The End of an Era...

Today, Thursday the 9th of September, rock fans awoke to the news that Dream Theater (stupid American spelling, it should be Theatre, morons) drummer and founder, Mike Portnoy, was to leave the group after an epic twenty five year tenure. Now, I am admittedly not a huge fan of Dream Theater, nor the whole progressive rock genre, but I still recognise that this is a big blow and will have repercussions in the rock world as a whole.


Famed for the technical prowess of its members, Dream Theater have consistently produced high quality and technically brilliant music, selling over ten million records worldwide. Initially founded in 1985 by Portnoy, John Petrucci and John Myung as an Iron Maiden and Rush cover band, under the name Majesty, the group are regarded as one of the greatest progressive rock bands of all time, and quite rightly. However, the departure of Portnoy has thrown the future of the band into the realms of uncertainty.

Portnoy claimed that his departure from DT was amicable and he is still best of friends with his ex-band mates. However, it seems strange to me that the group would so readily depart from a man who is regarded to be the most talented member and who was recently voted the second greatest drummer of all time. All does not seem right. Portnoy also stated that he was not enjoying recording with DT as much as with side projects such as filling in for the late great Rev in Avenged Sevenfold. His suggestion for a hiatus was rejected outright by the band who could potentially be smarting from this revelation from the drummer. However, I do not want to speculate further on the reasons for Portnoy’s departure, what happens between the band should stay between the band. The less that is spoken about it allows for a possible return by Portnoy to DT in the coming years, which I can safely say be welcomed by every fan of rock, and good, music. Personally, I am just looking forward to seeing him perform with Avenged Sevenfold in November. I think it is safe to say that we will be treated to a further announcement from the great man after the end of Avenged Sevenfold’s tour this year. Watch this space.

What now for the future of Dream Theater? In an official statement released today, the band claim that they will continue without Portnoy and confirmed plans to return to the studio in January to record their eleventh studio album. I am at a loss, however, how the band think that they can possibly continue in the way that they have become accustomed to over the last quarter of a century. Portnoy is an incredible, one of a kind, drummer and is going to be nigh on impossible to replace. Not only was he a God behind the kit, but he also wrote a great deal of the lyrics that DT fans have been screaming along to, posing more questions about where the creative prowess of the group can now come from. It is my opinion that the band can continue without Portnoy, but they will not be the same significant force that fans have been following for all this time, the eleventh studio album is now going to be under a hell of a lot of scrutiny. I genuinely hope that they can pull it out of the bag and wow us all with their latest release, but sadly, the odds are definitely stacked against them.