MIKE PORTNOY On His Future With AVENGED SEVENFOLD: 'We're Just Taking Baby Steps Together'

November 2, 2010

Rich Chamberlain of U.K.'s Rhythm magazine recently conducted an interview with former DREAM THEATER and current AVENGED SEVENFOLD touring drummer Mike Portnoy. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Rhythm: How have things with Avenged been going?

Portnoy: They're great guys and a great band. There's a real great chemistry that we've got. They're a band that was in need of a spiritual lift and somebody to help them get past the hurdles they've been through. I'm a drummer that was in need of a musical and personal lift from what I was looking for in my life and career. I think we both found each other at the right time and we're helping each other through tough times. They're going through an incredibly tough transition with losing [late AVENGED SEVENFOLD drummer] The Rev and carrying on and now I'm going through a tough transition in my life and career post-DREAM THEATER. I think there's a reason we've come together to help each other and move onto new chapters in each of our lives.

Rhythm: And how about the future for you and the band?

Portnoy: Right now it's going to depend on AVENGED SEVENFOLD's future plans. It hasn't been completely determined where they go from here. If they continue touring through next year I'll be with them and I'll carry on for the duration of the tour. Where our relationship goes beyond the tour is yet to be seen. I don't think either of us wants to rush into that commitment right now. Luckily, neither of us has to. We have the luxury of time where we can just do the tour and enjoy the moment then worry about the next step when we get there. We're just taking baby steps together.

Rhythm: How about if they take some time off next year?

Portnoy: As far as if they don't continue touring next year, I'll find myself with some available time which is something I haven't had in a long time. I'm sure I'll have no shortage of ideas for project and collaborations to work on.

Comments Disclaimer And Information

BLABBERMOUTH.NET uses the Facebook Comments plugin to let people comment on content on the site using their Facebook account. The comments reside on Facebook servers and are not stored on BLABBERMOUTH.NET. To comment on a BLABBERMOUTH.NET story or review, you must be logged in to an active personal account on Facebook. Once you're logged in, you will be able to comment. User comments or postings do not reflect the viewpoint of BLABBERMOUTH.NET and BLABBERMOUTH.NET does not endorse, or guarantee the accuracy of, any user comment. To report spam or any abusive, obscene, defamatory, racist, homophobic or threatening comments, or anything that may violate any applicable laws, use the "Report to Facebook" and "Mark as spam" links that appear next to the comments themselves. To do so, click the downward arrow on the top-right corner of the Facebook comment (the arrow is invisible until you roll over it) and select the appropriate action. You can also send an e-mail to blabbermouthinbox(@)gmail.com with pertinent details. BLABBERMOUTH.NET reserves the right to "hide" comments that may be considered offensive, illegal or inappropriate and to "ban" users that violate the site's Terms Of Service. Hidden comments will still appear to the user and to the user's Facebook friends. If a new comment is published from a "banned" user or contains a blacklisted word, this comment will automatically have limited visibility (the "banned" user's comments will only be visible to the user and the user's Facebook friends).