Ruben_K.: Welcome to the chat :) How has gigantour been for you?
Portnoy> Hi All! Sorry we're late....(I swear it wasn't my fault!!!) The tour has been awesome...I'm sad to see it end (for us) tomorrow
JohnSandman: hey mike! how did the drum solo during the Long Island show come together with Richard Christie?
Portnoy> I've been a Stern fan FOREVER and a guy that does part time PR work for DT introduced me to Richard....so I invited him out to the show and up to the kit to jam with me...It was alot of fun and one of the Gigantour highlights for me!
moe: Who was the most influential band you listened to growing up?
Portnoy> It went in phases for me....phase 1 was early classic rock: The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, The Who and Pink Floyd being the big 4 for me...then I went through a KISS phase in the late 70's...and then I discovered prog rock and the biggest influences for me were Rush, Yes and Frank Zappa
prla: Could you let us in on other bands you recommended to Mustaine for Gigantour but, unlike Symphony X, didn't make it in the package?
Portnoy> I gave Dave a pretty big list early on....obviously Symph X made it...and Dillinger Escape Plan was also on my initial list...some of the others I suggested were Meshuggah, Pain of Salvation, Overkill, Opeth and Anthrax.
comforteagle: hey mike! was curious as to what your opinion of the dillinger escape plan was, and had you ever heard them before?
Portnoy> Yes, as just mentioned, they were on the initial list I gave to Dave as I've been a fan of theirs for years. I LOVED having them on this tour and watching them each night. I know they are hard for some people to grasp, but I LOVE them
Tensed_Dreams: Do you have any rituals after a show?
Portnoy> My after show shower is one my favorite parts of the day on tour
Sokrates: Hi Mike! Are you going to bring your stage production with the three screens over here when you come to Europe?
Portnoy> Yes we will have our video show in Europe starting at the end of this month....it is likely we will NOT be able to bring it with us to South America in December though...one of the ways we are FINALLY making it down to SA is by cutting back on some of the (MAJOR) overhead is takes to put on a DT show
Ruben_K.: What do you think of Megadeth?
Portnoy> I've been listening to Megadeth since day #1 when "Killing..." came out...I was at the show where they filmed the "Peace Sells" video (L'amour Brooklyn)...in fact, my buddies the Crumbsuckers opened that show
linho: Are there any plans for an Octavarium World Tour live DVD? I know you once said a good timing with a live DVD is every two years but considering DT are celebrating their 20th anniversary, shouldn't we "bend" that rule and record a "specially special" gig? ;-)
Portnoy> I have a "master plan" (as always!) for a great end of tour finale (likely March or April 2006) that I'd like to try and film for a new 20th Anniversary DVD....Our management is currently looking into making it a reality...I have my fingers crossed.
DreamTheater: Hey Mike what was your inspiration for the lyrics on the III. Full Circle section of Octavarium? Very original and just purely Awesome!!!
Portnoy> Thanks...glad you like em! It was a bit of a fun little exercise I came up with...trying to connect different words and phrases to each other using pop culture & music references. I've never seen anybody do that before so I though it be fun!
linho: Hi Mike, greetings from Portugal :) What do you enjoy more to play live? A heavier song like Panic Attack or instead a more progressive number, with many different moods, like Trial of Tears?
Portnoy> I like different songs for different audiences. Obviously the Gigantour is all the balls and chunk material, which to be honest, I have a real preference for as I really enjoy the adrenaline and live energy of an audience with heavier material.
Rathma: Are you thinking of playing a Rush song tomorrow at the Molson Ampitheater, since it's Toronto?
Portnoy> DT has played Rush tunes the last 3 times we played Toronto (ByTor/Working Man in 2002, 2112 Grand Finale in 2003 and A Passage To Bangkok in 2004)...I think we're gonna break the tradition tomorrow...sorry! I do have something else planned that I hope works out though, we'll see.....If you're really jonesin' to see me playing Rush covers, come see my tribute band "Cygnus & The Sea Monsters" on Sept 18th in Chicago!
Ruben_K.: What's the most challenging song you played on Gigantour?
Portnoy> Panic Attack is especially hard for me to play and sing at the same time
freeportjam: Mike long time dream theater fan I was acctualey privellaged to speak to you on Q 1042 Eddie Trunk and I was just wondering so far how is the tour going is it everything you were expecting. What is DT looking to in the the upcoming months when can the states see you again. Like always keep rocking like you guys always do DT rules
Portnoy> Tour dates can be found on
www.dreamtheater.net or
www.mikeportnoy.com....basically we'll be in Europe from Sept to Nov, South America in Dec, Asia (and hopefully Australia) in Jan and "An Evening With" US leg in Feb/March/April-ish
FatalDreams: Mike, a bit off-topic... Have you started working on Neal Morse's new album? What is your opinion on the group Neal has formed?
Portnoy> Yes I recorded my tracks from Neal's latest back in May...I just was mixed this week and should be out in the coming months. It's another masterpiece (if I can say so myself)...I love working with Neal...he is one of my dearest friends and one of my favorite songwriters EVER
Ty1020: Where did the whole "Eat My Ass and Balls" idea come from?
Portnoy> Believe it or not, *I* did not make it up...it actaully was invented by our old guitar tech Mark Snyder
Ruben_K.: Do you produce the DT albums yourself?
Portnoy> No myself and John Petrucci co-produce together...with the help of an outside engineer (Doug Oberkircher) and an outside mixer (previously Kevin Shirley and Michael Brauer)
szabiakanich: Hey Mike! I've been into Porcupine Tree lately. What do you think of them? Do you like their newest release? Thanks! Rock on!
Portnoy> Love them....been a fan/friend for many years...in fact, I invited them to open for DT on our European 2000 tour..as well as having Steven Wilson gues vocal on the OSI CD....
ndlaxrocks: would you ever consider touring with symphony x?
Portnoy> What do you think we've been doing all summer??? : )
ConjuringSMV: Hey Mike, I had a blast finally seeing you live at the Reading show. My question was who were some of your favorite drummers growing up, and who are some of your current favorite drummers?
Portnoy> My old favorites: John Bonham, Neil Peart, Keith Moon, Ringo Starr, Bill Bruford, Terry Bozzio...too many to name! My current favs: Chris Adler (Lamb Of God), Danny Carey (Tool), also too many to name
bluedrgn456: How do you guys go about deciding the setlists each night?
Portnoy> I write them by myself and email them to the band and crew members a few days in advance. I write completely different sets for every show and spend ALOT of time making sure I write sets that offer completely different experiences for our repeat fans in every city (from night to night and from tour to tour)....
DC_gtr_88: Hey Mike, ever thought of bringing Dave up to do a song with you guys?!
Portnoy> I did and he did (Grand Prarie, TX)
Hector: Mike, I was wondering if any of the songs that you played with DT during your "An Intimate Evening with Dream Theater" shows, when you gusy were with Derek, are ever going to be released on CD?(i.e. "The Way it Used to Be"...)
Portnoy> Most of those songs were released on a Fan Club CD from years ago called "Cleaning Out The Closet"......I will likely re-issue most of them in some form or another on future Ytsejam Records releases (go to
www.ytsejamrecords.com) aytch_7: are you going to tour with metallica sometime ??
Portnoy> We'd do it in a heart beat...I've spoken with Lars about it several times...Realistically, we have now toured with almost EVERY band we've ever wanted with the exception of Rush and Metallica, so we're still waiting for those phone calls! : )
FatalDreams: Mike, which albums have cross your mind when picking a classic album to cover next?
Portnoy> I've already picked the album we'll be covering in Amsterdam and London next month...some of the guys have already begun learning it and it's gonna be AWESOME!!!!
tgstk2: hi mike, just watched the drumavarium DVD, very fucking cool!!!some cool blast speeds!! any change for another instructiional DVD in the future?? or a DT in the studio DVD??
Portnoy> Well, I've done "drum cam" DVD's for the past 3 or 4 albums now...actually, I've recently spoken with Hudson Music about possibly doing a new "proper" instructional video...it's been many years since "Liquid Drum Theater", so I guess it's time again
DreamTheaterOwnsYou: Hey Mike, I'm a big fan of you and Dream Theater. Were you not notified about the baseball game with the other bands? What happened?!
Portnoy> Yeah...I'm bummed we missed the game...Dave mentioned it to me several times throughout the tour, but our tour manager wasn't officially given the details til the evening before and at that point it was too late to re-route our buses and change our hotel rooms....oh well... : (
Myvanpounds: Mike have you thought about doing some more clinics?
Portnoy> I've been on a clinic "hiatis" for several years now....just enjoying a break from them for a while...Honestly, I'd rather play with other musicians than by myself which is why I've stopped clinics and have done guest appearances/tribute bands instead...
xanadu-spz: Hi Mike. Have you ever had the opportunity to play with Neil Peart?
Portnoy> You know....he has eluded me all these years!!!!!!!!!! I've met Geddy and Alex (who were both soo cool to me), but Neil is still the mystery man...It's pretty incredible actually as I've met pretty much all of my other heros from Ringo Starr to Jimmy Page, etc. C'MON NEIL....YOU CANT HIDE FOREVER!!!!
lebowski: great drum duo w/ richard christy - did you guys get to rehearse that at all beforehand?
Portnoy> Me and Richard worked out the "setlist" on my bus and then I asked John Petrucci to learn a few riffs to join us
Tobias: Are you gonna direct the Gigan Tour Dvd?
Portnoy> Actually, it's gonna be a welcome change of pace to "not" direct it...I will of course approve the DT footage, but it's gonna be nice to leave the project in somebody else's hands
BDS369: How many albums left until we get a best of album? I dont think I could pick out just one cds worth of material ::cool
Portnoy> Well considering our contract with Atco/East West/Elektra/Atlantic has FINALLY come to an end, I wouldn't be surprised if they milk us with one soon....I just hope if they do, they let me oversee the package...I already know what I want to call it: "Dream Theater - Greatest Hit (and 10 other pretty cool songs!)".....referring to Pull Me Under of course! : )
Tensed_Dreams: When the AA-saga is fullfilled, will it be made to a EP?
Portnoy> That's my plan....I've already written about steps 1 thru 7 at this point...so I guess I HAVE to see it through to completion ("half measures availed us nothing!") - once it's all done, yes the plan is to perform (and record it) in its entirety. That's all I have time for gang! Thanks for coming...I gotta go get ready to ROCK MONTREAL and film the DVD! C-ya on the road for "An Evening With DT" and our 20th Anniversary Tour throughout the rest of 2005 and 2006!
<message edited by Weymolith on Friday, September 02, 2005 7:13 PM>
