Peter Wildoer article-interview (excerpt)

Thanks to his involvement with LaBrie, it comes as no surprise that Wildoer has been tagged by the rumour mill as the successor to drummer Mike Portnoy’s Dream Theater throne behind the kit. Portnoy shocked the metal world – not only Dream Theater fans – in September 2010 when he announced he was leaving the band he co-founded to pursue other musical endeavours.

“I heard Dream Theater for the first time in the spring of 1993 when I saw the video for ‘Pull Me Under’ on MTV’s Headbanger’s Ball,” Wildoer recalls. “I was blown away by the song and taped the video on my VHS and watched it a lot of times. I bought the album and was hooked. I think Dream Theater is an awesome band and also very important one, there are thousands of kids that started practicing on their instruments because of those guys.”

“There are a lot of people mailing me and contacting me through Facebook who want me to audition for Dream Theater, and I can totally see them thinking that since I’m on James’ new CD. That’s not my decision to make. I’m also extremely flattered they think I could pull it off. I would of course consider it if I was asked – it’s the hottest drum stool in the metal business – but it’s not an easy position to fill. I personally think it would be impossible to replace Portnoy. He’s a founding member, great drummer, huge personality, and loved by the Dream Theater fans. Whoever gets the Dream Theater gig will have to bring his own style and personality to the band, cross his fingers and hope that he will be accepted by the fans… most likely after quite some time.”

“I’ve read some comments where people are saying that they don’t want me as the new drummer because I would bring more screaming vocals to Dream Theater. That wouldn’t be my decision. James is the vocalist of that band and I personally think they sound the best when it’s just his clear voice singing their songs.”