Don't blame me that baby Al is so adorable....it's Mrs and Mr McKenna senior that did all the work! I'm just an innocent observer!

Skippygirl - It can happen. We don't have Joe's specific January tour dates yet, but there are 11 cities listed on the road page...Joe likes to do six days on and one day off, it seems, so he should be able to get those shows done in two weeks.

Even with a week off after New Year's, Joe could be done with the tour by the 20th or so. Or he could spend three weeks in the studio with Chickenfoot in early January and then start his solo tour in late January and go into February.

It'll work out somehow. And even if Sammy was a bit loose with the dates in his comment, it sounded like he was referring to Chickenfoot with Chad...that's the most important thing. :-)

More from me later...I'm off to bed!

Can I say something? (a note from Mike's sister) - Saturday, September 11, 2010 10:36 AM

Before I write this, understand that this is MY statement. Mike might kill me for speaking up, but I just can't sit by quietly. I guess I'm like Mike in that way.

PLEASE stop reading between the lines with this whole situation. There is no hidden meaning in all of this (is there ever with Mike? The guy is an open book with his fans!!). Everything Mike said in his interview with Eddie Trunk, in his press release or otherwise is everything he has been saying to me for the past year, at least. He LOVES the other (DT) guys and their families. They have grown up together, married women that were (and are) best friends, have raised their kids as best friends. They are family. This was not an easy decision for him as a drummer, founding band member (and band leader) or person.

Let's put 25 years into perspective. I am 40. I met John and John when I was 15. How many friends do I still have that I have had to live AND work with for the past 25 years? Not a single one. I can't imagine looking at the same group of people for that many years and being able to come up with new, fun ideas (that will then be judged the world over). My friends and I get stuck on doing the same things on random weekend gatherings!

Remember, this is strictly my perspective here...

You'd think that being a rock star would be 100% fun 100% of the time. But I know that Mike works extremely hard and takes every bit of this experience to heart. You might think you know, but you have no idea (to borrow a line from Behind the Music). It is a part of who he is as a person, it is definitely not just a job. He's been running at a pace (WITH DREAM THEATER) most people couldn't keep up for a few months, much less 25 years. He just wants a break. He wants to have the chance to play with other musicians and be reminded of how special this all is. He wants to have fun and not be in charge of every detail for a bit. (And for those of you thinking he should just let others take the reins in DT, all I'll say is that you have no idea what you are talking about.)

The way I see it, it's not a matter of Mike not wanting to be in DT (Remember, he DOES want to be in DT... he NEVER wanted or planned to leave the band). Giving up Dream Theater must be like giving up a child for him. I know it's been horribly painful. But I am extremely proud of him for recognizing that he needs to be reinvigorated and for doing what he needs to do to make that happen. You know Mike. He does not do anything half-assed. He wants every drop of music that Dream Theater releases to be perfect and fulfilling for everyone. Right now, he is guaranteeing that he can't do that. Maybe (apparently) the other guys don't feel the same about this situation, I can't speak to that, but he knows that he needs a break to be able to bring the best of himself to the table. There is no alterier motive. He genuinely just needs a break. He needs a break that allows him to find new inspiration and have some down time. When he has done his other side projects, if you think he was not also working on DT stuff, you'd be incredibly mistaken.

I guess I got a bit long-winded there... sorry, but it's torture to sit back and watch my brother getting ripped apart or criticized for making this incredibly INCREDIBLY hard choice. And for those of you who are supporting/understanding of his decision, I want you to know HOW MUCH it is appreciated.

Thanks for listening... ~ Sam <message edited by Portnoy on Saturday, September 11, 2010 7:36 PM>

That CF shows sounds like it was a good time had by all! Yay! Wish I could have heard the videos on my phone a bit clearer, but the pics were great! Thank's for keeping us updated Tracie & Austin!

Al, have you found what you were looking for in that moment, or has the dehydration clouded your memory? I'm tellin' ya, you deserve yer own Clydesdale pullin' cart, but instead of it carrying Bud, it should have an open bar in the back with a few friends, and sprinkled with an odd assortment of party hats and rub-on giraffe tattoos.

Happy Grandparent's Day!

I'm playing my Chickenfoot DVD. Oh Yeah!

Castle _ Thx for the check & the feedback. To say all, it's not my track. In fact, i just started to work with a guy called Hervé who likes to compose & arrange music. The whole project consist of recording a 10 tracks rock instrumental album. The 10 compositions already existe, but when Hervé composed them, he was thinking about a singer who would complete the songs with lyrics. After listening to some of his music, i proposed to him to replace singer parts by guitar parts. Just thought it would be an interesting challenge. He agreed. So, the tracks are now gonna an other way.. this time, i try to build some narrative lines, instead of a theater of insane solos or progressive arrangements. Hervé's music requires this approach.

Onto this project, i just work onto the Strat addiction.

As already said, Scorp'floyd is still onto convalescing try. My tone, during 3/4 of the song is not the good one for that kind of melody. Still looking for..

Currently, we only get one complete song : Escape time

Hello. Has read your responses, it is sincere to you it is grateful, has been assured that you will understand me.

Glitz Man I Welcome.

I live not bad. I thank you for interest.

I hope all of you U.S. peeps are planning on voting on November 2, but before you do, check out this site and see all the bullshit we're getting fed by all the hate breeders who have money for ads and radio talk shows.

Sad But True

Anyways, Tracie still has 3 hours of driving ahead of her...after already driving 7 hours!!! She's crazy I tells ya! Good driving vibes to her!

the comments are funnier than the video. lol!

Today's youth in the land of Eire.....Rivers of ancient times and ancient water?......yuck! Where are the water purification plants??? This is the 21st century....

I've a mind to call Mr. and Mrs. McKenna senior and find out how they got through those parently trying years. :-/

Al, you could have guys like this

Haven't heard this song for a while - Jesus Is On The Mainline - Aerosmith

Home safe and sound, just tired :) but HAPPY, LOL!

Aaron Hagar did an excellent job with the Waboritas, he looks a lot like his dad, sounds a lot like him, can scream just like him, sings great, and even giggles like his dad....he was wunnerful and that was the first time for us seeing the Waboritas in action...LOVED THEM!! Total fun way to start the night!!

Yes, I said it last night and I'll say it again...I've seen Chickenfoot 5 other times, this latest Tahoe show being #6...and last night was the BEST of all the shows for me. Joe always leaves me with my jaw dropped in amazement with his playing, and the chemistry of these guys together just can't be beat...but last night Joe took it to another level entirely. I don't even have words for how amazing his playing was. I mentioned that to Austin after the show and he said he could really tell that Joe had been playing a lot between recording the new album and now rehearsing for the tour, and all that work showed in his playing last night. Might be the explanation, might be that he was just enjoying himself so much up there with his buds doing what he loves to do, might be a comibination or something else entirely.

Whatever it was, it's bloody well working Joe, LOL!! How do you keep getting better and better, I'd really like to know!

We had the same setlist as the other CF shows but there were some twists and turns by that guitar guy here and there...and the entire Star Spangled Banner at the end (as Chad trashed the drum kit...personally I'da liked to have seen him wait till that song was over and then trash away)...that gave me goose bumps. When he finished, Joe thumped his fist on his heart and then out to the audience. We feel ya Joe, and thank you so much for that, it was a great ending to a great show, on a date with special meaning.

And I swear to Bob, the sign hanging outside the venue said Davy Knowles and Back Door Slam were to be special guests along with Aaron Hagar...I even took a picture and sent it to Michelle and she put it up on twit pic....but then later when I went to show Austin to prove it to him, someone had colored over the white letters with black sharpie marker to blot the info out. :(((( Awwww. We got even more excited there, fer awhile, lol!!

This year's crowd was much more respectful of each other, not too much pushing and shoving going on thank gawd....the lady right behind me lit "something" up in a teeny lil pipe and shared her smoke with all of us around her...the guy next to me, he and his wife are school teachers and he joked that he hoped there wouldn't be any random drug tests at his school any time soon. Sigh...some peoples.....

Chris and I were first in the GA line, got there at 10:30 (yeah, yeah, crazy, that's us). Doors opened at 6, Aaron and the Waboritas started at 7. We were second row, but by the time Chickenfoot came out we managed to squeeze in at the barrier thanks to the lovely school teacher couple :) Pretty much right in front of Joe. I let Chris handle the new digital camera (he unnerstands these things better than me) and I did the Flip video thingie and some camera shots of my own. He got some great shots! Haven't had time to check the vids, but if anything turned out decent I'll stick it up on youtube...after I figger it out that is. Chris said he'd help me :D

Chris managed to catch Chad's sweaty wrist band that he threw into the crowd at the end...now...do we wash it or no? LOL!

Long trip driving down and even longer trip back, but soooo worth it! And now we wait and look forward to Joe's new release on October 5th, and then the show in Napa on the 6th. It's gonna be amazing, I already know it!!

LOVE YA JOE!!! THANKS FOR A GREAT TIME!!! I don't want you to ever give up your solo career, but pretty please, keep the Foot going too :) Just be sure to get enough rest and take yer vitamins, k? lol!