Ok, I get it. The way Mike Portnoy's departure from Dream Theater was launched into the public eye was torture. Does this mean he needs to be raked across the coals by fans and critics alike? No, it does not.
After 25 years of work, most people retire. He wanted to put his work on hold for hobbies. Avenged Sevenfold was a hobby for him. He had plenty of other hobbies while in Dream Theater: Yellow Matter Custard, Transatlantic, Liquid Tension Experiment, Neal Morse, not to mention overseeing all of the production of every CD and DVD ever put out by Dream Theater. The man literally tried to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders and felt the biggest weight needed a break.
We all know the story. He asked the other guys in DT for a break. The length of the break was undefined. The other band members were ready for their next album (their sixth in nine years) and a tour (their eleventh in those same nine years). Portnoy quit. He toured with Avenged Sevenfold. After the tour, as a result of serious fan and media backlash, he asked to rejoin DT, only to be told no. The new DT album was already in the works, and they were moving on without Portnoy.
As it turns out, A Dramatic Turn of Events received some critical acclaim, and the single On The Backs of Angels received Dream Theater's first Grammy nomination. Mike Mangini has been terrific behind the kit for Dream Theater, and for the first time in a long time, the band feels fresh. This is in no way a knock on Portnoy, as his presence was undoubtedly the backbone of DT for many years. This is simply an observation.
Meanwhile, Portnoy began working on Adrenaline Mob, his new band with Sir Russell Allen and Mike Orlando. He also recorded an album with Neal Morse under the band name Flying Colors. He has kept himself quite busy.
I heard (and edited for air) an interview done with Fingers of Long Island's WBAB. Fingers has known Portnoy since Dream Theater was Majesty, and Fingers pulled no punches in the interview. He asked about the departure; Mike reiterated the same sentiments he has made since September 8, 2010. He loved Dream Theater, but he needed this. Fingers asked about the Grammy nomination; Portnoy said he was happy for them, but winning a Grammy was never a goal of his while in Dream Theater.
Mike Portnoy has repeatedly poured his heart and soul into the work he puts into his music. His blood, sweat, and tears were put into creating a musical legacy that made Dream Theater the name among names in Progressive Rock and Progressive Metal. He is the second youngest drummer to be voted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame behind Neil Peart. Over 25 years in the music business and he is still making great songs and playing some of the best drums in the world. If you haven't heard Adrenaline Mob, I highly recommend you check them out.
As a Dream Theater fan, I do wish that things had either been worked out, or done in a private manner. But this is the information age, and between Facebook, Twitter, Blabbermouth, and countless other sources of other people's information, there is no more "behind closed doors" when you're famous. Mike Portnoy left Dream Theater. We, as fans, need to get over it. Both sides have released some amazing stuff since September 8, 2010. Can we all just be fans and enjoy the music?
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