Dream Theater’s new single – A Rite of Passage

Blimey, I cannot recall which drum mag that I read that interview with Portnoy. I do remeber that it was right after the Working Man tribute came out and he was not to thrilled with what Neil supposedly said.

Damn, I wish I could find that article:mad:

I will keep looking for it.

But anyway, it was a good tribute recording. Much better than anything I could ever do:)

Glad to see that Neil and Mike are buddies now. Could you imagine a drum off between those two?

Coop

@Coop 7338 wrote:

Damn, I am good!!! I found it.http://www.metalsludge.tv/home/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=202&Itemid=52

Questions 11/

Coop

Hi Coop, 🙂

OK. I did my homework! Here’s the deal:

Neil Peart was DEFINITELY quoted out-of-context and was referring to a COMPLETELY different Rush-tribute album that Mike & the DT guys had NOTHING to do with!!! 😉

“It was later determined that it was a misunderstanding, as Peart was actually referring to a specific Rush tribute record (that Mike Portnoy had no involvement in.)”.

So Portnoy should’ve done his homework and contacted Neil directly prior to assuming that a class-act veteran like Neil Peart would be stupid/jealous enough to utter such stupidity?!? In fact, from the interview you linked me to with Mike Portnoy, he seems like a jerk!!! Seriously! He seems quite conceited and close-minded, and I can’t say that I’m surprised, because it comes across in his playing (which although technically brilliant, has never done anything to move me emotionally/feel-wise. Sorry!) BTW, I’m NOT just saying this because of what he said about Neil back then! Think about the complete disrespect Portnoy displayed towards Neil in answering that question regarding Neil & Rush as a band! “He should try playing something new (not that Jazz crap!)” As well as “The bands involved including Dream Theater, sell more records outside of North America than Rush ever did!” Yeah Mike! Nice attitude! Good to see that your playing music for all the right reasons?!? And what exactly is your reason for keeping track of Rush’s international sales-volume again?!? BTW, that’s how to COMPLETELY dismiss an entire genre of music (Jazz) which BTW, along with Blues, was one of the first genres of music that our (My and his) country (USA) could call it’s own! Also, if it wasn’t for that “JAZZ-CRAP” (as Portnoy put it,) there would be NO SUCH THING as “Progressive-Rock!” Very Disrespectful stuff!!! 😡 :rolleyes:

Yes, later on it appeared that Mike Portnoy was mature enough to reconcile/aplogize to Neil Peart. Remember this about that: Neil never did say anything negative about Mike or DT as a band, yet Mike completely dissed Neil as a drummer and Rush as a band without verifying the truth in the matter! It seems to me that Neil had way more reason to be mad/hold-a-grudge than Mike did?!? In retrospect, who was the “bigger-man?!? (LOL!) 😉

Sorry DT fans! Your drummer dropped a few notches on my respect ladder (not that anyone’s gonna care about what I think! – LOL!) :rolleyes:

~Bill Meehan~

@Coop 7340 wrote:

Yep, I kind of thought the same thing.

Maybe Mike should just keep his mouth shut and play the drums.

I wonder if Neil knew what Mike had said when Mike interviewed him a few years back or if Mike was to busy sucking up to Neil for it to matter anyway?

Its sad for somebody of Mikes talent level to feel like he has to disrespect other bands, drummers, genres of music, and those who paved the way for a band like DT to do what they do and have an audience for them. Unforunately some folks just have to be negative in order to build themselves up. Perhaps Mike is one of those folks?

But that was said over 10 years ago, I hope he has had a change of heart and grown up a bit. From recent interview I feel like he has. Hell, perhaps he was misquoted or high when he said those things. LOL!!!

Coop

Yo Coop, 🙂

Amen brother! Amen!!! 😎

Perfectly said (and much more succinct than I am capable of! – LOL!) 😉

~Bill Meehan~ 😀

@Tom Quayle 7318 wrote:

What I don’t get is why Petrucci seems to have completely altered his playing to suit fashionable trends.

I mean almost every solo he does now it’s just basic, mindless shredding at light speed. When I first heard Dream Theater back in about 1995 I loved Images and Words and Awake an was so inspired I learnt everything. Every solo on those albums was so memorable and well written. Now they all sound the same. The guy is such a good writer and yet he seems to just take the obvious route now for all his songs.

Disappointing for me. They’ve lost something – or maybe I’m just older and more cynical! 😉

I completely agree with Tom. In fact, I said the very same thing in another forum. Dream Theaters’ first two albums were much more melodic to me. They began getting heavier and heavier and lost some of the melodic and dynamic feel. I own all of Dream Theaters’ stuff because I love John Petrucci, but the newer songs aren’t on par with the songs off of Images and Words and Awake. Dream Theater now sounds more like Metallica than Dream Theater in alot of ways. That’s a bit of a turnoff for me. I’ll still buy their stuff, though. Go figure.

I think the all album is good
of course it’s not like I&W or SFAM or something
but they kinda took systematic and made it better.. it looks like some sequel..
with some hints of ministry and other songs in some of the songs..

A rite of passage is a great song
and there is of course Wither which is something kinda like a radio song.. kitsch and not that progressive but it is still a beautiful song
and other songs as the shattered fortress…
great CD in my opinion.

and BTW, me covering Wither solo.. (it’s rather easy.. and yeah I know the album isn’t out yet)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsFW4pbzkMw

*and sry for my bad english lol*