After a 13-year hiatus, Dream Theater have officially welcomed drummer Mike Portnoy back into the band. There are few details yet, but they're planning on recording a new album — the first with Portnoy back in the fold since 2009's Black Clouds & Silver Linings and the follow-up to Dream Theater's last LP, 2021's A View from the Top of the World — and touring together.
Portnoy founded the band with guitarist John Petrucci and bassist John Myung under the name Majesty in 1985 but left the outfit in 2010. Around that time, the drummer had begun working with Avenged Sevenfold in place of their late sticksman, Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan. Portnoy never ended up getting the full-time gig with them, though, and found himself out of both bands.
"I am overwhelmed with joy to be returning home and reuniting with my brothers!" Portnoy shared. "There is so much shared history between us all… so many memories, so much music… to think we're coming up on 40 years since this journey began! The idea of creating new music together is so exciting and I absolutely cannot wait to hit the road and get to play live for a whole new generation of fans that weren't ever able to see this lineup before… There's no place like home!!"
Petrucci added, "I'm incredibly excited to welcome Mike Portnoy back into Dream Theater! As an original founding member, longtime friend and incredibly talented and creative drummer, I know that his return will bring a renewed spirit, passion and energy into DT that all of us, including our fans, will joyfully welcome. I can't wait to roll up our sleeves and get back into the studio together!"
With Portnoy's return, Mike Mangini, the drummer who replaced him in 2010, will be leaving Dream Theater.
"I understand Dream Theater's decision to get Mike Portnoy back at this time," Mangini said. "As was said from Day 1, my place was not to fill all the roles that Mike held in the band. I was to play the drums in order to help the band carry on. My main role of keeping our live show working tightly on a nightly basis was an intense and rewarding experience."
Of course, Portnoy hadn't exactly strayed too far from the group: he played on and toured behind Petrucci's sophomore solo release, 2020's Terminal Velocity, and also reunited with keyboardist Jordan Rudess in the supergroup Liquid Tension Experiment.
Portnoy founded the band with guitarist John Petrucci and bassist John Myung under the name Majesty in 1985 but left the outfit in 2010. Around that time, the drummer had begun working with Avenged Sevenfold in place of their late sticksman, Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan. Portnoy never ended up getting the full-time gig with them, though, and found himself out of both bands.
"I am overwhelmed with joy to be returning home and reuniting with my brothers!" Portnoy shared. "There is so much shared history between us all… so many memories, so much music… to think we're coming up on 40 years since this journey began! The idea of creating new music together is so exciting and I absolutely cannot wait to hit the road and get to play live for a whole new generation of fans that weren't ever able to see this lineup before… There's no place like home!!"
Petrucci added, "I'm incredibly excited to welcome Mike Portnoy back into Dream Theater! As an original founding member, longtime friend and incredibly talented and creative drummer, I know that his return will bring a renewed spirit, passion and energy into DT that all of us, including our fans, will joyfully welcome. I can't wait to roll up our sleeves and get back into the studio together!"
With Portnoy's return, Mike Mangini, the drummer who replaced him in 2010, will be leaving Dream Theater.
"I understand Dream Theater's decision to get Mike Portnoy back at this time," Mangini said. "As was said from Day 1, my place was not to fill all the roles that Mike held in the band. I was to play the drums in order to help the band carry on. My main role of keeping our live show working tightly on a nightly basis was an intense and rewarding experience."
Of course, Portnoy hadn't exactly strayed too far from the group: he played on and toured behind Petrucci's sophomore solo release, 2020's Terminal Velocity, and also reunited with keyboardist Jordan Rudess in the supergroup Liquid Tension Experiment.
