MIKE PORTNOY: DREAM THEATER Members Are Refusing To Answer My E-Mails And Calls

Ex-DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Portnoy says that he "can't see any upcoming releases" from Ytsejam Records, the label imprint which his former band has been using for years to release official bootlegs of live recordings ("Ytsejam" is "Majesty" spelled backwards; MAJESTY was DREAM THEATER's original band name).

Portnoy, who oversaw the creative side of Ytsejam's affairs, was asked by a fan via Mike's official forum whether his departure from DREAM THEATER also means "the end of the publication of the official bootlegs" from the band.

"As this question seems to come up every few weeks, I may as well go on the record," Portnoy replied.

"I have no idea why [DREAM THEATER guitarist John Petrucci] would have said [in a recent interview that] Ytsejam Records wouldn't be affected [by my exit from the group]...

"I was the one that handpicked and decided on every title, compiled the music and videos for the CDs and DVDs and oversaw the artwork and liner notes.

"John's side of the Ytsejam Records production team consisted of dealing with the manufacturing factory and staying on top of the payments and deliveries after I produced all of the titles...

"Being I have the entire 25-year archive of every studio and live recording from 1985 to 2010 in my home, and being the band currently refuse to answer my e-mails or calls, I honestly can't see any upcoming releases...

"It's a shame, too....I was already working on another batch before all of this went down..."

**UPDATE**: Portnoy earlier today (Friday, February 25) posted the following message on his official forum:

"Ugh...I just saw that my post has now ended up on Blabbermouth as well as some DREAM THEATER news sites and Forums and I am now getting ripped to shreds...

"I was simply trying to address a fan question that seems to keep popping up about the future of Ytsejam Records...

"I was not at all 'bad-mouthing' the DREAM THEATER guys, nor was I whining, crying or complaining...and this was surely NOT meant to be some sort of 'press release!!!!'

"I simply wanted to set the record straight here on my personal forum....

"I have always had an open relationship with you fans and never BS'ed or gave the 'politically correct,' sugar-coated answer....I've always tried to be very upfront, open and in direct contact with mine and DREAM THEATER's fan base... Unfortunately, I guess I REALLY need to watch everything I say these days for fear of misinterpretation and I apologize if I cannot address certain areas dealing with DREAM THEATER past or future."

Just days after it was announced that he'd been dismissed as the touring drummer for AVENGED SEVENFOLD, Portnoy revealed that he tried to rejoin DREAM THEATER, and was rebuffed.

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.