Mike Portnoy

I'm very outgoing, an extrovert, a control freak.

— Mike Portnoy

My love for Yes is pretty well-documented.

— Mike Portnoy

I need to be creative all the time.

— Mike Portnoy

I love playing drums and helping out.

— Mike Portnoy

I was always very extroverted and loud.

— Mike Portnoy

Every band goes through breakups or splits.

— Mike Portnoy

I always follow my heart.

— Mike Portnoy

I usually have three to four bands a year going at any given point.

— Mike Portnoy

Richie Kotzen is such an unbelievable talent as a vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter.

— Mike Portnoy

I surround myself with incredible musicians who inspire me to always do my best.

— Mike Portnoy

When Dream Theater first started, we were touring in a van and playing clubs.

— Mike Portnoy

You don't have to be a great drummer to be the most important guy in the band.

— Mike Portnoy

I don't even like doing drum solos live; to me, it's like, 'Ehhh.' It doesn't really interest me.

— Mike Portnoy

When I sit down to do an interview, I try to be polite and answer the questions that I'm asked.

— Mike Portnoy

A Dream Theater without me was never in the plan; I never expected that.

— Mike Portnoy

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

In Adrenaline Mob there are five guys that are all absolutely insanely energetic performers each of their own right. It's like a…

— Mike Portnoy

First and foremost, play what you love to play. Don't try to jump on a bandwagon or a trend or a popular…

— Mike Portnoy

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

I guess I did make my name out of my drumming, and I have the big drum sets, and I'm doing all…

— Mike Portnoy

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

I think it's important for a young musician to stick with a band for a while and really work with a band…

— Mike Portnoy

I tend to like the heavier things, especially live on stage. I need that energy and interaction and feeling the audience.

— Mike Portnoy

Flying Colors is more alternative pop with a prog edge. Think the Beatles meets U2 meets Muse and Foo Fighters. It is…

— Mike Portnoy

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

I've been asked to write a book several times; I've had several publishers come to me and offer me book deals. Especially…

— Mike Portnoy

A lot of bands, they'll try to jump on the bandwagon or the fad or the fashion, and they'll skyrocket, have this…

— Mike Portnoy

Change is inevitable with the evolution of technology. In the '70s, we had records. In the '80s, we had CDs, and now…

— Mike Portnoy

People always say to me, 'Well, how can a marriage last when you're away as much as you are?' And I always…

— Mike Portnoy

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

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

It's so refreshing to just play straight-ahead music with lots of twists.

— Mike Portnoy

If you do anything long enough, people can't ignore you anymore.

— Mike Portnoy

I kind of always made it a tradition, whenever Dream Theater played Toronto, to play a Rush cover.

— Mike Portnoy

I'm a very sentimental guy; I'm a very nostalgic guy.

— Mike Portnoy

I spent a good solid two years giving my all to Adrenaline Mob.

— Mike Portnoy

My lesson would be to not sell yourself to anybody else and stay true to yourself.

— Mike Portnoy

I have no desire to write lyrics with Adrenaline Mob.

— Mike Portnoy

Life is too short for resentments, and I always forgive.

— Mike Portnoy

To me, there's way more to being a good drummer than precision and technique.

— Mike Portnoy