“We kind of established in Sons of Apollo right from the get go that it would be a very collaborative process musically, but after that, I was going to take the reins and control everything else beyond that the way I did with Dream Theater.”

American musician, drummer, backing vocalist, and co-founder of Dream Theater

Michael Stephen Portnoy is an American musician, best known as the drummer, backing vocalist, and co-founder of the progressive metal band Dream Theater. He is closely associated with Dream Theater’s sound and growth, both as a performer and as part of the band’s early foundation. His work is tied to progressive metal, and his reputation comes chiefly from his role behind the drum kit and his vocal contributions.