MP: Why would anybody be suprised that I (or anybody in DT) is an Elton John fan? Because he is not prog? Yes, Derek was an Elton fan as well....but it was me who wanted to cover Funeral & Love Lies Bleeding...in fact we had covered it when Kevin was still in the band back in 1990. "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" is one of my Top 10 CD's of *all time* by any artist.

MP: Many of my all-time favorite artists are *not* Progressive at all...(most especially The Beatles, U2 & Radiohead) I am a fan of *good music*...whether it be Rock, Pop, Progressive, Metal, Rap, Alternative, Jazz, Classical, whatever....

MP: If it is a “tribute” CD of some sort, sounds great to me! Good Luck everybody and make sure to send DaveH a bunch of copies for me!

MP: Can't say I am much of a “fan” or that they are an “influence,” but I did enjoy last year's 2 CD's... (especially the more commercial Pink Floyd-ish one).

MP: I would LOVE to work with Steve Vai. He is one of my favorite guitar players and someone whose musical abilities and backround (Berklee & Zappa!!) I really admire.

MP: Aenima is one of my favorite CD's of the past several years and yes Danny Carey's drumming is totally cool and creative. It is pretty unusual the amount of commercial success they have had given the length of their songs and their very untraditional arrangements (sound familiar?)

MP: Yes and especially of Carter. He is one of my favorites out there today! To be honest, I can only take their music in small doses because I'm not so crazy about Dave Matthew's voice (how ironic), but I am always fascinated by Carter's playing.

MP: I was a little disappointed with it, mainly because I miss Bill and Tony who are my 2 favorite elements of KC. Yes, I would surely work with Robert Fripp if ever asked.

MP: I like them alot. Reminds me of old WatchTower with a bit of John Arch vocals/melodies.

MP: I love heavy stuff, but my taste doesn't get *that* dark. I mean I love the typical stuff: Pantera, Machine Head, Slayer, Megadeth, old Metallica, Anthrax/SOD, Testament, Sepultura, etc. I used to love old King Diamond and Mercyful Fate, that stuff was pretty black. I also like some of the weirder progressive kinda Death Metal like Cynic and Meshuggah. That's about as evil as I get!

MP: There's so much awesome stuff on the Internet. (and 95% of my downloads are the rare, live stuff) I've gotten alot of very cool stuff. Some of my favorites are: --Mr. Bungle - OU818 demo -Metallica - Fan Can #1 -various Tenacious D stuff -hours worth of cool covers

MP: Now that's a tough one! I think I mostly lean towards the mid 70's to mid 80's periods as my favorites. Beginning with “Overnight Sensation” & “Apostrophe” (both classics) up thru “Us and Them.” I especially love “Sheik Yerbouti” and “Joe's Garage” most of all. But also really love “Live in New York” and “Tinseltown Rebellion”....and also “One Size Fits All” and “Zoot Allures.” HELL - I LOVE EM ALL!!!! You're best bet is all 6 volumes of “You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore” ...that would be my desert island pick!

MP: Pink Floyd - The Wall The Who - Tommy & Quadrophenia Queensryche - Operation Mindcrime Marillion - Misplaced Childhood & Brave Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway Kevin Gilbert - The Shaming Of The True King Diamond - Abigail & Them Frank Zappa - Joe's Garage Dream Theater - Scenes From A Memory

MP: I don't have my “official” end of year list because I am writing this from the studio, but I will try to do this from the best of my memory. (in no particular order): 1. Spock's Beard – V 2. Porcupine Tree – Lightbulb Sun 3. U2 - All That You Can't Leave Behind 4. Radiohead - Kid A (disappointing, but still top 10!) 5. Pain Of Salvation - The Perfect Element 6. Rage Against The Machine - Renegades 7. Air - Virgin Suicides Soundtrack 8. The Flower Kings - Space Revolver 9. Roger Waters - In The Flesh and of course: 10. TransAtlantic - SMPTe (can I do that?)

MP: Spock's Beard, Pain Of Salvation, Porcupine Tree, Radiohead, Ben Fold Five, Mr. Bungle, Tool, Meshuggah, Phish – these are only a few that come to mind...regularly check the "Hero of the Day" section of the Forum to see what I am currently listening to.

MP: Sasquash's drumming is definitely “kick ass.” But I could see where Tenacious D just wouldn't be comfortable as a power trio.

MP: I don't believe there is such thing as "best," only "favorites". As far as new-ish drummers from today, I dig: Carter Beauford, Virgil Donati, Heracio Hernandez, Jo Jo Mayer, Mike Mangini, Danny Carey (Tool) & Marco Minnemann are the first bunch that come to mind.

MP: (in no particular order): 1. Tool - Lateralus 2. System Of A Down - Toxicity 3. Tenacious D 4. Ben Folds - Rockin The Suburbs 5. Weezer - Green Album 6. Neal Morse - It's Not Too Late 7. Sigur Ros - Agaetis Byrjun 8. Oysterhead - The Grand Pecking Order 9. Radiohead - Amnesiac 10. The Flower Kings - The Rainmaker OK....11. TransAtlantic - Bridge Across Forever (can I do that?)

MP: (in no particular order): 1. Spock's Beard - Snow 2. Peter Gabriel - Up 3. Pain Of Salvation - Remedy Lane 4. Coldplay - A Rush Of Blood To The Head 5. Porcupine Tree - In Absentia 6. Opeth - Deliverance 7. Audioslave 8. Weezer - Maladroit 9. System Of A Down - Steal This Album 10. The Flower Kings - Unfold The Future Very Honorable Mentions: Sigur Ros, Jughead, Beck, Meshuggah, Queens Of The Stone Age, Superjoint Ritual, Down and of course, Dream Theater - Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence (can I do that?)

MP: Well my love for old Rush is pretty well documented. For me, the obsession went up to Signals (coincidentally all of the Terry Brown albums). Since Signals, I'm not really *that* big of a fan. I did really like Counterparts. That's probably my favorite post-Signals album of their's. I still respect, admire and am interested in what they do, but for me, it's not the same as it was back in "the old days." I'm dying to hear them do a song longer than 7 or 8 minutes and with a less traditional arrangement.

MP: In no particular order 1. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - The Beatles 2. Abbey Road - The Beatles 3. Tommy - The Who 4. Pet Sounds - The Beach Boys 5. Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd 6. The Wall - Pink Floyd 7. Physical Grafitti - Led Zeppelin 8. Goodbye Yellowbrick Road - Elton John 9. Close to the Edge - Yes 10. Master of Puppets - Metallica 11. Misplaced Childhood - Marillion 12. Permanent Waves - Rush 13. Paul's Botique - Beastie Boys 14. OK Computer - Radiohead 15. Mr. Bungle - Mr. Bungle 16. Jellyfish - Spilt Milk 17. The Light - Spock's Beard 18. Vulgar Disply of Power - Pantera 19. Achtung Baby - U2 20. Ritual de lo Habitual - Jane's Addiction

MP: Not to dis him, as I don't *not* like him, but I've never been a huge fan of his. I'm not crazy about that Steve Vai album that he did [Sex and Religion] and the solo stuff that people turned on to me, never 'got' me. So I'm not saying that I don't like Devin Townsend, but he never caught my ear.

MP: Vinnie Colauita

MP: Terry Bozzio

MP: Ringo Starr or Neil Peart

MP: Frank Zappa