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Longtime Dream theater drummer Mike Portnoy announced he was leaving the band, leaving prog-heads across the country weeping in complex time signatures. The band released the following statement today:
“To all of our loyal fans and friends: It is with profound sadness -- regret -- we announce that Mike Portnoy, our lifelong drummer and friend, has decided to leave Dream Theater. Mike's stature in the band has meant the world to all of us professionally, musically, and personally over the years. There is no dispute: Mike has been a major force within this band.
While it is true that Mike is choosing to pursue other ventures and challenges, we can assure you that Dream Theater will continue to move forward with the same intensity -- and in the same musical tradition -- that you have all helped make so successful, and which is truly gratifying to us. Fans and friends: File this episode under Black Clouds and Silver Linings. As planned, we begin recording our newest album in January 2011, and we'll follow that with a full-on world tour. "The Spirit Carries On."
All of us in Dream Theater wholeheartedly wish Mike the best on his musical journey. We have had a long and meaningful career together. It is our true hope that he finds all he is looking for, and that he achieves the happiness he deserves. He will be missed.”
In February, Portnoy announced that he would join Avenged Sevenfold for the band's then-upcoming album following the death of longtime drummer James “The Rev” Sullivan. But Portnoy implored fans not to blame Avenged Sevenfold for his decision to leave the band.
"I BEG of the fans to please NOT hold A7X responsible for MY decision...they are just as shocked as you guys," Portnoy posted on his Facebook page. "I had been contemplating this and desiring a 'break' (not split) as long ago as last year...everything else is fully explained in the press release...thank you all for your support and understanding...this is the hardest thing I've ever done... : ("
He posted the following statement on his website in a post dated to Sept. 8:
I am about to write something I never imagined I'd ever write:
After 25 years, I have decided to leave Dream Theater....the band I founded, led and truly loved for a quarter of a century.
To many people this will come as a complete shock, and will also
likely be misunderstood by some, but please believe me that it is not a
hasty decision...it is something I have struggled with for the last year
or so....
After having had such amazing
experiences playing with Hail, Transatlantic and Avenged Sevenfold this
past year, I have sadly come to the conclusion that I have recently had
more fun and better personal relations with these other projects than I
have for a while now in Dream Theater...
Please don't
misinterpret me, I love the DT guys dearly and have a long history,
friendship and bond that runs incredibly deep with them...it's just that
I think we are in serious need of a little break...
Dream
Theater was always my baby...and I nurtured that baby every single day
and waking moment of my life since 1985...24/7, 365...never taking time
off from DT's never-ending responsibilites (even when the band was "off"
between cycles)...working overtime and way beyond the call of duty that
most sane people ever would do for a band...
But I've
come to the conclusion that the DT machine was starting to burn me
out...and I really needed a break from the band in order to save my
relationship with the other members and keep my DT spirit hungry and
inspired.
We have been on an endless write/record/tour
cycle for almost 20 years now (of which I have overseen EVERY aspect
without a break) and while a few months apart from each other
here & there over the years has been much needed and helpful, I
honestly hoped the band could simply agree with me to taking a bit of a
"hiatus" to recharge our batteries and "save me from ourselves"...
Sadly,
in discussing this with the guys, they determined they do not share my
feelings and have decided to continue without me rather than take
a breather...I even offered to do some occasional work throughout 2011
against my initial wishes, but it was not to be...
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....
Strangely enough, I just read an interview that I recently did that
asked me about the future of DT and I talked about "always following
your heart and being true to yourself"...sadly I must say that at this
particular moment, my heart is not with Dream Theater...and I would
simply be "going through the motions", and would honestly NOT be true to
myself if I stayed for the sake of obligation without taking the break I
felt I needed.
I wish the guys the best and hope the
music and legacy we created together is enjoyed by fans for decades to
come...I am proud of every album we made, every song we wrote and every
show we played....
I'm sorry to all the disappointed DT
fans around the world...I really tried to salvage the situation and make
it work...I honestly just wanted a break (not a split)...but happiness
cannot be forced, it needs to come from within....
You DT
fans are the greatest fans in the world and as you all know, I have
always busted my ass for you guys and I hope that you will stay with me
on my future musical journey, wherever it may lead me....(and as you all
know my work ethic, there will surely be no shortage of future MP
projects!)
Sadly...
Your fearless ex-leader and drummer,
MP
"Move on be brave, don't weep at my grave, because I am no longer here...
But please never let your memory of me disappear...."
The Spirit Carries On
A sadnes grows inside of me, it all seems so unreal.
IMAGINING THIS BAND WITHOUT MIKE IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. IVE BEEN A THEATER HEAD SINCE 92 AND AS A DRUMMER AND ENORMOUS FAN I CAN ONLY HOPE THIS MAN COMES TO HIS SENSES. LEAVING THEATER FOR AVENGED HAS GOT TO BE A MONEY THING. I DIDNT THINK A7X WAS THIS HUGE BUT APPARENTELY THEY ARE. ANYONE WHO KNOWS MUSIC AT ALL KNOWS MIKE WONT FIND THAT KIND OF CHEMISTRY ANYWHERE BUT WITH THEATER. GIVE HIM TIME HE WILL BE BACK!!!
Maybe Neil Peart will do double duty and join DT?
People thnk the grass is allways greener on the ohter side of the fence but is the pasture as BIG i think not in this case, Sorry Mike you will loose this battle.
It's such a shame Portnoy left, it somehow seems he was forced out and can't get back in. I'm very curious to see what direction the new album takes and whether anyone will wholly be able to fill his place. www.soundandvision.co.uk