John Petrucci Says People Should Stop Asking for a Dream Theater Reunion with Mike Portnoy

Fans of progressive metal powerhouse Dream Theater may be getting excited about the possibility of a band reunion with Mike Portnoy since he worked on John Petrucci’s solo album and recently performed on stage together. Well, Petrucci is here to tell you nope, not happening. Hard no.

On an interview with SiriusXM, Petrucci said he wants all the speculation to end.

“I’ve been very vocal about this and outspoken and very careful about this to be clear with my intentions and Mike and I and our reuniting. The stuff that we are doing together with my solo stuff, with Liquid Tension Experiment, with Mike touring with me, this is its own thing, and Dream Theater is its own thing, and the history that we now have with Mike Mangini in the band for 12 years, it’s important for me to make sure that people don’t misunderstand this.”

Things are a little touchy since Portnoy left the band, but Petrucci explains that he doesn’t want there to be any drama or negative speculation.

“It’s not good for anybody; that kind of weirdness or controversy; as we all know, it’s just toxic. So I’ve been saying… Maybe I’m selfish, but I feel so lucky that I get to do this with Mike (Portnoy) and play live with him, play this instrumental music, record, and being in Dream Theater with Mangini, it’s like I’ve kind of been spoiled. I get two of the greatest drummers in the world to be able to play with. And I think it’s important for people to know that and to have that clarity—I really do.”

However, despite that emphatic and rousing “no way bro,” Petrucci claims he is stoked that people want to see the reunion.

“You see that right away. It makes people so happy to see that reconnection. It’s literally like… Any sort of post of a photo from that, every comment is just literally, like, ‘I’m crying. This makes me so happy,’ blah blah blah. More than any sort of controversial, stupid thing anyone could say, the overwhelming reaction is just a great, positive feeling in the Dream Theater-Mike Portnoy big community. And I love that. It’s the way it should be.”

So, don’t expect a reunion, but you can at least watch footage of their recent performance together below.