Open letter to Mike Portnoy (w MP response on Pg 4)

Mike,
 
You have been an influence since my formative years as a drummer. You have bothered to come into House of Drumming and post an "open letter" basically saying "why don't you like me?" Between all that and the threads here lately getting deleted and the feud (which Randy Walker has explained a bit), don't you think that you AT LEAST owe an apology? How do you just press forward with deleting threads and pretending nothing happened? Do you really think you are in the right here? If all this continues, I would have to rethink my association with anyone like you. Sorry, but between your thing at The Drum Pad and what they have done for you and you treating people like garbage lately, something's gotta give! Please take a higher road and don't come off so childish and immature and bitter! I don't care if I get banned for saying all this, but you can't justify acting irrationally while saying "this is my site, I say what I want" thing. I have never seen so many people in complete disagreement with something you have said before. Maybe it's a sign to sit back, unplug that internet connection and really think about where you are as a person. Best wishes. I hope you don't see this as me bashing you on any level. It's the honest assessment of what's been happening lately. I know you said that you hoped it wouldn't turn ugly. YOU started it. Not anyone else's fault that the DT guys feel a sense of liberation from your controlling ways. Constant Motion, right? They can't win an argument... cause you always win. They should know it. Right? Keep the private matters private. Best of luck.

^^I was just about to BLAST on this forum due to recent developments but you said it.

did you drink too much of your forum name?

No. Sorry. No drinking here. Just the way I feel. It's like when you see a guy that you respect so much starting to ruin his own name due to his ego getting oversized lately.

Well at least someone steps up to put in an eloquent way. Props.

so, what happened at the drum pad?, sorry I have no idea about it

Props. And probably, nice knowing you.

Honestly I think "taking the high road" could also be directed at you for this post.  Not saying I agree or disagree with your sentiment but c'mon, its almost like yelling at someone because you don't like that they yell.

Mike, you've even been quoted as saying "everything on Blabermouth should be taken with a grain of salt". You've also criticized a lot of your fans for taking things out of context before. Maybe next time you should listen to the whole interview and not get pissed off from reading an out of context Blabermouth quote.

We shouldn't have to choose between DT and MP.  Brave post Smirnoff - I salute you.

I think that was perfectly respectful and cordial....and something I would have said.
 
Love you, Smirnoff.  And if you get banned, this shows that the forum is just getting out of hand.

Why would anyone have to choose between DT and MP btw? I don't really get those comments. If you like both, enjoy both. In between, there is only bullshit on the internet. I've lost respect of a musician as a person, but I still love his music that I keep listening to it. Doesn't bother me. (Not talking about MP here.)

Well said.

marco_flores

But Dream Theater without Mike Portnoy? 

Where's the heart? 

The first time I heard Dream Theater, I was blown away.  It wasn't the drumming, guitar work, keyboards, bass or vocals.  It was an amalgamation, a coming together of sounds that produced something so special, it put me on my arse.  Dream Theater is not five musicians, not one member is the Heart, Soul or Driving Force.  Dream Theater is more than the sum of its parts.
 
Long may it continue.  Long may it bring pleasure, jaw-dropping moments, the kind of sound that can have you soaring one moment and standing motionless with tears streaming down your cheeks the next.

Hard words, honest words... True words, basically.
 
I haven't followed all the goings-on 'round here, but I have read some of Mike's statements recently, and it does seem like things are getting a little out of hand, to be perfectly honest. I hope the OP's post gets read, at the very least, because I feel that a lot of us are silently nodding our heads in agreement with what's written.

Wow my first post in a while that wasn't deleted.

Its a shame that this thread will probably be deleted and/or the OP may be banned, because he voiced what a lot of people here are thinking. Respect.

FrankT

Why would anyone have to choose between DT and MP btw? I don't really get those comments.

 
I'm not interested in making that choice either.  I just tried to register at JP's forum and registration has been disabled by the admin.  Any idea when I will be able to register there?

This forum is gonna shrink fast of regulars. Years ago it was a lot of regulars that left for various reasons, and now it seems Phase II has arrived.
 
Good luck to all those who decide to leave by choice or by force. 

In total agreement with you! It's brave for someone to say what some of us are thinking. MP, time to open up your eyes here and make amends for some of the things you've said, you're not in the right here either.
 
The last thing I want is to see the Dream Theater camp come to this.

Very well said! Kudos to you!

Best post of the day. Hats off to you Smirnoff :)

To the person who asked the Drum Pad question, it is not my place to speak of the details there, but these are the cats who have put together the Peart replica kit for Mike.

i understand what you say smirnoff.. it's brave and honest. you obviously care for MP & DT.. despite what you may say criticizing both parties the past few years.
 
 
however i can't help but notice your self righteousness... in so many of your posts and threads you have this holier than thou vibe. look in the mirror bro.

kingsXrocks


however i can't help but notice your self righteousness... in so many of your posts and threads you have this holier than thou vibe. look in the mirror bro.

Whoa, I don't get that at all!!!

ViolinTheater

kingsXrocks


however i can't help but notice your self righteousness... in so many of your posts and threads you have this holier than thou vibe. look in the mirror bro.

Whoa, I don't get that at all!!!

you may know him more personally than i do.. but i lurk a TON.. ive seen so many of his posts.. and man... talk about self righteous

kingsXrocks

ViolinTheater

kingsXrocks


however i can't help but notice your self righteousness... in so many of your posts and threads you have this holier than thou vibe. look in the mirror bro.

Whoa, I don't get that at all!!!

you may know him more personally than i do.. but i lurk a TON.. ive seen so many of his posts.. and man... talk about self righteous

I don't know him personally at all, other than him being a phenomenal drummer and musician.  And I'm ont his forum wayyy too much, and I still don't see that.

ScoJo

 I'm not interested in making that choice either.  I just tried to register at JP's forum and registration has been disabled by the admin.  Any idea when I will be able to register there?

Hm, that sounds a bit strange, I'll shoot Paul Warren a PM and ask if there's any special reason for it.

When I responded early to the OP I did not see what he had written about James.  Now I gotta say it was obvious James never had any ill intent and has been nothing but respectful during this whole process.  Totally do not agree with him calling James out when it was clear James was not doing a dance of joy when Mike announced his departure. 

Not to mention Jordan has said many times to some fans that have run into him that he's excited for the future in basically the same way JLB said he is excited

yeah... i dont like how all this went wrong. James meant nothing by it... i listened to the interview the other night! typical blabbermouth starting shit! dudes, even whats been going on in this forum the past few hrs is now a headline on blabbermouth! that site sure likes trouble

http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=147271

YIKES!!!

Looks like one anonymous forumer got mentioned on blabbermouth just by posting here! Enjoy your 10 secs of fame. :P

yup... u see??? i was not shitting u! lol

cutting MP out of one of the group shots at the end of the article is kinda sad and unfamiliar...

Good lord the people who comment on blabbermouth sound retarded.  I especially enjoyed the poster who called JLB an "eccentric fuck."  LOL

That's Blabbermouth for ya, Lennart!

that side is filled with borderline retards dude i was banned from posting a long time ago for speaking the truth to some moron lol