12 Years Apart, Mike Portnoy Returns to Dream Theater's Embrace

Mike Portnoy rejoins Dream Theater (X @dreamtheater)

JAKARTA - Dream Theater announced the return of founding member, Mike Portnoy, more than a decade after he left the line-up of the world's progressive metal giant.

News of his return to Dream Theater was shared by the band last Wednesday via social media.

“We are thrilled to announce the return of drummer @MikePortnoy to Dream Theater,” it read.

In the post, Dream Theater also confirmed their new lineup was ready to work on a new studio album, which would mark their first album with Portnoy since 2009's Black Clouds & Silver Linings.

Portnoy's return also marks a restoration of the classic 1999/2000 lineup – also featuring singer James LaBrie, guitarist John Petrucci, bassist John Myung and keyboardist Jordan Rudess.

During that time, the five members recorded six albums, including fan favorite Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From a Memory, Images And Words, and Train Of Thought. Portnoy then parted ways with the band in 2011 and went on to join other projects including The Winery Dogs, Sons of Apollo and Adrenaline Mob.

His return to Dream Theater also marks the departure of current drummer Mike Mangini, who was selected to join the band as part of a public audition process in 2011. The drummer previously played with Annihilator and Extreme, and was also part of Steve Vai's live band.

In 2005 he also took part in Labrie's first solo album, and quit his job at Berklee College of Music in Boston to join Dream Theater. During his 12 years as a member of the band, he played on five studio albums.

“I understand Dream Theater's decision to bring back Mike Portnoy at this time,” he said in a statement shared on the band's official website. “As said from Day 1, my position is not to fill all the roles that Mike holds in the band. I have to play drums to help this band move forward… To the fans: thank you so much for being amazing to me. I cherish the photos I have of all of you losing your minds and having a great time. Lastly, I really love the band, crew and management and wish them and the entire organization the best.”

The remaining members also shared their respective statements regarding Mangini's departure on the site.

“I am so proud of all the amazing music we made together culminating in our first Grammy win last year… I wish him the best of luck in his future musical endeavors,” Petrucci wrote, while LaBrie described him as “one of the most incredible drummers.” ordinary and naturally talented people I have ever worked with.”

“Mike Mangini is one of the most incredible drummers in the world and I feel privileged that we were able to create this entire body of work with him,” added Rudess, who also shared his excitement to “reunite the core Dream Theater family.” Founding member John Myung also explained that he is “very excited to see what the next phase of Dream Theater will create in the future.”

Sharing a statement on the page, Portnoy wrote: “I'm so excited to be back home and reunited with my brothers! There is so much shared history between us all… so many memories, so much music… we can't believe it's been 40 years since this journey began!

“The idea of ​​creating new music together is incredibly exciting and I really can't wait to get started and play live for a new generation of fans who have never seen this lineup before… There's no place like home!”

We are thrilled to announce the return of drummer @MikePortnoy to Dream Theater! We will be going into the studio to begin working on our 16th studio album and the first with MP since 2009’s Black Clouds & Silver Linings! pic.twitter.com/oS7tevCQVQ

— Dream Theater (@dreamtheaternet) October 25, 2023

While this is the first time Portnoy has written music with the band since 2011, he has collaborated with several members since then – namely on the 2021 albums Liquid Tension Experiment, Liquid Tension Experiment 3, and John Petrucci's 2020 solo album Terminal Velocity.

The news of Portnoy's return comes just weeks after Dream Theater revealed plans to enter the studio to record their sixteenth studio album later this year.

The band's fifteenth studio album, A View From The Top Of The World was released in 2021 and is the first album recorded at their own studio, DTHQ (Dream Theater Headquarters).