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DARK SECRETS: Mike portnoy | Rare Historical Photos

“I would go by John’s room and he’d be working on alternate picking to a metronome. I’d never seen anyone do that before”: He arrived on the shred scene with Paul Gilbert, Jason Becker and John Petrucci… then he vanished

After starting a family and his own company, Darren Housholder's priorities changed – but he’s gradually brought music-making back into his world

Guitar World

“He was, like me, wanting to focus more on creative work, as opposed to touring, touring, touring”: Steven Wilson and Opeth’s Mikael Åkerfeldt are going to make another album together

The celebrated prog musicians previously collaborated on 2012 album Storm Corrosion, and many fans are hankering for a follow-up

Metal Hammer

“He wanted to do something heavy. My mindset at the time was, I’d rather not”: Opeth’s Mikael Åkerfeldt reveals why collaboration with Dream Theater’s Mike Portnoy hasn’t happened yet

Dream Theater’s drummer has said multiple times that he wants to make music with Opeth’s frontman. So, we asked Åkerfeldt what’s taking so long.

Metal Hammer

From analysis to the latest developments in health,
read the most diverse news in one place.

"I made my bed by leaving the band in 2010." The prog metal master who links Dream Theater, Avenged Sevenfold and The Beatles (but not Rush)

Mike Portnoy is one of metal's most revered drummers - and now he's back home in Dream Theater

Metal Hammer

“Mike got back with Dream Theater and I started praying about what I should do”: Neal Morse Band’s L.I.F.T. is steeped in mystery – as he says all concept albums should be

Despite concerns their drummer wouldn’t find time to take part, fifth album has been compared to their 2016 virtuosic victory, and they’re planning to tour it with the complete studio line-up

Louder

"If they ever approached me, of course I would have done it...but I'm kind of relieved they didn't." Mike Portnoy responds to rumours he was in the frame to join Rush following the death of Neil Peart

As much as the idea of Mike Portnoy drumming with Rush would be a prog fan's dream, Portnoy had a very respectful attitude to the idea

Metal Hammer

Prog's Tracks Of The Week! Awesome new proggy sounds from Opeth, NMB, Myrkur and more...

There's cool new proggy sounds from Esthesis, worriedaboutsatan, Holosoil, JeGong and more in this week's Tracks Of The week

Louder

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Debate: Who is the greatest drummer of all time?

Drummers: Turning good bands into great ones since time immemorial

Louder

The 10 best progressive metal albums of 2025

Epic space operas, anticapitalist jazz odysseys, the return of Mike Portnoy – 2025 has been a brilliant year for progressive metal

Metal Hammer

“A fitting monument to a band who, quite remarkably, remain at the peak of their powers”: Dream Theater mark their 40th year with Quarantième: Live À Paris

A set of classics is ideal for an anniversary release, which also celebrates the return of Mike Portnoy

Louder

Watch Anika Nilles demonstrate exactly why Rush have chosen her as their new drummer

In other news, Mike Portnoy reacts to Anika Nilles' appointment as Rush drummer

Louder

Dream Theater announce new 40th anniversary live album

Dream Theater will release their new live album, Quarantième: Live à Paris, on vinyl, Blu-ray and CD in November

Metal Hammer

“He transcends metal, he transcends rock, he transcends music”: Iconic metal drummer says Ozzy Osbourne’s death has made just as big an impact as John Lennon’s

Mike Portnoy of progressive metal luminaries Dream Theater weighs in on the widespread mourning following the Prince Of Darkness’ death last month

Metal Hammer

“He does feel a bit like our saviour. It’s good to know he’s kind of protecting us”: How Mike Portnoy helped save Avenged Sevenfold after the The Rev died

Dream Theater man’s stand-in role may have complicated his own position, but the younger band were grateful for his unflappable optimism as they fought to keep going

Metal Hammer

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Louder

“We knew the album would stick out like a sore thumb and we’d have to show real tenacity. But if it wasn’t for Pull Me Under there’s a strong chance we wouldn’t be having this conversation”: When Dream Theater beat the odds with Images And Words

They were crossing Metallica with Yes and Rush while grunge ruled the world. But despite problems with their producer and label – and even rumors of a plot to replace James LaBrie – the prog metal pioneers survived and thrived

MusicRadar

“He was the leader of the band, he would write the setlist, he would deal with the fan clubs and the merchandise, co-produce the albums and co-write the music. He, to me, was a role model”: Which A-list metal drummer could Mike Portnoy be talking about?

Dream Theater man talks influences with El Estepario Siberiano

Louder

“In 1989 I paid a scalper $400 for a ticket to see The Who play Tommy. It was worth every cent”: Mike Portnoy on his top prog songs and artists, and why the Rolling Stones have the greatest-ever prog album sleeve

The Dream Theater drummer’s musical world includes Rush, Yes, King Crimson, Roger Waters and Frank Zappa – alongside the Bee Gees

Metal Hammer

"I'm scared for my life and career at this point." Dream Theater's Mike Portnoy jokes he's worried about his job after spate of drummer firings

Josh Freese, Zak Starkey and Jason Bonham have been let go – which Portnoy says makes it a weird time for drummers

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Metal Hammer

“Everything I’m doing is purposely very different. If I’d wanted to keep doing what Dream Theater do, I’d still be in Dream Theater”: How Mike Portnoy reinvented himself after the trauma of leaving two massive bands

In 2011, while trying to find homes for his enormous collection of Dream Theater drumkits, Mike Portnoy was planning a new direction with Flying Colors, Adrenaline Mob, PSMS and Transatlantic

MusicRadar

“I oversaw every element - not just the music and the lyrics and the melodies and the production, but also the merch and the fan clubs and everything”: Mike Portnoy talks about his years away from Dream Theater

“I was fried” he says, “but I went off from there to form, like, 87 bands”

Metal Hammer

“I made a decision that essentially was very selfish”: Mike Portnoy admits he “hurt” Dream Theater bandmates with 2010 exit

“We had just played Madison Square Garden with Iron Maiden and then, like, a month later I left the band”

Louder

“He says he’s mediocre. I understand – I say the same thing. But he’s a great musician, and that has nothing to do with ability”: What Mikael Åkerfeldt’s peers really think of him

Steven Wilson, Mike Portnoy, Steve Hackett and Arjen Lucassen list the reasons they like and admire Opeth leader Mikael Åkerfeldt

Metal Hammer

The best metal albums of 2025 (so far)

From Cradle of Filth to Whitechapel, Bloodywood to Spiritbox, these are some of the best metal releases of 2025 so far.

Guitar World

“A new drummer affects everyone in Dream Theater. We all play off the time keeper”:John Myung on how the return of Mike Portnoy has changed the band – and his bass playing

Parasomnia is Dream Theater's first new album with drummer Mike Portnoy for 16 years

Guitar World

“I used really weird things like the Tristan chord and the Prometheus chord to give some of the songs a mystical vibe”: With the return of Mike Portnoy, Dream Theater are fully reborn – and John Petrucci's still not done exploring new guitar frontiers

Wielding naught but his signature Ernie Ball Music Man Majesty, Petrucci has been studying different types of scales and different types of chords – and he says having Portnoy back on the drum stool makes the prog-metal institution feel like they're all 18 again

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