MIKE PORTNOY: Don't Believe BLABBERMOUTH.NET Headlines, I'm As Happy And Positive As Ever

April 26, 2011

Tone conducted an interview with former DREAM THEATER/AVENGED SEVENFOLD drummer Mike Portnoy prior to the "Metal Masters" clinic on April 21, 2011 in Cerritos, California. You can now watch the chat below.

During the final portion of the interview, Portnoy said, "Contrary to what Blabbermouth what lead you to believe, I'm [as] happy, healthy and productive and positive as ever. A lot of people will take a little snippet from an interview and then blow that up and twist it in a way that's showing me like I'm complaining or upset or negative or pessimistic. No, that's not the case. I'm happier than ever; I'm a very happy person. And I'm very excited about my future and I'm very appreciative of the fans that have stuck by me all these years, but especially the last six months or so through these transitions. But I'm very comfortable with these transitions. I don't want this drama, I don't want the soap operas, I don't want the Blabbermouth headlines — believe me, I hate all that. I wanna just make music and continue to be a productive artist for the fans. I've given my heart and soul to the DREAM THEATER fans for 25 years and that's not gonna change now. I will continue to put my heart and soul, blood, sweat and tears into anything I do and give 200 percent to the fans with whatever I do, and that's never gonna change."

Portnoy, who co-founded DREAM THEATER more than 20 years ago, abruptly quit the band last summer while on tour with AVENGED SEVENFOLD.

He played on AVENGED SEVENFOLD's latest album, "Nightmare", following the death of that band's drummer, Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan, and toured with them for the entire second half of 2010.

Portnoy recently began laying down tracks on the debut album from the new band featuring SYMPHONY X frontman Russell Allen and guitar virtuoso Mike Orlando (SONIC STOMP). Portnoy is also involved in a separate new project with guitarist Steve Morse (DEEP PURPLE, DIXIE DREGS),multi-instrumentalist Neal Morse (TRANSATLANTIC, SPOCK'S BEARD),bassist Dave LaRue (DIXIE DREGS) and vocalist Casey McPherson (ALPHA REV, ENDOCHINE). That group's debut album is tentatively due later in the year.

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