DREAM THEATER's MIKE PORTNOY Interviewed On 'The Pop Culture Road Trip'; Audio Available

Chris Epting of the weekly radio show "The Pop Culture Road Trip" recently conducted an interview with drummer Mike Portnoy of progressive metal giants DREAM THEATER about Mike's upcoming tour with his side project TRANSATLANTIC, opening for IRON MAIDEN this summer on "The Final Frontier" tour and working with AVENGED SEVENFOLD on the band's forthcoming studio album.

You can stream the entire program using the audio player below. (Note: The Mike Portnoy interview begins around the 17-minute mark.)

DREAM THEATER will play a few select headlining shows on some of the "off" days throughout the band's North American tour with IRON MAIDEN.

Commented Portnoy: "Please note these will not be traditional DREAM THEATER shows in terms of production. As it is in the midst of the MAIDEN tour, we are not carrying our usual lighting and video show... So instead these will be small intimate club shows... just like the good (?) ol' days!

"So come sweat it out with us..."

The dates are as follows:

June 21 - Roseland Theater, Portland, OR
July 02 - Newport Music Hall, Columbus, OH
July 10 - Palladium, Worcester, MA

DREAM THEATER will spend its summer supporting IRON MAIDEN on the band's month-long tour of major U.S. and Canadian markets. The tour launches on June 9 and runs through July 20, and includes a stop at the storied Madison Square Garden in New York City, marking the first time in a lengthy and respected career that DREAM THEATER will have played the world's most famous arena. This tour will mark another milestone in DREAM THEATER's history, which continues to expand and evolve, twenty-five years deep.

Of touring with IRON MAIDEN in North America, Portnoy previously said, "It is a bit of a dream come true for us.

"After 25 years together, at this stage in our career, there's honestly only three bands DREAM THEATER would consider opening for and MAIDEN is one of them.

"It is an absolute honor.

"Through the years, we've done many one-off shows with MAIDEN and they've almost all been overseas. It is very exciting to finally be doing a full tour with them and on our side of the pond, no less.

"These are gonna be amazing shows that the fans won't want to miss.

"Up the fucking irons!”

Playing Madison Square Garden for the first time is also a huge accomplishment for the band and they are thrilled about the prospect.

"DREAM THEATER has achieved so many dreams through the years, from playing the Budokan in Tokyo to Wembley Arena in London to Radio City Music Hall in New York City," Portnoy recalled. "But the one remaining dream that has eluded us through all of these years was to play at Madison Square Garden. Well, on July 12, along with IRON MAIDEN, that dream will finally be fulfilled."

Guitarist John Petrucci was equally stoked about the Madison Square Garden play, saying, "I am unbelievably excited to be finally playing Madison Square Garden, and with the almighty MAIDEN to boot! They have been heroes to the band since the beginning and are iconic in our eyes.

"There is nothing like achieving success and recognition in your own country, in your own city. It's going to be an incredible night, for sure."

Portnoy has proof of this career-long dream, saying, "About [two months] ago, my family and I were watching a video of my first band INTRUDER from back in 1983, and in the video before the show, I was interviewed and asked what my dream goal was. I responded 'To play the Garden.' It took almost 30 years, but it’s surreal that I will now be able to check it off the list."