Sunday, September 12, 2010
Why Mike Portnoy Leaving Dream Theater Could be a Good Thing
After rocking my world for the past 16 years, and the rest of the world for 25, Dream Theater is about to undergo arguably its most important line-up change: Mike Portnoy is no longer with Dream Theater. Okay, stop sobbing, blow your nose, wipe away the tears, and listen to why you may have reason to celebrate.
1. Every line-up change has resulted in a surge of creative energy.
Going all the way back to Dominici's departure, upheavals in the line-up have immediately resulted in a classic album... LaBrie's entrance brought us Images and Words. Sherinian's contributions led to the amazing recording of A Change of Season. When Rudess joined, he brought with him the wizard's magic, and out came Scenes from a Memory. However, once each new lineup settled it, it has often then resulted in creative stagnation. A new drummer, and a new perspective, should break DT out of the rut they've fallen into the past couple of disks. (Is it just me, or do they keep re-recording Octavarium?)
2. Portnoy is a control-freak.
Perhaps this shake-up will lead to a more even distribution of duties within the band. I'd be curious to hear James singing more of his own texts. I'd love to see Myung's step more to the forefront (his skills have been on the back-burner since WDADU), and I would love to see Rudess play a larger role in the band than playing the harmony lines to Petrucci's leads No disrespect to Portnoy's massive contributions, but he himself has said that he has had a hand in EVERY ASPECT of the band. Perhaps it's time for a new vision.
3. A new production style
My biggest personal criticism of the band has been that since Portnoy and Petrucci took over production duties, every disk sounds like a guitar-and-drum spectacle, with a few special guest musicians thrown in. As much as I can understand any musician wanting his/her performance to be at the fore-front, it shouldn't be at the expense of the other musicians (see the Myung comment above).
4. Portnoy's no longer the "property" of DT
Mike Portnoy is certainly one of the most talented and skilled musicians in the world. Now, without the huge time commitment to DT, he can dedicate himself to other projects more definitely. Dream Theater will stay Dream Theater, and from the sounds of it, they aren't planning to let this development slow them down in the slightest. So why not look forward to all of the other spectacular music Portnoy will be involved with, and no longer on a part-time basis? With more time to commit to other interests, he is helping enrich the music scene exponentially with every project he commits himself to. And if he finds the one project he can commit to to the extent of DT, perhaps we will all have some new favourite bands.
5. Give the poor guy a break.
I believe if ANYONE were to commit as much time and energy as Portnoy has to DT, numerous side projects, raising a family, touring, performing, writing, producing, editing, filming, etc, they'd have been burned out before Beverly Hills 90210 was canceled. If he has the sac to define his limits, and stick to them, despite pressure from the other members, then all the more power to him. As we know, DT has a history of reunions, and maintaining strong ties with ex-members. I KNOW FOR A FACT that we have not seen the end of Portnoy's collaboration with DT.
After rocking my world for the past 16 years, and the rest of the world for 25, Dream Theater is about to undergo arguably its most important line-up change: Mike Portnoy is no longer with Dream Theater. Okay, stop sobbing, blow your nose, wipe away the tears, and listen to why you may have reason to celebrate.
1. Every line-up change has resulted in a surge of creative energy.
Going all the way back to Dominici's departure, upheavals in the line-up have immediately resulted in a classic album... LaBrie's entrance brought us Images and Words. Sherinian's contributions led to the amazing recording of A Change of Season. When Rudess joined, he brought with him the wizard's magic, and out came Scenes from a Memory. However, once each new lineup settled it, it has often then resulted in creative stagnation. A new drummer, and a new perspective, should break DT out of the rut they've fallen into the past couple of disks. (Is it just me, or do they keep re-recording Octavarium?)
2. Portnoy is a control-freak.
Perhaps this shake-up will lead to a more even distribution of duties within the band. I'd be curious to hear James singing more of his own texts. I'd love to see Myung's step more to the forefront (his skills have been on the back-burner since WDADU), and I would love to see Rudess play a larger role in the band than playing the harmony lines to Petrucci's leads No disrespect to Portnoy's massive contributions, but he himself has said that he has had a hand in EVERY ASPECT of the band. Perhaps it's time for a new vision.
3. A new production style
My biggest personal criticism of the band has been that since Portnoy and Petrucci took over production duties, every disk sounds like a guitar-and-drum spectacle, with a few special guest musicians thrown in. As much as I can understand any musician wanting his/her performance to be at the fore-front, it shouldn't be at the expense of the other musicians (see the Myung comment above).
4. Portnoy's no longer the "property" of DT
Mike Portnoy is certainly one of the most talented and skilled musicians in the world. Now, without the huge time commitment to DT, he can dedicate himself to other projects more definitely. Dream Theater will stay Dream Theater, and from the sounds of it, they aren't planning to let this development slow them down in the slightest. So why not look forward to all of the other spectacular music Portnoy will be involved with, and no longer on a part-time basis? With more time to commit to other interests, he is helping enrich the music scene exponentially with every project he commits himself to. And if he finds the one project he can commit to to the extent of DT, perhaps we will all have some new favourite bands.
5. Give the poor guy a break.
I believe if ANYONE were to commit as much time and energy as Portnoy has to DT, numerous side projects, raising a family, touring, performing, writing, producing, editing, filming, etc, they'd have been burned out before Beverly Hills 90210 was canceled. If he has the sac to define his limits, and stick to them, despite pressure from the other members, then all the more power to him. As we know, DT has a history of reunions, and maintaining strong ties with ex-members. I KNOW FOR A FACT that we have not seen the end of Portnoy's collaboration with DT.
Labels: band split-up, Dream Theater, metal, Mike Portnoy, progressive metal, rock
