Dream Theater And Mike Portnoy: From Black Clouds To Silver Linings
Tuesday, 11 February 2014
Written by Simon Ramsay
When Mike Portnoy quit Dream Theater in 2010, the seismic shockwaves that reverberated through the progressive metal community were enough to level a small city. Now, over three years later, Dream Theater have unleashed two superb albums, while Portnoy has thrown himself into a diverse range of high quality projects. Although many still mourn their split, it can be argued that the legendary drummer’s decision was actually a blessing in disguise.
The breakdown of Dream Theater's musical marriage was as surprising to the band as it was to their fans. Following the release of 'Black Clouds And Silver Linings', their 10th album, Portnoy revealed he was burnt out by the endless cycle of recording, publishing and touring. He proposed that they embark on a hiatus, but the rest of the group resolutely refused.
In September 2010 Portnoy officially resigned. When the news was announced, internet forums were set alight by Dream Theater's devout followers expressing surprise, dismay and devastation. Portnoy, for his part, said in a statement: “While it truly hurts for me to even think of a Dream Theater without Mike Portnoy (hell, my father named the band!!), I do not want to stand in their way…so I have decided to sacrifice myself and simply leave the band so as to not hold them back against their wishes.”
Fast forward to 2014 and the picture looks much brighter, with Portnoy as busy as ever and Dream Theater about to embark on a massive UK tour, including a date at Wembley Arena. This is the story of how Portnoy and Dream Theater found their feet as separate entities, and crafted some superb albums along the way.
DREAM THEATER
Once the dust settled, the band faced the daunting task of finding a new drummer. In something of a PR masterstroke they invited seven of the best candidates from around the world to audition and filmed those interviews for a riveting internet documentary. Former Steve Vai sticksman Mike Mangini landed the gig.
A Dramatic Turn Of Events (2011)
Any doubts about a Dream Theater album without Portnoy were dispelled by this impressive release. The band's best records always keep the metal, melodic and progressive elements in balance, so guitarist John Petrucci – who produced the album - and company wisely concocted the best execution of that formula since 1992’s much loved 'Images And Words'.
Typically long and requiring repeated listens to digest, 'A Dramatic Turn Of Events' delivered grandstanding epics like Bridges In The Sky, Outcry and Breaking All Illusions, while This Is The Life was as heartfelt as anything from their past. Not everything worked though, and Lost Not Forgotten's crazy over indulgence practically screamed 'look what we can do without Mike'.
At times, the record is guilty of recreating 'Images And Words' too literally, but, whatever their reasoning, it was exactly what Dream Theater needed to do. The record earned their first Grammy nomination, for the opening track, and a mostly positive reception from their fans.
Although written before he joined the band, Mangini performed on the record and his drum sound was far lower in the mix than Portnoy's used to be. Some liked the less overbearing approach, others felt it was a key part of the group's sound. Either way, Mangini's real test would be on tour. It was one he passed with flying colours as his ability and chirpy personality won over the faithful, with James La Brie's charm and hospitality as a frontman also shining through.
Dream Theater (2013)
Releasing a self-titled album after 25 years isn't standard practice, but this is a musical rebirth driven by, and infused with, confidence and camaraderie. It's very much Dream Theater, while being fresh and forward thinking.
What's immediately apparent is the record's accessibility, with shorter songs and wonderfully sculpted hooks. They haven't sold out as such, but refined and focused, squeezing their instrumental genius into a tighter set of tracks that move at a wonderful pace.
As for Mangini, his volcanic intro to The Enemy Inside – which gave the band their second Grammy nomination – is the equivalent of a rhythmic orgasm. Elsewhere, the major key Rush anthemics of The Looking Glass and The Bigger Picture's soaring beauty are equally stirring in their melodic opulence.
The undoubted highlight, though, is closing 23 minute epic, Illumination Theory. Built upon waves of thunderous riffs, symphonic sections, an existential narrative and screaming solos, it moves through its five act structure in thrilling fashion.
MIKE PORTNOY
Portnoy ate, slept and breathed Dream Theater for a quarter of a century. Although leaving them gave him a massive hole to fill, he's always been a musical workaholic and was involved in a number of outside projects, notably Liquid Tension Experiment, Avenged Sevenfold and prog super group Transatlantic, while still in the band. Since the split, his productivity has intensified.
Adrenaline Mob
After finishing his temporary tenure in Avenged Sevenfold, following the tragic death of Jimmy ‘The Rev’ Sullivan, Portnoy formed Adrenaline Mob with Russell Allen of Symphony X and guitarist Mike Orlando. The coruscating power trio released their debut EP in 2011, followed by the 'Omerta' album in March 2012.
A barrage of bastardised metal delivered with mountainous aggression, Adrenaline Mob's bruising songs were battered out with relish by Portnoy as he expelled his frustrations with every beat and bass drum blast. On the whole it's a very entertaining album, with only Allen's bare-chested bawling occasionally grating.
In 2013 Portnoy left Adrenaline Mob to concentrate on other projects, but not before bowing out on the rip-roaring 'Coverta' EP, which featured the band performing songs by their favourite artists. Highlights included a rocked up reworking of Duran Duran's Come Undone with vocals from Halestorm'sLzzy Hale, a hard-hitting version of Heart's Barracuda and tasty treats from Van Halen, the Doors and Led Zeppelin.
Flying Colours and Neal Morse
In 2011, Portnoy joined long-time collaborator Neal Morse in Flying Colors, with Deep Purple guitarist Steve Morse, Dave LaRue from the Dixie Dregs and Alpha Rev's Casey Mcpherson. Together they created a luminous debut album that emphasised high quality song writing over instrumental freak-outs.
It was a great excuse for Portnoy to honour his love of the Beatles, while also throwing elements of Queen, Pink Floyd and ELO into the blender. A blissful slice of melodic brilliance, it's of the finest albums he's ever made.
Portnoy also backed Morse on his 2012 album ‘Momentum’ and - along with bassist Randy George - released a sequel to their 2006 album 'Cover To Cover'. The new offering - 'Cover 2 Cover' - found them hammering out versions of songs from the Bee Gees, King Crimson, Neil Young and, er, the Osmonds with a grinning, feel good elan.
The Winery Dogs
In 2013 Portnoy hooked up with virtuoso bassist Billy Sheehan and guitarist/singer Richie Kozen to create this sensational self-titled debut album. Boasting a mixture of hard rock, soul, blues and gospel - dispatched with instrumental touches that propel the songs without overpowering them - the result was familiar but inventive, nodding to the past but feeling vibrantly present.
The Winery Dogs were embraced with open arms during their subsequent tour and their album was an unexpected, but deserved, critical and commercial success. If Portnoy gives this group the attention it deserves they're destined for greatness.
Portnoy, Sheehan, MacAlpine, Sherinian
This mostly instrumental concert took place in Tokyo in 2012 and was a showcase for some spectacular musical intercourse, with Portnoy and Sheehan joined by renowned guitarist Tony MacAlpine and former Dream Theaterkeyboardist Derek Sherinian. Incorporating jazz, metal, fusion and prog, it's an instrumental geek's wet dream, with Dream Theater songs like A Change Of Seasons 1: the Crimson Sunrise, and Lines In The Sand making welcome appearances.
Transatlantic...and the future
Featuring Portnoy, Morse, RoineStalt of the Flower Kings and Marillion's Pete Trewavas, the godfathers of complex-but-accessible prog unveiled their fourth opus - 'Kaleidoscope' - in early 2014, noodling away on mind bending 1970s style epics modelled on Yes and Genesis. Bookended by two songs that are longer than your average sitcom, 'Kaleidoscope' contains sweeping passages of melodic beauty and staggering levels of instrumental panache, showcasing their individual and collective talents and cementing their reputation as the greatest classical prog band of the day.
That release kicked off another busy year for Portnoy, who is drumming on Bigelf's comeback album 'Into The Maelstrom', releasing a special edition of the Winery Dogs record and has also recently wrapped the writing of a new Flying Colors record. Add to that gigs with the Dogs, Transatlantic and Morse and the man in constant motion is, well, in constant motion.
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