Mike Portnoy Of Dream Theater Answers Fan Questions
Band Photo: Dream Theater (?)
Roadrunner Records has posted a new interview online with Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater answering fan questions. Excerpts from the Q & A follow:
FROM RODRIGO GUERRERO SALAZAR, MEXICO CITY: Would you ever collaborate with Porcupine Tree’s Steven Wilson?
I’m hoping to. It’s been talked about for years now - a collaboration between him, myself and Mikael Akerfeldt. It’s just been a matter of timing and I think all three of us are hesitant of the anticipation that has now surrounded this project, all three of us feel that we possibly can’t live up to it. I think we all wish we’d kept our mouths shut and we’d just quietly gone away and done it, and surprised everybody with it. That being said, I personally would prioritise it in my schedule and I even told both those guys that I’m ready, willing and able to somehow make it happen in 2010 if possible. I would love to do it.
FROM DAVID FITCH, BRAMBLETON, VIRGINIA: Is there any chance you will be putting out a Progressive Nation DVD?
I would have liked to have, but no, it’s not on the cards. This album and tour cycle will be the first without a DVD, but I think that’s ok, I hate always doing the same pattern or the same formula.
FROM FABIO DIAS, BRAZIL: We are all aware that recovering from alcoholism has a lot to do with attending meetings and working on those steps on a daily basis, and sometimes even sponsoring someone. How do you deal with these issues being a musician on the road? Do you still go to meetings when you’re at home, or even find time to go to meetings in other countries?
That’s a good question. AA for me was the solution to my problem. It’s not for everybody, different people have different ways of tackling their issues but for me that was the solution. It wasn’t until I started going to meetings that I was able to put drink and drugs down once and for all. I’m coming up on ten years of sobriety now and that’s due to the AA meetings. My first couple of years of sobriety I had to go to the meetings every day, and I went every day, and even on the road the first thing I would do when I got into a town was call up the hotline and find a meeting to go to. I’ve been to meetings everywhere from Kansas to Tokyo to London, and everywhere in between. It was absolutely mandatory for my sobriety. Now, with close to ten years under my belt I’m able to go stretches on the road without going to meetings, but stopping completely's not recommended, you really have to always go to meetings. Sometimes people at home will ask why I’m still going, but I know that if I don’t, I’ll drink again. You have to keep it fresh. I don’t go now as much as I used to, but I do still go, it’s absolutely important for me.
The entire interview can be found here.
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5 Comments on "Mike Portnoy Answers Fan Questions"
Member
Writer, Reviewer
4. writes:
I know what akerfeldt and portnoy play, but what does Wilson play?
I saw a video interview with akerfeldt saying he loved Porcupine Tree and listened to it a lot, especially during the early Opeth albums.
The internet is the best and worst way to find information : /
Either way I think it would be an interesting mix.
Former Contributor
5. writes:
b.bristowe
I don't say this lightly--Porcupine Tree is my favorite band.
They have a lot in common with Opeth's prog moments and Katatonias recent work to some extent. Modern prog that sounds like Tool, Pink Floyd and Radiohead went into a room and came out as one band. Their songs can be a standard 3 minute or 10 or 60(!)...
Their cds from 2002's "In Absentia", to this years "The Incident" are all between very good and absolutely perfect albums. But their discography goes back to the early 90's and most of those albums have aged incredibly well too.
They aren't metal but when they take that route for a song or even part of one its something to hear.
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Writer, Reviewer
1. psythe writes:
"...we all wish we’d kept our mouths shut and we’d just quietly gone away and done it, and surprised everybody with it."
Can definitely see his point here, that project was little more than rumour and it already had hype to the point of hysteria surrounding it. Cannot wait for it to happen, tho! :)