John Petrucci is thrilled to be reunited with Mike Portnoy in Dream Theater. In a recent interview with *Prog*, the guitarist shared that the band has been working on a new album since February, and everything is progressing smoothly. Petrucci expressed how much he’s enjoyed reconnecting with Portnoy:
“But you know, with him just coming back into the band, it has been great. It’s like we haven’t missed a beat and it really feels like we’re 18 again. The flow was really, really smooth. There’s definitely an undeniable, creative chemistry there. You meet certain people in your life and you connect on an artistic level, and it just flows. We have been working in our own studio and our space has expanded. We have just built a new live room and control room, which is just beautiful.”
Dream Theater is Thrilled to Welcome Portnoy Back
Mike Portnoy rejoined Dream Theater in October 2023, and the band quickly began working on their new album. Jordan Rudess, the band’s keyboardist, also emphasized the significance of Portnoy’s return. Speaking to *Highwaystar Magazine*, he said:
“Well, it was so great to have him back. In many ways, it feels like we never lost a beat. Because he was one of the ones who started this band, and he loves it so much, the welcoming process was really immediate, and we’re all so happy to kind of re-establish what we had. I mean, it feels like getting the core band together again.”
Portnoy’s Influence on the Creative Process
Portnoy’s return has had a noticeable impact on the band’s creative process. Rudess explained in a conversation with *89FM A Rádio Rock*:
“Well, it’s definitely changed because he’s a very strong musical personality and a strong personality in general. And so he has a lot of thoughts about things.”
Rudess also noted that while the band was doing well before Portnoy rejoined, his return has taken things to another level:
“He’s a very conceptual thinker, and I think that as fine as we were just doing our own thing when he was gone, having him back, it’s just like, wow, this is so great to have your mind and your spirit involved in it. It really does change things. So I think when people hear the new album that we’re working on, they’ll kind of see that and they’ll feel that. I definitely think it’s reconnecting with some of the spirit of the magic that we produced in the years that he was in the band.”
Dream Theater’s Upcoming Tour
Dream Theater is set to embark on their 40th Anniversary Tour in Europe, which will visit 23 cities. The tour kicks off in Zagreb, Croatia, on October 20 and concludes on November 24. Although the band has finished writing their new album, the release date has not yet been announced.
