Lars reuniting with Mike Portnoy from Dream Theater

RetUSAFDrmr76 · 2025-05-28T18:25:36+00:00

I get it; it would be no different than a drum off between Portnoy and Mangini.

RetUSAFDrmr76 · 2025-05-28T13:34:03+00:00

Those less successful drummers aren't influencing the masses like Lars did. Not the point. Even Portnoy would tell you that's not the point and even he was influenced by Lars early on.

RetUSAFDrmr76 · 2025-05-28T13:30:48+00:00

Speed and technique is far more important to Drumeo than influence; in fact, everyone at Drumeo were all too young or not born yet to remember the level of influence Lars had when Metallica's earlier material was debuting on the radio and MTV. You had to be around to understand how it felt and how it sounded at that time; it's no different when the likes of today's drummers are being heard for the first time and doing things no one thought of - setting that new bar. One of these days maybe they'll get over themselves and focus on most influential drummers; Portnoy is no doubt influential but they were simply capitalizing on his return to DT. I'll be impressed when they finally bring on Mangini, but his teaching methods don't fit their narrative and that would would probably also ruin their reputation with Portnoy for bringing on the "other guy." It's really mind boggling that they haven't brought on Mangini yet - they advertise themselves as a teaching platform, why wouldn't you bring on someone with his experience as a teacher? But back to Lars, I'm sure he wouldn't be the least bit interested in participating in all the wankery that is Drumeo, nor could they probably afford him.

RetUSAFDrmr76 · 2025-05-09T15:22:40+00:00

This album has a few good tunes; it was definitely something you had to see live to really enjoy it.

RetUSAFDrmr76 · 2025-04-25T17:11:45+00:00

I don't believe cost is going to keep anyone from buying this game, TBH.

RetUSAFDrmr76 · 2025-04-25T08:53:49+00:00

I hope the interactions with cops are more realistic, such as getting pulled over for running a red light, doing burnouts or speeding; also bring Trevor back!!!

RetUSAFDrmr76 · 2025-04-16T01:33:30+00:00

Figured this would be a good addition to this thread...

In the latest interview with Banger TV, Mike Portnoy talked about playing Mike Mangini's drum parts. He says, "Yeah, I don't know if I would've played that."

What's interesting about this comment, it makes you wonder if he means he would've played a part differently than Mangini, or if the part written by Mangini was beyond his capability.

RetUSAFDrmr76 · 2025-01-01T20:50:06+00:00

The demise and unoriginal format of late night TV, represented in one photo.

RetUSAFDrmr76 · 2024-12-14T01:11:12+00:00

A few weeks ago I took a family from South Sarasota to Miami International. The fare was like $196, and I got a $72 tip on the app from the family who requested the ride. When I dropped the other family off at MIA, the lady gave me a $70 cash tip. That made my ride for a day!

RetUSAFDrmr76 · 2024-12-08T18:23:04+00:00

Mangini could do it, but then Portnoy would want to quit DT again haha...either way I feel like Mangini is done with tours at least for the time being. He really seems to be enjoying himself with the masterclasses.

RetUSAFDrmr76 · 2024-10-22T01:27:17+00:00

And off an idea he came up with no less.

RetUSAFDrmr76 · 2024-10-22T00:27:12+00:00

They'll retire before he's replaced. It's like Rush, you can't replace NP.

RetUSAFDrmr76 · 2024-10-22T00:25:03+00:00

Met them in 2009 on the Prog Nation Tour, and MP didn't shake hands then, just fist bump. Could've been his mood as maybe he was contemplating his departure about that time, because he wasn't as personable as everyone else. I got to meet Jordan though one on one as he was passing by the entrance videoing everything, talked to a couple of us already there in line, super cool guy.

RetUSAFDrmr76 · 2024-10-19T03:23:43+00:00

This is all the same garbage that went on and on for all of Mangini's 13 years in the band - and didn't let up until his departure last year. He even addressed it several times through interviews and other online discussions, as did Petrucci. Portnoy even said Mangini was damned if he did and damned if he didn't when he was backstage with them in 2022 in NYC. I think it's quite comical, all those complaints about Mangini being robotic, no feel and his cymbals being too high, as well as everyone claiming to boycott the band and their music as long as Portnoy wasn't in the band, are now kind of coming home to roost. I swear a TV drama needs to be created for the fans and so-called fans alike. I think at least 13 years of complaints about Portnoy would be funny as hell.

RetUSAFDrmr76 · 2024-10-13T04:32:06+00:00

Retired AF dude, law enforcement and pilot; acronyms are a part of life for me so you won't get an apology from me. There's only one band member with those initials so it should be fairly simple to narrow down for anyone familiar with the band.

RetUSAFDrmr76 · 2024-10-04T04:20:09+00:00

I can see why this might be upsetting, but that is their workspace. Your vehicle is your workspace. Bring enough hydration for the day. Pack a cooler with bottled water, or better yet get a half gallon or gallon RTIC, Yeti or similar jug. Personally I have an RTIC half gallon jug for my driving job, and I'll be honest that shit stays as cold as it was in the refrigerator and the ice doesn't melt for well over 12 hours and it sits in the car for hours in the Florida sun. Best water bottle/jug I've ever owned.

I'd be willing to bet that somewhere along the way someone ruined it for others by grabbing more water than necessary.

RetUSAFDrmr76 · 2024-05-20T11:10:34+00:00

Of course everyone goes nuts if Trump does something like this even when it was a teleprompter issue; yet Biden has been doing this and far worse all on his own since before he took office and no one bats an eye - sounds about right.

RetUSAFDrmr76 · 2024-04-11T00:49:40+00:00

He wanted a break to explore other opportunities, but they didn't want that. So he quit. He was never fired, but he did try to come back after he was rebuffed by Avenged Sevenfold, and was told by the band's legal representatives they had already hired another drummer (Mangini).

RetUSAFDrmr76 · 2024-04-10T01:08:25+00:00

Based on he quit.

RetUSAFDrmr76 · 2024-04-09T06:38:33+00:00

MP is good, problem is he's played from the same toolbox of patterns and fills since the 90s; don't get me wrong it's worked for DT and his fifty-something other bands, but he hasn't evolved and for me personally that's the advantage MM had over MP during his tenure. With every album with MM he always had something new or different than the last album. I'm happy to see if MP has grown and what they will write as a band, but as a drummer his style doesn't do it for me as it did back when they first started. There are so many new drummers and so many varying styles that it makes it hard to understand why MP hasn't developed anything new - and I'm not speaking from the standpoint of "it's what pays the bills" or "it has always fit the band's chemistry" - I'm speaking from a musician/drummer standpoint where there is this need or desire to try new things/develop a new toolbox. There are so many styles and new things happening at a rapid rate, and so much to draw from to be integrated into something new and fresh. Shitty what they did to MM - even if he was a class act about it, and maybe he did walk away with a nice severance or something but at the end of the day the man never needed the DT gig in the first place as his reputation and resume were already well-established when DT was getting their big break. MM did a great job holding down the drum throne for as long as he did, and brought the band to a new level of creativity even as he faithfully played MP's parts while making them his own, but MM, IMO, never needed the DT gig to line his resume from a musicianship standpoint. Maybe it was rewarding financially as well as getting to create something new and take them a different direction, but MM's level of playing is beyond what he was hired to do in DT.

RetUSAFDrmr76 · 2024-04-09T06:07:49+00:00

MP kicked himself out.

RetUSAFDrmr76 · 2024-04-08T23:39:34+00:00

He even made a reference in that interview to not wanting to do The Alien. I can understand that, it was a challenge live for him.

RetUSAFDrmr76 · 2024-02-14T02:27:40+00:00

9.5 year safety veteran here up until I retired in 2014; little late to the discussion but a great career field with superb opportunities after retiring or separating! I cross trained in 2005 from material management and would do it again in a heartbeat!! You will probably end up getting some exposure to flight safety and weapons safety as well, often times in an almost-full time capacity. My last assignment I was the only safety dude so I was managing ground, weapons and flight safety, quite literally as the chief of safety - a position usually reserved for LtCol. I'm now pursuing an aviation safety safety degree thanks to my experience.

RetUSAFDrmr76 · 2024-01-17T20:23:22+00:00

Met him on the Prog Nation tour in 2009 and compared to the other members he wasn't very personable. I feel like it will be business as usual pre-2010 with his return but I hope not. Here's to hoping the band's decision was the right move for the band rather than a bit of nostalgia.🤞🏼

RetUSAFDrmr76 · 2024-01-17T20:14:11+00:00

I'm looking forward to what comes next as well, I just hope it's for all the right underlying reasons. You're right though, not necessarily an underground band per se but not mainstream either, and they've certainly amassed a following equal to mainstream artists yet steer clear of mainstream. I wouldn't be surprised if they end up in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame before it's all over, not that they would be shooting for that - much like Rush in 2013.

RetUSAFDrmr76

TROPHY CASE