Mike Portnoy interview (excerpt)

Christos Karadimitris: Alright! I think I have two more questions and then I’ll let you get your gear and stuff. So firstly, I want to tell you is that I was really glad seeing you being again in good terms and even collaborating with guys from Dream Theater. Because as I told you, you are like music heroes to me and apart from everything that’s been done in the meanwhile it was glad to seeing you back together. How did it feel for you?

Mike Portnoy: Well, it’s been great. You know, even before making music together in the last couple of years, just connecting with the guys again on a personal level has been so satisfying. And it’s really been very, very good for all of us, all the good vibes and good spirits. So even if we hadn’t made any music together, I was happy just being connected with the guys again on a personal level. But then to be making music together again, playing on John’s solo album and then making “LTE III” with John and Jordan together and Tony as well, that was just so satisfying. And then going on tour with John last year and playing on stage each and every night. You know, looking into the audience and seeing grown men crying... [laughs] You really felt the emotions each and every night in the audience and the appreciation from the fans to see us up there together again after all these years. It means a lot... John and I met as teenagers at college and put the band together and spent 25 years together in Dream Theater and made so much music together. Inevitably, the connection John and I have is really special. You see other drummers and guitar players with that connection. It reminds me of like James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich in Metallica or Eddie and Alex Van Halen, or Dimebag and Vinnie Paul in Pantera. That’s the kind of the connection John and I have musically. So it it’s really, really great to be connected again personally and musically.