Mike Portnoy Has Zero Regrets About Leaving Dream Theater
Last October, we all were shocked to learn that not only was Dream Theater working on a new album, but that they had reconciled and reunited with drummer Mike Portnoy after 13 years apart. It was a momentous occasion that frankly, many of us in the metal world didn’t think was going to happen. In the wake of that announcement, it’s been hard not to look back at what happened with the band and how they got to where they are now.
One person that recently went down memory lane was none other than Portnoy himself. During an interview with Spain’s Mariskal Rock (as transcribed by Blabbermouth), he was asked what parts of his career he was most proud of and what he regretted the most. In pure Portnoy fashion, there’s a lot in the former category and not much in the latter.
“I’m proud of it all. I mean, I’m proud of everything I’ve done within Dream Theater. Dream Theater has created one of the biggest empires in progressive metal. So I’m proud of having been a part of that. But I’m also proud of everything I did [in] the 13 years I was out of Dream Theater. I did everything from The Winery Dogs to Sons of Apollo, Flying Colors, Transatlantic, Metal Allegiance — so many different kinds of music — and I was able to do everything from thrash metal with Metal Allegiance to classic rock power trio with The Winery Dogs and everything in between. So all of these things are part of the big picture of who I am and what I’ve done with my life and my career. And I’m proud of it all.
“As far as any regrets, I don’t have any regrets. I think even leaving Dream Theater back in 2010, I don’t regret that because I think if I had unhappily stayed at the time, I might’ve spent the rest of my life regretting not taking a chance. So it’s always better to regret the things you have done than the things you haven’t done. That was always my philosophy. I even wrote that in the lyrics for [the Dream Theater song] ‘Repentance’.
“But that being said, I don’t have any regrets because they’re all part of the story and they’re all part of what got me to where I am today. And luckily for Dream Theater fans, it’s come full circle and it has a very happy ending in the end anyway.”
It’s certainly been a long road to get from Portnoy’s exit from the band to where we are today, waiting (im)patiently for more news about the next record. Once released, it will be the band’s 16th full-length and their first with Portnoy since 2009’s Black Clouds & Silver Linings.
An Evening With Dream Theater 40th Anniversary Tour 2024 – 2025
October 20 – London, England – The O2
October 22 – Berlin, Germany – Uber Eats Music Hall
October 23 – Koln, Germany – Palladium
October 25 – Milan, Italy – Forum
October 26 – Rome, Italy – Palazzo dello Sport
October 28 – Munich, Germany – Zenith
October 29 – Zagreb, Croatia – Arena Zagreb
November 1 – Budapest, Hungary – Budapest Arena
November 2 – Prague – Czech Republic – Fortuna Arena
November 3 – Lodz, Poland – Atlas Arena
November 6 – Helsinki, Finland – Metro Areena
November 8 – Stockholm. Sweden – Waterfront
November 9 – Oslo, Norway – Spektrum
November 10 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Poolen
November 12 – Luxembourg – Rockhal
November 13 – Zurich, Switzerland – The Hall
November 14 – Lyon, France – Halle Tony Garnier
November 16 – Lisbon, Portugal – MEO Arena
November 17 – Madrid, Spain – La Cubierta de Leganés
November 20 – Stuttgart, Germany – Beethovensaal
November 21 – Frankfurt, Germany – Jahrhundderthalle
November 23 – Paris, France – Adidas Arena
November 24 – Amsterdam – AFAS Live
