you have any suggestion of what can be done to "heal" this problem?

From: Gabriel Silva

Wasn’t that those 3 movies with Johnny Depp dressed as Keith Richards? I never saw em... .

10. After going to south America last tour and playing Wembley arena this tour, where is the one place that you haven't played yet, but would really love to?

From: RobD

We still would love to play Madison Square Garden in New York City. A few countries we’ve yet to play are Russia, Israel and Australia.

11. By this point in your career, you've achieved so much and seen so many places. What goals do you feel that you have left as a band, and more personally as a drummer?

From: Dan W

As you say, really all of our dreams and goals have indeed been realized. Playing with all of our favourite bands, playing venues and places we’ve always dreamed of playing... winning all of the individual drumming awards, etc. At this point, it’s about keeping artistically happy and creative every time we make music... and really just “maintaining” what we’ve built after all these years and continue to build upon it with new fans each album and tour.

12. After all the records you have released and all the shows you have played, do you feel that Dream Theater has reached reached full potential?

From: Mike

Nope... I honestly think that our biggest and best years are still ahead of us...

13. What influenced you to start making such large drumkits like the Siamese Monster? What's the largest kit you've ever made?

From: Joel Watkins

When I was younger, all my favourite drummers had big kits: Neil Peart, Simon Phillips, Terry Bozzio, Keith Moon. So I always dreamed of having a big kit myself. After all, more is more! (contrary to popular belief!) One of the great benefits of being a popular drummer and having a great endorsement deal is that my drum companies will basically build me anything I can imagine up! I suppose my latest “Mirage Monster” might be my biggest kit yet... I don’t know, I stopped counting a while ago...

Thanks for all the questions you sent in – see you on tour real soon!!