Mike’s the Man

Dream Theater unveil new drummer and promise the new album will “kick some serious ass!”

Dream Theater have announced that drummer Mike Mangini has been recruited to replace Mike Portnoy, who left the band in September last year. Mangini, whose past credits include work with Steve Vai, Extreme and Dream Theater singer James LaBrie, beat six other drummers to the post during auditions which were held eight months ago. The long-awaited news was finally revealed in the concluding part of a documentary detailing their search which was aired via their record label, Roadrunner’s YouTube channel.

“To be honest with you, we wanted to tell everybody right away,” says guitarist John Petrucci. “But since it was such a big decision, we wanted to take our time, get into the studio and write. We also knew that we had this documentary film and thought that it would be an incredible way to let everybody know instead of just sending out a tweet or a press release. All of the Dream Theater fans have been so supportive, so we wanted to do something for them that would be like a gift but we had to keep waiting. Trust me, we were constantly asking our management and record label ‘When can we make this announcement? People are getting mad. We want to tell people’. But for us it’s a big deal, so that’s really the reason we waited so long.”

Apart from Mangini’s world-renowned talent, his background also seems to have made him the perfect candidate and prior to joining the band he was a professor at the prestigious Berklee College Of Music in Boston – the place where Dream Theater formed way back in 1985.

“Absolutely, it totally fits and I feel like he’s one of us,” says Petrucci. “We’re all East Coast guys with a certain attitude and temperament, and he just fits right in. He’s a Boston guy, there’s the Berklee connection, he understands metal, he has the chops and plays with great feel and sensitivity when it’s needed. He’s also into the craft of his instrument, which we all are, and he still practices and is into getting better. He just fits right in and you feel like you’ve known him for so long.”

Of his appointment, Mangini himself says: “What it means to me to be part of not only such a legendary band but this band is a sense of fulfillment and purpose. I feel like a puzzle piece and in respect to Mike [Portnoy] in particular, I feel really honoured to carry on the torch for him. I’m carrying on his spirit.”

The band entered a Long Island studio in January and have now completed the recording of an as yet untitled album, set for a September release. The band are delighted at the way Mangini has settled into his role. Says Petrucci: “We’re the only people who’ve actually heard him in Dream Theater! It’s turned out great and he was incredible to work with. I’ve never worked with somebody like that before. He could play anything and never makes a mistake, it was just ridiculous.” Of the new album’s writing process, Petrucci explains: “We actually wrote the album without Mike [Mangini] as we wanted to make sure that we focused as core composers and we weren’t sure how a new person, personality and influence would affect that. So we thought that we would bring it back to basics, just guitar, bass and keyboards and we did that for two months.”

However, Petrucci reckons the enforced change of drummer has also freshened up the band’s writing sessions and outlook.

“It’s funny – I was thinking about some of our albums when we reached a turning point and something changes. You get a little bit of a perspective change and there’s a little bit of a shift and it does freshen things. You might not even know that it’s happening but you start to think a little bit differently. It’s not just like you’re coming back to the usual routine. It’s a different sort of energy that’s in the room.” Petrucci adds: “On a side note, I think you’re going to love the album. It definitely kicks some serious ass.”

Dream Theater play Leeds and Wolverhampton immediately prior to their headlining slot at the High Voltage Festival in London on Sunday July 24. For tickets see www.highvoltagefestivai.com. RW