Congrats to Kirk Vartan (ksv666) for winning the aftershow pass giveaway for the Chickenfoot Tahoe show!

I figured it was about time for them to pick somebody... I had better go get packing- tomorrow we drive!

MIKE PORTNOY Quits DREAM THEATER - Sep. 8, 2010 Drummer Mike Portnoy of progressive metal giants DREAM THEATER has released the following statement:

"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 DREAM THEATER 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 DREAM THEATER'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 DREAM THEATER 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 DREAM THEATER 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 and 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 DREAM THEATER 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 DREAM THEATER 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.

Michelle- was not expecting that announcement..... The times they are a changing......... :-/

Peace, can't say I was either. I knew he was having a blast with AX7 and his other side projects, but I guess I didn't realize how much fun he was not having with DT. I've heard the buzz many times about how after a show DT all go their separate ways instead of hanging out and gellin'. I mean, to me, MP IS DT!! IMO, MP is the best drummer in the world, having been lead by greats like Peart & Rich. If his heart isn't happy, and hasn't been happy for a while, well then he has to choose the path that's right for him, not us. He says he asked for a hiatus, but the band wouldn't do it, so really they gave him no alternative. Maybe they played hard ball thinking he'd cave - but he didn't. It's sad that they couldn't work it out. Each player in DT was genius at their instrument, so I have no idea who could take MP's place. As for DT, I have no idea what's to come, but for Mike - it's all open skys and sunshine.

C'maaaaaan with it!

Check it!

And if this don't look like fun for all...

And who's gonna teach Max with Mike on tour for a year?

He's a F**Kin' drum God! God Bless him in whatever he does!! lol!

michelle

Dream Theater without Mike Portnoy?!?!?!?No...no,nooo......WAAAAAAAHHHHHH

Ok then,if Portnoy is out then I'M TAKING OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fatape, Here's happy

He can dye his hair green and play with whoever he wants now :-)

michelle

ooh looky...a DOUBLE fatape Sammich!!!

HA!! Where's the cheese when ya need it?

Just found out I have a ticket to the AFL Grand Final and that INXS are performing the opener - sweet! Who'd like a tweet during the match?

On another note I see from today tourists to the US have to pay a new $14 tax which is to pay for marketing the US as a tourist destination ... WTF?

Have a great time at Chickenfoot peeps!! Reports please.

Its our turn for a tour Joe!!

Sad to hear that about MP. I wouldn't call myself a huge DT fan, but I enjoy quite a bit of their stuff. Especially fond of LTE.. I suppose a person is bound to get burned out of about anything if you do it long enough without letting up.

Anyway- what are thoughts about Kenny Wayne Shepherd around here? I saw him on the last EH tour and really enjoyed his sound and style, but he was playing Hendrix material. I was thinking about pre-ordering his LIVE! In Chicago album, but wasn't sure what the general feeling about his original material was.

Change in plans on the Tahoe trip- Still leaving tomorrow, but only driving to Winnemucca, NV. That's exactly half way to Lake Tahoe from here, and I got a nice hotel room for $50. We were hoping to leave a little earlier and drive the whole trip in one day, but 5 hours will be plenty. Should arrive early afternoon on Friday..

I just finished reading the long (10-page) thread on Mike Portnoy's forum. To say I'm shocked is an understatement. A few things:

- I think MP will be back eventually.
- MP is free to do what he wants, but if he ends up joining Avenged Sevenfold full-time it's going to leave a bad taste in my mouth.
- In a weird way, I'm now REALLY looking forward to what Dream Theater's next album and tour will be like. MP is one of my favorite drummers, but in recent years I feel the band has become a bit predictable. So DT is losing a key member, but I think it'll really shake things up and allow the band to be truly progressive for the first time in a while.
- My first and last (for now) DT shows with MP were at the same venue in Concord, CA...8/11/02 and 6/20/10. The first song and the last song I heard were the same: Pull Me Under.
- Possible replacement drummers: Rod Morgenstein? Virgil Donati? Mike Mangini?

And on KWS, I'd start with his studio albums before you get into any live stuff. You'll be good with any of his first three albums. His second album, Trouble Is..., might be the best place to start (and it includes a Hendrix cover).

I think my favorite album is his debut, Ledbetter Heights. The production quality isn't as good, but I think the playing is more diverse...he stretches out beyond typical blues (Deja Voodoo, Aberdeen, and Riverside sound like songs from three completely different bands).

His third, Live On, includes covers of two of my favorite songs (Them Changes, by Buddy Miles and played by Hendrix, and Oh Well, the Peter Green-era Fleetwood Mac song)...but I don't think the album as a whole is as strong as either of the first two.

Avoid his fourth album (The Place You're In), at least in the beginning. It's more of a rock thing, and KWS sings most of the songs instead of Noah Hunt. The whole album has a different vibe.

Dear Joe, my name is Paolo Sburlati, I live in Italy.

My friend Mario Fasciano, drummer and composer in Napoli, is about to record another solo album and would like u to participate to it recordin on a couple tracks. One would b a Tarantella written by Italian historical composer Gioacchino Rossini in 1740 and arranged by Mario and one would b a kinda Tarantella written by Mario himself.

Many international artists will appear on his album as usual. In the past he recorded with Rick Wakeman, Ian Paice, Don Airey, Steve Morse, Rob Townsend, Steve Hackett and others. Check Mario's websites:

http://www.myspace.com/mariofasciano http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsAqdgHtqoQ http://www.self.it/ita/details.php?nb=8021939306928

Would u b available to work with him and if yes how much would b ur request?

Thx for reading.

Later,

PAOLO SBURLATI