SCHOCK!!!

Bin gerade mal zum Spass auf der Dream Theater seite und was steht da:

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.

Wie soll das denn weitergehen???

Bin ratlos und traurig,
ThresTheater

Und das ist sein Statement von FACEBOOK dazu:

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

Als ich das diese Nacht las, bin ich aus dem Bett gefallen.

Ich kann ja verstehen, dass Mike ne Pause braucht, aber warum stimmen die anderen da nicht einfach ein? Wie soll ein neues Album ohne Mike funktionieren, wie soll ne Tour ohne Mike von statten gehen?

Zitat von SirJethro

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Als ich das diese Nacht las, bin ich aus dem Bett gefallen.
Ich kann ja verstehen, dass Mike ne Pause braucht, aber warum stimmen die anderen da nicht einfach ein? Wie soll ein neues Album ohne Mike funktionieren, wie soll ne Tour ohne Mike von statten gehen?

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Finde ich auch seltsam - kann natürlich sein, dass sich die anderen von Mikes Kontrollzwang auch schon eingeengt gefühlt haben. Trotzdem. 1 oder 2 Jahre Pause hätte keinem der Beteiligten geschadet.

ja..seh ich genau so...mir wird glaube ich was fehlen, aber mal sehn vllt. kiegen sich alle wieder ein

gut 10 Jahre zu spät

Ne im ernst. Ich seh das positiv. DT stecken meiner Meinung nach seit ca. 6DOIT in einer künstlerischen Sackgasse. Jetzt hat man die Chance auf einen Neuanfang.

nee, in der Sackgasse eigentlich erst seit Systematic Chaos, also erst die letzten beiden Alben. Bis dahin war es immer spannend zu sehen, wie sich die Band gerade entwickelt. Insofern: vielleicht sollte man auch das Positive sehen, das Potential, das in einer Veränderung, in neuen Kooperationen liegt. Ob die Rest-DT gut weitermachen können ohne Mike Portnoy? Keine Ahnung. Die Betrachtung der historischen Vorläufer solcher Trennungen verheißt zunächst nichts Gutes... aber auch die können sich wieder fangen. Die Jungs sind ja alle noch vergleichsweise "jung" (nach heutigen Rock-Maßstäben...).

Wo immer auch DT stehen - ob nu Sackgasse oder auf der Überholspur - Fakt ist, dass es bei denen mächtig rauscht im Gebälk. Keine einzige Verlinkung mehr zu irgendwelchen Mike Portnoy-Seiten. Alle Links gelöscht ... - es bleibt spannend.

Glück auf,
ThresTheater

Folgendes Statement hat Mike's Schwester abgegeben:

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

Klingt mir alles sehr nach einem Teil-"BurnOut" und ich denke, es war gerechtfertigt auch den DT-Jungs mal zu sagen, dass man einfach mal eine Pause braucht von dem Zyklus. Eine, damit man mal wieder nach neuen Ideen schauen kann. Wäre doch auch kein Problem. James LaBrie hat seine neue Scheibe draußen, könnte damit fantastisch auf Tour gehen und die drei anderen kommen auch mit "Nebenjobs" unter. Naja, wenn es so gewollt war, werden wir uns dem natürlich fügen und die Konzerte NICHT mehr besuchen ...

Glück auf,
ThresTheater

In dem einen Radio-Interview, das Portnoy gegeben hat, sprach er allerdings von einem "indefinite hiatus", wie ihn Rage Against The Machine hingelegt hätten... also eine Auszeit ohne Ablaufdatum. Wenn sie da eingewilligt hätten und MP hätte einfach nie wieder Lust auf DT, dann hätten sie ihre Bandkarriere weggeschmissen.

Wird ja eh daraus hinauslaufen, dass MP jetzt für ein Album ne Pause einlegt und dann zurückkehrt. Wahrscheinlich wird es ihm dann doch im Januar in den fingern jucken, wenn die anderen gerade das neue Album aufnehmen und rennt denen die Tür ein.

Für alle, die es noch nicht gefunden und gelesen haben:

im noch aktuellen ROCK HARD-Magazin stand einiges zum Ausstieg von Mike zu lesen. War sehr interessant. Wenn ich eine Möglichkeit hätte zum Scannen, würde ich es hier reinstellen, ansonsten heißt es zum Zeitschriftendealer zu wandern und zu hoffen, dass das Mag noch da ist.

Glück auf aus Tauhausen
ThresTheater

Und im MetalHammer stand wieder was zu lesen. Demnach soll (lt. FACEBOOK-Profil) Mike Portnoy seinen Jungs angeboten haben, doch wieder einzusteigen und dabeizusein. Eine Antwort bekam er dann von den Anwälten (!!!) der Band, dass man das nun nicht mehr möchte ...

Glück auf,
ThresTheater

na ja... und ganz ehrlich! ER hat doch auch die Crew verlassen, oder? Anwälte hin oder her...

Zitat von Janne

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na ja... und ganz ehrlich! ER hat doch auch die Crew verlassen, oder? Anwälte hin oder her...

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Und das will uns was sagen

Glück auf,
ThresTheater