Wednesday September 8th 2010

I am about to write something I never imagined I’d ever write:

After 25 years, I have decided to leave Dream Theater….the band I founded, led and truly loved for a quarter of a century.

To many people this will come as a complete shock, and will also likely be misunderstood by some, but please believe me that it is not a hasty decision…it is something I have struggled with for the last year or so….

After having had such amazing experiences playing with Hail, Transatlantic and Avenged Sevenfold this past year, I have sadly come to the conclusion that I have recently had more fun and better personal relations with these other projects than I have for a while now in Dream Theater…

Please don’t misinterpret me, I love the DT guys dearly and have a long history, friendship and bond that runs incredibly deep with them…it’s just that I think we are in serious need of a little break…

Dream Theater was always my baby…and I nurtured that baby every single day and waking moment of my life since 1985…24/7, 365…never taking time off from DT’s never-ending responsibilites (even when the band was “off” between cycles)…working overtime and way beyond the call of duty that most sane people ever would do for a band…

But I’ve come to the conclusion that the DT machine was starting to burn me out…and I really needed a break from the band in order to save my relationship with the other members and keep my DT spirit hungry and inspired.

We have been on an endless write/record/tour cycle for almost 20 years now (of which I have overseen EVERY aspect without a break) and while a few months apart from each other here & there over the years has been much needed and helpful, I honestly hoped the band could simply agree with me to taking a bit of a “hiatus” to recharge our batteries and “save me from ourselves”…

Sadly, in discussing this with the guys, they determined they do not share my feelings and have decided to continue without me rather than take a breather…I even offered to do some occasional work throughout 2011 against my initial wishes, but it was not to be…

While it truly hurts for me to even think of a Dream Theater without Mike Portnoy (hell, my father named the band!!), I do not want to stand in their way…so I have decided to sacrifice myself and simply leave the band so as to not hold them back against their wishes….

Strangely enough, I just read an interview that I recently did that asked me about the future of DT and I talked about “always following your heart and being true to yourself”…sadly I must say that at this particular moment, my heart is not with Dream Theater…and I would simply be “going through the motions”, and would honestly NOT be true to myself if I stayed for the sake of obligation without taking the break I felt I needed.

I wish the guys the best and hope the music and legacy we created together is enjoyed by fans for decades to come…I am proud of every album we made, every song we wrote and every show we played….

I’m sorry to all the disappointed DT fans around the world…I really tried to salvage the situation and make it work…I honestly just wanted a break (not a split)…but happiness cannot be forced, it needs to come from within….

You DT fans are the greatest fans in the world and as you all know, I have always busted my ass for you guys and I hope that you will stay with me on my future musical journey, wherever it may lead me….(and as you all know my work ethic, there will surely be no shortage of future MP projects!)

Sadly…
Your fearless ex-leader and drummer,
MP

“Move on be brave, don’t weep at my grave, because I am no longer here…
But please never let your memory of me disappear….”
The Spirit Carries On

"Estoy por escribir algo que nunca imaginé escribir.

Luego de 25 años, he decido dejar Dream Theater… la banda que fundé, dirigí y que en verdad amé por un cuarto de siglo.

Luego de tener increíbles experiencias tocando con Hail!, Transatlantic y Avenged Sevenfold este pasado año, tristemente llegué a la conclusión que recientemente me he divertido más y he tenido mejores relaciones personales con estos otros proyectos que tengo desde hace un tiempo en Dream Theater.

Por favor, no me mal interpreten, amo a los tipos de Dream Theater profundamente y tenemos una larga historia, amistad y lazo que es profundo con ellos… es sólo que creo que estamos en seria necesidad de un descanso.

Pero llegué a la conclusión que la maquinaria de Dream Theater comenzaba a quemarme… y en verdad necesitaba un descanso de la banda para salvar mi relación con los demás miembros y mantener mi espíritu de Dream Theater hambriendo e inspirado.

Hemos estado en un ciclo sin fin de componer, grabar, girar, por casi 20 años ahora (en los cuales no he tenido un respiro) y mientras hemos tenido algunos meses libres entre nosotros al paso de los años que han sido de ayuda, honestamente esperaba que la banda simplemente pudiera entender y acceder conmigo en tomarnos un 'descanso' para recargar nuestras baterías y 'salvarme de nosotros mismos'.

Tristemente, discutiendo esto con ellos, determinaron que no comparten mi sentir y han decidido continuar sin mí en vez de tomarnos un respiro… Incluso me ofrecí a hacer algo ocasional en 2011 en contra de mis deseos iniciales, pero no fue así…

Mientras que en verdad me duele incluso pensar en Dream Theater sin Mike Portnoy (¡demonios, mi padre nombró esta banda!), no quiero interponerme en su camino… así que decidí sacrificarme y simplemente dejar la banda para no detenerlos en contra de sus deseos.

Les deseo lo mejor y espero que la música y legado que creamos juntos sea disfrutado por los fans en décadas por venir… Estoy orgulloso de cada álbum que hicimos, cada canción que compusimos y cada show que tocamos…

Me disculpo con todos los decepcionados fans alrededor del mundo de Dream Theater… En verdad intenté salvar la situación y hacer que funcionara… Honestamente sólo quería un descanso (no una separación)… pero la felicidad no puede ser forzada, se necesita de ambas partes.

Ustedes, fans de Dream Theater son los fans más grandiosos en el mundo como todos ustedes lo saben, siempre me he partido el alma por ustedes y espero que se mantengan conmigo en mi futuro viaje musical, a donde sea que me lleve… (y como conocen mi ética de trabajo, ¡seguramente no habrá escazes para los futuros proyectos de Mike Portnoy!)"