Dream Theater Doesn't Want Mike Portnoy Back

[Orange]

Dream Theater have turned down Mike Portnoy’s offer to return to the band.

In a post on his own forum Mike Portnoy revealed that he tried to reconcile with his former bandmates but that they rejected him.

Here’s the post in full:

“Fairly recently, I reached out to the guys to try and make amends and offered to reconcile for the sake of having peace back in our lives...(plus I know how much it meant to alot of the fans...)

“I figured it was still possible to try and save us because they hadn't made any announcements yet or begun any public activity with another drummer...but sadly, they declined my offer (well, actually their lawyer did...they didn't even tell me themselves....)

“Sorry gang, I honestly gave it my all...




“So now the fans on my twitter and facebook can please stop asking me to go back to DT...I tried, and the door is now shut...the ball is now in their court, not mine...

“PS - I'm not crying or looking for mercy by posting this...I am merely trying to set the record straight as that is always the most important thing about my relationship with you guys...no BS, no spins, nothing to hide...and for better or for worse, I tell it like it is...

“I've also recently seen some people accuse my online activity of "looking for attention or media coverage" or "looking for sympathy", but it's honestly none of the above...I merely value having an open and active communication with my fans...always have, always will...it is the cornerstone of everything I've done since day #1 with DT....

“This was posted here FOR YOU GUYS to know about...here on MY message board on MY website....if it ends up on Blabbermouth or some other website that chooses to sensationalize it, that is THEIR doing....I did not send it out or create a "press release"....I am merely responding on a thread on my own Forum....

“Anyways, onward and upward...”

www.planetrock.com/Article.asp?id=2061473&spid=35830

I don't know why they wouldn't take him back, he's done with Avenged Sevenfold and he's one of the greatest drummers alive.

[Deleted]

Because band members are basically family. It isn't fun anymore if there is tension between members.

[Blindkarevik]

I don't know what goes on beyond what is posted on Blabbermouth. But, to me, it seemed like Portnoy got the invite from Avenged Sevenfold to fill in on drums, Portnoy was like, "Yippie! I get to play with the kids! See ya, suckers!" left Dream Theater to their own devices, basically dropping them like a bad habit. Then, that results in backlash to Avenged Sevenfold, fans as well as other bands may have started giving them flack for letting Portnoy into the band behaving like that. Basically, Portnoy really conducted himself like a dick during this switch, and I'm sure it made both sides uncomfortable.

Sevenfold musters up some serious balls, realizes that's not what they want and fire him from the band. Portnoy basically crawls back to Dream Theater, but they're still pissed off (rightfully) for what he did, now they're letting him stew a bit.

I have no doubt he'll eventually be back with them, but right now... sticking him in limbo is, kinda, what he deserves in his situation.

For the record, I have nothing but respect for Portnoy, but he DID wear his epic douche pants in this situation. Could've been handled WAY better.

[Mozenrath]

Although having the lawyer tell him, if true, is about as dickish as anything he's done, if not worse.

At least it isn't the law of awful as Tarja being fired Nightwish in an OPEN LETTER. That is childish.

[the5thhorseman]

Some people have a problem with being 2nd choice

[Deleted]

Dec 21, 2010 18:18:01 GMT -5 Mozenrath said:

At least it isn't the law of awful as Tarja being fired Nightwish in an OPEN LETTER. That is childish.

Or Amy Lee firing John Lecompt and Rocky Gray from Evanescence and failing to tell them about it; leaving them to find out while browsing the internet and seeing it posted on news sites.

[Deleted]

Dec 21, 2010 17:18:10 GMT -5 Blindkarevik said:

I don't know what goes on beyond what is posted on Blabbermouth. But, to me, it seemed like Portnoy got the invite from Avenged Sevenfold to fill in on drums, Portnoy was like, "Yippie! I get to play with the kids! See ya, suckers!" left Dream Theater to their own devices, basically dropping them like a bad habit. Then, that results in backlash to Avenged Sevenfold, fans as well as other bands may have started giving them flack for letting Portnoy into the band behaving like that. Basically, Portnoy really conducted himself like a dick during this switch, and I'm sure it made both sides uncomfortable.

Sevenfold musters up some serious balls, realizes that's not what they want and fire him from the band. Portnoy basically crawls back to Dream Theater, but they're still pissed off (rightfully) for what he did, now they're letting him stew a bit.

I have no doubt he'll eventually be back with them, but right now... sticking him in limbo is, kinda, what he deserves in his situation.

For the record, I have nothing but respect for Portnoy, but he DID wear his epic douche pants in this situation. Could've been handled WAY better.

Although I don't see it exactly the same way as you, I think it's a messed up situation. I'm really confused as to why he would even try to return, when it was him who initiated the breakup. So I guess your explanation would solve that mystery.

[Lord Bendtner]

He offered DT to take a break together, they didn't want to take one. He left, to be with A7X. I was a huge Portnoy/DT mark for MANY years, but their past few albums are terrible due to Portnoy taking it in a modern metal direction. I think he's going through a midlife crisis, and has been for many years. And now his midlife crisis playing modern metal with younger people has come to an end because of how he treated DT.

[Wolfaga]

Dec 21, 2010 17:18:10 GMT -5 Blindkarevik said:

I don't know what goes on beyond what is posted on Blabbermouth. But, to me, it seemed like Portnoy got the invite from Avenged Sevenfold to fill in on drums, Portnoy was like, "Yippie! I get to play with the kids! See ya, suckers!" left Dream Theater to their own devices, basically dropping them like a bad habit. Then, that results in backlash to Avenged Sevenfold, fans as well as other bands may have started giving them flack for letting Portnoy into the band behaving like that. Basically, Portnoy really conducted himself like a dick during this switch, and I'm sure it made both sides uncomfortable.

Sevenfold musters up some serious balls, realizes that's not what they want and fire him from the band. Portnoy basically crawls back to Dream Theater, but they're still pissed off (rightfully) for what he did, now they're letting him stew a bit.

I have no doubt he'll eventually be back with them, but right now... sticking him in limbo is, kinda, what he deserves in his situation.

For the record, I have nothing but respect for Portnoy, but he DID wear his epic douche pants in this situation. Could've been handled WAY better.

That's not what I heard at all, Portnoy wanted a break with the band yet they turned it down, so he decided to leave on his own accord

He also joined A7X mainly due to the death of The Rev, not because he wanted to join the kiddy crowd.

In my opinion, I think this is harsh treatment towards him, DT themselves don't have the balls to tell exactly why they don't want him in.

[Deleted]

As a massive fan of both Dream Theater and Portnoy, this whole situation just makes me sad.