In a comprehensive interview with Drumeo, his first full on-camera discussion since rejoining DREAM THEATER, Mike Portnoy delved into the emotional journey and process behind his return, his feelings toward former drummer Mike Mangini, and DREAM THEATER’s plans for their upcoming studio album.
Reflecting on how he reunited with DREAM THEATER, Portnoy explained (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “It’s been 13 years, and time heals all wounds, as they say. Over the past several years, I’ve been gradually reconnecting with the guys, starting with John Petrucci… About five, six, seven years ago, we reconnected on a personal level. Our families have been intertwined for years—his wife and mine were in a band together even before we met them. Our kids grew up together; my daughter and John Petrucci’s daughter even shared an apartment in New York for five years. So, our personal connections remained strong. During the COVID lockdown, since neither DREAM THEATER nor I could tour, John decided to do a solo album and invited me to play on it. That was the initial step in this direction. Later, we did an LTE [LIQUID TENSION EXPERIMENT] album with John and Jordan [Rudess, DREAM THEATER keyboardist], bringing three of us back together. The following year, I joined John’s solo tour, and our wives’ band opened for us, so we had our families with us. It felt like things were coming together both personally and musically. The final piece was reconnecting with James LaBrie, whom I hadn’t spoken to in over a decade.”
Portnoy’s candid discussion sheds light on the personal and musical journey that led to his reunion with DREAM THEATER, highlighting the enduring bonds and collaborative spirit that have defined their renewed partnership.
