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OMFG Of The Day: Mike Portnoy Quits Dream Theater

Published

16 years ago

on

Updated with the response from the rest of Dream Theater after the jump.

I’ve been a Dream Theater fan since 1999. Yeah, that’s late in the Dream Theater game but still early enough to catch some amazing albums and definitely enough times to see them in concert. Hell, I flew out to New York to see the Score performance. Can I see myself in the DVD? Hell no! I’m way in the nosebleeds! But I was there. Their music helped me through some of the toughest times in my life and also inspired me as a musician and as a songwriter. So to hear that Mike Portnoy, the original drummer, the voice of the band, the creator, has decided to quit has really shaken me and left me somewhat speechless. After the jump is the written explanation from Mike himself about his decision to quite Dream Theater. This was not the news I was expecting to see or ever read, but I can understand where he is coming from once I read through his statement.

mikeportnoysolo

Mike Portnoy
“I am about to write something I never imagined I’d ever write. 
“After 25 years, I have decided to leave DREAM THEATER… the band I founded, led and truly loved for a quarter of a century.
“To many people this will come as a complete shock, and will also likely be misunderstood by some, but please believe me that it is not a hasty decision…it is something I have struggled with for the last year or so….
“After having had such amazing experiences playing with HAIL!, TRANSATLANTIC and AVENGED SEVENFOLD this past year, I have sadly come to the conclusion that I have recently had more fun and better personal relations with these other projects than I have for a while now in DREAM THEATER.
“Please don’t misinterpret me, I love the DREAM THEATER guys dearly and have a long history, friendship and bond that runs incredibly deep with them… it’s just that I think we are in serious need of a little break.
“DREAM THEATER was always my baby…and I nurtured that baby every single day and waking moment of my life since 1985… 24/7, 365… never taking time off from DREAM THEATER’s never-ending responsibilites (even when the band was ‘off’ between cycles)… working overtime and way beyond the call of duty that most sane people ever would do for a band.
“But I’ve come to the conclusion that the DREAM THEATER machine was starting to burn me out…and I really needed a break from the band in order to save my relationship with the other members and keep my DREAM THEATER spirit hungry and inspired. 
“We have been on an endless write/record/tour cycle for almost 20 years now (of which I have overseen EVERY aspect without a break) and while a few months apart from each other here and there over the years has been much needed and helpful, I honestly hoped the band could simply agree with me to taking a bit of a ‘hiatus’ to recharge our batteries and ‘save me from ourselves’…
“Sadly, in discussing this with the guys, they determined they do not share my feelings and have decided to continue without me rather than take a breather… I even offered to do some occasional work throughout 2011 against my initial wishes, but it was not to be…
“While it truly hurts for me to even think of a DREAM THEATER without Mike Portnoy (hell, my father named the band!!), I do not want to stand in their way…so I have decided to sacrifice myself and simply leave the band so as to not hold them back against their wishes.
“Strangely enough, I just read an interview that I recently did that asked me about the future of DREAM THEATER and I talked about ‘always following your heart and being true to yourself’… Sadly, I must say that at this particular moment, my heart is not with DREAM THEATER…and I would simply be ‘going through the motions,’ and would honestly NOT be true to myself if I stayed for the sake of obligation without taking the break I felt I needed.
“I wish the guys the best and hope the music and legacy we created together is enjoyed by fans for decades to come… I am proud of every album we made, every song we wrote and every show we played….
“I’m sorry to all the disappointed DREAM THEATER fans around the world… I really tried to salvage the situation and make it work… I honestly just wanted a break (not a split)… but happiness cannot be forced, it needs to come from within.
“You DREAM THEATER fans are the greatest fans in the world and as you all know, I have always busted my ass for you guys and I hope that you will stay with me on my future musical journey, wherever it may lead me…. (and as you all know my work ethic, there will surely be no shortage of future Mike Portnoy projects!)”
Dream Theater

To all of our loyal fans and friends: It is with 

profound sadness — regret — we announce that Mike 

Portnoy, our lifelong drummer and friend, has 

decided to leave Dream Theater. Mike’s stature in 

the band has meant the world to all of us 

professionally, musically, and personally over the 

years. There is no dispute: Mike has been a major 

force within this band.


While it is true that Mike is choosing to pursue other 

ventures and challenges, we can assure you 

that Dream Theater will continue to move forward 

with the same intensity — and in the same musical 

tradition — that you have all helped make so 

successful, and which is truly gratifying to us.


Fans and friends: File this episode under “Black 

Clouds and Silver Linings.”As planned, we begin 

recording our newest album in January 2011, and 

we’ll follow that with a full-on world tour. “The Spirit 

Carries On.”

 

All of us in Dream Theater wholeheartedly wish Mike 

the best on his musical journey. We have had a long 

and meaningful career together. It is our true hope 

that he finds all he is looking for, and that he 

achieves the happiness he deserves. He will be 

missed.

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‘The Vampire Lestat: One Night Only Live’ Concert Event to Make Streaming Debut Next Month

Published

3 days ago

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July 14, 2026

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The Vampire Lestat: One Night Only Live

AMC has announced that The Vampire Lestat: One Night Only LIVE, the standing-room-only performance celebrating AMC’s premiere of its newly-released The Vampire Lestat at New York City’s iconic Beacon Theatre last month, will debut on streaming.

The Vampire Lestat: One Night Only LIVE begins streaming on AMC+ on August 23.

Ahead of its streaming premiere, fans can preview the concert event, featuring original songs from series composer Daniel Hart and performed by Sam Reid, in Hall H at Comic Con International on July 24. 

Our own Daniel Kurland attended the special event, highlighting how electric the Immortal Vampire is on stage: “It’s clear in this season of television that Reid was born to be a rock star, but it’s surreal to see him effortlessly command the stage — and the audience — at every step of the concert. He recites Shakespeare monologues and bitches out Armand between songs, all while the audience screams in support. For the duration of this concert, Reid is Lestat, and he’s given thousands of fans a memory that’s as immortal as any vampire.”

Based on Anne Rice‘s The Vampire Chronicles book series, The Vampire Lestat is the rock and roll-centric third season of AMC’s “Interview with the Vampire” created by showrunner Rolin Jones.

The Vampire Lestat goes on an electric multi-city tour while being haunted by “muses” from his wild and rebellious past. As his band’s popularity and star power rises, so does Lestat’s influence over vampires and humans alike, leaving others to contend with Lestat’s power in the face of the Great Conversion, an unnatural surge in the vampire population.

Jacob Anderson, Assad Zaman, Eric Bogosian, Delainey Hayles and Jennifer Ehle star with Reid. Executive producers include Jones, Mark Johnson, Hannah Moscovitch, the late Anne Rice, and her son Christopher Rice.

The series finale airs this Sunday, July 19, on AMC and AMC+.

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