25th Anniversary Rhythm Icons: Mike Portnoy

Dream Theater, Transatlantic and A7X hero

What have been some of your career highlights so far?

“Playing Radio City Music Hall for Dream Theater’s 20th anniversary: playing Download on the main stage; Wembley Arena. We’re going to be playing Madison Square Garden for the first time, with Iron Maiden, which will be up there. On a personal level, it’s all my accolades as a drummer, the fact I’ve been on the cover of so many drum magazines, won so many awards. That’s the stuff I dreamt about as a kid. To be in the Modern Drummer Hall Of Fame is the highest honour of all, especially because I’m the only metal drummer in there, and one of the youngest. I read that magazine from age 11. Rhythm is surely one of my favourites too.”

You’ve pioneered some interesting drum set-ups over the years.

“All the companies I endorse – Tama, Sabian, Pro-Mark, Latin Percussion, Remo – I chose to play because they make great products. But, first and foremost I wanted to align myself with companies that believe in me as a drummer, as a personality, as a human and get behind what I want to do.”

How does it feel to have influenced other drummers?

“It’s a compliment. It’s a sign of age. If you do this for long enough you’re going to start influencing other drummers. I like when drummers that don’t sound like me tell me I was an influence on them, like Joey Jordison, Chris Adler, Jason Bittner, The Rev. That is the biggest compliment.”

Who are some of your drum icons?

“The ones that featured in my Rhythm guest editor issue – Neil Peart. Bill Bruford, Nick Mason. Ringo Starr. Peter Criss when I was a kid. Obviously Keith Moon and John Bonham are two of the biggest of all time for me. Then there were the more progressive guys like Terry Bozzio. Vinnie Colaiuta, the more metal guys like Lars and Charlie Benante.”

What are your memories of guest editing the Rhythm Heroes cover?

“That issue was one of the coolest projects I’ve been a part of. My heroes mean so much to me. So to be able to sit down with four of my all-time heroes and just shoot the s**t was such a cool opportunity. I’ve gotten to know so many of my heroes through the years. The funny thing is usually we don’t talk drums – we talk other things. This was an opportunity to pick these guys’ brains and play the fan. I normally can’t be a fanboy around these other drummers that I know. Getting together with Neil Peart was the coolest because I hadn’t got to know him until that point. Doing that interview brought us together for the first time, and we’ve since stayed in touch. He has always been very generous to me through the years.”