It's so refreshing to just play straight-ahead music with lots of twists. — Mike Portnoy Copy Share Image
To me, a great drummer isn't always about somebody with chops who can shred. A great drummer is someone who is part… — Mike Portnoy Copy Share Image
I could be just as happy playing a Beatles song as I am when I'm thrashing out the double bass stuff with… — Mike Portnoy Copy Share Image
I can't possibly overstate how much influence Rush had on me as a young teenager. I would say from about 1981 to… — Mike Portnoy Copy Share Image
I am not a technical drummer at all. I'm more from the Keith Moon/Lars Ulrich school of, 'Hey, look at me!' I… — Mike Portnoy Copy Share Image
I surround myself with incredible musicians who inspire me to always do my best. — Mike Portnoy Copy Share Image
My time and my legacy with Dream Theater will always be a part of me. It's something I'll always be proud of. — Mike Portnoy Copy Share Image
To me, there's way more to being a good drummer than precision and technique. — Mike Portnoy Copy Share Image
I see the headlines on Blabbermouth, and the fans are saying, 'Why is he always talking about Dream Theater?' I'm not talking… — Mike Portnoy Copy Share Image
When you're making this kind of music, you don't need a producer. If you're making pop albums or trying to write hit… — Mike Portnoy Copy Share Image
I understand that Adrenaline Mob is not going to be every Dream Theater fan's cup of tea. I totally get that; I… — Mike Portnoy Copy Share Image
Flying Colors is more alternative pop with a prog edge. Think the Beatles meets U2 meets Muse and Foo Fighters. It is… — Mike Portnoy Copy Share Image
With the Neal Morse Band, we're doing progressive music with a harder edge; it's a little more in Dream Theater territory for… — Mike Portnoy Copy Share Image
After I wrote 'The Best Of Times' for my dad and after I completed the '12 Steps Suite' with Dream Theater, I… — Mike Portnoy Copy Share Image
I'm a music fan first and foremost. I can find the beauty in Jellyfish and U2 just as much as Opeth and… — Mike Portnoy Copy Share Image
It's all about the music, and I work as hard as I do strictly because of the music. It's not a money… — Mike Portnoy Copy Share Image
I don't like when I see bands that are just a memory of what they used to be, and there's a few… — Mike Portnoy Copy Share Image
To me, the most important tool is not a physical or a technical one. It's more of a cerebral one. It's your… — Mike Portnoy Copy Share Image
Any time I say anything about Dream Theater... Honestly, I'd rather not talk about it. Because no matter what I say, it… — Mike Portnoy Copy Share Image
I don't consider myself a great drummer. I consider myself just a music fan that's a very, very passionate artist, and the… — Mike Portnoy Copy Share Image
When sequencing an album, you kind of have to look at it like you're making a movie with different acts, and you… — Mike Portnoy Copy Share Image
My lesson would be to not sell yourself to anybody else and stay true to yourself. — Mike Portnoy Copy Share
One of the biggest misconceptions was, after I left Dream Theater, I went off and did, like, five different bands and side projects. Everyone… — Mike Portnoy Copy Share
I don't even like doing drum solos live; to me, it's like, 'Ehhh.' It doesn't really interest me. — Mike Portnoy Copy Share
I am looking forward to working with the great staff of Loud & Proud Records, some of whom I worked very closely with during… — Mike Portnoy Copy Share
I'm a music fan first and foremost. I can find the beauty in Jellyfish and U2 just as much as Opeth and Lamb of… — Mike Portnoy Copy Share
It's all about the music, and I work as hard as I do strictly because of the music. It's not a money thing; it's… — Mike Portnoy Copy Share
One of the reasons I needed to leave Dream Theater was because I didn't want to end my career as just the drummer in… — Mike Portnoy Copy Share
I have no interest in playing 'perfect.' To me, it's more about being an entertainer. Having a connection with the audience. — Mike Portnoy Copy Share
I am - you know, I'm getting to do everything I've ever wanted to do, anything my imagination can think up. I'm getting to… — Mike Portnoy Copy Share
I could be just as happy playing a Beatles song as I am when I'm thrashing out the double bass stuff with Adrenaline Mob. — Mike Portnoy Copy Share
I see the headlines on Blabbermouth, and the fans are saying, 'Why is he always talking about Dream Theater?' I'm not talking about Dream… — Mike Portnoy Copy Share
Flying Colors is more alternative pop with a prog edge. Think the Beatles meets U2 meets Muse and Foo Fighters. It is the opposite… — Mike Portnoy Copy Share
