Mike Portnoy

“My time and my legacy with Dream Theater will always be a part of me. It's something I'll always be proud of.”

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

“In all of my years in this business, I've always been part of either a progressive band or a metal band.”

“I find myself a much happier person when I turn off my computer and live my life.”

“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 play with some of my favorite musicians in the world, ranging from Russell Allen to Billy Sheehan to Paul Gilbert to Steve Morse.”

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

“I don't think I was ever meant to be tied down to one band for the rest of my life, playing one style of music.”

“I'd rather be entertained and go to a show and watch a drummer and have somebody that makes me actually smile. So I don't judge drummers based on their technical ability; I judge them based on the overall package and what they bring to the music they're part of.”

“I think if there's any one band that every member of Sons of Apollo has been influenced by, I think Van Halen is the common ground for all five of us.”

“I am looking forward to working with the great staff of Loud & Proud Records, some of whom I worked very closely with during their time at Roadrunner and my time with Dream Theater. I look forward to continuing that relationship with The Winery Dogs!”

“I don't think there's such a thing as a 'best' drummer.”

“I'm not a politician; I'm a very open, honest guy, and that's the way it is - that's the way I am; take it or leave it.”

“There are no prog elements to Adrenaline Mob; it's very song-oriented, with shredding and grooves.”

“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.”

“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 singles, then yeah, but if you're writing 20-minute prog epics, as long as you know how to make it sound good, and you have a good mixer, that's all you need.”

“Trite as it sounds, follow your heart. Persevere. And if you follow your heart and persevere, it will pay off.”

“I spent my life's work doing what I did in Dream Theater for 25 years, so I'm proud of that.”

“The most bizarre occurrence has to be when I dislocated my wrist during a show in Germany in 1997.”

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

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