Dream Theater

Dude, you took the words right out of my mouth. Well said!

=Mark Bredius said:He'll get a chance to read it, because I just emailed it to him. :D

Great first post and also exactly how I feel.

Mike Mangini has brought so much positive energy to the band, which I've witnessed first hand.
And it's great to see how (pretty much) the entire fanbase has welcomed him with open arms, even chanting his full name (not just Mike) at concerts.

A well written, heartfelt response; I couldn't agree more. I too was in shock when I had heard the news of Mike Portnoy leaving; I didn't really believe it at first.

Mr. Mangini, I'm astounded at your masterful, seemingly effortless playing. It's difficult to believe that anyone could have fit into the band as well as you have. As a nearly 20 year fan of Dream Theater, after one listen to ADToE, I am relieved, grateful, and humbled. The band's last two outings left me doubting there could be a bright future, but I have officially renewed my faith in the members of DT. God's speed, good luck on tour, and "Hey Bro, call me when u get the chance !"

Sincerely,
Steve Sheperdson

=DecadesOfTheater said:Dear Mr. Mangini,
Dream Theater has been providing the sound track for my life for over two decades now and I want to thank you for stepping in to continue that sound track. You must understand that I have listened to every chord, note, beat, pause, lyric, and harmonic of the entire body of work from this band for years, without tiring of it. I don't just know the music, it has become a part of me, echoing in my head when there are no speakers to amplify the music.

When I read that Mr. Portnoy was leaving the band I was shattered. The music stopped, and I like many of the fans from which I have read posts from, felt the same. I felt lost and afraid of the unknown future for this part of my life that I enjoy so much. But you stepped in, masterfully, to provide the continuation of the music that has shaped so much of my life. I cannot tell you the absolute relief I felt when I listen to your words saying "This is not just a gig to me", because it is not just a band to me.

I implore you to bring all of your creative spirit to pour in to the music. Let us know you for the music you bring to us from within. But please more than anything else I can say here, let me personally welcome you to the family, that is this band and the fans.

Great job on "A Dramatic Turn of Events" and see you in Chicago very soon.

Thank You

i think this whole thread should be sent to MM

I am utterly amazed at how quickly Mike Mangini soaked the material in. I mean learning songs from most good bands can take a long time, but DT songs are like albums. Just about every song has a million different parts.
I have seen the live bootleg stuff on Youtube and the songs still make me want to get up and dance, then play my guitar for hours. Watch MM's hands, they are allover the place. Not exactly the Snare hi hat kick drum monotony most bands have. I used to think that Portnoy was the best, now I think he has an equal partner in Mike Mangini. They are both very incredible drummers.
I listen mostly for JP and JR. I catch my jaw dropping when I realize what JM is playing underneath. I apprecieate that JL can sing, not like the so called singers in other technical bands.
I hope DT lasts another twenty years!!!!

Hi

as a fan within the last 20 years, I'm NOT shocked, MP left the band. Every break is a chance to get into new inspiration, ways, etc.

I've heard the new album 10 times and more and I personally give Mr.Mangini a second chance, to give HIS inspiration to the output of this great band!

Mr.Mangini is playing well, technical perfect, but, I'm sorry for that, I missed his personality note. He's playing WITH the other guys, no less, no more.

Great songs on this album, well done :)

And, by the way, the mastering / mixing of the new album is not well done. Missing room, air and well packed tracks into the main sound. It's like putting parts into the mix and forgot to bring them INTO the mix.

DT's future is in good hands. They couldn't have made a better choice. It would have killed me more to have them take a five year break.

I'll never forget that day. I've been a devoted fan since Six Degrees came out. I catalog periods of my life based on what album is out at the time. I sat down on my computer and read the latest DT news headline. My heart stopped in my chest, it felt like a family member had died. My face activated all of it's crying muscles and the tears began to flow. I got up and collapsed to the ground and kept saying over and over to myself "It isn't true it isn't true it isn't true it isn't true!" "He can't leave! Why?!"

Just thinking about it makes the eyes moist. My girlfriend who I was just introducing to DT at the time was there to comfort me, she thought it was a little silly that I would get so emotional over a band member leaving but as she's come to know Dream Theater and their fans better she now understands the pain we all felt. I must have cried off and on for the next week straight, it hit me very, very hard. Even more weeks and months any time I would drink the emotions would come back up again and remind me I still wasn't over it.

At this point I have finally moved on from the fact that he is gone. The music he has given to us and the live concerts I got to share with him will live on forever with me, but I've accepted the present and I'm excited about the future! I still don't know Mangini muscially or personality wise but I look forward to what he can bring to the band. I found his work on the latest album was excellent and look forward to him having more creative input on the next album.

Welcome to the family Mike Mangini! I look forward to the years ahead with you.

Awesome post and very well said!! I will be welcoming him 5 nights from now and cannot wait. I think I am more excited for this show than I was for the Radio City Music Hall show or the 20 others I have seen. A perfect addition to the perfect band.

I'd take MM over MP any day and wish they would have done it about 6 years ago.