Mike Portnoy - Beginnings (1 of 8)

[EzuHades]

lol neil peart blows away all his heroes xD

[RT83]

I'd really like to know where to get one of those Zomby Woof shirts! :D

[SRVMETAL]

Liquid Tension Experiment .... Just saying!

[davethedm]

I hear all his idols and all I can think is how much better he has become than them.

[uzickimajmunac]

@davethedm except lars ulrich

[davethedm]

@uzickimajmunac Not even close. Lars couldn't play half the odd time signature songs that DT does. 

[naleyan]

Has anyone noticed he is tying to look like King Nebuchanzza, not a fan his music & drumming just leaves me cold, just dont see the need for the speed. I know his music is digitial which has no tone to it its all very clicky, Rush I can dig & The Who Quadraphenia with its wonderful Wagner hooks& the message. Maybe its my age IDK.

[uzickimajmunac]

@naleyan haha sorry man i'm serbian and I dont understand you at all. But your comment sounds smart!

[kigawman]

Mike, whatever you decision is, your fans will still support you. A lot of people understand why you left DT. We hope you come back.

[raizenron]

pls come back in dt ...

[thericecrispy2]

Ha! he has the majesty logo on his left arm!

[NosferatuOfWorms]

The Zomby Woof shirt = win!!!

[Vader9]

@NosferatuOfWorms yea I love Zappa and Mike Portnoy does too he has a Zappa mustache tattoo on his leg.

[calabro42]

lol birthday is 4/20

[bassdrumbone64]

@calabro42 Why is this funny?

[McDrummerSLR]

@bassdrumbone64: 4/20 is marijuana day... stupid, yea

[Guyverhoeven]

Mike Portnoy and Dream Theater should be Marvel Superhero's.

[Archais22]

@Guyverhoeven I'm pretty sure that was a compliment lol. I think DC is a bit more befitting, to each his/her own i suppose.

[jStrat7]

uhm... so holy shit. i think portnoy and i are musical best friends. hahaha. ;D

[666jamesroot]

mike is my hero !! YEAHHH'

[useyourdelusion]

run forest run

[yjmpgkl]

listen dream theater and you will see

[VincentVangoria]

I'm a huge fan of those bands, but I still like Dream Theater more. They're the best at everything they do

[coulrophobia0o0o3]

dude u r fucking retarded

[yjmpgkl]

yeah, rigth =S...

[thygodofrock190]

He was good, but I can think of much more drummers that are better than him. Just because he was in a famous band doesn't make him the best drummer of all time.

[MulletMan3108]

he is one of the best. the only people that really spring to mind who are up there with him are buddy rich, neil peart and toams haake

[TheChrisdpbradley]

he is my role model

[Voxx321]

i totally agree wit u man. Im a guitar player, so petrucci is my god, but portnoy will always be my role model

[SLonergan59]

@Voxx321 Same situation here dude. You just described me!

[alexl1001]

Ha ha. One of my early high school bands was also called INTRUDER. We played VH and stuff like that, too. The name came from the VH Diver Down "record album", the track that was called, "Intruder" which was the opening music to the song, Pretty Woman on that record.

[Thunderbolt1234]

dude he was born on the same day as Hitler

[Rocklobster933]

lolololololol

[vanzahan2]

Haha, I'm born on the same day as Hitler too. And Portnoy. And Carmen Electra :D

[thesilentcircus789]

most of these guys down here are arrogent pricks who can't listen to a band progress musically. if you don't like the music, don't listen to it, asshole.

[goldenfinger2000]

yeah man. I agree with you.

Too bad not many people don't know how to enjoy music...

[goldenfinger2000]

Haha wow you gotta be shitting me.

Mike Portnoy started Dream Theater. Mike Portnoy IS Dream Theater.

Dumb fuck.

[D3s0L]

lol mike portnoy allways was the main songwritter! WTF ARE YOU SMOKING?

[D3s0L]

mike droped alcohool and drugs arround the six degrees album did that had any impact on your DT impression?

[dpsantos1994]

don't mind this guy. He's stupid. In fact dream theater evolved and got better by the time of six degrees! Of course we cant forget pull me under and the spirit carries on... so beautiful

FUCKING HATERS

[nunobaiao]

Great person, great drummer... always in motion...

Big influence to me.

[BumKainan]

^5 totally with ya on that dude.. this guy is GOD when it comes to the drum world

[connorerhart]

I fucking love the Frank Zappa t shirt

[antones99]

wow... born on 420... he is definately a big stoner

[shawnhatesy0u]

LOL he was born on 420? thats awesome!

[jokern023]

Congratz Mike keep on rockin'

[b111n]

its Mike Portnoy's birthday today. Happy Birthday

[noisadirtyword123]

dont take this as disrespect to him (because 90% of youtube probably would) but his birthday is on april 20th? also known as... 420? cause thats awesome i never knew that

[b111n]

why is the number 420 significant?

[tonybony1491]

National Pot day and Hitler's Birthday.

[lagunaj91]

It's also the model number for his signature drumstick from Pro-mark

[Dsteve85]

It's also my birthday and I never knew and I'm a drummer as well and he's one of my favourite drummers ever, haha.

[estebanramone]

i'm a drummer and i was born the same day that Angus Young was. where can i make my complaint? :@

ahahaha

[subtleknife1]

420 is also the numeric police code for a marijuana bust, fyi.

[beyondstepone]

The number 420 is not police radio code for anything, anywhere. Checks of criminal codes suggest that the origin is neither Californian nor federal. For instance, California Penal Code 420 defines as a misdemeanor the hindrance of use of public lands.

[kikotube]

any REAL musician knows and respects the beatles, but any REAL musician knows that Ringo wasn't a good drummer.

[gerardbass1989]

I disagree about Ringo, I think he played a lot less so the rest of the band could fill the gaps, which was like a Beatles trade mark in my opinion as their music didn't exactly call for the drums to be playing a million things a second. He made space. Space is sexy!

[DallozDoppler]

It's all a matter of opinion

[blackplastic7]

No REAL musicians respect any Beatles members for their musicianship. Only for their songwriting.

[educortazarc]

wich was...??

[aztheater69]

Me thinks you protest too much, jealousy is such a lonely word guys.

[PimpMasterT]

his FIRST influences....FIRST...jeez, give him the rest of the goddamn interview

[evansakidrums]

Anybody who has no respect for Ringo Starr and The Beatles is not worthy of being a musician. The Beatles are the most influential rock band of all time. Influencing legendary bands such as Black Sabbath and KISS. Any REAL musician knows and respects The Beatles and their influence on modern rock and heavy metal.

[Jay435]

I have great respect for the Beatles and I remember seeing them on Ed Sullivan for the 1st time in '64. Ringo had a specific style he invented (um pah um um pah) but bless his heart, he was never a great drummer & McCartney erased his parts sometimes & replayed them on the albums. Lennon said he wasn't even the best drummer in The Beatles

[HenBanKeN]

Man... I don't think so, Ringo's tempo was perfect. Tempo is the most important task for the drummer. His playing style was relaxed, and without mistakes.

I don't like Ringo, but he was a Great drummer.

[Jay435]

Hi HenBanKeN,

I've heard it a number of times and it's documented that especially near the end, Ringo, like George & John, became complacent & lazy. Some of his final tracks were erased & redone. He knows it too.

[Khorney]

He only said those were the ones at the time. He didnt say that he didnt care of Neil. Besides, why must he name drop EVERYONE? I think he namedrops much as it is. More than most musicians.

[Cyberwolv]

lol, whether or not he was good, he DID influence many good, more modern drummers, so at least respect the poor man! lolz

[PatMulgrew]

i went to school with an awesome fusion drummer that lives in denmark now. all through high school and freshman year in college he absolutely idolized neil peart. he even had the mullet with the braided pony tail. he started to get more into different styles and then started bashing neil peart. he hates neil peart now. strange.

[GMwoogitmaster18]

Zomby Woof shirt! Go Zappa!

[Analogger]

And don't forget the greatest drummer in the history of rock and roll. Yes, the man who was so gifted he could play four different songs at the same time! With his right hand he played "Ina Gada Da Vida," with the left it was "Wipeout," he would use his right foot for "Toad," and the left foot pounded out a blazing version of "Moby Dick." Of course you know who I'm talking about: Portland's own Mike "Smitty" Smith of the legendary Paul Revere and the Raiders. Case closed you knuckleheads!!

[Thedude112123]

When it comes to comparing Portnoy to Peart, it basically comes down to personal opinion. They are both on the similar levels as for as technical skill; it pretty much comes down to whose flavor you prefer.. Now when it comes each as a person.. I think Mike is a little more humble and mature than Peart( Given Peart's comment on the tribute.. Especially since DT isn't just your work of the mill prog rock band)

[supafly11]

ouch what did he say exactly?

[nevysixstrings]

Come on dude, they're not on similar levels. Neil Peart would crap himself if he had to play a DT song. BUT, without Peart you might not have Portnoy (at least in prog form)

[Thedude112123]

I agree with you completely. I posted it that way to avoid a pissing contest that usually follows a post like that. Personally I think Mike is a much better drummer. It's kind of like comparing Vai to Petrucci.John is far better technically and plays with much more emotion,but other people say Vai is better technically and plays with more emotion because he makes ridiculous faces when he plays and it looks like he's playing with much more emotion. Some people listen with thier eyes and not ears.

[Cash2112]

The difference is that you will never, ever see Peart wasting his time doing a DT cover or some kind of cheesy tribute to MP. Peart is MP's daddy.

[tofee35]

great drummer... his influences really show in his playing

[ddgarcianj]

I love how he completely leaves out Rush and Neil Peart. Ever since Neil Peart blasted Portnoy and Petrucci for their Rush Tribute album, Mike has made very conscious efforts to not mention them anymore. But the fact remains that Peart and Rush were some of Mike's biggest influences (hence a tribute album!). I love DT, but can't stand when they are disingenuous. Come on Mike. Who cares if Neil is an a-hole? You still grew up idolizing him. At least give him props for his influence on you.

[Eppardturen]

They both play very different things.

I'm sure there are things Peart can do that Portnoy can't, and I'm sure there are things Portnjoy can do that Peart can't.

They're both fantastic, we can all agree on that

[achanook]

I agree, these are the things people just want to debate about. Besides, Lars is better than both guys.

I'm kidding.

[metabog]

I don't see why everyone gave you thumbs down for stating your opinion... I didn't know Mike fans were such elitists. I thought you guys like Peart as well, he was a big influence on MP and I think Mike would say that Neil is better than him too, even if only to honor his name.

[perristis]

NO I dont think it... I consider is better Mike Porntnoy... much better.

[portnoy005]

any possibility that DT will come to the Philippines?

*hope so!* ;-p

\m/,

[shintaku18]

impossible! coz DT never released any album there!

[shintaku18]

impossible! coz DT never released any album there!

DT knows that no one will buy their albums there in phil bcoz of pirating!

[paulwall1981]

This guy is a drumming god, and anyone who dbouts this should listen to anything he has done. Long may he rigen

[MTSUman2009]

I started at age 4 :]

[chocojoelikesrush]

That's when I started piano. :)

[playfield]

Cool interview. Love the shirt. "Zomby Woof" is my favourite Zappa song!

[cgmsdh]

haha sweet

i started drumming before him

that's good news

[SolarFalre]

duuuude, this was filmed the same day I saw them at the Hard Rock. So I talked to him either right before this, or right after this interview. thats friggen awesome.

[Estevarium]

Yep. I saw DT that day too and met MP at Sam Ash for autographs before the show. He was wearing this same shirt so it's the same day... I doubt this was filmed after the show, he woulda been frazzled. So it seems he did this prior to going to Sam Ash for the autograph session... i meant to put my arm around him for my pic w him, and he was like 'dont grab me' i guess not a cool story!

But anyway this is proof he works his ass off when touring!!!

[exxagerator]

thanks